Current Events in the Americas

New big-deck amphib AMERICA (LHA 6) takes to the sea for the first time (DefenseNews, Intercepts blog)

Here's to hoping that they get built, without too much controversy or budgetary nightmare. Too much to ask? Joint Support Ships To Be Named HMCS Queenston and HMCS Chateauguay (Ottawa Citizen, Defence Watch blog)

Colombia says Russian bombers violated at least twice his airspace: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/11/06/us-colombia-russia-airspace-idUSBRE9A504020131106

US Navy Employment Options for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) (RAND, pdf)

A little sad as endings go: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/10/23/forrestal-navy-first-supercarrier-sold-for-1-penny/ I never served aboars her, but, like all of us, I've seen "Trial by Fire" numerous times. Buddha

To Save the Submarines, Eliminate ICBMs and Bombers (Defense One)

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/paris-raytheon-takes-aim-at-lockheeds-lrasm-387510/ (Flight Global) So, what should replace Harpoon? LRASM (aka JASSM-ER) or JSOW-ER? Or something else? Or is a replacement even necessary?

Lots of pics. Boeing's new tricked out Advanced Super Hornet (DefenseNews, Intercepts blog)

An interesting and undoubtedly controversial article ... Reforming America's Overhyped Airpower (POGO)

A US Navy With Only 8 Carriers? (DefenseNews)

Bittersweet 50th anniversary for Canada's Sea King helicopters (CBC News)

US Navy Missile Defense: The Vision Realized ... a series of articles about US Navy missile defense, yesterday, today, and tomorrow (from Defense Media Network) Part 1: The Transition From Guns to Missiles Part 2: Building and Deploying the US Navys Missile Fleet with Urgency Part 3: Getting Surface-to-Air Missile Development Started Part 4: The Three Ts Talos, Terrier, and Tartar Part 5: Building an Aegis Fleet Part 6: The Tipping Point Part 7: The Vision Realized - The evolution of Aegis BMD

USS Freedom Cuts Short Initial Singapore Underway (Aviation Week)

F/A-18F CFT & Weapons Pod mockup in St Louis (Flight Global, DEW Line blog) Boeing poised to begin flight-testing Advanced Super Hornet features (Jane's)

15 May 2013

From Aviation Week Lockheed Snags DARPA Anti-Ship Missile Award Jul 2, 2009 By Amy Butler and Graham Warwick Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control has won one of two awards from the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to study and design a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). DARPA received nine proposals, and one more award is expected in the next 60 days, according to an agency official. Boeing, Raytheon and ATK also submitted proposals. LRASM is an unconventional DARPA effort; the agency typically focuses on technology that is not readily in hand. However, the Navy requested DARPA’s help in fielding LRASM in response to a need …

LCS: Navy Pushes Back Against Criticisms (Breaking Defense)

Could New SSBN Program Sink U.S. Navy? (The Diplomat, Flashpoints blog)

US Carrier Launch Pushed Back 4 Months (DefenseNews)