ACQUISITION NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
U.S. Navy Accepts Delivery of USS Cleveland (LCS 31) and USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124)
The U.S. Navy recently accepted delivery of two new ships, marking the official transfer of the ships from the shipbuild - ers to the Navy. More ships are necessary to maintain a com - petitive edge against adversaries like China, ensuring the U.S. Navy’s effectiveness in global operations. Acceptance of these two ships collectively underscores the strategic significance of expanding the Department of War’s naval capabilities. The two new ships are: • Future USS Cleveland (LCS 31) from Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) in Marinette, Wis. Cleveland is the 16th and final ship of its class, marking the completion of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) construction phases—a sustained acquisition effort involving Navy personnel, industry partners, and program management teams for over two decades. (Read more) • Future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) from General Dynamics Bath Iron Works “will deliver powerful capabil - ity to the Fleet and enhance our maritime advantage,” said Navy Capt. Jay Young, Arleigh Burke-class program manager, Program Executive Office-Ships. As one of the Department of War acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and pro - curement of all destroyers, amphibious ships and craft, auxiliary ships, special mission ships, sealift ships, and support ships. (Read more) Army Revolutionizes Acquisition Process to Deliver Warfghting Capabilities Faster U.S. Army Public Affairs The U.S. Army is undertaking a sweeping transformation of its acquisition process, designed to dramatically accel - erate the delivery of critical warfighting capabilities to sol - diers. Recognizing that current acquisition processes are hampered by bureaucracy and outdated requirements, the Army is implementing significant structural and procedural changes to prioritize speed, accountability, and delivery. (Read more)
Joint Interagency Task Force 401 Director Army Brig. Gen. Matt Ross delivers remarks at a Joint Interagency Task Force 401 Summit at the Mark Center in Alexandria, Va., Nov. 25, 2025. Source: DoW photo by Navy Petty Offcer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza
Success at Sea: Unmanned Surface Vessel Completes Fastest Transatlantic Crossing Department of War News Meredith Hagen Scientists with the Naval Information Warfare Center At - lantic’s Unmanned Naval Innovation Team reached a his - toric milestone Sept. 9, 2025, when they recovered a Navy- sponsored unmanned surface vessel named the Lightfish in Troia, Portugal, following its harrowing—and completely solo—transatlantic crossing. (Read more) Hegseth: DARPA at Heart of America’s Strategic Advantage Pentagon News C. Todd Lopez Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), in Arlington, Va., Nov. 14, 2025. After meeting with DARPA Director Stephen Winchell and program managers to learn how programs underway are aligned with his priorities for the department, includ - ing restoring the warrior ethos, rebuilding the military and re-establishing deterrence, Hegseth said he was impressed with what he saw. “As a taxpayer, as a citizen, as an Ameri - can, I’m grateful that such an institution exists; that patriotic men and women sign up to do it, to solve hard problems and apply the amazing ingenuity that America does better than anybody else,” he said. (Read more) Army Announces Next Steps on Janus Program for Next-Generation Nuclear Energy Army Communications and Outreach Office As part of next steps for the Janus Program, the Department of the Army has selected nine installations for consideration in which to site microreactor power plants, and the Defense Innovation Unit released an Area of Interest to solicit com - mercial solutions for advanced nuclear power technologies. The Janus Program, the Army’s next-generation nuclear power program, aims to deliver secure, resilient, and reli - able energy to support national defense installations and critical missions. (Read more)
- Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Defense Advanced Research Proj ects Agency Director Stephen Winchell meet alongside senior leaders at DARPA in Arlington, Va., Nov. 14, 2025. Source: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Offcer 1st Class Alexander Kubitza
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