The Air-to-Air Missiles Program Office (PMA-259) gained Portugal as its 29th Air Intercept Missile (AIM)-9X International Partner, after Portugal announced it signed and accepted the AIM-9X Block II Missile Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) on Sept. 28.

The signed LOA allows PMA-259 to procure 18 AIM-9X Block II missiles on behalf of the Portuguese Air Force to complement Portugal’s F-16 fleet. This procurement will be part of the United States Navy’s Lot 23 Production Contract, which will lead to missile delivery in 2026.

Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) placed the Navy and Marine Corps’ fleet of T-45Cs on a safety pause Oct. 14 to review an engine blade fault.

"Out of an abundance of caution and concern for the safety of our aviators, CNATRA made the decision to halt all T-45C Goshawk operations following the discovery of an engine blade failure,” said CNATRA Rear Adm. Richard Brophy. “We are working with our partners toward a swift resolution. Safety is at the core of our operations, and we must not expose our pilots or aircraft to unnecessary risk."  

Lemmon assumes command of organization that includes 11 program offices reaching coast to coast

Following four years as Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs (PEO(T)), Rear Adm. Shane Gahagan bid farewell Sept. 14 during a change of command gathering with family and friends.

Gahagan welcomed Rear Adm. John Lemmon, who was most recently the Commander of Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, as his successor for PEO(T).

The Air-to-Air Missiles Program Office (PMA-259) changed command with Capt. Christopher B. DeBons relieving Capt. Errol A. Campbell Jr. in a ceremony on Aug. 8.

Rear Adm. Shane Gahagan, Program Executive Officer for Tactical Aircraft Programs, served as the guest speaker highlighting the extensive list of program accomplishments under Campbell’s command and leadership qualities Campbell encompasses.

ALRE is working to improve Nimitz-class carrier support by making holistic changes to the way all launch and recovery products and systems are tracked and planned. 

By reexamining relationships with external ALRE stakeholders and ship availability schedules, product teams are improving scheduling and embracing new rigor in getting parts, services, and systems to the warfighter when and where they’re needed.  

From left: Capt. John Dougherty, Rear Adm. Shane Gahagan and Capt. Michael Orr following the Next Generation Air Dominance Program Management Office (PMA-230) change of command. Gahagan officiated the event where Orr assumed command from Dougherty as PMA-230 program manager on Aug. 1.

U.S. Navy photo

The F/A-18 and EA-18G Program Office (PMA-265) has conducted a successful series of manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) flight tests in which a Block III F/A-18 Super Hornet demonstrated command and control of three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The event took place at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, Pt. Mugu, California, and included four flight tests supported by Air Test and Evaluation Squadrons (VX) 23 and 31 and industry partners, Boeing and BAE Systems.

Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) achieved 10,000 aircraft launches and recoveries aboard USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) on June 25.

The landmark launch and arrestments were made on Ford's Friends and Family Day, where guests were present to watch flight deck demonstrations and experience a day out at sea. 

The Naval Air Traffic Management Systems Program Office (PMA-213) enhanced Marine Corps aviation functionality and operations by fielding the first MRQ-13 communications system onto the AN/TSQ-120D Control Tower in February at Marine Air Control Squadron 1 Company B at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California.

This rapid acquisition effort is a “quick, impactful win for the USMC,” said Capt. Kevin Watkins, PMA-213 program manager, adding that it “squarely aligns with Commandants Force Design 2030 for a more agile and expeditionary Marine Corps Force posture.”

A first round of shipboard testing off the West Coast in January demonstrated that a team effort to increase warfighter capability by adding nighttime landing support for U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B flight operations on LHA(R) America-class Amphibious Assault ships succeeded brilliantly.

The Chief of Naval Operations Director for Expeditionary Warfare (OPNAV N95) and the Marine Corps in July 2021 determined the need to prepare Spot 9 on the aft flight deck as a second Unaided Night Landing Spot for the F-35B Lightning II.