Category Archives: modern military conflict

USCG Out There Getting it Done Around the Globe with Ancient Hulls

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The U.S. Coast Guard is very active around the globe recently, featuring ships that would easily be considered floating museums in any other first or second world fleet, but, rather than having these old girls dockside for tours and ceremonies, the USCG is Sempering that Paratis, so to speak.

Polar Star

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) began icebreaking operations in the Southern Ocean in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2026 and marked her 50th year of commissioned service last week by freeing and escorting a 17,000-ton cruise ship trapped in pack ice.

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) escorts an Australian-owned cruise ship out of pack ice in the Ross Sea after the vessel requested assistance amid Operation Deep Freeze 2026, Jan. 17, 2026. Pacific Air Forces operates on a 24-hour basis to provide the U.S. National Science Foundation with complete joint operational and logistic support for Operation Deep Freeze. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Bokum) 260117-G-FN033-1008

The Australian-owned cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II contacted Polar Star at approximately 11 p.m., local time, Friday, after becoming beset in pack ice roughly eight nautical miles from McMurdo Sound. Polar Star’s crew conducted two close passes to break the vessel free, then escorted it approximately four nautical miles to open water.

“At 50 years old, Polar Star remains the world’s most capable non-nuclear icebreaker,” said Cmdr. Samuel Blase, Polar Star’s executive officer. “That’s a testament to the crews that have maintained it over the decades. With years of service left to give, Polar Star will continue to guide the way in the high latitudes well into the future.”

USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) crew members pose for a group photo while the cutter sits hove-to in the Ross Sea during Operation Deep Freeze 2026, Jan. 12, 2026. The cutter turns 50 years old on Jan. 17, 2026, amid Operation Deep Freeze, which is a joint service, inter-agency support operation for the National Science Foundation that manages the United States Antarctic Program. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Bokum) 260112-G-FN033-4120

Commissioned 17 January 1976, Polar Star remains in service with a combination of parts salvaged from her late sister, Polar Sea, out of service since 2010, but still afloat in mothball status in Suisun Bay, and yearly lengthy yard periods (she just finished a 175-day SLEP at Mare Island Dry Dock last summer, a yard which sadly closed on Dec. 31 2025).

She won’t be retired until a new heavy icebreaker arrives in USCG red as part of the Polar Security Cutter program in 2030 (maybe).

She is on her 29th deployment to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze, leaving her Seattle homeport in November, and is slated to return home later this year.

Vigilant

The 210-foot Reliance-class medium endurance cutter USCGC Vigilant (WMEC 617) returned to her Cape Canaveral homeport last Friday after a 33-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea supporting Operations Pacific Viper (including transits through the Panama Canal) and Southern Spear.

Notably, she returned to the U.S. with an impounded “Shadow Fleet” tanker, with the assistance of a Navy MH-60S from the “Tridents” of HSC-9.

During the patrol, Vigilant escorted a motor tanker, which was seized by a U.S. Coast Guard tactical boarding team with support from the Department of War, for operating as a vessel without nationality in the Caribbean Sea. Vigilant’s crew coordinated with naval and law enforcement partners to transfer personnel and provisions to the tanker. A law enforcement team from Vigilant boarded the vessel to provide security during the 600-nautical-mile transit to the United States.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC 617), right, sails in the Western Atlantic Ocean while escorting a motor tanker after a right of visit boarding, Jan. 7, 2026. Vigilant escorted the motor tanker, which was seized by a Coast Guard tactical boarding team with support from the Department of War, for operating as a vessel without nationality in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Navy Photo)

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant’s (WMEC 617) small boat crew comes alongside a motor tanker in the Atlantic Ocean, Jan. 7, 2026. Vigilant escorted the motor tanker, which was seized by a Coast Guard tactical boarding team with support from the Department of War, for operating as a vessel without nationality in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Feehery) 260107-G-G0100-1001

U.S. Coast Guard crewmembers transfer from the Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC 617) to a motor tanker by a helicopter crew assigned to U.S. Navy Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 9 in the Atlantic Ocean, Jan. 7, 2026. Vigilant escorted the tanker, which was seized by a joint Coast Guard and Department of War team for conducting illicit activities in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Feehery) 260107-G-G0100-1003

Valiant was commissioned in 1964 (not a misprint) and had her mid-life refit in 1989-90– some 36 years ago at this point.

