The United States Navy has recently decommissioned its very last Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate, the USS Simpson (FFG56). This marks a new age of naval warfare, where it is becoming less likely for ships to go to battle in the open sea. Before lowering its flags, the USS Simpson covered its windows and removed its weapons. The ship will now travel to Philadelphia, where it will wait until it is sold off to a foreign nation. The USS Simpson’s service came to an end after 30 years of service, concluding with a ceremony at Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Florida. During these three decades of active duty, the USS Simpson was capable of firing missiles at and sinking an Iranian oil platform as well as an Iranian Navy vessel during a battle in April of 1988. Now, the only remaining Navy ship to have sunk an enemy is the USS Constitution, which did so over a couple of centuries ago during the War of 1812. Read more >>

In London at the Defense & Security Equipment International exhibition, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Terma Aerostructures A/S and BAE Systems, in which Terma will continue to manufacture subassemblies, components, and parts for the F-35 Lightning II empennage. The contract, potentially worth 1.6 billion kroner over the next 23 years, will extend collaboration between the two companies, whereby Terma delivers advanced composite structural parts for the tails of the aircraft. Paul Burns, the F-35 global procurement and supply chain director at BAE Systems, expressed satisfaction with the companies’ continued co-operation. Read more >>

Boeing and Lockheed Martin’s joint venture United Launch Alliance (ULA) is working in conjunction with Blue Origin to accelerate production of the BE-4 engine for Vulcan, the next-generation launch system. Read more >>

Textron Inc.’s Bell Helicopters and Fuji Heavy Industries have received a $3.02 billion deal to create a fleet of military transport aircraft that would be sold internationally. This project will take place over the course of 27 years, beginning in 2021. It will replace 150 of Japan’s aging fleet of troop-carrying Huey helicopters that have been used since the time before the Vietnam War. Read more >>

Huntington Ingalls Industries has finished constructing the shell of the US Navy’s Virginia-class submarine, Washington (SSN 787). This will be the 14th Virginia-class vessel delivered to the Navy and the seventh vessel of its kind to be delivered by Huntington Ingalls Industries’ Newport News Shipbuilding Division. Read more >>