Author: Robert Luster

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USS Ralph Johnson Lends a Hand to Local Community

Introduction:

Greetings members and subscribers! Americans for a Stronger Navy values promoting peace through strength, which is our organization’s central theme. In this blog post, we’ll discuss how the USS Ralph Johnson recently assisted a local non-profit organization, Island Girl Power (IGP), in Guam. We hope that this story will inform and inspire our readers to continue supporting a Stronger Navy.

Summary:

Sailors from the USS Ralph Johnson (DDG 116) visited IGP in Dededo, Guam, on March 31 to help organize donations of clothing and furniture for the Kurason i’Sengsong thrift store and assist in the community garden. The proceeds from the thrift store help to fund IGP’s core program, which aims to empower young girls in Guam. The sailors hoped that their work would help the mission of IGP and connected them to the greater good of the island’s community. IGP Executive Director Juanita Blaz thanked the sailors for their assistance, which showed the community and its youth that people care about them.

Key Takeaways:

  • The USS Ralph Johnson recently helped Island Girl Power in Guam.
  • Sailors helped organize donations of clothing and furniture and assisted in the community garden.
  • The proceeds from the thrift store fund IGP’s core program, which young girls in Guam.
  • The sailors hoped to connect with the community and the greater good of the island.
  • IGP Executive Director Juanita Blaz thanked the sailors for their assistance, which showed the community and its youth that people care about them.

Conclusion:

The USS Ralph Johnson’s recent assistance to Island Girl Power is a heartwarming example of how the US Navy can help local communities.

We hope that this story inspires our readers to continue supporting a Stronger Navy, which values promoting peace through strength. By subscribing to Americans for a Stronger Navy, you can stay informed about our mission and help us achieve our goals. #PeaceThroughStrength

Class and type
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer
Displacement
9,217 tons (full load)[6]
Length
513 feet (156 m)[6]
Beam
66 feet (20 m)[6]
Propulsion
4 × General Electric LM2500 gas turbines (100,000 shp)[6]
Speed
30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph)
Complement
380 officers and enlisted
Armament
Guns:
5-inch (127 mm)/62 Mk 45 Mod 4 (lightweight gun)
1 × 20 mm Phalanx CIWS
2 × 25 mm Mk 38 Machine Gun System
4 × .50 caliber (12.7 mm) guns
Missiles:
1 × 32-cell, 1 × 64-cell (96 total cells) Mk 41 Vertical Launching System (VLS):
RIM-66M Surface-to-Air Missile
RIM-156 Surface-to-Air Missile
RIM-174A Standard ERAM
RIM-161 Anti-Ballistic Missile
RIM-162 ESSM (quad-packed)
BGM-109 Tomahawk Cruise Missile
RUM-139 Vertical Launch ASROC
Torpedoes:
2 × Mark 32 triple torpedo tubes:
Mark 46 Lightweight Torpedo
Mark 50 Lightweight Torpedo
Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo
Aircraft carried
2 × MH-60R Seahawk helicopters
Aviation facilities
Double hangar and helipad

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China Conducts Military Drills Around Taiwan, Alarming the Region

Introduction

Greetings members and subscribers, we at Americans for a Stronger Navy, are committed to promoting Peace Through Strength. As an organization that aims to inform and inspire, we want to provide the latest news on the recent military drills that China has conducted around Taiwan.

Summary

Chinese Destroyer Courtesy of DoD

China recently completed three days of military drills around Taiwan, which included “sealing off” the island and simulating targeted strikes. Taiwan detected jets to its east, and China confirmed its Shandong aircraft carrier had taken part. China began the exercises after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met the US House Speaker in California. The drills have not been as big as those that followed Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei last August.

Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, while China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually be brought under Beijing’s control, by force if necessary.

Taiwan’s defence ministry detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island on Monday. A senior US official has expressed concern about Beijing’s military exercises, saying they undermine peace and stability in the region.

Key Takeaways

China has conducted military drills around Taiwan, which included “sealing off” the island and simulating targeted strikes.

Taiwan considers itself a sovereign state, while China sees it as a breakaway province that will eventually be brought under Beijing’s control, by force if necessary.

Taiwan’s defense ministry detected 12 Chinese warships and 91 aircraft around the island on Monday.

