The Navy recently held a maintenance summit for the DDG-1000, which could make an appearance in an upcoming Integrated Battle Platform exercise. The exercise could also include unmanned surface vessels.

The Navy is considering a containerized weapon system for its amphibious warships, according to Marine Maj. Gen. Tracy W. King. One possible system for that mission is the RGM-184A Naval Strike Missile designated for littoral combat ships and the Constellation-class guided-missile frigate.

Lockheed Martin has delivered its high-energy laser with integrated optical-dazzler and surveillance, or HELIOS, laser weapon system to the Navy for testing aboard a destroyer this year. HELIOS is designed to counter threats posed by small boats and drones.

Raytheon Technologies has agreed to build RIM-66 SM-2 Standard missile systems for Denmark, Japan, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain and Taiwan. An $8.5 million contract from the US Naval Sea Systems Command provides for long-lead items for the systems.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt will adopt a new home port at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard this summer to undergo maintenance. Puget will be busy with other naval work as well, including final work on the submarines USS Louisiana and USS Michigan.

The Coast Guard's focus is on Polar Security Cutters and Arctic Security Cutters, not nuclear-powered icebreakers, said commandant Adm. Karl Schultz. The White House had previously asked the Coast Guard to investigate the potential to build nuclear-powered icebreakers, but the service has too much on its plate, Schultz said.

The Navy is designing its Constellation-class frigate around existing technologies in a model that, if successful, will guide the design of the so-called DDG Next destroyer, said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Gilday. These projects "have to be world-class efforts that deliver on time, on budget, with the right capacity, with the right capabilities that we need," Gilday said.

The cutting of 110 tons of steel marks the start of work on the Navy's next Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The ship will be the 33rd of its type for Huntington Ingalls Industries' Ingalls Shipbuilding division and will be named after Sen. Jeremiah Denton, a Vietnam War veteran and prisoner of war who was awarded the Navy Cross.

Work is underway on hull structures for the Navy's Orca extra-large unmanned undersea vehicle at Huntington Ingalls Industries' new Hampton, Va., drone facility. Boeing holds the overarching contract for the 51-foot Orca, which is designed to carry out a variety of missions operating independently over a range of 6,500 nautical miles.

We are less than two weeks away from ASNE's Virtual TSS. Have you registered yet?! Join us January 26-28th for live industry speakers, technical papers, Global Shipbuilding Executive Summit (GSES) panels, virtual exhibits, and keynotes delivered by VADM Michael Moran, USN, VADM William Galinis, USN, RADM Douglas Small, USN, and RDML Jason Lloyd, USN, and more. Connect with an engineer! Our virtual platform provides various networking opportunities through our chat and one-on-one video features. Late registration starts January 25, 12:00pm ET. Visit our website for more details!

Attention authors! The deadline to submit your technical paper for ASNE's Virtual Intelligent Ship Symposium is tomorrow, January 15. The emphasis of this year's symposium will be on recent advances in Intelligent Systems and the challenges that lie ahead for the next generation of Intelligent ships. We are excited to announce Intelligent Ships Symposium is going virtual April 28-29. Visit our website for more information on paper topics, submission guidelines, and more.