Source: United States Navy

After 15 locks, four Great Lakes, three port visits, and over 2,500 nautical miles traveled, USS Beloit (LCS 29) and her mighty crew at last arrived in the Atlantic Ocean, continuing her transit to its future homeport, Naval Station Mayport, Florida. 

The road to make it to the Atlantic Ocean included months of preparation from the crew. In less than two months after moving onboard in August, the crew certified in several mission areas required to safely operate and get underway including: Search and Rescue, Navigation, Damage Control, Communications and Engineering.

“The Beloit Badger crew are some of the best Sailors I have served with. They are resilient, strong, flexible and dedicated, and I am blessed to be their Commanding Officer. Almost everything we have done in the past five months has been ‘high risk’ and ‘first time’, but that’s what makes us so unique,” said Cmdr. LeAndra Kissinger, Beloit’s commanding officer. We work hard, pray hard, and lean on each other as a team. We truly are a family, and when a family wants to accomplish a mission, it’s hard to stop them.”

Each evolution, although involving different departments on the ship, required careful coordination and support from each division and Sailor onboard and was necessary for the crew to be able to set sail from Marinette, Wisconsin, towards the site of its commissioning ceremony in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

On November 23, the crew took the order to “man the ship and bring her to life.” Amongst thousands of onlookers, the ship made its much anticipated transition from pre-commissioned unit to United States Ship and began her sail around home. 

Her commissioning festivities included a crew visit to their namesake town of Beloit, a Chairman’s dinner hosted by the Commandant, and a commissioning ceremony who’s audience was filled with veterans from many significant battles. Along the way, she stopped in Cleveland, Ohio, Quebec City, Quebec and Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Norfolk for refueling, stores replenishment and liberty for the crew.  

“This crew has shown tremendous resilience in overcoming the last 4 months. Completing difficult consecutive certifications while learning a new ship and being away from family. This team made it look easy and brought a whole new meaning to the term “Beloit Proud,” said Senior Chief David Chisholm, Beloit’s Senior Enlisted Leader. “Watching them perform under pressure and overcoming every obstacle with grace shows just how awesome our team is and their readiness to face the challenges ahead after some much needed and well-deserved family time. It is an honor to be sailing with them and representing the city of Beloit.”

Capt. James Lawrence said it best, “Don’t give up the ship.” And that’s exactly what this crew did to get us home on time!” said Operation Specialist first class petty officer Ernesto Sanchez, USS Beloit’s Sailor of the Year!

With the last port fading in the rear only a few hundred nautical miles remain before Jacksonville is within view, the crew is eagerly awaiting returning to their families and friends, and ready to take on the next mission that will come their way as the Navy’s newest warship join the fleet!  

LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric “anti-access” threats and is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence. 

For more news from Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron Two, visit https://www.surflant.usff.navy.mil/lcsron2/ or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/comlcsron2/

Source: United States Navy

Aircraft with PRGBs that currently meets or exceeds a predetermined flight-hour threshold will resume flights in accordance with controls instituted in the March 2024 interim flight clearance (IFC).

A new IFC, containing additional risk mitigation controls, has been issued to address aircraft with PRGBs below the flight-hour threshold. These controls will remain in place until the aircraft’s PRGBs are upgraded, or the predetermined threshold is exceeded.

NAVAIR collaborated with the Navy, Air Force Special Operations Command and the Marine Corps to implement the bulletin and IFC.

Due to operational security concerns, the specifics of the V-22 flight-hour threshold, number of aircraft affected and additional flight controls will not be released.

NAVAIR remains committed to transparency and safety regarding all V-22 operations. The V-22 plays an integral role in supporting our nation’s defense. Returning these vital assets to flight is critical to supporting our nation’s interests.

NAVAIR continuously monitors data and trends from all aircraft platforms to provide service members the safest, most reliable aircraft possible.

Source: United States Navy

Spruance departed San Diego with the ABECSG and deployed to the 7th and 5th fleet area of operations, July 17, 2024.

“The Spruance crew continues to impress – there is no other team that I would rather be a part of. I am immensely proud of all that the team has accomplished and will continue to accomplish. This deployment was a test of our readiness, and our Sailors exceeded every expectation,” said Cmdr. Thomas “Matt” Adams, commanding officer, Spruance. “Facing advanced missile threats and attack drones in a high-stakes environment, they demonstrated exceptional tactical precision and a war fighter mindset. From identifying incoming threats to controlling aircraft to executing flawless missile engagements, our crew neutralized every danger with unwavering focus and discipline.”

ABECSG initially deployed to the Indo-Pacific region to support regional security and stability, and to reassure our allies and partners of the U.S. Navy’s unwavering commitment, highlighted by the first-ever U.S.-Italy multi-large deck event (MLDE) with the Italian Navy’s ITS Cavour Carrier Strike Group held in the Indo-Pacific on Aug. 9, 2024.

