Richard Burgess

3 weeks ago | seapowermagazine.org | Richard Burgess

By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The coalition of industrial base suppliers for aircraft carrier production is warning that some suppliers’ production lines are going “cold” or soon will do so in there is further delay in starting procurement for the next Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier, (CVN 82). The Aircraft Carrier Industrial Base Coalition (ACIBC) is looking for a $600 million commitment from the Congress in advance procurement toward the construction of CVN 82.

2 months ago | seapowermagazine.org | Richard Burgess

By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The Navy has retired its last EP-3E Aries II electronic reconnaissance aircraft after the type’s 45 years of service to the fleet. In an informal Feb. 12, 2025, ceremony, at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), the sole remaining operator of the EP-3E, farewelled the last EP-3E. The aircraft was flown away on Feb. 13 for the last time.

2 months ago | seapowermagazine.org | Richard Burgess

By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The U.S. Marine Corps has adjusted its procurement and transition plan for its F-35 Lightning II strike fighter fleet. While the overall program of record remains at 420 F-35s, the balance between the numbers of short takeoff and vertical landing F-35B and the carrier launch capable F-35C has changed, with the number of F-35Cs increasing  and the number of F-35Bs decreasing. According to the 2025 Marine Corps Aviation Plan released Feb.

2 months ago | seapowermagazine.org | Richard Burgess

By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — Lockheed Martin has adapted its Mk41 vertical missile launcher into a scalable containerized system than can be deployed on U.S. Navy ships, including the littoral combat ships (LCS) and non-traditional platforms of opportunity to increase their lethality with mid-range precision strike and air defense capabilities. company officials said.

Jan 24, 2025 | seapowermagazine.org | Richard Burgess

By Richard R. Burgess, Senior Editor ARLINGTON, Va. — The industry association for suppliers for the builder of U.S. Navy’s amphibious warfare fleet sees immediate benefits this year and the next one for its member companies, the association’s survey said. In its annual survey of 219 member companies, the Amphibious Warfare Industrial Base Coalition (AWIBC) said that a majority of its member companies affirmed that the Navy’s announcement last year of a multi-ship buy will benefit their companies.