Month: September 2023

Source: United States Navy

Fleet Readiness Center East (FRCE) achieved another first in its support of next-generation Naval Aviation with the successful assembly of a lift fan clutch for the F-35B Lightning II aircraft. FRCE personnel became the first within the Department of Defense (DoD) to perform this task outside of the original manufacturer’s facility. 

“The F-35B’s short take-off and vertical landing abilities offer the Fleet critical capabilities that cannot be duplicated by any other aircraft,” said FRCE Commanding Officer Capt. James M. Belmont. “The lift fan clutch is a vital part of the aircraft’s lift system. Standing up this capability allows us to provide support for the F-35B that’s not available anywhere else in DoD.”

Depot officials said the establishment of the lift fan clutch capability bolsters increasing requirements for F-35B maintenance and repair as the number of operational aircraft in the Fleet continues to rise.

“Even though it seems as if the F-35 has been around for a while, it’s still very new,” said FRCE F-35 Capability Establishment Lead Fred LeBrun. “It’s still ramping up. Flight hours are increasing. More countries are buying them. This multiplication effect places increased demands on the supply system for components.”

The F-35B is the variant of the Joint Strike Fighter designed for use by U.S. Marine Corps, as well as F-35 international partners in the United Kingdom and Italy. The F-35B is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings to enable air power projection from amphibious ships, aircraft carriers and expeditionary airfields.

According to LeBrun, the F-35B’s lift system enables these unique take-off and landing capabilities. The lift fan clutch is one of the components that make up the aircraft’s lift system.

“It’s a key part of the lift system, so this is going to be critical for the depot to have this capability,” said LeBrun.

FRCE declared capability on the lift fan clutch earlier this year. Declaring capability on a component means that the depot has all the required materiel, support equipment, and staffing in order to test and repair items so they may be sent back to the fleet for use.

LeBrun said the process of declaring capability begins years before the component ever arrives at the depot and involves intense collaboration with a team of experts.

“You’re constantly refining requirements working with the manufacturer, engineers, logisticians, and industrial engineering technicians,” said LeBrun. “We develop the requirements, we go through acquisition phases and we bring all necessary tooling into the depot. We then set up the training events and train the artisans.”

The lift fan clutch for the F-35B is produced and assembled by the original manufacturer, Rolls Royce, at their LiftWorks facility in Indianapolis. FRCE’s assembly marked the first time this was performed outside of LiftWorks.

Steven Murray, an aircraft engine mechanic at the depot, was part of the team handpicked to stand up the lift fan clutch capability.

“We traveled to Indianapolis and went to the Rolls Royce facility there,” said Murray. “We could see the way that they do things. We had our industrial engineering technicians with us so they could tailor things to fit the way we do things here at the depot. Then, it was extensive training here – evolutions of disassembly and assembly to ensure we are doing it right.”

Dakota Martin, another aircraft engine mechanic chosen for the team, said he was surprised by the complexity involved in assembling the lift fan clutch.

“The training was intense,” said Martin. “I’ve worked on other platforms, which has made the learning process to this a little bit easier. But this clutch is like nothing we’ve ever had put our hands on before.”

According to LeBrun, the procedures required when assembling the lift fan clutch are far more complex than those required with typical aviation components.

“This is an extremely difficult part to work because of the processes,” said LeBrun. “For comparison, a component maintenance manual for a less complicated component might run 500 to 1,000 pages. With this clutch, you have a 10,000 page document with modules attached that the artisan has to follow. The complication level on this component is right up there with producing an engine on the aircraft.”

In addition to the difficulty of the work procedures, the FRCE team also had to transfer the industry processes they learned at Rolls Royce into the depot while ensuring compliance with Navy and depot instructions and policies.

“It sounds straightforward, but in reality, we had to go through every single aspect down to the most miniscule details,” said Murray. “It’s an extremely intensive process to declare that we could do it here. To take something that is done in industry and adapt it to the way we do things here at the depot, it requires a lot more effort than most people would think.”

Those efforts also required innovative thinking and teamwork from the FRCE team. According to Martin, the team needed to set up work areas for a component that had never been worked on within the depot. They had to devise solutions to issues related to tooling and support equipment.