Talk about golden years.

Hickory

The USCGC Hickory (WLB 212), a 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender, arrived at her new homeport in Guam on 14 January, following a more than 13,000-mile transit over 71 days from the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore via the Panama Canal.

The USCGC Hickory (WLB 212), a 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender, arrives in Apra Harbor as it comes to their new homeport in Guam on Jan. 14, 2026, following a more than 13,000-mile transit over 71 days from the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore through the Panama Canal. After an extended Major Maintenance Availability at the Yard, part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program that modernizes the entire Juniper-class fleet with hull repairs, system upgrades, and replacement of obsolete equipment, the Hickory is now fully revitalized. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer Muir)

Hickory, commissioned in 2003, spent the first half of her career as “The Kenai Keeper” and “Bull of the North” while stationed in Alaska and has recently capped an extensive and lengthy modernization at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore that will steel her for the next 20 years.

Hickory is the most forward-deployed Juniper in the Pacific, joining sisters USCGC Juniper (WLB 201) and Hollyhock (WLB 214), both homeported in Honolulu. In addition to tending hundreds of aids to navigation, WLBs in the region regularly complete 40-50-day Operation Blue Pacific patrols of Oceana with Allied ship riders aboard, important hearts-and-minds stuff.

While not romantic, these large WLBs have often clocked in on exercises and operations supporting SOCOM, the Marines, and the gray-hulled fleet. They have also zipped through the Northwest Passage and conducted long-ranging LE patrols when needed.

If things go squirrely, say with non-nation actors, pirates, or other rogues in those areas that a small group of pipe hitters could fix and naval assets are not available, some may see NG SF ODAs or the Coast Guard’s own MSST units carried from buoy tenders as a low-tech option. They have room for an Mk 38 (which isn’t installed) and carry a few .50 cals and small arms as well.

The USCGC Hickory (WLB 212), a 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender, arrives in Apra Harbor as it comes to their new homeport in Guam on Jan. 14, 2026, following a more than 13,000-mile transit over 71 days from the U.S. Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore through the Panama Canal. After an extended Major Maintenance Availability at the Yard, part of the In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program that modernizes the entire Juniper-class fleet with hull repairs, system upgrades, and replacement of obsolete equipment, the Hickory is now fully revitalized. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer Muir)

Marines are getting FPV drone serious

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A Neros Archer first-person view drone sits on a case during a demonstration range at Weapons Training Battalion on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, March 7, 2025. The Marine Corps Attack Drone Team used the Neros Archer FPV drone to engage targets on the range to showcase the drone’s capabilities on the battlefield. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Joshua Barker)

The Marines have a new training program for drones, which is currently standing it up at the battalion level, and “By May 2026, all infantry, reconnaissance battalions and littoral combat teams across the Corps will be equipped to employ FPV attack drone capabilities.”

Seven organizations are designated as regional training hubs with the authority to immediately begin conducting the pilot courses, while the newly formed Marine Corps Attack Drone Team is taking the show on the road.

A recent effort with 22nd MEU Marines certified 14 attack drone operators and 11 payload specialists “fully trained, equipped and ready for contingency operations” on Neros Archers. 

From a presser: 

Six approved pilot courses will certify Marines while testing instructional methods and curriculum. These courses include training for drone operators, payload specialists, and instructors, with specific prerequisites such as simulator experience on Training and Education Command-approved systems. The courses aim to ensure proper integration and supervision of new drone capabilities. The Training and Education Command has also established a process to grant certifications to Marines who have existing qualifications and experience through an exception to policy.

The Corps is looking to pick up 10,000 American or Allied-made FPVs at $4K a pop. 

Depending on the configuration, the Archer costs about $5K and is “capable of carrying a 2 kg/4.5 lb payload over 20 kilometers.” It has already been tapped by Big Green. 