The strike group was ordered to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to bolster U.S. military force posture in the Middle East, deter regional escalation, degrade Houthi capabilities, defend U.S. forces, and again sailed alongside our Italian allies and other partners to promote security, stability and prosperity. Assigned destroyers of the ABECSG, to include Spruance, were essential to providing a layer of defense to U.S. forces and ensuring the safe passage of commercial vessels and partner nations transiting in international waterways like the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Gulf of Aden.

The destroyers worked alongside U.S. Central Command forces in successfully repelling multiple Iranian-backed Houthi attacks during transits of the Bab el-Mandeb strait. During the transits, the destroyers were attacked by one-way attack uncrewed Aerial systems, anti-ship ballistic missiles and anti-ship cruise missiles which were successfully engaged and defeated. The vessels were not damaged and no personnel were hurt. The ships were well prepared, supported, and the well-trained Sailors successfully defended the ship.

“I am so proud of our team. Our Sailors met every challenge on this deployment with professional excellence. Sailors displayed the highest levels of teamwork, adaptability, and courage—qualities that make our Navy the finest in the world,” said Cmdr. Leigh R. Tate, executive officer, Spruance. “There is no other group of Sailors who have more grit and tenacity for mission success, and they proved it.”

Throughout deployment, Spruance traveled 37,200 nautical miles, conducted 12 replenishments-at-sea, 28 sea and anchor details, Anti-Submarine Tactical Air Controller (ASTAC) controlled over 800 hours of rotary air wing control and the Air Intercept Controllers (AIC) controlled 50 live runs with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 and U.S. Air Force assets. Spruance also achieved 36 re-enlistments, 37 advancements and seven officer promotions. Spruance Sailors were awarded the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Expeditionary Medal and Combat Action Ribbon (CAR) for their actions in the Bab el-Mandeb.

Spruance was led by their commanding officer, Cmdr. Thomas “Matt” Adams, executive officer, Cmdr. Leigh R. Tate, and Command Master Chief Kurtiss Vervynckt.

The ABECSG is the most capable CSG comprised of the air wing of the future, the most advance Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Peterson Jr. (DDG 121) as Integrated Air and Missile Defense Commander, and the Arleigh Burke destroyers assigned to Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 21, representing more than 6,000 Sailors, deployed from their homeports of San Diego and Pearl Harbor since July 2024.

Deploying units of the strike group include the flagship USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72), DESRON 21, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9, and Frank E. Petersen Jr. While the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, assigned to DESRON 21, USS Michael Murphy (DDG 112) returned to its homeport, Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS O’Kane (DDG 77) and USS Stockdale (DDG 106) remain deployed in the 5th Fleet area of operations supporting global maritime security operations.

As an integral part of U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet operates naval forces in the Indo-Pacific and provides the realistic and relevant training necessary to execute the U.S. Navy’s timeless role across the full spectrum of military operations—from combat missions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. U.S. 3rd Fleet works together with our allies and partners to advance freedom of navigation, the rule of law, and other principles that underpin security for the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States Navy

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic served as a primary contributor during the 2024 Eastern Defense Summit on Dec. 11-12, as the command sought to help the defense industry better understand some of the Navy’s biggest technical challenges.

Sponsored by the Charleston Defense Contractors Association (CDCA), the Eastern Defense Summit saw more than 2,000 individuals and 150 vendors descend on the Charleston Area Convention Center to participate in tech-based panel discussions, breakout sessions, strategic engagements and exhibit hall demonstrations, which included NIWC Atlantic STEM activities with students from school robotics teams in the local area.

During his welcome to summit attendees, NIWC Atlantic Commanding Officer Capt. Matt O’Neal explained how the Navy engineering and information technology command he leads relies on industry partners to address the warfighter’s top technology challenges.

“The ideas discussed at this week’s summit, the foundational connections made, the innovation opportunities pursued, (they are very) meaningful,” O’Neal said. “They ensure that when our nation calls on our men and women serving around the world, they are ready, because the technology in their hands is relevant, reliable and effective.”

The theme of this year’s summit was “Collaborating on Actionable Solutions for Our Nation’s Pacing Threats.”

During the two-day event, military leaders talked about lessons learned in the Red Sea and Black Sea while leading discussions centering on joint interoperability, zero trust, AI, rapid contracting strategies, unmanned systems, expeditionary maritime operations and preparing for conflict.

NIWC Atlantic leaders sitting on various panels typically paused to first highlight Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti’s recently released Navigation Plan (NAVPLAN) for America’s Warfighting Navy, which prioritizes making the Navy ready for potential conflict with the People’s Republic of China by January 2027.

The message to the defense industry was clear: We cannot do this without you.

