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Category: U.S. Navy News
Covering U.S. naval news is crucial for the members of the Americans for a Stronger Navy as it keeps them informed of the latest developments, initiatives, and challenges faced by the Navy. This information enables them to advocate for policies that support a stronger and more capable Navy, including increased funding, modernization, and recruitment efforts. Additionally, following naval news helps them to engage with the public and raise awareness about the critical role the Navy plays in protecting national security interests and promoting global stability.
The U.S. Missile Defense Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, successfully conducted Flight Test Aegis Weapon System 31 Event 1a (FTM-31 E1a).
USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Greg Hall)
The test aimed to demonstrate the capability of a ballistic missile defense ship to detect, track, engage, and intercept a medium-range ballistic missile target.
The USS Daniel Inouye fired two SM-6 Dual II missiles to successfully intercept the target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill congratulated the entire test team, including sailors and industry partners, for achieving this milestone in an operationally realistic scenario.
The US Navy successfully intercepted a medium-range ballistic missile in a test on March 30, 2023.
The test was conducted in cooperation with the US Missile Defense Agency and aimed to demonstrate the capability of a ballistic missile defense ship to detect, track, engage, and intercept a medium-range ballistic missile target.
The USS Daniel Inouye fired two SM-6 Dual II missiles to successfully intercept the target launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii.
The successful interception was described as “an incredible accomplishment” and “a key milestone” by the Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill.
The test team, including sailors and industry partners, were congratulated for achieving this milestone in an operationally realistic scenario.
About USS Daniel Inouye
The USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) is named in honor of Daniel Inouye, who served as a United States Senator for Hawaii from 1963 until his death in 2012.
USS Daniel Inouye is a Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are multi-mission ships able to hold targets on land, at sea, in the air, and under water at risk with a suite of sophisticated weapons and sensors.
Senator Inouye received the Medal of Honor on June 21, 2000 for his extraordinary heroism in action while serving with the 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Team in Italy during World War II.
“Following delivery to the Navy in March 2021, the entire team has continued to prepare DDG 118 for this important readiness milestone,” said Capt. Seth Miller, DDG 51 program manager, Arleigh Burke-class program office, Program Executive Office, Ships. “The fleet will soon be receiving an advanced warship capable of performing the core roles of sea control and power projection.”
The Navy will commission the USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) on April 1, 2023, as the newest Independence-variant littoral combat ship in Port Hueneme, California.
The Independence-variant variant littoral combat ship USS Santa Barbara (LCS 32) is in port at Naval Base Ventura County (NBVC) for its commissioning ceremony, March 31, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Ensign Drew Verbis)
The ship’s sponsor is Mrs. Lolita Zinke, and the ceremony will feature notable speakers such as Admiral Samuel Paparo and U.S. Representative Julia Brownley.
The #USSSantaBarbara is named after the city with a strong military history and connection with the Navy and Marine Corps.
The ship is part of the LCS class of ships, which consist of two variants, the Freedom and the Independence, designed and built by two industry teams with the Independence-variant team led by Austal USA for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls, including the USS Santa Barbara.
Littoral Combat Ships are fast, mission-tailored surface combatants designed to operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments. USS Santa Barbara is the third U.S. ship to bear the name Santa Barbara, with the previous two being a single-screw steel freighter and a Kilauea-class ammunition ship.
The commissioning ceremony will be live-streamed at www.dvidshub.net/webcast/31155.
USS Nimitz (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class John Philip Wagner, Jr/Released)
Kyodo News, a nonprofit cooperative organization and the leading news agency in Japan, reports that the US aircraft carrier Nimitz has entered the South Korean port of Busan for a scheduled port visit amidst recent North Korean missile tests and military posturing.
The port visit is part of the ongoing partnership and security alliance between the US and South Korea. The USS Nimitz’s presence in the region is seen as a show of force and a signal to North Korea of the US commitment to its allies in the region. North Korea has recently conducted several missile tests, including a test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, which has raised concerns about its military capabilities and intentions.