There is also a three-week counter-drone, or C-UAS, course in both soft and hard kill methods, which is equally important.

Check out this from 1st Marines at Pendleton.

Big Army to keep (some) Horse Units Afterall

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Leading the Way. Army Capt. Megan Korpiel, commander of the Horse Cavalry Detachment, 1st Cavalry Division, leads soldiers while waving to a crowd during the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1, 2026. Army photo 260101-A-WV576-1153M by Army Spc. Steven Day

The above troopers have a reason to be smiling under their Stetsons.

We reported last July on the move by the Trump administration to slice the number of Army military working equid (MWE) programs (horses, mules, and donkeys owned by the Department of Defense and housed on Army installations) from seven to two, with 141 U.S. Army horses rehomed.

The last two MWE programs would continue with the Caisson units of The Old Guard at the Military District of Washington and at Joint Base San Antonio, Texas.

There has been a bit of a backpedal on this, with the MWE programs at Fort Hood, Texas (the Horse Cavalry Detachment, 1st Cavalry Division, which was established in 1973) and Fort Riley, Kansas (the circa 1992-founded Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard, CGMCG) now retained as well.

Plus, the Army recently established a new military occupational specialty (MOS), “Army Equestrian” (08H), that replaces the “military horseman” identifier (D2) and “creates a specialized career path dedicated to the professional care of military working equines.” It is currently open to infantry Soldiers in grades E5-E9.

When the smoke clears, just three of seven programs will be discontinued: the circa 2001-formed 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR) Horse Detachment, Fort Irwin, California; B Troop, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment (Memorial) at Fort Huachuca, Arizona (established in 1974); and the Artillery Half Section at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The latter, a unique horse artillery unit, is the most senior.

The Fort Sill Artillery Half Section in Oklahoma was established in 1963 as a ceremonial unit to preserve the tradition of the Great War era horse-drawn artillery, featuring a six-horse team pulling a Model 1897 French 75 field piece, and became a permanent fixture around 1970. The horses wear 1904 McClellan saddles, while the Doughboy is the uniform of the day. It is sad to see them go

You can’t save ’em all.

Garryowen!

Sisters from another mister

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Forward-deployed Yokosuka-based DESRON 15’s Flight II Burke-class destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) recently hosted a delegation from the Japanese Kongō-class destroyer JS Kirishima (DDG-174) in a Sister-Ship gift exchange to bring in the new year.

Although both Higgins and Kirishima are Aegis destroyers, they date back to the good ol’ 20th Century. Kirishima joined the fleet in 1995, while the Bath-built Higgins was commissionedon  24 April 1999. Steadily updated, however, they are no doubt still on the sharp end of that now somewhat dated spear.

Of note, Higgins is the first warship named in honor of Marine Col. William Richard Higgins (U. Miami ROTC 1967), a decorated Vietnam veteran who was kidnapped in Lebanon by Hezbollah while part of a UN mission and tortured to death over the course of 529 days in 1989-89.

As for Kirishima, well, you know what she is named after.

Climb to Glory: Air Scouts out, UAS Company(s) Real In

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Transformation is the buzzword.

The 10th Mountain Division (LI) made a quiet move last week to case the colors of the 164-year old (constituted 4 May 1861) 6th Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment (“Fighting Six-Six”) and disband the heavy attack reconnaissance squadron (HARS), sending its 24 AH-64D Longbow Apaches and six RQ-7Bv2 Shadows to other units.

In its place, Fox Company, 1st Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment (F, 1-10 Attack Battalion), a new company dedicated to achieving “drone dominance” on the modern battlefield, was activated.

The other three companies in 1-10 Attack will be Apache units, fielding 24 of the birds, at least for now. In the meantime, the Army is retiring older AH-64D models (starting FY2026) to focus on modernizing smaller numbers of AH-64E, which notably have counter-drone capabilities and allow for more UAV integration. Further, with the long-planned Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) program canceled last year, you can bet Apaches in general will likely be replaced by unmanned assets sometime in the 2030s.

