Anduril Australia wins A$1.7 billion Ghost Shark XL-AUV contract
The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.
The Newport News Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries broke ground for its new Joint Manufacturing Assembly Facility (JMAF) on 22 June.
The JMAF will support submarine and aircraft carrier construction and is set to open in 2017. The first phases of the facility will have production bays to facilitate the shipyard in completing its current contracts for the Virginia-class submarine and Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carrier.
Once complete, the JMAF will have multiple worksites, heavyweight cranes, automated equipment, specialty paint bays and large transportation doors. It will support existing and future production work on submarines and aircraft carriers.
Matt Mulherin, president, Newport News Shipbuilding, said: 'We aren’t just breaking ground on a new facility, we’re breaking the mould on how we build aircraft carriers and submarines. The improvements will increase productivity and efficiency, all while driving down overall cost and ensuring schedule performance.'
The vessels are expected to deliver a major boost to Australia’s undersea warfare capabilities, with production set to start immediately.
Acquired under Canada’s Department of National Defence ISTAR UAS project, the drones will be deployed from the Halifax-class frigates.
The US Navy published a pre-solicitation notice of intent for the third phase of the F-35 Reprogramming Verification & Validation System. Meanwhile, with a five-year delay in its schedule, GAO foresees more postponements in the completion of the Block 4 effort.
Cutters Earl Cunningham and Storis have been monitoring five Beijing research vessels navigating in the North Pole.
The multi-award contract will support the scheduled repair and maintenance of nuclear-powered attack submarines at the US Navy’s primary public shipyards.
Hot on the heels of Norway selecting BAE Systems to build five Type 26 anti-submarine frigates, the UK government is reportedly in ‘advanced talks’ on new warship orders for two more Scandinavian countries.