Category: Fleet Forward News Watch

The Fleet Forward initiative is a comprehensive plan that aims to strengthen the US Navy by expanding its fleet to meet the evolving challenges of modern warfare. The Fleet Forward News Watch is committed to keeping the public informed about this important initiative and its progress.

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Future USS John H. Dalton

USS Virginia underway in July 2004 Photo courtesy of General Dynamics Electric Boat Public Affairs

The future USS John H. Dalton, a Virginia Attack Boat, SSN-808 will be named after John H. Dalton, the 70th Secretary of the Navy who served on two submarines before pursuing a career in the private sector and government. Secretary Del Toro praised Dalton’s strong and principled stands against sexual assault and harassment during his tenure and oversaw the integration of female Sailors onto combat ships. The attack submarine is designed to carry out various missions such as seeking and destroying enemy submarines and surface ships, supporting battle group operations, and engaging in mine warfare.

The future USS John H. Dalton will honor John H. Dalton, the 70th Secretary of the Navy, who served on two submarines USS Blueback (SS 581) and USS John C. Calhoun (SSBN 630) before departing active duty to pursue graduate education and a career in the private sector.

“I couldn’t be prouder to name this future submarine after John Dalton,” said Secretary Del Toro. “He served as a proud submariner and as Secretary of the Navy, he took strong and principled stands against sexual assault and harassment and oversaw the integration of female Sailors onto combat ships. The changes he drove almost thirty years ago are evident in all corners of our Navy today, with women serving on, above, and below the sea. A ship bearing his name brings strength to the crew who will undoubtedly operate it with the courage and dignity of John H. Dalton.”

U.S. Navy Secretary Del Toro

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Navy and Industry Collaborate – Challenges and Opportunities

Industry executives at the WEST 2023 conference have emphasized the need for earlier involvement in the requirements process in order to overcome challenges faced by industry when delivering capabilities to warfighters. Setting unrealistic expectations for requirements leads to poor communication between industry partners and the military, which can be addressed by involving industry experts in the requirements-setting process. Additionally, industry representatives stressed the importance of a steady demand signal and shared commitment to speed in the contracting process, as well as the need for improved training to ensure successful integration between industry-delivered hardware and software capabilities and the sailors operating them. These comments follow criticism from Navy officials in January about the need for shipbuilders to do more with what they already have.

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Working Together for Mental Health: The Importance of Support and Prevention in the Navy

The Navy has released a mental health playbook to guide leaders on how to broach the subject of mental health with their sailors, and how to help them access resources for help. The playbook aims to address challenges sailors have expressed, including access to services, and encourages conversations with sailors to direct them to the available services. It also highlights the importance of preventative maintenance for people. Under the playbook, naval leaders are tasked with three roles: ensuring an environment where conversations can happen, being on the lookout for signs that sailors are at risk, and helping sailors get services while allowing them to stay in the fleet.

The aim of the Navy is preventing, mitigating, or addressing mental health issues within their commands. The playbook emphasizes the importance of creating a climate of trust and respect, recognizing mental health issues, and getting people the care they need. The three key roles of leaders are identified as setting conditions, recognizing mental health issues, and getting people the care they need, and keeping them in the team. The handbook is intended to be read thoroughly and incorporated into training, with a focus on preventative maintenance for personnel. The playbook encourages leaders to eliminate the stigma around mental health concerns and to provide warm hand-offs to clinical providers.

The members at Americans for a Stronger Navy salutes this effort and we sincerely hope the best for all.

One of the areas we feel we can help is with our “Tell Us Your Story” initiative aims to support mental health by promoting an added sense of purpose for those that serve and have served in the U.S. Navy in the past.

For examlle, the Tell Us Your Story initiative is a project launched by Americans for a Stronger Navy, which aims to shine a spotlight on the stories of those who have served or are currently serving in the Navy. The initiative provides a platform for Navy personnel to share their experiences, insights, and challenges with the broader community. By doing so, it seeks to foster a sense of connection and mutual understanding between Navy personnel and the general public.

One of the key objectives of the Tell Us Your Story initiative is to promote a sense of purpose among Navy personnel. By sharing their stories, Navy personnel can highlight the important role they play in the defense and security of the nation, as well as the broader impact of their work on society. This sense of purpose can be a powerful source of motivation and resilience, particularly in challenging times.

In addition to promoting a sense of purpose, the Tell Us Your Story initiative also seeks to raise awareness about the mental health challenges faced by Navy personnel. By sharing their stories of personal struggle and triumph, Navy personnel can help to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and encourage others to seek support when needed.

Overall, the Tell Us Your Story initiative is an important effort to support the mental health and well-being of Navy personnel by promoting a sense of purpose and fostering a greater sense of connection and understanding between the Navy and the broader community.

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Newport News Shipbuilding Apprenticeship Program

Instructor Natasha Diaz guides a student on how to use 3D scanner software in the Ray Bagley Innovation Lab at The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School. (Photo by Ashley Cowan/HII)

Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School has launched the Ray Bagley Innovation Lab, a mobile laboratory designed to introduce K-12 students and new apprentices to the various trades involved in building ships. The lab covers all 19 trades offered by the school and is intentionally mobile so that it can be used in a variety of settings, such as community events and high school career days. The lab has been funded by Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), Verizon, and BayPort Credit Union, and is part of HII’s efforts to train and develop the next generation of shipbuilders. The Newport News Shipbuilding Apprentice School offers tuition-free apprenticeships in 19 trades, and is accredited by the Council for Occupational Education. Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc

About HII

Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., HII is a global, all-domain defense provider. HII’s mission is to deliver the world’s most powerful ships and all-domain solutions in service of the nation, creating the advantage for our customers to protect peace and freedom around the world.