“As the 10th Mountain Division’s first dedicated Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS) and Launch Effects (LE) company, these Soldiers are now at the forefront of the Army Aviation Transformation Initiative,” said the Army of Fox 1-10 Attack.

Meanwhile, new Multifunctional Reconnaissance Companies (MFRC), focused on Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) employment, are standing up in the 10th Mountain as well as the rest of the Army at the brigade level.

At Camp Beauregard, LA, Soldiers from Sioux Company (Multi-Purpose Company), 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, prepared to launch a Medium-Range Reconnaissance (MRR) Ghost-X drone while utilizing the Soldier Borne Mission Command Surrogate (SBMC-S) system during a training exercise. The SBMC-S empowers Soldiers to task and hand off Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) assets, simultaneously providing access to high-resolution, full-motion video (FMV) streamed directly from the drone. (U.S. Army photo by Zach Montanaro, PEO Soldier Public Affairs)

Penny Wise and Pound Foolish, 688 edition

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Kittery, Maine (Dec. 12, 2025) — The improved Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) departs Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to conduct sea trials. The submarine underwent major repairs, structural inspections, and the replacement of mechanical and electrical systems, extending its service life and ensuring the Navy’s long-term fleet readiness. As America’s leader for attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization, PNSY is enhancing critical warfighting capabilities by safely delivering high-quality, on-budget, and on-time service to the fleet, ensuring warfighters are battle-ready when called upon. (US Navy photo by Branden Bourque)

The Los Angeles (SSN-688) class submarine is a thing of joy.

Sixty-two mother beautiful 7,000-ton 30-ish knot hunter killers that can carry a mixture of 37 torpedo/TLAM/Harpoon/Mines in their hull, with the latter half also having 12 VLS cells for a little added “room to boom.”

They were a big reason that, when coupled with the older Sturgeon-class “fish boats,” the Navy had 83 SSNs on the list in 1995, a fleet likely never surpassed in human history in terms of cutting-edge hunter killers.

Designed to run 30+ years with a midlife Refueling and Complex Overhaul (RCOH) that can take 2-4 years, done at about the 15-19 year mark, the 688s have a very long life planned. The preceding Sturgeons followed a shorter lifecycle, sans refueling but with a less comprehensive mid-life overhaul, but most still served 25 or more years in commission.

However, in the interest of saving a buck or billion, between 1995 and 2008, the Navy elected to lay up 11 of these dedicated underwater Swiss army knives at their midlife point, sending Los Angeles class sisters USS Baton Rouge, Omaha, Cincinnati, Groton, Birmingham, New York City, Indianapolis, Phoenix, Boston, Baltimore, and Atlanta to recycling after just 15 or so years in operation rather than springing for a RCOH. Another six boats (USS Portsmouth, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Rickover, Augusta, Honolulu, and Salt Lake City) inside the same period were retired in their early 20s–a full decade early– due to their previously planned RCOH cancelled.

So 17 of 62, just over one-quarter of the class, were given the pink slip while there was still work to be done. That works out to 225~ planned submarine years that just evaporated, and that is a lowball estimate. These were 225 years that were already promised by previous SECNAVs and CNOs, Congresses, and Presidents. On hulls that were already paid for by the taxpayers.

This left those 688s still on the payroll to work longer and harder. The two most recently decommissioned, USS Key West (SSN-722) and Helena (SSN-725), were in commission just over 38 years.

Sure, sure, you can argue that the billions saved by scrapping 17 gently used SSNs helped make the current 26 Virginia-class subs (which started construction in 2000) more affordable, but that program buildout is running behind schedule, and, counting both the 688s that were commissioned early and those that weren’t, 36 Los Angeles-class boats have been retired.

Today, the Navy just has 50-52 SSNs in service, with the force skewing to slightly more Virginias (24 commissioned, two delivered pending commissioning), followed by 23 remaining 688s, and three super secret duty Seawolves. This is expected to decline to around 40 or so as the 688s are being retired faster than the Viginias are being built (and Australia also wants some SSNs of their own)

Thus, you see the shortfall in SSN hulls available.

But wait, the Navy has pulled a tiny rabbit out of the hat by extending the service life of up to five Los Angeles SSNs to help mitigate the gap.

