Current Events in the Americas

Since the question of US Navy carrier air wing composition comes up again and again, and it has been suggested numerous times that some kind of guide would be helpful to scenario writers, and we're all about aiming to please, here's my contribution to the effort. Posted here as an FAQ so its easy for all of you prospective scenario writers (c'mon, you gotta be out there somewhere): Its an excellent resource, so I would look here first: Go Navy USN CARRIER AIR WINGS circa 2001 US Navy Aircraft Carriers and Assigned Carrier Air Wings – US Atlantic Fleet Enterprise (CVN 65) CVW-8 Tailcode AJ Type Serial VF-41 Black Aces F-14A AJ1XX VF-14 Top…

Constellation-class Frigate Program Cancelled, U.S. Navy Looking for Faster Procurement of Alternatives (Naval News)

Boeing Tests Redesigned Harpoon Anti-Ship Missile (Naval News) Like the sim, the missile just won't go away. ☺️

From here, EMALS and other Ford-class problems, "Naval Air: 2USS Truman Gets Dent": https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htnavai/articles/2025041502847.aspx#gsc.tab=0 Quote: "...EMALS less reliable than the older steam catapult. EMALS was also more labor intensive to operate and put more stress on launched aircraft than expected. Worse, due to a basic design flaw, if one EMALS catapult becomes inoperable, the other three catapults could not be used in the meantime as was the case with steam catapults. This meant that the older practice of taking one or more steam catapults offline for maintenance or repairs while at sea was not practical. The navy admitted that in …

Australia agrees to sell Canada $6.5b military radar system By Melissa Clarke, ABC News (Australia) It seemed like a pretty standard phone call between Anthony Albanese and new Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney overnight. The official record of the call noted congratulations to Carney and discussion of "current pressures on the global trading system" (ie US tariffs), as well as cooperation on the defence of Ukraine. But there was at least one extra topic that wasn't mentioned in the read-out: the small matter of Canada purchasing a $6.5 billion Australian military radar system. Shortly after the call, Carney headed to Iqalui…

Bunker Hill class Cruise Modernization Program almost a complete failure https://news.usni.org/2024/12/17/gao-navy-wasted-1-84-billion-in-repairs-to-cruisers-cut-from-the-fleet

While started of as a means of getting Nuke powered subs to Aus, AUKUS has been mentioned as broadening its range of co operation. https://www.defenseadvancement.com/news/ai-enabled-autonomous-uas-swarms-showcased-in-aukus-trials/

US Navy removes first 155mm AGS from USS Zumwalt at Ingalls Shipbuilding (Naval News) A shame, but perhaps an affinity for the concept of naval gun fire support is just nostalgia?

I've been doing a little thinking about the LCS, both in terms of the politics and the possibilities for scenario design. My limited understanding of the controversy surrounding the LCS is that a) people are annoyed that the ship has cost so much to develop and build and people are disappointed that some of the promises associated with the design (all those modules, etc.) have not been delivered. I don't know how justified these complaints are, but it sounds like there have been a lot of problems with the development of the LCS, and these are certainly legitimate reasons for people to be upset. Question...from what I can tell, there are currently contracts to bu…

Concept and practical testing before build the ships: https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/02/marines-begin-testing-leased-vessel-pier-less-operations/383234/

Apparently fighters with AESA radars can disable cruise missiles electronics upto 180 Km/55 nm range: https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20221229.aspx

First Artwork of Hypersonic Missiles on Zumwalt-class Destroyers (Naval News)

Interesting and long article on the inmediate future Carrier Air Wing and the Fighter Gap (to be closed in 2025). Some highlights: EA-18G number currently increased to 7x, current Air Wing only 12xFA-18E+10xFA-18E+12xFA-18E+10xFA-18E(Or F-35C), pretended for the inmediate future this year 12xFA-18E+10xFA-18E+12xFA-18E+14xF-35C, and from 2025 added 5xMQ-25A. https://news.usni.org/2022/03/24/a-generational-change-in-naval-aviation-has-begun-amidst-tight-budgets-fighter-gaps

Hypersonic threat simulation test UAV to be employed next year from Stratolaunch: https://www.stratolaunch.com/vehicles/talon-a

US Air Force Tests StormBreaker ‘Smart’ Munition on F-35 (Defense Post) Recently discussed in the DB forum.

Long Chain of Failures Left Sailors Unprepared to Fight USS Bonhomme Richard Fire, Investigation Finds (USNI News) BHR Command Investigation (434 pp, PDF) Major Fires Review (60 pp, PDF)

SECNAV Names Navy’s Future Class of Guided-Missile Frigates (Seapower)

Carl Vinson strike group using first deployment with F-35C, beefed-up air wing to hone advanced operations (DefenseNews, 10 August 2021) Note the expanded contingent of EA-18G and E-2D.

Make the Zumwalt a Fighting Command Ship (Proceedings, May 2020) I like this idea.

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/26347/the-navy-is-ripping-out-underperforming-anti-torpedo-torpedoes-from-its-supercarriers