US Navy

For the first time ever, an un-crewed aircraft has successfully refuelled another aircraft while both planes were in flight. In the test, Boeing's MQ-25 T1 aerial tanker drone transferred jet fuel to a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet.

With the aid of a Dutch De Zeven Provincien-class frigate, the US Navy destroyer USS Paul Ignatius used two Standard Missile-3 interceptors to destroy ballistic missiles while they were still in space during the Formidable Shield NATO sea exercises.

The US Navy has given Raytheon the go ahead to start production of the latest Block of the Tomahawk cruise missile. The Block V variant will start work later this year, giving the missile a life extension of 15 years plus increased capabilities.

The US Missile Defense Agency and the US Navy have successfully destroyed a mock ICBM missile on the edge of space using a Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA missile launched from the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS John Finn.

Boeing has been awarded a US$30-million contract to develop a supersonic ramjet missile in cooperation with the US Navy. The SPEAR flight demonstrator will help determine technical requirements for future missiles to defend Navy carriers.

As part of the US Navy's Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) competition, Lockheed Martin has been selected as the main contractor to study how to provide the Navy with large, autonomous ships that can operate for extended periods without a crew.

The US Navy's Blue Angels acrobatic team has taken delivery of its first F/A-18 Super Hornet test aircraft. The fighter is the first of 11 Boeing plans to deliver to the Navy team this year and will be used for flight testing and evaluation.

Northrop Grumman has completed testing of the US Navy's new Very Lightweight Torpedo. The VLWT is the latest in a series of lightweight torpedoes developed for the US Navy and overseas customers to deal with the problems of anti-submarine warfare.

The US Navy has successfully carried out a demonstration of a high-energy laser weapon installed in a warship. On May 16, the USS Portland disabled a UAV with its Solid-State Laser - Technology Maturation Laser Weapon System Demonstrator MK 2 MOD 0.

Hypersonic missiles that travel at Mach 5 and above are potential game-changers for military planners. The US Department of Defense has completed a test of its Common Hypersonic Glide Body, which will be the basis for a future class of such weapons.

The US Navy has successfully installed its first Optical Dazzling Interdictor, Navy (ODIN) laser weapon aboard one of its warships. During dry-dock operations, the destroyer USS Dewey received the stand-alone laser system designed to blind drone sensors.

Boeing has delivered the first improved F/A-18 Super Hornet to the US Navy with two more to follow before May. The Block III upgrades of the fighter are part of a Service Life Modification program that will extend the aircraft's service life.