The US has expressed concern about Beijing’s military exercises, saying they undermine peace and stability in the region.

Conclusion

As a supporter of a Stronger Navy, we hope this update on the recent military drills by China around Taiwan will encourage you to subscribe and stay informed. We want to emphasize the importance of peace through strength and how vital it is for a Stronger Navy.

Our mission is to keep you updated on the latest news and inspire you to support our efforts towards a safer future.

Thank you for your time, and we appreciate your continued support.

source: BBC

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This Week in Navy History – April 10, to April 17, 2023

April 10

1941

USS Niblack (DD 424) picks up three boatloads of survivors from Dutch freighter Saleier, which was sunk the previous day by a German U-boat. The destroyer detects a submarine preparing to attack and drives it off with a depth charge attack. It is the first action between American and German forces in World War II.

1942

USS Thresher (SS 200) torpedoes and sinks Japanese merchant cargo ship Maru six miles north of Oshima, near the entrance to Tokyo Bay, Honshu, Japan.

1944

TBM bombers and FM-2s aircraft (VC 58) from USS Guadalcanal (CVE 60) sink German submarine U 68 off Madeira Island.

1963

During diving tests, USS Thresher (SSN 593) is lost with all hands east of Cape Cod, Mass., including commanding officer and 17 civilian technicians.

1966

During the Vietnam War, the river patrol boats (PBRs) of River Patrol Force commence operations on inland waters of South Vietnam.

April 11

1783

Congress declares the cessation of arms against Great Britain, just a few days after British Parliament passed a similar resolution, thus ending hostilities of the American Revolution.

1944

USS Redfin (SS 272) sinks the Japanese destroyer Akigumo in the eastern entrance to Basilan Strait.

1945

The kamikaze attacks during the Okinawa Campaign damage eight Navy ships.

1970

Apollo 13 is launched, commanded by Navy Capt. James A. Lovell. The ship endures an explosion forcing an immediate return to Earth. Recovery is by helicopters from USS Iwo Jima (LPH 2).

1991

The U.N. Security Council declares a formal cease-fire ending the Persian Gulf War.

1992

USS Annapolis (SSN 760) is commissioned at the Electric Boat Division at Groton, Conn. The 10th of her Los Angeles “Improved” class of attack submarines.

April 12

1861

The Civil War begins with Confederates firing on Fort Sumter, S.C. The Union Navy plays an integral part blockading Confederates, keeping them diplomatically and economically contained from other nations.

1911

Lt. Theodore Ellyson completes his aviator training at the Glenn Curtiss Aviation Camp at North Island, San Diego, Calif., and becomes Naval Aviator No. 1.

1944

USS Halibut (SS 232) sinks Japanese army passenger/cargo ship Taichu Maru despite the presence of at least three escort vessels.

1945

President Franklin D. Roosevelt dies at Warm Springs, Ga. Besides being the nation’s longest-serving president, he also was an assistant secretary of the Navy.

1962

U.S. Navy demonstrates new landing craft with retractable hydrofoils, LCVP (H), which are named Highlanders. The Navy eventually rejects the craft because it cant keep a straight path like a standard LCVP.

1981

The first re-useable Space Shuttle, Columbia (STS-1) is launched with an all-US Navy crew: Capt. John W. Young (Ret.) is the shuttles commander and Lt. Cmdr. Robert L. Crippen is the pilot.

1986

USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) is commissioned at Bath, Maine.

1993

Aircraft from USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and NATO forces begin enforcing the no-fly zone over the Bosnia in Operation Deny Flight.

2003

USS Mason (DDG 87) is commissioned at Cape Canaveral, Fla. The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer is the 37th in the class and the ninth of the Flight IIA variant.

April 13

1940

USS J. Fred Talbott (DD 156) returns to the Panama Canal Zone after providing medical assistance to a passenger on board Japanese steamship SS Arimasan Maru.

1942

USS Grayling (SS 209) sinks the Japanese freighter Ryujin Maru off southest tip of Shikoku, Japan.

1944

USS Harder (SS 257) sinks the Japanese destroyer Ikazuchi, 180 miles SSW of Guam.

