The Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion completed an air-to-air refueling test this week, signaling the program is a step closer to wrapping up developmental testing.
The terse reference in a written submission by Navy officials to the House Armed Services Committee on March 11 also likely offers the first proof that the SM-6 Block 1B remains in development.
The Blue-Ribbon Future Carrier 2030 Task Force is seen as complementary to a broad review of shipbuilding requirements being led by Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist.
The U.S. Marine Corps is halving its planned 2021 buy of F-35Bs to 10 jets, while the Navy is purchasing three fewer F-35Cs than in the previous year’s budget projection.
Boeing's jet-powered MQ-25 will embark on aircraft carriers “to conduct aerial refueling as a primary mission and provide some ISR capability as a secondary mission,” according to fiscal 2021 Navy budget documents.