Whether leveraging rapid contracting strategies or working traditional acquisition channels, the theme of government-industry collaboration during the summit teemed with a sense of urgency.

“I think the trend that we are all seeing is this demand to ‘go faster with good enough,’” said Greg Hays, senior scientific technology manager at NIWC Atlantic for rapid prototyping, experimentation and fleet exercises. “We can’t sit around and wait for the 100% solution if there are viable options both inside and outside of government.”

Hays said NIWC Atlantic wants to accelerate critical capabilities to the warfighter by rapidly assessing commercial and non-traditional solutions that lower risk, adopting what works, integrating into the warfighting family of systems and then ultimately letting the warfighter adapt to maximize the utility.

Capt. Andrew Gibbons, senior military acquisition advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition, also emphasized commercial technologies that the Navy might be able to leverage in a military fashion.

“I’m very passionate about these dual-use technologies,” Gibbons said. “We need to mine from sources of the brilliant folks out in our country, who are doing things they do not know can actually help the military.”

One reason the Department of Defense (DoD) needs to look externally is because industry far outpaces government spending in research and development (R&D), according to Jim Rabuck, Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) southwest regional director.

He said for every DoD dollar invested in R&D back in the 1950s, commercial industry was spending only half of that. Today, companies spend $10 or more to every DoD research dollar.

“In certain industries, like AI or quantum computing, you’re looking at $100 to every dollar we spend — some, even $1,000 more.”

Rabuck explained DIU was specifically set up to figure out how to work with Silicon Valley and other commercial tech solutions that might have application in DoD.

The challenge for military labs, noted Tom Rondeau, director of the DoD’s FutureG Office, is in trying to figure out what solutions exist in a sector of commerce where everyone is quickly out-innovating everyone else.

“Ukraine looked like a tank war for the first few months,” Rondeau said. “It is an innovation war. How they are competing with an adversary that is larger than they are is by innovating. They are using technology and applying it rapidly to their problem set, making adjustments within days or weeks as opposed to the traditional acquisitions model of months and years.”

During one panel discussion, Steve Harnig, NIWC Atlantic director of contracts, said one way the Navy acquires commercial solutions and partners with non-traditional vendors is through various Other Transaction Authority (OTA) vehicles, such as the Information Warfare Research Project (IWRP).

Administered by NIWC Atlantic, IWRP is a rapid-prototyping initiative aimed at advancing information warfare solutions. To date, the collaborative acquisition process has executed more than $2.5 billion in prototype project awards and follow-on production awards.

“As we think about what’s out there in the commercial sector, we have seen a large ramp-up of our OTAs,” he said. “We also use our NASA SEWP (Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement) contract for commercial solutions. The goal of any DoD acquisition model is to get technology into the warfighters hands as quickly as possible.”

Dr. Laura Taylor-Kale, assistant secretary of defense for industrial base policy, also told summit attendees about the burgeoning Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), one of the most powerful OTAs the DoD has ever stood up.

“The DIBC is precisely designed to accelerate awards under the Defense Production Act and allows an innovative way to engage and partner with industry,” she said.

Alongside several Navy commands, joint force components of this year’s summit included high-level U.S. Coast Guard leadership, U.S. Marine Corps commanding officers and the 628th Air Base Wing // Joint Base Charleston commander. Each leader weighed in on their service’s contributions to joint force planning and collaboration ahead of the nation’s next potential conflict.

Throughout the summit, NIWC Atlantic highlighted other creative acquisition tools as well, such as the culminating speed-round of its Palmetto Tech Bridge Prize Challenge rodeo totaling $200,000 in prize money.

More than 100 companies competed in NIWC Atlantic’s Palmetto Tech Bridge competition. Eight companies at the summit’s Innovation Pitch Jam would ultimately receive checks for their solutions in the areas of AI, Autonomy and LVC. The Pitch Jam portion of the prize challenge was a collaborative event of the CDCA that joined NIWC Atlantic, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane and PEO Manpower, Logistics and Business.

This year, summit organizers also offered a bonus workshop for small businesses interested in the latest NAVSEA 25.1/A Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer (SBIR/STTR) Topic Releases, which was hosted by the NIWC Atlantic Palmetto Tech Bridge. The next day, NIWC Atlantic’s first breakout session was a full rundown of the command’s small business goals.

Peter Woodhull, CDCA vice president and Eastern Defense Summit chair, called this year’s summit a resounding success.

“NIWC Atlantic played a significant role in that success,” he said. “The CDCA is proud of our continued partnership with NIWC Atlantic.”

About NIWC Atlantic

As a part of Naval Information Warfare Systems Command, NIWC Atlantic provides systems engineering and acquisition to deliver information warfare capabilities to the naval, joint and national warfighter through the acquisition, development, integration, production, test, deployment, and sustainment of interoperable command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, cyber and information technology capabilities.