1952

During the Korean War, sorties launch from USS Philippine Sea (CV 47) and Boxer (CV 21) and deliver 200 tons of aircraft ordnance to the North Korean target area.

1960

The Navy’s navigation satellite, Transit 1B, which demonstrates the first engine restart in space, is placed into orbit from Cape Canaveral, Florida, by Thor-Able-Star.

1981

AV-8A Harriers deploy as a Marine Air Group on board an amphibious assault ship for the first time.

1996

USS Carney (DDG 64) is commissioned at Mayport, Fla., her homeport. The destroyer is the 14th of the Arleigh Burke-class and the first to be named after Adm. Robert Carney, the Chief of Naval Operations during the Eisenhower administration.

April 14

1898

The first post-Civil War hospital ship, USS Solace (AH 2) is commissioned and soon participates in the Spanish-American War attending to wounded servicemen from battles in Cuba

1942

USS Roper (DD 147) sinks German submarine U 85 off the Virginia Capes. Before being sunk by Roper, U 85 sank three Allied merchant vessels.

1945

USS Tirante (SS 420), commanded by Lt. Cmdr. George L. Street III, attacks a Japanese convoy in the approaches to the Yellow Sea and sinks a transport ship and two vessels. Street earns Medal of Honor for his actions.

1969

A North Korean aircraft shoots down an unarmed EC-121 propeller-driven Constellation, killing all 31 crewmembers on board.

1988

During Operation Ernest Will, USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) strikes an Iranian mine off Qatar, injuring 10 sailors. Four days later, the US Navy retaliates with Operation Praying Mantis, which strikes Iranian oil platforms, sinks an Iranian frigate, patrol ship, and damages another frigate.

April 15

1912

The scout cruisers USS Chester and USS Salem sail from Massachusetts to assist RMS Titanic survivors, and escort RMS Carpathia, which carried the survivors of the Titanic, to New York.

1918

The First Marine Aviation Force, under the command of Capt. Alfred A. Cunningham, USMC, is formed at Marine Flying Field, Miami, Fla.

1945

USS Frost (DE 144) and USS Stanton (DE 247) join to attack German submarine U 880 north-northwest of the Azores, which sinks at 01:14.

1961

The first nuclear-powered frigate, USS Bainbridge (DLGN-25), is launched at Quincy, Mass.

1962

USS Princeton (LPH 5) brings the first advisory unit to Vietnam and the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMM) 362 SocTrang, Mekong Delta, South Vietnam.

1986

Operation El Dorado Canyon. Aircraft of USS America (CV 66) & USS Coral Sea (CV 43) attack Libya.

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US Navy Asserts Navigational Rights in the South China Sea Near China-Militarized Island

Introduction:

Greetings to all members and subscribers of Americans for a Stronger Navy. We believe in promoting peace through strength, which is a valuable central theme of our organization mission.

In this blog post, we will summarize a recent event related to the US Navy in the South China Sea.

Summary:

The US Navy has sent a guided-missile destroyer, the USS Milius, close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, near the South China Sea. Mischief Reef, which is claimed by the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam, has been militarized by China.

The sailing was consistent with international law, and the US Navy asserts that China’s actions are in violation of the Law of the Sea Convention. China has claimed almost all of the South China Sea as part of its territorial waters, including many distant islands and inlets, and has militarized many of them.

“No member of the international community should be intimidated or coerced into giving up their rights and freedoms,” the US Navy said.

The US Navy announcement came after China’s military simulated precision attacks against key targets in Taiwan.

China called the USS Milius mission “illegal trespassing.”

The US regularly conducts freedom of navigation operations (FONOPs) in the region, defending the rights of vessels of any nation to operate in the area.

Key Takeaways:

  • The US Navy has sent a guided-missile destroyer close to Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands, near the South China Sea.
  • Mischief Reef has been militarized by China, which is in violation of international law.
  • China claims almost all of the South China Sea as part of its territorial waters and has militarized many of the islands and inlets.
  • The US regularly conducts FONOPs in the region to defend the rights of vessels of any nation to operate in the area.

Conclusion:

It is essential to promote peace through strength, as our organization mission states, and the recent US Navy’s action in the South China Sea is an example of how we can achieve it. By following international law and conducting FONOPs, we can defend the rights of all nations to operate in the region.