As the nation’s largest military shipbuilder, and with a more than 135-year history of advancing U.S. national security, HII delivers critical capabilities extending from ships to unmanned systems, cyber, ISR, AI/ML and synthetic training. Headquartered in Virginia, HII’s workforce is 43,000 strong.

CORPORATE LOCATIONS
Newport News Shipbuilding
4101 Washington Ave Newport News, VA 23607
Ingalls Shipbuilding
1000 Jerry St. Pe’ Highway Pascagoula, MS 39568
Mission Technologies
8350 Broad Street, Suite 1400 McLean, VA 22102
HII Washington, DC
300 M Street SE Washington, DC 20003

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USNS Cody, EPF Vessel Christened

Austal USA has christened the USNS Cody, its 14th Expeditionary Fast Transport (EPF) vessel and the first EPF Flight II. The ceremony was attended by Navy leaders, elected officials, and ship sponsor Averil D. Spencer. The EPF Flight II provides an expanded medical capability, including a basic secondary health care facility, an intensive care unit, and limited x-ray, laboratory, and dental support. The catamaran design of the EPF provides stability for onboard medical procedures, and enhanced capabilities support V-22 flight operations and the launch and recovery of 11-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats. Austal USA has two more EPF Flight II ships under construction and a third under contract.

The vision of Austal USA, located in Mobile, Alabama, was realized in 1999 for the purpose of reaching the ever increasing commercial and defense aluminum vessel market in the United States. Our shipbuilding facility occupies 164 acres on the eastern shore of the Mobile River and is strategically positioned at the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico.

Austal USA

100 Austal Way
Mobile, Alabama 36602
(251) 434-8000

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USS Nitze (DDG 94 Gets 145 Millon BAE Systems Upgrade

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Steve Smith • Public domain

The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a $145 million contract for the maintenance and modernization of the USS Nitze (DDG 94), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer. BAE Systems’ Norfolk shipyard will perform the work, including upgrading the ship’s combat and command systems, refurbishing crew living spaces, and preserving the hull. The contract could reach $161 million if all options are exercised. BAE Systems is a leading provider of ship repair and overhaul services, operating three full-service shipyards in California, Florida, and Virginia. The USS Nitze was commissioned in 2005 and is named after former Secretary of the Navy Paul Nitze.

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US Navy Awards $37 millon MK 48 torpedo contract to Lockheed Martin

MK 48 inert training torpedo is lowered onto the USS California. Credit: DVIDS

Lockheed Martin has been awarded a $37 million contract by the US Navy to provide upgrade kits and services for the MK 48 heavyweight torpedo. The Mod 7 Common Broadband Advanced Sonar System (CBASS) upgrade kit will equip the torpedo with increased bandwidth and streamlined targeting and tracking capabilities. The replacement kits will upgrade the heavyweight torpedoes used by the entire United States submarine fleet for anti-submarine or anti-surface warfare, as well as those employed by the allied navies of Australia, Canada, and The Netherlands. The work will be carried out at Lockheed Martin’s Marion, Mass., facility with additional support from other company locations.

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Autonomous Navy Ship Delivered

Americans for a Sronger Navy Reporting

The sun was shining over the Austal USA shipyard in Mobile, Alabama, as the Expeditionary Fast Transport USNS Apalachicola (EPF 13) was handed over to the U.S. Navy. This was a significant moment for Austal USA, as the ship was not only the second Navy vessel to be named after the coastal Florida city, but also the largest surface ship in the Navy fleet with autonomous capability.

The ship had undergone several months of testing, during which Austal USA and their partners, L3Harris and General Dynamics Mission Systems, analyzed not only its typical ship systems, but also those resulting from the autonomous design and construction contract modifications required by the Navy to establish EPF 13 as an autonomous prototype.

Austal USA President Rusty Murdaugh was proud of his team of shipbuilders and the innovative capabilities they had delivered with this ship. The EPF 13 had the ability to conduct V-22 flight operations and launch and recover 11-meter Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), making it an ideal candidate for large vessel autonomous operations, including logistics, tendering, and adjunct magazine mission profiles.

The ship’s machinery control system (MCS) was fundamental to the autonomy effort, enabling the ship to be minimally manned by centralizing machinery operations to the bridge. Additionally, the ship was equipped with automated maintenance, health monitoring, and mission readiness systems, providing the capability to conduct up to 30 days of operation without human intervention.

EPF 13 was also the first Expeditionary Fast Transport vessel to be delivered to the Navy with enhanced capabilities to support V-22 flight operations and launch and recover 11-meter RHIBs. These upgrades, combined with the EPF’s speed, maneuverability, and shallow water access, were key enablers for supporting future Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations around the world.

Austal USA’s work on autonomous vessel capability has been identified as an area of strategic importance by the Navy. The company is partnering with L3Harris on the MCS upgrade of Overlord vessel, Mariner (OUSV 3), and construction of Vanguard (OUSV 4), as well as with Saildrone, Inc. on the manufacture of Surveyor unmanned surface vehicles. The investments from academia in uncrewed technology, combined with Austal USA’s efforts, are quickly making south Alabama the epicenter of autonomous naval architecture.

The delivery of EPF 13 was a proud moment for Austal USA, and it marked a significant step forward in the Navy’s autonomous capabilities. With this ship’s advanced features, the Navy’s ability to conduct missions and operations around the world will be greatly enhanced.