The design of the US Navy’s troubled FFG 62 Constellation-class frigate programme is further behind schedule than realised, and the ship is now much heavier than anticipated, which could compromise its performance. According to a June 2025 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 2025 Weapon Systems Annual Assessment, the US Navy continues to face […]
The US Navy is considering recruiting a second yard to help build its new class of guided missile frigates as the programme falls further and further behind schedule. In November, amid mounting concern over the delays and cost, the US Department of Defense issued a request for information (RfI) for a second yard to build […]
The US Navy embarked on construction of its latest frigate design before the design was finalised, a decision that is creating ongoing problems. Design of the US Navy’s FFG 62 Constellation-class multi-mission frigate – a programme it embarked on because of failures in its Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme – has slowed and construction has […]
In February 2024, Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) confirmed that its Newport News Shipbuilding division (NNS) had initiated topside testing of the electromagnetic aircraft launch system (EMALS) on the US Navy’s aircraft carrier John F Kennedy (CVN 79). EMALS, first integrated into USS Gerald R Ford (CVN 78), replaces the existing steam catapults currently in use on the US Navy’s Nimitz-class […]
The Australian government has selected BAE Systems and ASC Pty Ltd to jointly build Australia’s new fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in the latest significant development in the AUKUS trilateral security pact. SSN-AUKUS is a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) being developed in partnership with the US and Australia to satisfy the needs of […]
Construction started on the sixth Expeditionary Sea Base (ESB), the future USNS Hector A Cafferata Jr (ESB 8) at General Dynamics National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (GD NASSCO) on 8 August 2023. ESBs are designed to be flexible and used in a range of military operations supporting multiple operational phases, similar to the Expeditionary Transfer […]
Seismic mitigation efforts, which began in February 2023 on the Trident Refit Facility at Delta Pier in Bangor dry dock, have been completed. In January 2023, the US Navy restricted submarines from entering certain dry docks in the Pacific Northwest (both at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility and Trident Refit Facility – […]
The US Navy named the first Navajo-class towing, salvage and rescue ship, USNS Navajo (T-ATS 6), in a ceremony on 26 August 2023 in Houma, Louisiana. The future USNS Navajo will be operated by the Military Sealift Command. The vessels will replace the existing Powhatan-class T-ATF fleet ocean tugs and Safeguard-class T-ARS rescue and salvage […]
HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division has been awarded a US$154.8 million contract modification for work on USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000). Zumwalt arrived in Pascagoula on 19 August 2023 after leaving San Diego earlier in the month. The ship will enter a modernisation period and receive technology upgrades including the integration of the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) […]
The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Surface Warfare Division (N96) has approved a service-life extension for four Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers as the first of a newly upgraded version of the surface combatant enters service. USS Ramage (DDG 61), homeported in Norfolk, Virginia in the US, and USS Benfold (DDG 65), based in […]
A spate of tests and demonstration projects are being used to advance the introduction into service of a range of uncrewed assets. Potential naval applications of uncrewed surface vessels and of unmanned underwater and above water units continues to proliferate in the US and in Europe as recent developments attest. In July 2023, the Defence […]
The US Navy has outlined plans for the upgrade of two of the oldest surface combatants still serving in the Middle East region. Acting on behalf of the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) International Fleet Support Program (PMS 326), the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division (NUWC) Keyport has canvassed industry interest in the modernisation of […]