We encourage all our readers to support a Stronger Navy by subscribing to our website and staying informed on these critical issues.

source CNN

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TACAMO: The Next Generation of Nuclear Communication Aircraft for the Navy

Introduction:

Greetings to all members and subscribers of the Americans for a Stronger Navy blog. Our organization’s mission is to promote peace through strength.

Today, we are excited to share some news regarding the U.S. Navy’s plan to purchase new aircraft that will act as communication links between the government and nuclear forces worldwide.

Summary:

The Navy is preparing to replace the E-6 Mercury with the E-XX, a new aircraft that will be based on the C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft. The E-XX will be responsible for transmitting messages to missile submarines and other nuclear forces, including the launch codes for nuclear weapons if necessary.

United States Navy Boeing E-6B Mercury of Strategic Communications Wing ONE, Task Group 114.2, based at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, high over Colorado Aug. 23, 2019. The E-6B was refueled by a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker of the 507th Air Refueling Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, also from Tinker AFB. (U.S. Air Force photo/Greg L. Davis)

The Navy will release a requirements list for the new plane, with three test aircraft set to be built soon, followed by a contract for nine more by 2025. The 12 new aircraft will replace the 16 E-6s currently in service.

The TACAMO (take charge and move out) planes are responsible for relaying Emergency Action Messages (EAMs) to submarines at sea. The submarines are armed with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles and are tasked to disappear into the oceans to evade detection.

TACAMO planes ensure that the National Command Authority can command nuclear forces even in the midst of a nuclear war. One

TACAMO plane is usually in the air at all times, and it’s not uncommon for up to six to be in the air at once.

The new E-XX TACAMO will trail long wires that transmit very low-frequency messages, which can penetrate seawater and reach submerged submarines. Lockheed Martin’s entry for the E-XX competition is the EC-130J TACAMO, a plane it is co-developing with Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.

Northrop Grumman along with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, Raytheon Intelligence & Space, Crescent Systems, and Long Wave Inc. to partner to develop a solution for the US Navy’s E-XX TACAMO requirements.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Navy is preparing to replace the E-6 Mercury with the E-XX, a new aircraft that will be based on the C-130J Super Hercules military transport aircraft.
  • The E-XX will be responsible for transmitting messages to missile submarines and other nuclear forces, including the launch codes for nuclear weapons if necessary.
  • The TACAMO planes ensure that the National Command Authority can command nuclear forces even in the midst of a nuclear war.
  • The new E-XX TACAMO will trail long wires that transmit very low-frequency messages, which can penetrate seawater and reach submerged submarines.
  • Lockheed Martin’s entry for the E-XX competition is the EC-130J TACAMO, a plane it is co-developing with Raytheon and Northrop Grumman.

Conclusion:

The TACAMO aircraft are some of the most important planes in the entire U.S. military arsenal, as their job as an essential link in nuclear command and control means they truly live up to their hype as the “deadliest planes in the world.” We hope this news has informed and inspired our readers to support a Stronger Navy. Let us work together to promote peace through strength.

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US submarine sent to Middle East

The USS Florida U.S. Navy/Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class Lynn Friant

The U.S. Navy has deployed a nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine, USS Florida, to the Middle East in support of the U.S. Fifth Fleet based in Bahrain.

The submarine entered the region on Thursday and transited the Suez Canal on Friday. The USS Florida is capable of carrying up to 154 Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles and is deployed to ensure regional maritime security and stability.

The Ohio-class guided missile submarine USS Florida (SSGN 728) makes her way through Cumberland Sound to Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. Florida will be officially welcomed to her new home in Kings Bay with a return to service ceremony scheduled for May 25, 2006, in Mayport, Fla. Florida is the second of four SSBN submarines to be converted to the guided missile SSGN platform.

Armament

4 × 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes
154 × BGM-109 Tomahawks in 22 groups of seven

The 5th Fleet patrols the crucial Strait of Hormuz, the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf through which 20% of all oil transits. Its region includes the Bab el-Mandeb Strait off Yemen and the Red Sea stretching up to the Suez Canal, the Egyptian waterway linking the Mideast to the Mediterranean Sea.

