Welcome to MSW’s Scuttlebutt! Here’s the news for the day.



Alert - Community Build 8th Session

Four days to go! Make sure you have your progress shots ready, uploaded, and posted in your Blog by 2/1/09, EST to be in the running for this months point awards!!




Spitfires of the US Navy

Today’s website is the Spitfires of the US Navy from the Spitfire Site. This webpage tells the story of the only US Navy unit to fly Spitfires. What makes it unique to us? Click below and find out. Enjoy.
Website




This Day in U.S. Naval History

1960 - The Navy demonstrates the value of moon communication relay, which is used in fleet broadcasts.
1962 - USS Cook (APD 130) rescues 25 survivors after a section of the Panamanian tanker SS Stanvac Sumatra broke in two in the South China Sea.
1986 - The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes, killing Cmdr. Michael Smith and six other astronauts.


Ukrainian Purchase of ex-USN Vessels in Doubt
Source: Forecast International

NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Senior U.S. officials have purportedly expressed doubts regarding Ukraine's ability to acquire ex-U.S. Navy ships under a program originally envisioned to boost Ukrainian naval capacity.

On January 24, Interfax news agency quoted U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor as expressing doubts on Kiev's purchase of U.S. surplus vessels. During a press conference, Taylor noted that the U.S. Department of Defense and Ukrainian Defense Ministry had begun negotiations, but that those negotiations were initiated before the onset of the current economic crisis engulfing Ukraine. Taylor added that, "U.S. naval ships and their equipment are very expensive to maintain, and therefore he does not believe these negotiations will result in a decision in the nearest future."

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry press service originally reported on October 8, that Ukrainian Defense Minister Yuri Yekhanurov and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates discussed the possibility Ukraine taking possession of secondhand U.S. naval vessels.

Gates said that the American government was considering a possibility of the turning over of those ships to the Ukrainian Navy within the framework of military-technical cooperation between Ukraine and the United States. He added, however, that the issue required the support of the U.S. Congress. According to his information, the next round of consultations on the problem on the level of defense ministries of the two countries will be held in San Diego, California, the Ukrainian defense ministry press service reports.


Northrop Grumman Successfully Launches Virginia-Class Submarine New Mexico (SSN 779)
Source: Northrop Grumman Corp

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation reached a milestone Jan. 18 by launching the Virginia-class submarine New Mexico (SSN 779) at the company's Shipbuilding sector in Newport News, Va.

“Launching a ship is always a proud moment for the shipbuilders and crew,'' said Becky Stewart, vice president of submarine programs for Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding-Newport News. “Our Virginia-class team has done an excellent job of achieving this milestone and furthering our efforts to deliver New Mexico eight months ahead of schedule.''

On January 15, shipbuilders used a transfer car system to move the 7,800-ton New Mexico out of a construction facility to a floating dry dock. Three days later, they submerged the floating dry dock and successfully launched New Mexico into the James River. Once in the water, tugboats moved New Mexico to the shipyard's submarine pier where final outfitting and testing will take place.

Cmdr. Mark Prokopius, Prospective Commanding Officer of the Pre-Commissioning Unit New Mexico, was on board as the submarine touched water for the first time. “It's great to get our ship into the water,'' said Prokopius. “My crew and I are excited about achieving this significant milestone, and although we know there is a lot of work to do, launch brought with it a sense of accomplishment, a feeling of being operational and renewed energy. We look forward to working with the shipbuilders to complete construction and testing and taking her to sea later this year.''

New Mexico is the sixth ship of the Virginia class. With improved stealth, sophisticated surveillance capabilities and special warfare enhancements, it will provide undersea supremacy well into the 21st century. The ship's construction began March 2004 and the ship's sponsor, Cindy Giambastiani, christened the ship during a ceremony held Dec. 13, 2008. New Mexico is scheduled for delivery in Aug. 2009.


Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.



Navy is Full Speed Ahead with Next Generation Jammer Analysis of Alternatives
Source: Boeing Co.

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. --- A Navy plan to evaluate defense industry development options for a Next Generation Jammer was approved Dec. 5 by John J. Young Jr., Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics.

The NGJ Analysis of Alternatives is part of the Navy’s effort to improve its airborne electronic warfare by evaluating options to replace the current AN/ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System, currently installed on the EA-6B Prowler and EA-18G Growler aircraft.

The NGJ AoA is the next step the Department of Defense is taking to meet the requirements outlined in the Joint Chief of Staff’s Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) for Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA).

“Objective AEA capabilities will ensure electromagnetic spectrum dominance over a range of conflicts – including low intensity, hybrid and irregular warfare,” said Ray Coutley, AoA government team lead for NGJ. “The AoA will develop and analyze a wide range of potential acquisition programs that, if pursued, would lead to the development of a system to replace the Navy’s AN/ALQ-99 TJS.”

The AoA will be conducted by a government and industry team that will report to an Executive Steering Committee, co-chaired by Rear Adm. Joseph Aucoin, the chief of Naval Operations Deputy Director for Air Warfare, and Thomas Laux, deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Air Warfare.

“The NGJ AoA will evaluate alternative systems in various warfare scenarios, based on expected threats, concept of operations (CONOPs) and cost/capability trade-offs,” said Coutley. “Our goal is to give decision makers the best information available, based on quantifiable data, by leveraging current investments in analysis capabilities in government and industry.”

In addition to government personnel, industry AoA team members include representatives from Dynamic Analytics and Test (DA&T) and Systems Performance and Analysis (SPA) in Arlington, Va., and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md.

U.S. commanders recognize the continued requirement for AEA; DoD has responded by increasing the investment in electronic warfare research and development, and has directed the Navy to lead the effort in developing the Next Generation Jammer, said Coutley.

“Next Generation Jammer is the most important AEA effort since the initial deployment of the EA-6B and AN/ALQ-99,” said Cmdr. John Springett, EA-6B/EA-18G requirements officer. “Although we have continually upgraded the Prowler, we now have the opportunity to take advantage of current and emergent technologies to greatly enhance our electronic attack capability and achieve spectrum dominance to protect our aircraft, ships, and soldiers, airmen and Marines on the ground.”


Photo of the Day



Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class Thomas Corbiere, from Windsor, Colo., signals final safety checks as an F/A-18E Super Hornet from the "Argonauts" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 launches from the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).

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