DefenceTalkDefenceTalkChina on Friday warned off a US warship sailing near contested islands in the South China Sea, Beijing said, the first such encounter made public since the inauguration of President Joe Biden. The USS John S. McCain “broke into China’s Xisha territorial waters without the permission of the Chinese government,” Beijing’s military said in a […]https://www.defencetalk.com/beijing-warns-off-us-warship-from-south-china-sea-islands-76766/

DefenceTalkDefenceTalkIn December 2016, the Navy released a force-structure goal that calls for achieving and maintaining a fleet of 355 ships of certain types and numbers. The 355-ship goal was made U.S. policy by Section 1025 of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 2810/P.L. 115-91 of December 12, 2017). The Trump Administration has identified the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navy-force-structure-and-shipbuilding-plans-background-and-issues-for-congress-76343/

DefenceTalkAn Iranian warship was hit by a friendly fire missile during naval exercises, killing 19 sailors, state media and the army said Monday, amid tensions with the US in Gulf waters. The incident involving the Konarak vessel occurred on Sunday afternoon near Bandar-e Jask, off the southern coast of the Islamic republic, state television said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/19-dead-as-iran-warship-hit-by-friendly-fire-in-tense-gulf-75496/

DefenceTalkThe US Navy sent four ships this week to conduct Arctic security operations in the Barents Sea north of Russia for the first time in over three decades, the Pentagon said Monday. The move came as US officials said rivals like China and Russia were increasingly testing US defense resolve with their own air and […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-ships-in-barents-sea-near-russia-1st-time-since-1980s-75388/

DefenceTalkWASHINGTON: US Navy awarded a contract to design and produce the next generation small surface combatant, the Guided Missile Frigate (FFG(X)) today. The contract for detail design and construction (DD&C) of up to 10 Guided Missile Frigates (consisting of one base ship and nine option ships) was awarded to Marinette Marine Corporation (MMC) of Marinette, […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-awards-guided-missile-frigate-ffgx-contract-75342/

DefenceTalkA US destroyer hit by dozens of coronavirus cases sailed into San Diego Tuesday for cleaning, making it the second Navy warship temporarily put out of action by the pandemic. With less than half the 300-strong crew tested, 47 sailors aboard the USS Kidd were found positive for COVID-19, the Navy said. Two had been […]https://www.defencetalk.com/second-us-navy-destroyer-hit-by-covid-outbreak-returns-to-port-75301/

DefenceTalkThe Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) has been operating in the Black Sea for four days days on a U.S. 6th Fleet patrol as of April 16. Porter is underway on her 8th forward deployed naval forces-Europe patrol, after taking precautions to ensure the health and safety of their crew. With the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-destroyer-uss-porter-returns-to-black-sea-75200/

DefenceTalkFrance on Sunday began an unprecedented operation to isolate 1,900 sailors after 50 naval personnel tested positive for COVID-19 aboard its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle. The flagship of the French navy docked in the southern port of Toulon, after cutting short its current mission in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic by 10 days because of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/france-to-isolate-1900-sailors-after-virus-hit-naval-ship-docks-75130/

DefenceTalkA US warship has sailed through the Taiwan Strait in a move certain to anger Beijing as the two countries trade barbs over the coronavirus. The US Pacific Fleet sent a tweet on Thursday confirming the USS McCampbell, a guided missile destroyer, had transited the strait a day earlier. Taiwan’s defence ministry said the vessel […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-warship-sails-through-taiwan-strait-during-virus-spat-74979/

DefenceTalkThe Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Tripoli (LHA 7), the Navy’s newest America-class amphibious assault ship, from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)-Ingalls Shipbuilding Division Feb. 28. Amphibious assault ships project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the amphibious ready group or expeditionary strike group. These ships transport elements of the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-navy-accepts-delivery-of-future-uss-tripoli-74527/