USS Florida
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China Sends 71 Warplanes Near Taiwan During Three-Day Military Drills

Press reports reflect that China conducted “Joint Sword” drills and combat patrols around Taiwan from April 2-4, 2022, involving 71 warplanes and nine naval vessels in a show of force against Taiwan’s sovereignty according to Japan Times.

According to the Eastern Theater Command, the drills were conducted in the waters and airspace to the north, south and east of Taiwan. It warned that it is a serious warning against the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces’ collusion and provocation with external forces, and it is a necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Taiwan’s defense ministry detected 45 of the warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the most in a single day since Taiwan began releasing daily tallies in 2020. The exercises were held days after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen incurred Beijing’s wrath for meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China has not ruled out the use of force to take Taiwan, which it regards as its own territory, and has denounced Tsai’s meetinyg with McCarthy as “collusion” between Washington and Taipei, promising to take “resolute and effective measures” in response. The latest military exercises by China have been criticized by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry as a threat to “regional peace, stability and security,” adding that China had “used President Tsai’s visit to the United States as an excuse to conduct the military exercises.”

Japan has watched the area with trepidation, with senior officials fearing that conflict in the Taiwan Strait would also constitute an emergency for Japan. Okinawa Prefecture’s Yonaguni Island sits about 110 kilometers from Taiwan, and growing concerns over a possible war have helped Tokyo push through a dramatic shift in security policy and boost in defense spending.

Key takeaways:

  • China conducted “Joint Sword” drills and combat patrols around Taiwan from April 2-4, 2022, involving 71 warplanes and nine naval vessels in a show of force against Taiwan’s sovereignty.
  • The Eastern Theater Command warned that it was a serious warning against the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces’ collusion and provocation with external forces, and it is a necessary action to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity.
  • Taiwan’s defense ministry detected 45 of the warplanes crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, the most in a single day since
  • Taiwan began releasing daily tallies in 2020.
    The latest military exercises by China have been criticized by Taiwan’s Defense Ministry as a threat to “regional peace, stability and security.”
  • Japan has watched the area with trepidation, with senior officials fearing that conflict in the Taiwan Strait would also constitute an emergency for Japan.
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Americans for a Stronger Navy: Advocating for a Robust Naval Force to Protect U.S. Interests

Global Leadership and Peace through Strength

Our mission is to educate policymakers and the public about the crucial role of a strong Navy and advocate for investments in shipbuilding, modernization, and maintenance. Today, we’ll be discussing China’s recent patrols and inspections in the Taiwan Strait and why a strong Navy is essential to preserving peace through strength, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of navigation.

China Increases Patrols and Inspections in Taiwan Strait Following High-Level Meeting with U.S. Officials

Courtesy of the CIA

China Increases Patrols and Inspections in Taiwan Strait Following High-Level Meeting with U.S. Officials

China has launched a series of patrols in the Taiwan Strait and ordered inspections of ships, which Taiwan has rejected and urged its shipping companies to ignore. The inspections could impact passenger and fishing vessels as well as commercial and shipping vessels.

The Chinese move comes after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, prompting China to vow to take “strong” measures if the two leaders went through with the meeting.

The U.S. has pledged unwavering bipartisan support for Taiwan, while China has said it will resolutely safeguard its country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Taiwan split from mainland China in 1949 after pro-democratic forces based there lost a civil war to the Chinese Communist Party.

Key takeaways:

  • China has launched patrols in the Taiwan Strait and ordered inspections of ships, but Taiwan has rejected these measures and urged its shipping companies to ignore them.
  • The Chinese inspections could impact a range of vessels, including passenger and fishing vessels as well as commercial and shipping vessels.
  • China’s actions came after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California, which prompted China to vow to take “strong” measures.
  • The U.S. has pledged its unwavering bipartisan support for Taiwan, while China has said it will resolutely safeguard its country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
  • Taiwan split from mainland China in 1949 after pro-democratic forces based there lost a civil war to the Chinese Communist Party.
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US Navy Destroys Supersonic Target GQM-163 Coyote in Successful Exercise

Americans for a Stronger Navy is a non profit group advocating for a robust US Navy to maintain the nation’s maritime superiority and safeguard its interests and peace through strength.

