Navy/USMC Archives - Defense Daily

Polaris Nabs ULTV Follow-On Contract From Marine Corps, Includes High Power Variant

Matthew Beinart — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:46:00 +0000

The Marine Corps on Friday awarded Polaris Government and Defense [PII] a new contract worth up to $98.3 million to continue deliveries of its MRZR Alpha platform for the Ultra […]

Senators Push Navy Against Single Destroyer Request In FY ’27

Rich Abott — Fri, 22 May 2026 21:05:20 +0000

The chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) and the two senators from Maine last week pushed back on Navy officials for only requesting one Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (DDG-51) […]

Navy Looks To Eventually Assemble Battleship At HII Newport News; Faces More Dem Opposition

Rich Abott — Thu, 21 May 2026 21:46:27 +0000

The Navy told lawmakers this week it found a dry dock at HII’s [HII] Newport News Shipbuilding shipyard it thinks can use for final assembly of the new Trump-class battleship […]

Blue Water Autonomy Marks Construction Progress On First Liberty Class USV

Cal Biesecker — Thu, 21 May 2026 21:36:44 +0000

Autonomous vessel developer Blue Water Autonomy on Thursday released photos of its first Liberty Class ship under construction at Conrad Shipyard in Louisiana,\. The images are of the bow section […]

Navy Leaders Downplay Looking At Foreign Navy Shipbuilding Amid Lawmaker Objections

Rich Abott — Wed, 20 May 2026 21:48:20 +0000

The Navy’s top leaders this week seemed to downplay and back down on the service potentially using foreign shipyards to build U.S. Navy ships or buying foreign designed warships overseas […]

CBO Looks At Options To Quickly Increase Navy Missile Capability

Rich Abott — Wed, 20 May 2026 21:36:48 +0000

A Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report published this week examined three options to quickly increase the size and missile capability of the Navy’s fleet within five years in an effort […]

CNO Details New Ohio SSBN Extension Strategy

Rich Abott — Tue, 19 May 2026 21:21:34 +0000

The Navy’s top officer Tuesday outlined updates in the service’s strategy to extend the service life of several nuclear-armed Ohio-class ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) that could result in quicker turnarounds […]

MQ-25 Okayed For Production With Milestone C Approval

Rich Abott — Tue, 19 May 2026 20:38:30 +0000

The Navy on Tuesday announced the Boeing [BA] MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned tanker aircraft officially received its Milestone C approval, setting it up for Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) later this […]

RTX Wins ONR Contract To Develop Multiplexing Radar Software

Rich Abott — Mon, 18 May 2026 21:52:17 +0000

RTX’s [RTX] Raytheon segment recently won a $22.6 million contract from the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop new advanced software that will allow radars to perform multiple missions […]

Navy Reveals Long-Term MUSV Fleet Size; Using OTA For Off The Shelf Vehicles

Rich Abott — Fri, 15 May 2026 21:41:35 +0000

The Navy’s 30-year shipbuilding plan published on May 11 revealed more details about how the service plans to acquire Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels (MUSVs), including the acquisition strategy and long-term […]

Without Iran Supplemental Soon, Caudle Expects To Make Tradeoffs In July Timeframe

Cal Biesecker — Thu, 14 May 2026 20:42:36 +0000

Ongoing operations in the Middle East to contend with Iran will require additional funding soon or the Navy will be facing choices soon on “force generation,” the service’s top officer […]

RTX Wins SeaRAM Ship Self-Defense Contract For Australian Frigates

Rich Abott — Wed, 13 May 2026 19:21:11 +0000

RTX [RTX] on Monday announced its Raytheon SeaRAM ship self-defense system was picked by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to be used on Australia’s 11 upcoming Sea3000 Mogami-class General Purpose Frigates. […]

HAC-D Lawmakers Skeptical Of Battleship; CNO Says Will Use Ford Reactor

Rich Abott — Tue, 12 May 2026 22:00:43 +0000

Several lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee’s defense (HAC-D) subcommittee Tuesday were dubious of the Navy’s approach to the new Trump-class battleship in the fiscal year 2027 budget request and […]

Army Awards Leidos $2.7 Billion To Accelerate Hypersonic Work

Cal Biesecker — Tue, 12 May 2026 21:12:19 +0000

Leidos [LDOS] on Tuesday said it received a $2.7 billion Army contract to unify two hypersonic programs it is developing for the Army and Navy in an effort to accelerate […]

Shipbuilding Plan Reveals Battleship Will be Nuclear Powered and Armed, Pitches Some Foreign Ship Construction

Rich Abott — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:32:12 +0000

The Navy’s latest 30-year shipbuilding plan released Monday reveals the Trump-class battleship will be nuclear powered and armed, extend to a 15-ship class while also explaining plans to allow foreign […]

Navy Establishes Three More PAEs For Aviation, Mission Systems, Munitions

Rich Abott — Mon, 11 May 2026 21:33:58 +0000

The Navy on Monday announced it established three more Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) in another step towards acquisition reform and reorganization: Aviation, Mission Systems, and Munitions. “The needs of the […]

