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Navy/USMC

Work To Begin Building First FF(X) Frigate Is ‘Imminent,’ HII CEO Says

By Matthew Beinart

Thursday, January 8th, 2026

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Work To Begin Building First FF(X) Frigate Is ‘Imminent,’ HII CEO Says

National Security Cutter James. Photo: Huntington Ingalls Industries

Work to begin building the first FF(X) multi-mission frigate is “imminent,” the CEO of shipbuilding firm HII [HII] has said, adding he has “high confidence” meeting the Navy’s goal for an initial trial run in 2028. HII CEO Chris Kastner told reporters on Thursday the initial FF(X) will have limited design changes from the Coast Guard’s Legend-class National Security Cutter (NSC) fleet on which it’s based. “Based on limiting designs and being disciplined in the design, and we have senior…

Congress

Kaine On Iranian Girls School Strike: “You Can Be Sure We’re Gonna Get The Answer To That One”

Sen. Timothy Kaine (D-Va.), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) seapower panel, pledged on Tuesday that the Senate will get to the bottom of what happened […]

Congress

‘Right To Repair’ Reform In SASC’s FY ‘27 NDAA Sets “Government-Purpose Rights’ As Default

The “Right to Repair” provision secured in the Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the next defense policy bill would establish “government-purpose rights” as a default, requiring defense contractors […]

Advanced / Transformational Technology

Pentagon May Make ‘Tradeoffs’ For Low-Cost Autonomous Tech Without Reconciliation Funds, CTO Says

The Pentagon’s chief technology officer has said the department may need to make “tradeoffs” on certain capability priorities if Congress doesn’t pass a reconciliation with $350 billion in requested defense […]

Congress

SASC’s FY ‘27 NDAA Sticks With Army’s Plan For Legacy Aviation Procurement Cuts

The Senate Armed Services Committee’s (SASC) version of the next defense policy sticks to the Army’s proposed plan to cut procurement of its legacy aviation fleet, and does not authorize […]