By Mike Stone WASHINGTON, April 12 (Reuters) - The U.S. Navy could build its strength to 355 ships over a decade earlier than previously thought due to an increased shipbuilding budget and tempo as well as extending the service for some ships in the current fleet, a Pentagon official told a Congressional panel on Thursday. The goal of a larger Navy, one of President Donald … [Read more...]
Navy Backs Down On Carrier Shock-Testing
By Anthony Capaccio (Bloomberg) The Pentagon’s No. 2 civilian has said the Navy should perform shock-testing soon to determine how well its new $12.9 billion aircraft carrier -- the costliest warship ever -- could withstand an attack, affirming the service’s recent decision to back down from a plan for delay. “We agree with your view that a test in normal sequence is more … [Read more...]
NASSCO Launches One Unsexy Ship
https://vimeo.com/251556899 On Saturday General Dynamics NASSCO christened the Expeditionary Sea Base USNS Hershel “Woody” Williams, a most unsexy but important US Navy ship. The ship’s namesake, Hershel “Woody” Williams, a Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II, spoke at the ceremony. He is the last … [Read more...]
Lockheed’s Littoral Combat Ships Running 11 Months Late, U.S. Navy Says
By Tony Capaccio (Bloomberg) -- Lockheed Martin Corp. will deliver its eight remaining Littoral Combat Ships an average of 11 months late, more than twice the five-month delay for rival shipbuilder Austal Ltd., the U.S. Navy estimates. The contractors build different versions of the ship that’s been criticized for rising costs, equipment breakdowns and potential … [Read more...]
U.S. Navy Finds $500 Million for a Second Littoral Combat Ship in 2018
By Tony Capaccio (Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Navy has found $500 million to buy a second Littoral Combat Ship in next year’s budget after scrounging that was required because the vessel was left out of the Trump administration’s proposed budget sent to Congress last month. About $325 million will be freed up because the Navy has delayed the overhaul of an aircraft carrier that … [Read more...]