As part of its mission, the group highlights the importance of investing in advanced naval technologies and capabilities to ensure that the Navy remains ready and capable of defending against any potential threat.

USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) and USS Mason (DDG 87) engage a GQM-163, supersonic target, launched by the NASA’s Wallops Fight Facility in Virginia using AEGIS combat system and SM-2 missiles.

The exercise took place on 27 March 2023, and the footage of the event was released by the Navy.

https://youtu.be/n6171Y8F15I
Northrop Grumman GQM-163 Coyote

Philippine Sea and Mason are underway in the Atlantic Ocean conducting surface warfare advanced tactical training (SWATT) with Carrier Strike Group TWO. SWATT is the surface force’s premiere advanced tactical training exercise, increasing warfighting capability and tactical proficiency across all domains.

Northrop Grumman

The US Navy has successfully destroyed the supersonic target GQM-163 Coyote during an exercise in the Atlantic Ocean near the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia.

The GQM-163 Coyote is a high-performance target used for training purposes and was developed by Northrop Grumman for the US Navy to replace the MQM-8 Vandal. It is capable of reaching Mach 2.6 (3,210 km/h) at 5-9 meters and Mach 3-4 (3,700-4940 km/h) at 1.5-16.8 km altitude, with a range of 83km and the ability to reach 17km into the sky.

Lockheed Martin Aegis system

During the exercise, the US Navy used at least two Raytheon Standard Missile 2 (SM-2) interceptors to destroy the GQM-163 Coyote. The missiles were launched by the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Philippine Sea (CG-58) and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Mason (DDG-87), both of which are equipped with the Aegis system.

The Aegis system leverages a combination of software, sensors, and weapons to detect, classify, track, and defeat threats. It integrates the flow of information from multiple ships and aircraft to comprehensively counter large-scale attacks.

The successful exercise demonstrated the effectiveness of the Aegis system and the SM-2 missiles in countering supersonic targets. The Navy’s ability to detect, track and destroy such high-performance targets is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of maritime operations.

Overall, the successful exercise is a testament to the US Navy’s commitment to maintaining a high level of readiness and preparedness in the face of potential threats. The Navy’s continued investment in advanced technologies and training exercises ensures that it remains capable of defending against any potential adversaries.

Source: The War Zone


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DOD Navy Contracts Announced

Huntington Ingalls Inc., Pascagoula, Mississippi, is awarded a $1,295,000,013 fixed-price-incentive modification to previously awarded contract N00024-18-C-2406 for the procurement of the detail design and construction of the Amphibious Transport Dock ship, LPD 32, the third LPD 17 Flight II ship. Work will be performed in Pascagoula, Mississippi (82%); Crozet, Virginia (3%); Beloit, Wisconsin (2%); and New Orleans, Louisiana (2%), with other efforts performed at various sites throughout the U.S. (11%). Work is expected to be completed by September 2029. Fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of $1,295,000,013 will be obligated at award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland, is awarded a $235,904,196 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-5519 to exercise an option for production of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block 3 Hemisphere Systems. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland (55%); Tampa, Florida (8%); Andover, Massachusetts (5%); Chelmsford, Massachusetts (5%); San Diego, California (3%); Rochester, New York (2%); Los Angeles, California (2%); Stafford Springs, Connecticut (2%); Glendale, Arizona (1%); Elk Grove Village, Illinois (1%); White Marsh, Maryland (1%); Tucson, Arizona (1%); Chandler, Arizona (1%); Washington, North Carolina (1%); Woodridge, Illinois (1%); Richardson, Texas (1%); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1%); El Cajon, California (1%); Hiawatha, Iowa (1%); Littleton, Colorado (1%); Glendale, California (1%); Rolling Meadows, Illinois (1%); and other locations each less than 1% (4%), and is expected to be completed by December 2025. Fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $175,249,445 (74%); and fiscal 2023 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $60,654,751 (26%) will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Technologies Corp., Pratt and Whitney Military Engines, East Hartford, Connecticut, is awarded a $212,681,084 fixed-price incentive (firm-target) modification (P00031) to a previously awarded contract (N0001921C0011). This modification definitizes the existing contract and extends the period of performance to provide continued recurring sustainment, program management, financial and administrative, propulsion integration, engineering, material management, configuration management, software sustainment, security management, equipment management and product management support activities. Additionally, this modification definitizes and extends the period of performance to continue to provide joint technical publication updates, training, depot level maintenance and repair for all fielded propulsion systems at the F-35 production sites and operational locations for the Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in East Hartford, Connecticut (40%); Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (21%); Indianapolis, Indiana (12%); West Palm Beach, Florida (6%); Windsor Locks, Connecticut (6%); Brekstad, Norway (4%); Leeuwarden, Netherlands (3%); Iwakuni, Japan (3%); Williamtown, Australia (2%); Cameri, Italy (1%); Marham, United Kingdom (1%); and Fort Worth, Texas (1%), and is expected to be completed in November 2023. Fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $82,789,319; fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $35,970,027; fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $14,356,701; FMS customer funds in the amount of $25,690,292; and non-U.S. DOD participant funds in the amount of $53,300,944 will be obligated at the time of award, $133,116,047 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

