Category: US Navy

America’s Navy Is Failing—Triple Its Budget or Lose a War to Russia and China

Commentary China just put two more naval cruisers into service. The two Type 055s, bigger than destroyers, already conducted night-firing exercises. Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy plans to retire all its cruisers without replacement until 2028. Type 055 tested its YJ-21 hypersonic anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) and another missile that appears to have a maneuverable reentry vehicle (MaRV)….


The Lessons Taiwan Can Learn From Ukraine—With John Mills

The Chinese Communist Party seeks to destroy the United States—from economics to the military—all while their eyes are on Taiwan and beyond. Taiwan is on the front line of freedom. If Taiwan falls, the next island chain is American territory like Guam. I speak with John Mills—former director of cybersecurity policy, strategy, and international affairs…


US Navy Intends to Decommission Some of Its Newest Warships

PORTLAND, Maine—The Navy that once wanted smaller, speedy warships to chase down pirates has made a speedy pivot to Russia and China—and many of those recently built ships could be retired. The U.S. Navy wants to decommission nine ships in the Freedom-class of littoral combat ships—warships that cost about $4.5 billion altogether to build. The…


Proposed Biden Defense Budget Names China as ‘Primary Strategic Challenge’

President Joe Biden’s proposed $813 billion national security spending request to Congress includes $773 billion in direct allocations for the U.S. military with significant boosts in funding designed to counter the growing military threat in the western Pacific presented by the People’s Republic of China (PRC). “This will be among the largest investments in our…


Ex-Navy Nuclear Engineer Pleads Guilty in Submarine Espionage Case

A former U.S. Navy engineer pleaded guilty on Monday to attemptign to sell secrets about nuclear-powered submarines to a foreign country. As part of a deal with prosecutors, Jonathan Toebbe, 43, admitted to a federal court in Martinsburg, West Virginia, to conspiring with his wife to pass on restricted data, a violation of the Atomic…


Former US Navy Captain Pleads Guilty to Accepting Nearly $68,000 in Bribes

A former U.S. Navy captain on Wednesday pleaded guilty to bribery for accepting nearly $68,000 from a foreign defense contractor. Donald Hornbeck, 61, admitted in San Diego federal court to receiving at least $67,830 in bribes in extravagant dinners, hotels, parties, and prostitutes from foreign defense contractor Leonard Francis, while he directed the operations of…


US Navy Leads Largest Ever AI-Assisted Unmanned Maritime Exercise in Middle East

The U.S. Navy on Jan. 31 kicked off the largest ever unmanned international maritime exercise in the Middle East region. The Navy said Monday that an 18-day training event commenced during a ceremony at U.S. 5th Fleet’s headquarters in Bahrain. Led by U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, 60 partner nations and international organizations are participating…


Navy to Recover US Fighter Jet That Had ‘Landing Mishap’ in South China Sea, Injuring 7

The U.S. Navy said it has begun making preparations to salvage an F-35C warplane had a “landing mishap” in the South China Sea on Monday. Seven sailors were injured after the fighter jet “had a landing mishap on deck while USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) was conducting routine flight operations,” a Jan. 24 statement from…


US Navy Fires Ship’s Top Two Officers Over ‘Loss of Confidence’

The Navy fired the commander and the second in charge of the littoral combat ship USS Montgomery, the service confirmed. Cmdr. Richard J. Zamberlan, the ship’s commander, and Cmdr. Phillip Lundberg, the ship’s executive officer, were relieved by Navy Surface Division 11 Capt. Marc Crawford, according to the Navy in a statement released Thursday. Crawford relieved…


US Navy Warship Pauses Deployment After COVID-19 Outbreak Among ‘100 Percent Immunized’ Crew

A U.S. Navy warship has paused its deployment to South America due to a COVID-19 outbreak among its “100 percent immunized” crew, the Navy announced on Christmas Eve. “USS Milwaukee (LCS 5), a Freedom variant littoral combat ship, remains in port as some Sailors test positive for COVID-19,” the U.S. 4th Fleet said in a statement….