Orbital ATK is expanding to prepare for what they predict will be a surge in DoD buys of more lethal munitions Orbital ATK is growing to accommodate anticipated increased business with the Defense Department as it looks for more advanced missiles and munitions capable of longer ranges, more lethality and better accuracy. By: Jen Judson April 11
Northrop to begin cutting in aerial refueling capability in E-2D Advanced Hawkeye production this year Northrop will start cutting in modifications to the production line starting with the 46th of 75 planned aircraft slated to be procured by the Navy. By: Valerie Insinna April 11
Wittman to US Navy: ‘You have to say 355 is the number’ The chairman of the House Seapower subcommittee said Wednesday the Navy needs to do a better job of explaining to the public the need for a 355-ship fleet. By: Joe Gould April 11
Interview: The Navy’s top submarine builder talks Virginia-class challenges, successes The Navy's top submarine builder, Rear Adm. Michael Jabaley, talks Virginia-class and the road ahead for the Navy's most lethal ship killers. By: David B. Larter April 11
Major players pitch solutions for Navy’s next training helicopter As the Navy nears a competition for a new rotary-wing trainer, several companies are coming out with ready-to-go solutions. By: Jen Judson April 11
Navy Fleet Forces commander nominated for top military post in the Pacific The Navy’s four-star fleet boss has been nominated by Defense Secretary James Mattis to become the top military officer in the Pacific. By: David B. Larter April 10
New undersea drones are smaller, cheaper and can be refueled deep under water The featured AUV technology included a new high-speed, micro-sized vehicle and a seafloor power system. By: Victoria Leoni April 10
Boeing’s new head of Phantom Works division sets sights on MQ-25 tanker drone, MUX unmanned rotorcraft The new Phantom Works boss is bringing key Aurora Flight Sciences capabilities to the MQ-25 program as he moves to Boeing's advanced technology arm. By: Valerie Insinna April 10
Sweden navy chief aims to grow sea power Sweden, one of the only non-NATO aligned nations on the Baltic Sea, is developing a range of naval assets, the chief of its navy said Monday. April 10
New Navy EW program set for major milestone this summer The Navy is planning a critical design review for the Advanced Off-Board Electronic Warfare program for the summer. By: Mark Pomerleau April 10
In Japan, a hard-hit US Navy fleet is steadying on a new course After a disastrous summer in 2017, the Japan-based U.S. 7th Fleet is effecting a course correction that it hopes restores readiness and avoids future loss of life. By: David B. Larter April 10
Weaponization of unmanned Fire Scout helicopter ‘on hiatus’ until 2023 The Navy doesn't want to weaponize MQ-8C until it finalizes which weapons the littoral combat ship will ultimately carry with it to sea. By: Valerie Insinna April 9
The Navy, once again, soft-pedals its own 355 ship-count assessment The size of the fleet is not the most important metric of sea power, an admiral said. By: David B. Larter April 9
US State Department OKs license for submarine tech sales to Taiwan Officials confirmed that the State Department has granted the marketing license required for the sale of technology to Taiwan. By: Mike Yeo April 9
Sri Lanka cedes major port to China, fueling tensions Why has Sri Lanka, an island nation in the Indian Ocean the size of West Virginia, become another flashpoint in regional naval competition. By: Joe Gould April 9
Marine Corps nearing contract award for new amphibious combat vehicle The Marine Corps wrapped up operational tests of Amphibious Combat Vehicle prototypes last week in California and heads into a decision on whether BAE Systems or SAIC will build the service's new ACV expected in mid-June. By: Jen Judson April 9
Lockheed announces industry partners on Navy’s MQ-25 tanker drone offering General Electric, United Technologies Corp. and Triumph Aerostructures will produce parts for Lockheed's tanker drone, should it get a contract this summer. By: Valerie Insinna April 9
Future plans emerge for Navy’s Triton surveillance drones The Navy may not have full orbits of the MQ-4C Triton ISR platform until 2021. By: Mark Pomerleau April 9
Flush with cash, the Navy bores in on aviation readiness amid a crisis While the surface fleet’s problems became national news and international news, aviation was instead in a kind of quiet crisis: still able to put working jets and trained pilots on carriers all over the world but eroding badly everywhere else. By: David B. Larter April 8
Interview: Vice Adm. Phillip Sawyer, head of 7th Fleet, on righting the ship A fleet commander’s job is not an easy one. But Vice Adm. Phillip Sawyer came into his job as 7th Fleet commander in a position that few officers in Navy history have faced. He sat down with Defense News in Japan. By: David B. Larter April 8