BAE Systems Land & Armaments L.P., Minneapolis, Minnesota, is awarded a $132,485,525 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-20-C-5380 for MK 41 vertical launching system (VLS) canister production and ancillary hardware. Work will be performed in Aberdeen, South Dakota (90%); and Minneapolis, Minnesota (10%), and is expected to be completed by November 2025. Fiscal 2023 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $76,616,300 (58%); fiscal 2023 defense-wide procurement funds in the amount of $30,163,290 (22%); other customer funds in the amount of $12,690,500 (9%); fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation (Army) funds in the amount of $9,213,700 (6%); fiscal 2023 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $1,842,740 (1%); Fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,553,887 (1%); Foreign Military Sales funds (Japan) in the amount of $325,413 (1%); fiscal 2022 research, development, test and evaluation funds (Army) in the amount of $63,250 (1%); and fiscal 2022 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $16,445 (1%) will be obligated at time of award, of which $1,617,137 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded an $113,628,201 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-21-C-5406 for MK 15 close-in weapon system (CIWS) upgrades and conversions, system overhauls, and associated hardware. Work will be performed in Louisville, Kentucky (37%); Tucson, Arizona (13%); Mason, Ohio (6%); Williston, Vermont (5%); Hauppauge, New York (2%); Joplin, Missouri (2%); Radford, Virginia (2%); Palo Alto, California (2%); Andover, Massachusetts (2%); Van Nuys, California (1%); Anaheim, California (1%); Valencia, California (1%); Irvine, California (1%); Tempe, Arizona (1%) and various other locations each less than 1% (24%), and is expected to be completed by September 2026. Fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $70,496,178 (62%), fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $41,316,038 (36%), fiscal 2021 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $804,046 (1%), and fiscal 2022 weapons procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,939 (1%), will be obligated at time of award, of which $71,300,224 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

DRS Systems Inc., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $26,000,000 modification (P00002) to a firm-fixed-price order (N0001922F1162) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N0001919G0030). This modification adds scope to procure 16 joint urgent operation need Weapon Replaceable Assembly Shipsets associated with the AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasures system configuration in support of the MH-60S for the Navy. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas (55%); San Diego, California (43%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (1%); and Melbourne, Florida (1%), and is expected to be completed in March 2025. Fiscal 2023 aircraft procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $26,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