The US and South Korea have been conducting joint military exercises in the region, which North Korea has criticized as a provocation.
The situation on the Korean peninsula remains tense, with North Korea continuing to pursue its nuclear and missile programs, and the US and its allies monitoring the situation closely.
The US Navy’s aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, has arrived in the South Korean port of Busan for a scheduled port visit. The campaign aims to ensure that the US Navy remains the world’s most powerful maritime force, capable of maintaining peace, protecting US interests, and deterring potential adversaries. The USS Nimitz’s presence in the region is seen as a demonstration of the US Navy’s commitment to supporting its allies in the region and maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific. Despite recent North Korean missile tests and military posturing, the US and its allies remain vigilant and committed to ensuring the security of the Korean peninsula and the broader region.
Key takeaways from the article “US aircraft carrier enters S. Korea port amid N. Korean posturing” are:
The US Navy’s aircraft carrier, USS Nimitz, has arrived in the South Korean port of Busan for a scheduled port visit amid recent North Korean missile tests and military posturing.
The port visit is part of the ongoing partnership and security alliance between the US and South Korea.
The USS Nimitz presence in the region is seen as a show of force and a signal to North Korea of the US commitment to its allies in the region.
North Korea has recently conducted several missile tests, including a test of a submarine-launched ballistic missile, which has raised concerns about its military capabilities and intentions.
The US and South Korea have been conducting joint military exercises in the region, which North Korea has criticized as a provocation.
The situation on the Korean peninsula remains tense, with North Korea continuing to pursue its nuclear and missile programs, and the US and its allies monitoring the situation closely.
(Navy) funds in the amount of $30,925,000 will be obligated at time of award, and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Northwest, Silverdale, Washington, is the contracting activity.
Raytheon Missiles and Defense, Tucson, Arizona, is awarded a $13,383,172 firm-fixed-price modification to indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract M67854-21-D-0073 for the production and delivery of full-rate production air-to-air launchers (ATAL), item unique identification registration for ATAL systems, and other direct services and supplies in support of the Program Manager Ground-Based Air Defense, Marine Air Defense Integrated System. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (66%); and Dine, New Mexico (34%), with an expected completion date of September 2026. Fiscal 2023 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $6,684,164 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-21-D-0073).
The US Navy conducted a freedom of navigation operation in the disputed waters around the Paracel Islands, which are claimed by both China and Vietnam. The operation was carried out by the guided-missile destroyer USS Milius, which sailed within 12 nautical miles of the islands to challenge China’s maritime claims in the region according to press reports.
In response to the operation, US Navy spokesperson Lt. j.g. Luka Bakic stated, “The United States conducts routine and regular freedom of navigation operations, as we have done in the past and will continue to do so in the future. These operations are designed to uphold the rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law.”
China has claimed almost the entire South China Sea as its own, a claim that is disputed by other countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. The US has been conducting freedom of navigation operations in the region to challenge China’s excessive claims and assert its right to sail through what it sees as international waters.
The operation comes amid tensions between the US and China over a range of issues, including trade, human rights, and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. China has accused the US of “provocation” and “interference” in the region, while the US has said it will continue to challenge what it sees as China’s excessive claims in the South China Sea.
In a report from PBS, the U.S. has no South China Sea claims itself, but has deployed Naval and Air Force assets for decades to patrol the strategic waterway, through which around $5 trillion in global trade transits each year and which holds highly valuable fish stocks and undersea mineral resources.
A United Nations-backed arbitration tribunal ruled in 2016 that the historical claim from China on the waters had no legal basis under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas, and Washington maintains that freedom of navigation and overflight of the waterway are in the American national interest.
U.S. forces currently operate daily in the South China Sea, and have been present for more than a century. China regularly responds angrily, accusing the U.S. of meddling in Asian affairs and impinging upon its sovereignty.
China’s claims have frequently brought it into conflict with other nations in the region as well. Filipino diplomats unleashed a slew of protests Friday over China’s recent targeting of a Philippine coast guard ship with a powerful military laser and other aggressive behavior.