“Mr. Murray fabricated two different types of equipment support tools and a stand in order to minimize the risk of any damage to components during assembly,” said Martin. “Things like that took a lot of communicating with industrial engineering technicians who assist and provide us with any tools or equipment that might be required.”

Murray said that although the process was challenging, the team took inspiration from FRCE’s past, knowing that artisans and engineers working on then-new platforms had to blaze new ground as well.

“Mr. Martin and I were joking that there were guys doing this same kind of thing with the Harrier 40 years ago,” said Murray. “They were doing the same thing we are doing now – and it all worked out. We thought it would be kind of cool to be thought of like those guys when that time comes and it’s just normal business for things like this clutch to flow through here.”

The FRCE team’s hard work paid off Aug. 22 when they packed up a fully assembled F-35B lift fan clutch.

“We now have the ability to not only provide the warfighter with the clutches they need, we have the capability to fix them right here at the depot,” said Murray. “This makes things much faster and more efficient for the units. I am happy to be part of this and proud to provide this support to the warfighter.”

LeBrun said this milestone marks a continuation of FRCE’s expanding support of the F-35 Lightning II aircraft, which also includes F-35B vertical lift fan testing and processing facilities scheduled to come online in early 2024.

“I’m very proud of the team,” said LeBrun. “It takes years of hard work to do all of this. This was a huge undertaking which energizes our lift system support and pushes us into the future.”

FRCE is North Carolina’s largest maintenance, repair, overhaul and technical services provider, with more than 4,000 civilian, military and contract workers. Its annual revenue exceeds $1 billion. The depot provides service to the fleet while functioning as an integral part of the greater U.S. Navy; Naval Air Systems Command; and Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers.

Learn more at www.navair.navy.mil/frce or https://www.facebook.com/FleetReadinessCenterEast.

Source: United States Navy

PASCAGOULA, Miss. – The Navy’s newest guided-missile destroyer, the future USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG 125), sailed away from the Huntington Ingalls Industries’ (HII) Ingalls Shipbuilding Division shipyard, Sept 26.

“Sail away of the first Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer is a historical event for the program,” said Capt. Seth Miller, the DDG 51 program manager at the Arleigh Burke-class program office, Program Executive Office, Ships. “The Navy continues to field cutting-edge warfighting capability that will ply the oceans and deter our adversaries for decades to come.”

DDG-125 will be commissioned Oct. 7, 2023 at a ceremony in Tampa, Florida before sailing to its homeport in San Diego.

DDG-125 is named for Pfc. Jacklyn Harold “Jack” Lucas, who served in the U.S. Marines during World War II, earning the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Iwo Jima, when he was just 17 years old. He is the youngest Marine, and the youngest serviceman in World War II, to be awarded the United States’ highest military decoration for valor. In 1961, he returned to military service as a captain in the U.S. Army and trained younger troops headed for Vietnam.

Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are multi-mission ships able to hold targets at risk on land, at sea, in the air, and under water using a suite of sophisticated weapons and sensors. The Flight III configuration includes the AN/SPY-6(V)1 Air and Missile Defense Radar, providing greatly enhanced warfighting capability to the fleet.

Ingalls is also in production on future destroyers Ted Stevens (DDG 128), Jeremiah Denton (DDG 129), George M. Neal (DDG 131), and Sam Nunn (DDG 133).

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, sealift ships, support ships, boats and craft.

Source: United States Navy

The ship’s presence in the Baltic Sea is a demonstration of the U.S. Navy’s continued commitment to collective defense of the European region and reinforces the strong bond between the United States and Sweden.

“We have had a very busy and productive patrol and our visit to Stockholm will be the first opportunity in some time for my crew to enjoy some well-deserved liberty,” said Cmdr. Corry Lougee, Commanding Officer of USS Paul Ignatius. “We have visited nearly every country in the Baltic, but this will be our first time in Sweden, and I’ve never seen my Sailors more excited about a port visit.”

Paul Ignatius is on patrol in the U.S. 6^th Fleet area of responsibility. She began her current patrol in late May and has sailed throughout the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Baltic Sea prior to today’s port visit.

“Not only are we looking forward to seeing amazing sights such as the area of

Gamla Stan, several renowned museums, and the Royal Palace, but we are also interested in providing ship tours and learning more about Swedish culture,” said Lougee.