To that aim, USS Cheyenne (SSN 773), a Block III 688i and the last Los Angeles-class boat commissioned in 1996, last week completed its Engineered Refueling Overhaul availability as the first submarine to undergo an overhaul as part of the Service Life Extension Program — extending her total service life beyond 44 years.

The Cheyenne Project Team, encompassing various trade workers, engineers, and material support personnel at PNSY, worked alongside the ship’s crew to return Cheyenne back to the fleet as a battle-ready Navy asset — an achievement that advances the effort to close the gap in ready attack submarines. This milestone ensures the U.S. Submarine Force remains the most lethal, capable, and feared combat force in the world.

Make it make sense that the same Navy that killed 15-year-old members of Cheyenne’s class now wants her to keep prowling well past her 40s.

Different times and suffering from different crimes, I suppose.

Kittery, Maine (Dec. 12, 2025) — The improved Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Cheyenne (SSN 773) departs Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to conduct sea trials. The submarine underwent major repairs, structural inspections, and the replacement of mechanical and electrical systems, extending its service life and ensuring the Navy’s long-term fleet readiness. As America’s leader for attack submarine maintenance, repair, and modernization, PNSY is enhancing critical warfighting capabilities by safely delivering high-quality, on-budget, and on-time service to the fleet, ensuring warfighters are battle-ready when called upon. (US Navy photo by Branden Bourque)

Myrtle Lighting the Way: 5,380 nautical miles on a 154-footer

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The USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) crew returns home Dec. 14, 2025, after completing a successful expeditionary patrol under Operation Blue Pacific, deepening partnerships with Pacific nations and bolstering maritime security in the region. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Mandy Thomas) 251214-G-G0020-7958

The tired crew of the 154-foot Sentinel (Webber)-class fast response cutter USCGC Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) returned home to Guam last week, capping a 5,380nm expeditionary patrol that lasted just under a month (17 November to 14 December) under Operation Blue Pacific. Of that, 15 days were dedicated to” providing a persistent presence in the exclusive economic zones of the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.”

They also conducted five community events, including a volleyball game with locals, swimming lessons for children, and tours of the cutter.

“The patrol went beyond simple transit. It focused on building maritime security, engaging directly with Pacific partners, and enforcing international maritime law through shared operations,” notes the service.

Keep in mind that the FSM and Palau are being highly courted by Chinese interests, as are just about every island chain between Guam and the Philippines and Australia and Taiwan. So this is truly a hearts and minds mission in addition to showing the flag.

That’s why the two dozen Coasties aboard the 154-footer are punching above their weight class.

Hazard is the 39th FRC, named in honor of the first enlisted woman in the U.S. Coast Guard who served as an electrician and radio operator in the Great War.

She is one of three cutters of her class currently based in Guam and arrived there five years ago, replacing two aging 110-foot Island-class WPBs.

Santa Rita, Guam (Sept. 24, 2020) Coast Guard Cutter Myrtle Hazard (WPC 1139) enters Apra Harbor before arriving at its new homeport in Santa Rita, Guam. The new Fast Response Cutter (FRC) is the first of three scheduled to be stationed on Guam and is replacing the 30-year old 110-foot Island-class patrol boats. FRCs are equipped with new advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems and boast greater range and endurance. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class MacAdam Kane Weissman)

Make Battleships Great Again (?)

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Wow.

The first class of U.S. battleships built since 1944.

I mean, this announcement.

Engineered to outmatch any foreign adversary, the new battleship class will be the centerpiece of naval power. At triple the size of an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, its massive frame provides superior firepower, larger missile magazines, and the capability to launch Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missiles and the Surface Launch Cruise Missile-Nuclear.

The Trump class will be capable of operating in a traditional Integrated Air and Missile Defense role with a Carrier Strike Group or commanding its own Surface Action Group for Surface and Anti-Submarine Warfare efforts, in addition to delivering long-range hypersonic strategic fires and quarterbacking the operations of an entire fleet as the central command control node.

I mean, yes, build a Great Navy.

A world-class Navy with new and innovative vessels that will be cutting-edge for generations to come.