.In 2018, CNN also reported on the Paracel Islands, a group of islands in the South China Sea that are claimed by both China and Vietnam. The islands have long been a source of tension between the two countries, with China asserting its sovereignty over the region and Vietnam claiming that the islands are part of its territory. This conflict has escalated in recent years, with China building military facilities on some of the islands and Vietnam protesting these actions.
The Paracel Islands are a group of around 130 small islands, reefs, and atolls that are located in the South China Sea, approximately equidistant from the coasts of Vietnam and China. The islands are located in an area that is rich in natural resources, including oil, gas, and fish, which has made them a source of contention between the two countries. Both China and Vietnam claim historical rights to the islands, with China pointing to records dating back to the Han Dynasty and Vietnam citing evidence of its control of the islands during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Despite the competing claims, China has taken steps to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel Islands in recent years. China has built military installations on several of the islands, including airstrips, radar systems, and naval bases. This has led to concerns among Vietnam and other countries in the region that China is seeking to establish de facto control over the South China Sea.
Vietnam has responded to China’s actions by protesting its sovereignty over the islands and conducting its own military exercises in the region. In 2016, Vietnam’s prime minister called for a peaceful resolution to the dispute, stating that “Vietnam will resolutely and persistently protect its sovereignty and legitimate rights and interests in the East Sea [South China Sea].”
The Paracel Islands dispute is just one of several territorial disputes in the South China Sea, which has become a key flashpoint in the region. China’s claims to the islands are part of a larger effort to assert its dominance over the region, which has led to tensions with other countries in the region, including the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The dispute over the Paracel Islands is likely to continue in the coming years, as both China and Vietnam remain committed to their competing claims to the region. The United States and other countries in the region have called for a peaceful resolution to the dispute, but it remains to be seen whether this will be possible given the complex geopolitical factors at play.
In conclusion, the Paracel Islands dispute is a complex and contentious issue that has significant implications for the region. While China has taken steps to assert its sovereignty over the islands, Vietnam and other countries in the region have expressed concern over China’s actions. The dispute is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, as both China and Vietnam remain committed to their claims to the region
Seamus Gray, a 21-year-old U.S. Navy sailor, has been missing since March 19, 2022, and both the Waukegan Police Department and Naval Station Great Lakes have been searching for him. According to Lake & McHenry County Scanner, Gray was last seen leaving a bar at 2 am in the vicinity of Waukegan Harbor. Illinois.
While it’s unclear what happened after he left the bar, search teams have been combing the area with specialized equipment. Despite their efforts, Gray has not yet been found, and the search continues.
As Americans for Stronger Navy, we extend our thoughts and prayers to Seamus Gray’s family and friends during this difficult time. We appreciate the efforts of the authorities and the community in searching for him, and we hope that he will be found soon.
We also recognize the bravery and sacrifice of our sailors in serving our country and protecting our freedoms. We stand with our Navy community and their loved ones, and we are grateful for their service to our nation.
The Destroyer Milius (DDG-69) proudly displays it’s large American Flag as it sails
U.S. rejects China’s claim that its warship illegally entered waters in the South China Sea.
China’s military said Thursday that it had monitored and driven away the USS Milius, a guided missile destroyer, around the Paracel Islands.
U.S. rejects Chinese claim that warship illegally entered waters in South China Sea.
Sailors on the USS Milius conduct an operation in the East China Sea on Monday. China accused the ship of illegally entering its territorial waters Thursday.
Washington has rejected Beijing’s claims that a U.S. warship was driven out of waters it illegally entered in the disputed South China Sea on Thursday.
China’s military said that the USS Milius, a guided missile destroyer, had “illegally intruded into China‘s Xisha territorial waters without the approval of the Chinese government.”
Chinese forces monitored, warned the vessel and drove it away, Tian Junli, a spokesman for China’s Southern Theater Command, said in a statement early Thursday.
He added that the United States was “threatening the peace and stability of the South China Sea region” and that Beijing’s forces would “always maintain a high state of readiness and take all necessary measures to resolutely defend national sovereignty and security and peace and stability” in the area.