Lockheed Martin Space, Titusville, Florida is being awarded a $20,941,008 cost-plus-fixed-fee level-of-effort and completion type contract modification (P00002) to previously awarded contract N0003022C2023 for engineering, technical support services, operational support hardware and consumable spares for the Fleet Ballistic Missile Program. Work will be performed in Denver, Colorado (24.64%); Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (23.30%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (23.21%); Titusville, Florida (9.75%); Sunnyvale, California (7.77%); Coulport, Scotland (4.19%); Kings Bay, Georgia (1.83%); and various locations below one percent (5.31%). Work is expected to be completed by March 31, 2025. Non-appropriated funds in the amount of $20,941,008 will be obligated on this award and no funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was awarded as a sole source acquisition pursuant to 10 U.S.Code 2304(c)(4). Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Hexagon US Federal Inc. – Huntsville, Alabama, is awarded a $16,370,119 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00024-23-F-4125) for surface ship Situational Awareness, Boundary Enforcement and Response (SABER) land-based site equipment under indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N00024-19-D-4114. Work will be performed in Huntsville, Alabama, and is expected to be completed by October 2024. Fiscal 2023 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,490,113 (70.2%); fiscal 2023 ship construction (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,559,293 (21.7%); and fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,320,713 (8.1%) will be obligated at the time of award. This contract was not competitively procured as it is a delivery order off of a single award contract. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Spring, Texas, is awarded a $15,922,961 modification under a previously awarded firm-fixed-price contract (N3220522C4029) to fund and exercise Option Year 1 for continuous supportive engineering and technical services to audit ships and conduct plan reviews to verify, confirm and document that Military Sealift Command’s government-owned, government-operated fleet and government-owned, contract-operated fleet of are maintained in class or can be placed in class with ABS. The Navy’s Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity.

L3 Harris Technologies Inc. – Interstate Electronics Corp., Anaheim, California, is awarded a $15,798,147 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-plus-incentive-fee modification (P00015) under previously awarded contract N00003022C2001 for services and support for flight test instrumentation systems. Work will be performed in Anaheim, California (55%); Cape Canaveral, Florida (31%); Washington, D.C. (8%); Barrow-in-Furness, United Kingdom (3%); and Groton, Connecticut (3%). Work is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2025. Fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $4,449,557; and fiscal 2023 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,009,302 will be obligated at the time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The total obligated dollar value of the modification is $13,458,859 and the total cumulative face value of the options exercised is $15,798,147. This contract was awarded on a sole source basis under 10 U.S.Code 2304(c)(1) and was previously synopsized on the System for Award Management online portal. This contract award also benefits a foreign military sale to the United Kingdom. Strategic Systems Programs, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Northrop Grumman Corp., Charlottesville, Virginia, is awarded a $15,723,200 firm-fixed-price and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract N00024-23-C-5234 to exercise options for surface and submarine inertial sensor module (ISM) configurations and material for engineering support for the navigation program. Work will be performed in Charlottesville, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by January 2025. Fiscal 2023 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,724,162 (75%); fiscal 2023 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,949,519 (12%); fiscal 2022 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,949,519 (12%); and fiscal 2022 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $100,000 (1%) will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Raytheon Missiles & Defense, Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is awarded a $15,043,848 firm-fixed-price modification to previously awarded contract N00024-22-C-5522 for an option exercise of a technical refresh and a procurement of spares to support DDG 1000-class combat system activation, sustainment, and modernization. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (44%); Largo, Florida (29%); Marlborough, Massachusetts (19%); and Nashua, New Hampshire (8%), and is expected to be completed by January 2026. Fiscal 2023 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $5,575,427 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity.

Centerra Group LLC, Herndon, Virginia, was awarded $8,830,791 for a modification to indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract N62742-16-D-3600. This modification provides for the exercise of Option Period Seven for base operating support services at military and civilian installations within the Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Pacific area of operations. This award brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $68,418,701. Work will be performed in the Republic of Singapore. This option period is from April 2023 to March 2024. Fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance (Navy); fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance (Air Force); and fiscal 2023 non-appropriated funds in the amount of $8,049,648 for recurring work was obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. NAVFAC Pacific, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, is the contracting activity. (Awarded March 28, 2023)

Triton Marine Construction Corp., Bremerton, Washington, is awarded $8,593,939 firm-fixed-price task order (N4425523F4247) to repair saltwater distribution and compressed air lines at Dry Docks 4 and 5, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. The work to be performed provides for returning the saltwater distribution and compressed air loop feed utility lines to new condition by complete replacement of the damaged piping and other system hardware. Work will be performed in Bremerton, Washington, and is expected to be completed by October 2024. Fiscal 2023 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $8,593,939 will be obligated at time of award, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This task order was competitively procured via the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment website, with four offers received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Northwest, Bremerton, Washington, is the contracting activity (N44255-21-D-5008).

CORRECTION: The March 30, 2023, announcement of a $650,433,839 contract with Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California (N0001923C0037), included the wrong contract completion date. The work is expected to be completed in October 2026