Bring back a modern BBG or BBGN, hell, bring back a class of CGNs while you are at it.

I’m all for a modern take on USS Long Beach with 192 VLS strike-length cells.

But the move to designate these new battlewagons the “Trump class” with hull number “1” and the first named USS Defiant (BBG-1) is just pure unadulterated MAGA autism.

You would be far more likely to get a Democratic-controlled Armed Services Committee (coming in 2027 if not 2029) to approve billions of pork-flavored dollars for a ship named after a state. Give it the name of the biggest state (in terms of population and House seats) that currently doesn’t have a ship named after it already on the Navy List, and give it a traditional hull number in line with previous battleships– the future and sixth USS South Carolina (BB-67)– or BB-72 if you take into account the canceled Montana class battleships.

Plus, it should be pointed out that the canceled USS Kentucky (BB-66) was redesignated as BBG-1 in 1954 while still under construction, so at least the new Trump battleship should be BBG-2.

Further, there is already a “Defiant” on the Navy List, a Valiant-class harbor tug (YT-804), which commissioned in 2010. The Navy also owns the Nichols/Serco Maritime unmanned demonstrator ship USX-1 Defiant, which is not officially in commission.

Moving past the name and hull numbers and looking at the renderings, these will be the same rough size (35,000 tons, 840-880 feet oal) as the 10 fast battleships of the North Carolina/SoDak/Iowa classes, but Trump is advertising a build out of 20-25 (!) of these leviathans.

Main battery will be a dozen Conventional Prompt Strike cells (including the use of a theorized W80-4 tipped SLCM-N) and 128 Mk 41 strike-length VLS, with a secondary battery of a 32MJ railgun (hold your breath), a pair of 5-inch guns, 2 300-600kW lasers, and a defensive battery of two RAM launchers, four Mk46 30mm guns, four AN/SEQ-4 ODIN lasers, and two undefined counter UxS systems.

A huge mistake is making these gas turbine-powered akin to the DDG and LHD-8 designs rather than nuclear powered– something that will be desperately needed with the electric draw of the rail gun, ODINs, etc.

Plus, there are realistically just two yards in the country (Ingalls and Newport News) that could build these without major improvements to their facilities, and both are already swamped making CVNs, SSBNs, SSNs, LHAs, LPDs, DDGs, and FF(X)s, so somehow freeing up yard space for two dozen 35,000-ton battleships while still building everything else is…well…just not going to happen.

Three other private yards may have slipways big enough for an 880-foot/35,000-ton warship: NASSCO in San Diego, Philly Shipyard, and BAE in Jacksonville, but do they have the personnel and shop space to pull off such a project?

There are only something like 21 certified dry docks in the entire country to conduct routine warship maintenance– with just four of those on the West Coast (THE biggest issue with a modern Pacific naval war in my opinion). Of those 21, just nine are rated to hold a battleship-sized vessel, and they are busy supporting CVNs, LHA/Ds, AOs, and LPDs.

Portsmouth NSY and Bremerton NSY both have very large dry docks capable of holding a CVN, but could they construct a 35,000-ton battleship and still address their huge maintenance backlogs of current ships? That’s probably a big no.

Industrial reality is going to hit this project hard.

Congress may hit it harder.

An Arleigh Burke-class (DDG-51) destroyer costs roughly $2.5 billion per ship for the newest Flight III models, while a Ford-class carrier is more like $13 billion. Back-of-the-envelope math would have a BBG fall somewhere in the middle of those two bookends, which would still be an amazingly stout $7.75 billion per hull. Times 25 hulls is $193B. Sure, the F-35 program runs $2 trillion, but that includes mountains of R&D and sustainment costs as well as spare parts. Speaking of which, what would lifecycle costs be on 25 battleships, each with a 650-800 member crew (which is about three times the size of a DDG crew)? The Navy has often quoted that it cost $100K per year per bluejacket, so that is $2B in just salaries and benefits for battleship sailors, per year, not to count those in shoreside support and maintenance.