But the American military swiftly disputed the Chinese statement.
According to Reuters, the U.S. Navy 7th Fleet said in a statement that the Milius “is conducting routine operations in the South China Sea and was not expelled. The United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows.”
The Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands and as the Hoang Sa Archipelago in Vietnam, are a disputed archipelago of reefs and coral islands in the South China Sea. USS Milius accused of entering disputed waters in the South China Sea.
The Paracel islands, which China considers part of Hainan province, pictured in 2018. Several nations lay claim to the disputed South China Sea region.
In its daily news briefing, China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry underlined Beijing’s position that an American ship had breached its waters, calling on the U.S. to “stop such provocations.”
“China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security and uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea,” spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
Geopolitical tensions have been high in the strategically important waterway for years, with frequent flashpoints between the world’s two largest economies.
In July 2021, China accused another American warship, the USS Benfold, of entering what it considers its territorial waters near the Paracel Islands.
NBC News was on board a U.S. patrol plane last month as a Chinese fighter jet flew alongside 500 feet away for more than an hour.
China, which has the world’s largest navy, claims sovereignty over most of the South China Sea despite a landmark 2016 ruling by an international tribunal that its claims have no legal basis. Its stance has antagonized a number of countries in the region with which it has territorial disputes.
The U.S. and many of China’s neighbors accuse Beijing of using “gray zone” tactics that are not legally acts of war to intimidate other countries and assert greater control over the area. In response, the U.S. regularly conducts “freedom of navigation” and other operations in international waters and airspace.
The Milius is named after Capt. Paul L. Milius, a U.S. airman whose aircraft was presumed destroyed over Laos during the Vietnam War in 1968.
The ship is capable of conducting anti-air, anti-submarine, surface and strike warfare simultaneously, according to the Navy website.
The United States has rejected China’s claim that the USS Milius, a guided missile destroyer, illegally entered its territorial waters in the disputed South China Sea on Thursday. China’s military said that it had monitored and driven away the warship around the Paracel Islands, but the US Navy’s 7th Fleet disputed this, stating that the Milius was conducting routine operations and was not expelled. The Xisha Islands, also known as the Paracel Islands, are a disputed archipelago of reefs and coral islands in the South China Sea. Geopolitical tensions have been high in the strategically important waterway for years, with frequent flashpoints between the world’s two largest economies.
The Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands, are a group of islands, reefs, and atolls located in the South China Sea. They are situated approximately equidistant from China and Vietnam and are claimed by both countries, as well as Taiwan.
The history of the Paracel Islands is disputed, with various countries claiming sovereignty over the islands at different points in history. The islands were first recorded by Chinese sailors in the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) and were later claimed by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). In the 19th century, European powers began to take an interest in the region, with France claiming the islands in 1933 and Japan occupying them during World War II.
After the war, China regained control of the islands, but they were later occupied by South Vietnam in 1956, which was backed by the United States. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the islands came under Vietnamese control, and China has since contested Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Paracels.
The dispute over the Paracel Islands is rooted in historical claims, but it is also tied to the strategic importance of the region. The South China Sea is a major shipping route, and the islands are located near important oil and gas fields. China’s claim to the Paracel Islands is part of a broader claim to most of the South China Sea, which is contested by several Southeast Asian countries.
The Paracel Islands have been the site of several naval confrontations between China and Vietnam. In 1974, China launched an attack on Vietnamese forces on the islands, killing over 70 soldiers and seizing control of the archipelago. In 1988, the two countries clashed again when China sank several Vietnamese ships near the Spratly Islands, another disputed territory in the South China Sea.
More recently, the United States has become involved in the dispute over the Paracel Islands. The US has conducted freedom of navigation operations in the region, challenging China’s claims to the islands and asserting its right to sail through the region’s international waters.
In conclusion, the history of the Paracel Islands is complex and disputed, with various countries claiming sovereignty over the islands at different points in history. The dispute over the islands is tied to their strategic location in the South China Sea, which is a major shipping route and a source of oil and gas reserves. The dispute has led to several naval confrontations between China and Vietnam and has drawn in the United States, which has conducted freedom of navigation operations in the region.
