The subsequent DD&C contract will result in the delivery of an LUSV prototype as a bridge to building production vessels. Due to an FY20 congressional mandate, the prototype LUSV will not be outfitted with a vertical launch system. The Navy hopes to transition to a program of record in FY23, with plans to buy two production LUSVs in each of FY23 and FY24, and three in FY25. Those seven vessels will be outfitted with integrated combat systems and vertical launch systems, according to FY21 budget documents. The production vessels will be funded through the Navy’s shipbuilding account. Delivery of production vessels is expected to begin in FY26.

Source:  Forecast International - International Military Markets
Associated URL: Click here to visit
Author: S. McDougall, Defense Analyst 

NNSY has historically prided itself on its mission versatility, workforce availability and global scope of its work, as evidenced by the long-standing motto "Any ship, anytime, anywhere." Anytime has also proven true during a national emergency, as NNSY is continuing to conduct all service to the Fleet at its main location in Portsmouth. Currently on the Portsmouth waterfront, NNSY has three vital projects that will greatly assist the Navy in three different but highly important ways. That includes USS George H.W. Bush’s (CVN 77) most extensive work since commissioning, in the form of a Drydocking Planned Incremental Availability; USS Wyoming (SSBN 742), which is a critical piece in the country’s nuclear deterrence strategy, getting an Engineered Refueling Overhaul; and USS San Francisco (SSN 711), which is undergoing conversion to become a next-generation Moored Training Ship ensuring highly skilled and fully capable 21st century fleet operators.

The shipyard also continues to conduct mission-critical work at all its satellite locations and assisting other sites as part of the nation’s One Shipyard Concept. In the past couple weeks just in Hampton Roads, recent NNSY accomplishments at Naval Station Norfolk included completing work on USS Wasp (LHD 1), successfully conducting testing on USS New Mexico (SSN 779), and assisting work on USS Gerald Ford (CVN 78) and USS John Warner (SSN 785); and at Huntington Ingalls-Newport News Shipbuilding, restoring systems to remove cofferdams on USS Boise (SSN 764).

The inherent challenges working to minimize spread of COVID-19 while needing ship project team members to work in relative close proximity to one another is being addressed on several fronts at NNSY. These are in addition to all the Department of Defense-mandated ways to prevent and minimize COVID-19 spread. One shipyard-specific action is NNSY’s Supply Department (Code 500) taking the lead in assembling and distributing cleaning kits to the projects. These contain paper towels, gloves, and sanitizers for cleaning high touch areas and objects such as common areas and conference rooms, and doorknobs and elevator buttons. The shipyard is also preparing to implement screening procedures at the gates to curb the possibility of a person with COVID-19 entering the installation. Additionally, NNSY’s Naval Facilities (NAVFAC) Public Works Department-Portsmouth has confirmed with its custodial contractor that cleaning products used at NNSY are effective at killing COVID-19.

To maximize social distancing, NNSY has suspended large gatherings and meetings such as Force Multiplier trainings, monthly safety flag presentations and Employee Resource Group meetings. In their place, Shipyard Commander Captain Kai Torkelson has been filming ongoing messages for these groups as coordinated by the shipyard’s Public Affairs Office (Code 1160) and Shipyard Instruction Design Center (Code 1170).

Source:  U.S. Navy
Associated URL: Click here to visit
Author: /Michael Brayshaw, NNSY  

In a statement April 2, the press service of the shipyard referred to such a postponement as 'premature' for the time being. Russia recently enacted a week off from work, with the exception of certain personnel, for most businesses, and is moving to implement more stricter lockdown measures in an effort to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The shipyard is producing a number of submarines for the Russian Navy which are slated to enter service in the upcoming years. For the Pacific Fleet, Admiralty Shipyards is producing six Project 636.3 submarines, the first of which was commissioned into the fleet in November. Another one is supposed to enter service late this year, while the other submarines in the order should be delivered from 2021 to 2022. Further submarines in the class may be laid down for the Baltic Fleet as early as this year.

Admiralty Shipyards is also in the process of producing a pair of Project 677 submarines for the Navy.

Globally, nearly one million cases of COVID-19 have been reported, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University, though experts believe that the true number of cases may be much higher due to low levels of testing. In Russia, over 3,500 cases have been reported, with a few dozen deaths.

As governments have worked to respond to the virus, through quarantine measures as well as repurposing some production lines to manufacture medical equipment, it is expected that economic growth across the world will dip in 2020.

Source:  Interfax
Associated URL: Click here to visit
Source Language: Russian