Pax F-35 Pilot Makes 1st Night SRVL on UK Carrier
An US Navy F-35 Lightning II test pilot from NAS Pax River performed the first night shipborne rolling vertical landing, or SRVL, aboard HMS Prince of Wales, the United Kingdom’s newest aircraft carrier, in Atlantic waters just after 9pm Oct. 29. This came after MAJ Paul Gucwa had performed the first SRVL earlier that day.
Prepare for Air Taxis in ’24
A new GIS-based program has been created for urban areas to begin planning for the arrival of air taxis as early as next year within their jurisdictions. The eVTOLs are already on tap for transportation needs during the summer of 2024 at the Paris Olympics.
A Time to Honor the Fallen
Although Memorial Weekend is also associated with the start of summer and outdoor entertainment, the holiday was created to honor deceased veterans and military personnel. Some suggestions are here to include a commemoration in your holiday celebrations.
More Troops Head to Southern Border
The Biden administration plans to send 1,500 more active-duty troops temporarily to the southern border to assist agents ahead of an expected influx of migrants seeking asylum.
US Approves Small Nuclear Reactors
Amid rising interest in nuclear energy as a tool for reaching ambitious decarbonization goals, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will issue a final rule certifying NuScale’s small modular nuclear reactor design, touted as safer and scalable.
Carrier Reagan Heads Back to South China Sea
The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan strike group has returned to the South China Sea as tensions with China continue to rise.
Navy Has New Ship Rules for Dealing With COVID
The US Navy now has new rules on how to continue operating in the midst of a global pandemic. The services says these plans and strategy are based on the scientific and operational lessons gained in the past seven months.
US Conducts Operations in South China Sea for 2nd Time in 2 Weeks
The US Navy again has two carrier strike groups — USS Nimitz and USS Ronald Reagan — conducting operations in the South China Sea. Rhetoric is heating up in the region, where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam are challenging China’s claim to about 90% of the sea. The Navy notes that the carrier operations are unrelated to current events.
Service Members Should Expect Pay Hike in January
Service members should see a 3% raise starting in January 2020 under the federal budget plan unveiled by the White House in February. The top Republican on the House Armed Services Committee said the worldwide pandemic won’t change the potential national security threats facing the military, and lawmakers need to make sure that defense funding isn’t compromised.
Navy Dilemma: Replace Subs or Build More Warships
A panel of security and budget experts believe the US Navy could be forced to make hard choices when it comes to finding the money to replace its aging ballistic missile submarines or reach its goal of having a fleet of 355 warships.