Blue Water Autonomy Announces Power, Propulsion, Manufacturing Partners

Cal Biesecker — Thu, 07 May 2026 21:43:52 +0000

Autonomous vessel developer Blue Water Autonomy on Thursday announced some of its key partners for the supply and production of its Liberty Class ship it has entered into the Navy’s […]

MARTAC USV Completes Eight Day Autonomous Demo For Navy

Rich Abott — Thu, 07 May 2026 21:43:04 +0000

Unmanned surface vehicle (USV) developer Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC) this week announced its T38 Devil Ray vehicle recently completed an eight-day long autonomous test mission for the Navy. A […]

With $1.5 Trillion Request, Army, Air Force, Navy’s Unfunded Lists Focus Solely On MILCON Projects

Matthew Beinart — Thu, 07 May 2026 21:40:01 +0000

With the Trump administration’s push to massively increase defense spending to $1.5 trillion in fiscal year 2027, the Army, Air Force and Navy have eschewed submitting large unfunded priorities lists […]

HII Working Through Carrier And LHA Amphib Delays

Rich Abott — Wed, 06 May 2026 21:36:23 +0000

HII [II] officials on Tuesday explained how they see the company pushing past delays for an upcoming aircraft carrier and amphibious assault ships and how the process is improving. The […]

DARPA Looks To Next-Gen Small Autonomous Undersea Vehicles

Rich Abott — Wed, 06 May 2026 21:06:46 +0000

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) last month released a solicitation for its two year-long Deep Thoughts program looking to rapidly develop next-generation small autonomous undersea vehicles (AUVs) in […]

HII CEO Says Sub Contracts Expected In Second Quarter, Not Focused On Auxiliary Increases

Rich Abott — Tue, 05 May 2026 22:50:17 +0000

Delayed multi ship contracts for 15 attack and ballistic missile submarines are finally expected in the second quarter of 2026, HII [HII] CEO Chris Kastner said in a company earnings […]

Shipbuilding Advisor Toti Performing Duties Of Number Two Navy Civilian

Rich Abott — Mon, 04 May 2026 21:15:47 +0000

Bill Toti, a former Navy officer and industry executive who served a a senior advisor to Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg on shipbuilding issues, was named performing the duties […]

Navy Leaders Want More Industry Entrants, Potentially Multiple Vendors Per Program

Rich Abott — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:58:44 +0000

Navy leadership this week emphasized the need for the Pentagon to move faster and deliver more capability includes using new entrants and potentially using multiple vendors for munitions programs. Newly […]

Near Earth’s Unmanned Bell 505 Offering Picked For Marines’ Resupply Drone Development Effort

Matthew Beinart — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:42:06 +0000

Near Earth Autonomy has announced its selection for the second increment of the Marine Corps’ Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle–Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) development program, with plans to work on an unmanned […]

Marines To Pick ARV Winner In Late FY ‘29, Plans Inc. 2 Effort For Future Variants

Matthew Beinart — Thu, 30 Apr 2026 21:17:11 +0000

The Marine Corps aims to pick a winner between General Dynamics [GD] and Textron Systems [TXT] for its Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) competition in late fiscal year 2029, a lead […]

Official: Marines Plan OPF-L Fielding Call In ‘June Timeframe,’ Wants Anti-Armor OPF-M In FY ‘28

Matthew Beinart — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 21:21:46 +0000

The Marine Corps is planning a fielding decision for its Organic Precision Fires-Light (OPF-L) loitering munition program in “the June timeframe,” an official said Wednesday, while the service is also […]

APG-85 Fielding May Come 9 Months Early, Estimated Unit Cost Of $8.8 Million

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:47:28 +0000

The Air Force now expects to receive the first Northrop Grumman [NOC] APG-85 radar for the F-35A fighter by Lockheed Martin [LMT] in April 2028–nine months earlier than previously scheduled, […]

Wasp Amphib Extending Five Years; Navy And Marine Corps Studying More Amphibs

Rich Abott — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 20:44:25 +0000

The Navy and Marine Corps have decided to extend the service life of the USS Wasp (LHD-1) amphibious assault ship by five years and are awaiting another study looking into […]

Munitions Fired Represent Most of $25 Billion Spent By Pentagon on Iran War So Far

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 16:36:50 +0000

Munitions fired in the two-month old “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran represent most of the $25 billion cost the Pentagon has incurred thus far in the conflict, the acting Defense […]

Navy Awards HII $283 Million To Start Work On New Frigate

Cal Biesecker — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 21:51:51 +0000

The Navy on Tuesday awarded HII [HII] a $282.9 million contract to begin work on the service’s new frigate, which is based on the Coast Guard’s existing 418-foot Legend-class National […]

Oshkosh Anticipates Marines’ Block II ROGUE-Fires Award This Year, Details Autonomy Work

Matthew Beinart — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 20:52:48 +0000

Oshkosh Defense [OSK] is anticipating a Block II production award this year to continue deliveries of its Remotely Operated Ground Unit for Expeditionary Fires (ROGUE-Fires) to the Marine Corps, a […]