As a NATO partner nation, the U.S. and Swedish Navies routinely operate together to build combined maritime interoperability, including during Baltic Operations 2023 last June. 

“We have operated with the Swedish Navy during this and previous patrols, and we are impressed with their professionalism and work ethic,” said Lougee.

The ship is named for former Secretary of the Navy Paul Ignatius and was commissioned on July 27^th, 2019.

Headquartered in Naples, Italy, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command (USEUCOM) and U.S. Africa Command (USAFRICOM) areas of responsibility. U.S. 6th Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations.

U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners, in order to advance U.S. national interests and security and stability in Europe and Africa.

Source: United States Navy

This test marks 191 successful missile launches of the Trident II (D5 & D5LE) strategic weapon system (SWS) missile since it began operations in 1989. Trident II missile remains unmatched in its reliability.

“I am immensely proud of the government-industry team,” said VADM Johnny Wolfe, Jr., Director of Strategic Systems Programs. “The completion of DASO-32 marks an historic milestone in the life of the Trident II D5 weapons system, and provides the SSP team with a tangible reminder of the great responsibility before us—sustain this unmatched weapons system while developing the next generation strategic weapons system to ensure our nation’s sea-based strategic deterrence capability through 2084.”
 
This was part of a Demonstration and Shakedown Operation, designated DASO-32.  DASO-32 is the last DASO conducted by an Ohio-class SSBN coming out of Engineering Refuel Overhaul (ERO). The primary objective of a DASO is to evaluate and demonstrate the readiness of the SSBN’s strategic weapon system and crew before operational deployment following the submarine’s midlife refueling overhaul or as part of new construction.
 
The Trident II (D5) SWS is a highly accurate and reliable weapon system that has been actively deployed on Ohio-class SSBNs since its introduction to operational deployment on USS Tennessee (SSBN 734) in 1990.  It is the deployed system for the remaining service life of U.S Ohio-class and United Kingdom Vanguard-class SSBNs, and is the initial loadout for the U.S. Columbia-class and U.K. Dreadnought-class SSBNs.
 
Test launches are conducted on a recurring basis to evaluate and ensure the continued reliability and accuracy of the strategic weapon system. Each test provides valuable information about our strategic weapon systems, thus contributing to assurance in our capabilities.

 
The Navy’s last DASO was in October 2021 off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida, from USS WYOMING (SSBN-742). The Navy’s most recent flight test—a Follow-on Commander’s Evaluation Test—was a series of two missile launches from USS West Virginia (SSBN-736) in June 2023 also off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
 
Flight test missiles are not armed. Safety of the public and the crew conducting the mission is paramount.  Today’s launch was conducted from sea, the missile flew over the sea, and landed in the sea.  At no time did the missile fly over land. 
 
The missile test was not conducted in response to any ongoing world events or as a demonstration of power. Test launches, including DASOs, are scheduled years in advance.
 
Strategic Systems Programs is the Navy command that provides cradle-to-grave lifecycle support for the Navy’s strategic weapon systems.  This includes training, systems, equipment, facilities and personnel responsible for ensuring the safety, security, and effectiveness of the nation’s Submarine

Launched Ballistic Missile (SLBM) Trident II (D5LE) strategic weapon system. In addition to maintaining the current Trident II (D5LE) strategic weapons system, Strategic Systems Programs is looking towards the future. Nuclear modernization is crucial to the continued success of the U.S.’s sea based strategic deterrent. Strategic Systems Programs is developing the next generation strategic weapon system, and modernizing shore-based infrastructure and capabilities to sustain the Ohio-class to end of life and support Columbia-class fleet introduction.
 
SLBMs are the sea-based leg of the nation’s strategic nuclear deterrent Triad that also includes the U.S. Air Force’s intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) and nuclear-capable bombers.  Each part of the Triad provides unique capabilities and advantages.   
 
The sea-based leg makes up the majority – approximately 70 percent – of the U.S.’s deployed strategic nuclear deterrent Triad. The SLBM is the most survivable leg of the triad, provides a persistent presence, and allows for flexible concepts of operations.
 
A credible, effective nuclear deterrent is essential to our national security and the security of U.S. allies. Deterrence remains a cornerstone of national security policy in the 21st century.