Hell, maybe this is all a big ask to get Capitol Hill to gratefully torpedo the 25 Trump-class battleships for a new and improved 12-ship Long Beach CGNs, all conveniently named after Big Blue Cities.

I’d take that.

USS Long Beach (CGN 9), concept by T.G.Webb of proposed anti-air warfare modernization with the Aegis Fleet Air Defense System, FY77. NH 90071

The FF(X): The Navy’s New (USCG’s Old) Small Surface Combatant

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As we covered previously, SECNAV and CNO have been flirting with the Coast Guard’s 418-foot Legend (Bertholf)-class National Security Cutter– one of which is often deployed on 2nd or 7th fleet tasking at any given time already– as the country’s new fast frigate.

Now, the flirting is over, and it is “Facebook official.” 

The FF(X) is a highly adaptable vessel. While its primary mission will be surface warfare, its ability to carry modular payloads and command unmanned systems enables it to execute a broad spectrum of operations, making it ready for the challenges of the modern maritime environment. Small surface combatants have always been essential to the fleet, handling a wide range of missions where a large warship isn’t required. The FF(X) will continue this vital role and will take on more routine operations, enhancing the fleet’s operational flexibility, adaptability, and mission readiness.

FF(X) is engineered for rapid, cost-effective production, enabling this vital capability to the fleet faster. This is made possible by basing the new frigate on HII’s proven Legend-Class National Security Cutter. This approach leverages a mature design to deliver ships to our sailors without delay.

Note, the “G” moniker doesn’t seem to be mentioned anymore as they apparently won’t have many guided missiles other than up to 16 NSMs on the stern and what looks to be a 21-cell RAM and an 8-cell tactical VLS forward, which could be quad-packed with Enhanced Sea Sparrows to give it 32 of the latter. If they could make that a 16-cell VLS, that could at least add a couple of SM-2s and vertically launched ASROCs to the mix.

Is a long-hulled variant coming, with, say, a 64-cell VLS, better sensors, and a twin helicopter hangar, while a Flight I group of ships gets built by a lead yard (Ingalls), then is expanded to a multi-yard design (Bath, Fincantieri, Austal, Bollinger?). Perhaps, as hinted at in the video.

In the meantime, well, any frigate is better than none.

I guess.

POF-USA Awarded Contract for ‘Next Generation Rifle System’ for Unnamed Customer in Asia

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In a somewhat cryptic announcement recently, Arizona-based Patriot Ordnance Factory revealed that its 8-inch Renegade AR-type platform in .300 Blackout won a contract as the Next Generation Rifle System for a yet-undisclosed user in Asia.

Details are scant. The awarded contract apparently came in partnership with SERT, an “international provider of acquisition and sustainment solutions to defense, security, and intelligence customers.”

However, it is not clear exactly how the two companies are working together.

POF Renegade Next Generation Rifle System
We did a tour of Patriot Ordnance Factory back in 2023, and we got a sneak peek at this new gun. We were sworn to secrecy at the time, but the cat is out of the bag now. (Photo: Chris Eger/Guns.com)

“We are proud to partner with SERT on this significant contract,” said Cody DeSomma, vice president of POF-USA, in a press release. “The Renegade platform represents the pinnacle of our direct-impingement technology, incorporating patented innovations developed specifically to meet real-world operational requirements. This award reinforces our commitment to delivering American-made firearms that meet the demands of professional end users worldwide.”

According to POF, the Renegade was selected for its compact design, reliability, and performance in modern operating environments. As a .300 Blackout platform, it is also a strong contender for suppressor use, and the Renegade’s ability to reliably use subsonic and supersonic ammo was a contributing factor in its selection.

Additionally, the Renegade came with ambidextrous controls for CQB work, and it is capable of hosting a wide range of accessories, ranging from optics to laser aiming devices.

POF also listed key patented technologies in the Renegade in its press release. These included the POF E² dual-extraction chamber, roller cam pin, and heat-sink barrel nut.

That leaves us with just three big questions. What “end user” in Asia is making moves to equip its forces with suppressor-ready ARs in .300 Blackout with lasers? How many did they order? And why is the buyer a secret?

I mean, we know, but…

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