Marines Tap Sikorsky, Robinson’s Unmanned R66 For Medium Resupply Drone Development Effort

Matthew Beinart — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:47:38 +0000

The Marine Corps has selected Sikorsky [LMT] and Robinson Helicopter’s R66 Turbinetruck for the second increment of the Medium Aerial Resupply Vehicle–Expeditionary Logistics (MARV-EL) development program, the companies said on […]

First Columbia Sub By 2028 Is “Heavy Lift” But Navy May Buy More Still

Rich Abott — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:41:17 +0000

The Defense Department’s new submarine production chief last week admitted it will be a “heavy lift” to get the first new Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) delivered as planned by […]

GD Details Plans For ARV’s Pre-Production Phase, Deliveries To Begin By Late ‘28

Matthew Beinart — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:12:06 +0000

General Dynamics [GD] Land Systems has detailed forthcoming plans for the pre-production phase of the Marine Corps’ Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) program, and is working now to complete a critical […]

Navy’s MQ-25A Unmanned Tanker Finishes First Test Flight

Rich Abott — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 20:13:12 +0000

The first Boeing [BA] MQ-25A Stingray carrier-based unmanned tanker aircraft conducted its first flight test on Saturday a year later than previously planned, the Navy and Boeing revealed on Monday. […]

Electric Boat Gets First AUKUS Contract To Support Allied Subs

Rich Abott — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 21:52:23 +0000

The Navy last Thursday awarded General Dynamics’ [GD] Electric Boat division an initial $197 million contract focused on supporting the AUKUS program as it helps Australia set up the capability […]

Navy Studying International Ship Production And Increasing Domestic Capacity

Rich Abott — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 21:36:52 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Navy is starting a study on how to increase shipbuilding capacity both domestically and how to potentially expand to buying modules or whole ships outside […]

Breaking: Navy Secretary Phelan Out

Rich Abott — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 22:32:29 +0000

The Pentagon early Wednesday evening suddenly announced Secretary of the Navy John Phelan was immediately leaving the administration. Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao will serve as the acting […]

Ford-Class Carrier Review By Navy Leadership To Last Through May

Rich Abott — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 21:40:07 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – Navy leadership in conducting a review of Ford-class aircraft carriers it expects to conclude within a month that could inform changes for the next pair of […]

INDOPACOM Commander Praises LUCAS And MEROPS Drones

Frank Wolfe — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:53:26 +0000

Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), used the phrase “unmanned hellscape” in June 2024, to describe what China would face in the Taiwan Strait if […]

Navy Still Studying Fifth Shipyard, Weighing Against More Shifts At Existing Yards

Rich Abott — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:40:57 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Navy’s top officer Monday said the service is still looking at a potential fifth naval shipyard, but is also balancing the concept against adding more […]

Navy Pushes Billions To Buy First Battleship In 2028 With Aggressive Schedule

Rich Abott — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 21:18:38 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. – The Navy plans to buy the first new Trump-class battleship BBG(X) in 2028 and wants to spend upwards of $43.5 billion over the next five years […]

AV Demonstrates Laser Weapon System Aboard Navy Aircraft Carrier Against Drones

Cal Biesecker — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:34:33 +0000

AeroVironment [AVAV] on Tuesday said it successfully demonstrated its LOCUST laser weapons system aboard the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) during a live fire demonstration at sea in October 2025, […]

Official: Navy Assessing ‘Round Two’ Of Capabilities Suitable For Production Boost Frameworks

Matthew Beinart — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:15:53 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.– After securing new framework deals to boost production capacity for weapons such as Tomahawk cruise missiles and AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), a Navy official said […]

Marines Keeping Options Open On Next ALC Phase, Fielding Decision Likely In ‘Next Couple Years’

Matthew Beinart — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:01:19 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.–The Marine Corps is “keeping open [its] options” on whether it will move forward with one or multiple vendors for the next phase of its Aerial Logistics Connector […]

Navy Tests New Long Range Version Of JDAM

Rich Abott — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 20:07:29 +0000

The Navy earlier this month tested a new Boeing [BA] GBU-75 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Long Range (LR) variant in an effort to add another affordable munition to carrier […]

Navy’s F/A-XX Down-Select Coming In August, CNO Says

Rich Abott — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:58:34 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.— The Navy’s top officer Monday confirmed the Pentagon in August plans to down-select the winning bid for the F/A-XX sixth-generation fighter for the carrier air wing. Speaking […]

Anduril Adds Edison Chouest Offshore For MUSV Production In The U.S.

Cal Biesecker — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 17:41:36 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, MD.—Anduril Industries, which last fall announced a partnership with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to design and develop autonomous surface vessels (ASVs) to meet requirements of the U.S. Navy, […]

Saildrone Introduces High-Speed Spectre Medium USV Class For ASW, Strike Missions

Cal Biesecker — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:32:27 +0000

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md.—Saildrone on Monday introduced a new class of high-endurance, medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSVs) with two variants, one of which is optimized for higher speeds and kinetic strike […]