In accordance with a contract awarded to them in 2010, Austal, a global defense prime contractor and a manufacturer and designer of commercial and defense ships, is responsible for fulfilling a $3.5 billion block-buy contract for 10 variant littoral combat ships. These littoral combat ships (LCS) are quick, highly maneuverable, and are networked combat ships which are the first of a new family of surface ships for the United States Navy. They were designed to meet the vital requirement for shallow draft vessels to function in coastal waters in order to counter the threats of quiet diesel submarines and coastal mines. Read more >>

At the end of June, the US Navy's EA-6B Prowler tactical jamming aircraft completed its final flight from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island as part of a sunset celebration commemorating the retirement of the aircraft. The aircraft, which was in service for 45 years, was retired last week with a three day commemoration at Whidbey Island where it took its final flight. Read more >>

General Atomics was awarded a contract to support the United States Navy’s future CVN 79 aircraft carrier, the John F. Kennedy. The undefinitized contract calls for General Atomics to produce the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) that will be used on the aircraft carrier. The EMALS system is a multi-megawatt electric power system that provides energy storage, power conversion, and a 100,000-horsepower electric motor. AAG allows arrestment of aircraft, lowering manning and maintenance, and provides higher reliability and safety margins. The company was awarded with the prime contract of providing EMALS and AAG systems for a previous aircraft carrier, CVN 78, in June 2009 of which completion is expected by July 2015. Read more >>

Wartsila’s recently launched engine, the Wartsila 31, has been declared by the Guinness World Records committee to be the most efficient 4-stroke diesel engine. Verified by the universally recognized power on record breaking on May 26, 2015, the achievement confirms Wartsila’s leading position in engine technology. The Wartsila 31 engine has the highest fuel efficiency levels, reaching as low as 165h/kWh which is significantly lower than any other 4-stroke diesel engines that are currently available on the market. Read more >>

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, CAE provides modeling and simulation technologies, integrated training solutions and training system support services. The services and curriculum they provide are capable of meeting military customers and original equipment manufacturers training requirements. Various defense and government agencies in the USA, Central and South America have utilized CAE’s training services. In June 2015, CAE announced that CAE USA has been awarded a United States Army contract to provide comprehensive initial and recurrent training for more than 600 U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force fixed-wing pilots. Read more >>