Welcome home! On behalf of Americans for a Stronger Navy, we want to express our deepest appreciation and gratitude for your service to our country over the past six years.
The USS Barry has accomplished so much during its time in Japan, including participating in several multinational exercises and conducting numerous successful operations in the Indo-Pacific region. Your service has helped to promote stability, peace, and security in the region, and we are all incredibly proud of the contributions you have made to the defense of our nation.
Serving your country is an incredible honor and a cherished responsibility that is respected and admired by those at home. Your efforts to protect our freedoms and values, and we are grateful for your unwavering dedication and commitment to duty. Your service and sacrifice remind us of the importance of the Navy’s mission and the vital role it plays in ensuring the safety and security of our nation.
We know that the past six years have been challenging, with long deployments and time away from family and loved ones. We are grateful for the sacrifices you have made and the personal challenges you have overcome to serve our country.
We hope that as you reunite with your families and loved ones, you feel the gratitude and appreciation of a grateful nation. Thank you for your service, and your dedication to the Navy and to our country.
Sincerely, Americans for a Stronger Navy
Barry’s namesake honors Commodore John Barry, the Father of the American Navy, Revolutionary War hero, and first commissioned officer in the United States Navy. Barry is assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15, the Navy’s largest forward-deployed DESRON and the U.S. 7th Fleet’s principal surface force.
MUSCAT, Oman (March 16, 2023) International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2023 participants conclude the exercise during a final briefing and ceremony in Muscat, Oman, with virtual attendees watching via video teleconference from the IMX Maritime Operations Center in Manama, Bahrain, March 16, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Jacob Vernier)
The International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2023, a multinational naval exercise, has concluded with a closing ceremony in Oman. The exercise involved naval forces from 35 countries, including the United States, and aimed to enhance maritime security, stability, and interoperability among participating nations. The exercise featured a variety of drills, including anti-piracy operations, mine countermeasures, and maritime interdiction operations. Key takeaways from the exercise include the importance of cooperation and communication among international naval forces, the need for effective coordination and planning in joint operations, and the value of training and preparation for potential real-world scenarios.
Why does this matter
The International Maritime Exercise (IMX) 2023 was a significant event because it brought together naval forces from 35 different countries to work together towards the common goal of enhancing maritime security, stability, and interoperability. The exercise provided an opportunity for participating countries to share best practices, build relationships, and improve their collective ability to respond to potential maritime security threats. Additionally, the exercise highlighted the importance of effective communication and coordination among international naval forces, which is crucial for responding to complex security challenges in today’s interconnected world. Ultimately, the IMX 2023 demonstrated the value of multilateral cooperation and preparation for real-world scenarios, making the world safer for everyone.
Ships and aircraft from Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) and Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group (MKI ARG), with embarked 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), operate in formation in the South China Sea.
The U.S. Navy reports on the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit’s (MEU) operations in the South China Sea, which were conducted in coordination with the USS Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group.
Here are some key takeaways:
The 13th MEU participated in Expeditionary Strike Force operations in the South China Sea, which included conducting maritime security operations, amphibious assault rehearsals, and live-fire training exercises.
The operations were aimed at demonstrating the U.S. military’s commitment to regional security and stability, as well as enhancing interoperability with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region.
The article highlights the importance of the South China Sea as a strategic waterway for global commerce and the need to maintain a rules-based international order to ensure free and open access to it.
The article also mentions that the 13th MEU is a highly capable, versatile, and expeditionary force that can rapidly deploy to respond to crises and contingencies around the world.
Here are a couple of quotes from the article that help to emphasize the key points:
“The South China Sea is a vital waterway for global commerce and maintaining a rules-based international order that allows for free and open access to the region is a top priority for the U.S. and its allies and partners.”
“The 13th MEU is highly capable and ready to respond to a range of crises and contingencies, and we remain committed to working with our partners and allies in the Indo-Pacific to ensure regional security and stability.”
