Navy initiates safety review after Blue Angels fly low over Florida beach
The U.S. Navy announced that it will be conducting a safety review after videos began circulating online of the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron flying dangerously close to civilians on a Florida beach. The service acknowledged that an aircraft from the Navy’s Blue Angels flew “lower than standard profiles” over Pensacola Beach on Wednesday, creating a disturbance that affected civilian chairs...[Read More]
Bad actors use bogus offers to go after payouts to families affected by first atomic bomb test
Scam artists have been targeting the $100,000 now available to eligible New Mexico victims of radiation exposure dating back to the world’s first atomic bomb explosion code-named “Trinity” in New Mexico’s Jornada del Muerto desert on July 16, 1945, according to New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez. “New Mexicans who have been affected by these exposures deserve compensation and they deserve to ...[Read More]
Senators question whether military pharmacy program is the best deal for beneficiaries
Senators questioned Wednesday whether the financial details of the military’s Tricare pharmacy program benefit the contractor, Express Scripts, more than military beneficiaries. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., raised concerns about anti-competitive tactics, questioning the practice of allowing Express Scripts — the largest pharmacy benefit manager in the United States — to have the contract as exc...[Read More]
Navy develops strategy to weaponize data, AI
The Department of the Navy is officially weaponizing data and artificial intelligence. In a memorandum signed by Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, the strategy unfurling across the branch it set to allow the department to “to equip and empower all DON missions with the data and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities necessary to rapidly learn and adapt to fight better tomorrow,” according ...[Read More]
USS Sampson spills roughly 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel into Seattle harbor
A U.S. Navy vessel that was being serviced inadvertently dumped hazardous material into the surrounding bay on Monday, the service said. The Arleigh Burke-class Aegis guided missile destroyer USS Sampson was at the Vigor Shipyard on Harbor Island in Seattle, Washington, undergoing defueling operations when an estimated 2,000 gallons of diesel fuel spilled into the surrounding water. “The Navy is w...[Read More]
Top House Democrat calls to split veterans omnibus, advance Major Richard Star Act
As supporters of the Taking Care of America’s Veterans Act defend the legislation as the best chance in years to pass more than 60 veterans bills, the committee’s top Democrat says Congress should be prepared to abandon the omnibus altogether if lawmakers cannot agree on how to pay for it. Years of bipartisan work on the Major Richard Star Act and dozens of other veterans bills could take a differ...[Read More]
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Delivers Battle-Ready Albany
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) delivered USS Albany (SSN 753) to the Navy at Naval Submarine Base New London, returning the Los Angeles-class fast attack submarine before the Fourth of July holiday.
Forged by the T: Pentagon launches testosterone screening program for troops
The Pentagon will begin annually screening service members for testosterone deficiency, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday, citing the need to ensure troops maintain the “biological foundation” to fight. Under the new program, the secretary said service members aged 30 and older will be tested yearly for testosterone deficiency as part of routine health assessments. Troops under...[Read More]
US launches new round of strikes against Iran
The U.S. conducted a new wave of strikes against Iran’s coastal defense systems and cruise missile storage and launch sites on Wednesday after reimposing a naval blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran threatened to shut off more regional energy exports. The strikes mark the latest escalation of attacks and counterattacks launched by the two sides as they vie for control of the Strait of Hormuz, whi...[Read More]
The US Navy is eyeing next-gen carrier-based drones. Here’s what they might do.
The U.S. Navy is looking for a family of carrier-based drones that can fulfill a variety of missions, according to a July 14 Request for Information. The sea service “is exploring the industrial base’s capacity to deliver highly capable, autonomous platforms optimized for operations from Ford-class and Nimitz-class Nuclear Aircraft Carriers,” according to the RFI. The response deadline has been se...[Read More]
Navy awards TOTE $2.2 billion to manage Medium Landing Ships project
The Navy this week awarded a $2.2 billion Vessel Construction Management contract to the Jacksonville, Florida-based TOTE Services LLC for the service’s new Medium Landing Ships. The Marine Corps commissioned the new Medium Landing Ships, or LSMs, with an eye toward potential conflicts with China in the Indo-Pacific. Measuring around 100 meters, the smaller, more agile ships were designed for isla...[Read More]
FRCE slashes bracket manufacture time to meet urgent fleet need
When Marine Corps Air Station New River-based Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 461 (HMH-461) experienced a critical need for CH-53K King Stallion parts while conducting training in Arizona, Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) filled the requirement within hours, returning the aircraft to mission-capable status at breakneck speed.