All articles tagged with #navy
China's Fujian aircraft carrier, the largest non-nuclear warship, debuts with an advanced electromagnetic catapult but a tight flight-deck layout may bottleneck launch-and-recovery and cap sortie-generation at about 60% of a U.S. Nimitz-class, signaling a transitional design ahead of nuclear-powered future carriers.
France's Carrier Strike Group led by the nuclear-powered FS Charles De Gaulle departs Toulon to operate in the North Atlantic and Baltic after ORION 26, with enhanced escorts and the new FDI-class frigate Amiral Ronarc'h, a submarine, and support ships; the carrier's air group plus allied vessels will take part in NATO missions Baltic Sentry, Neptune Strike, and Cold Response/Dynamic Mariner 2026, and will visit Malmo, Sweden.
After the USS Truxtun collided with the logistics ship USNS Supply during a replenishment-at-sea in the Caribbean, Cmdr James Koffi was relieved for loss of confidence; two sailors were injured, and the ship is in port in Ponce, Puerto Rico for repairs as Cmdr Taylor Auclair takes command and an investigation proceeds.
Senior Russian official Nikolai Patrushev warned Moscow could deploy its navy to protect vessels linked to Russia from potential European seizures, saying any maritime blockade would be illegal under international law and that European-flag ships could come under scrutiny. The remarks come amid scrutiny of the Kremlin’s so-called shadow fleet—an estimated 1,500 ageing oil tankers used to export crude while evading sanctions—as Western powers press to interdict or sanction such vessels, with France briefly intercepting a tanker and the US increasing seizures as Ukraine-related talks continue.
The USS Gerald R. Ford and its Carrier Strike Group have shifted from the Caribbean to the Middle East to bolster U.S. naval presence; if Ford remains deployed past mid-April, it could surpass the 294-day post-Vietnam record set by USS Abraham Lincoln in 2020 and approach 300 days, reflecting ongoing demand for extended carrier deployments amid maintenance delays and regional needs.
President Trump ordered the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to the Middle East, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln, to pressure Iran during ongoing nuclear negotiations; the Ford, now in the Caribbean, is expected to reach the region in 3–4 weeks, signaling a tougher U.S. posture as Netanyahu remains skeptical about a swift deal.
U.S. Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Daryl Caudle outlined a new force-design strategy that moves away from viewing aircraft carriers as the centerpiece of U.S. sea power, signaling a shift toward a more distributed, multi-domain naval capability.
USNI News’ Fleet and Marine Tracker provides approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups as of Feb. 9, 2026, across multiple theaters including the Caribbean, Western Atlantic, Mediterranean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Eastern Pacific, highlighting principal ships and formations such as USS Gerald R. Ford, USS Abraham Lincoln, USS George Washington, USS Theodore Roosevelt, and the Iwo Jima ARG among others.
France’s navy seized 4.24 tons of cocaine from a ship in the south Pacific and intercepted a separate boat carrying 678 kilograms of cocaine in the Caribbean, handing the latter to Barbadian authorities; the Pacific cargo was destroyed at sea and the crew released under international law, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt global trafficking networks.
German prosecutors detained a Romanian man and a Greek man suspected of sabotaging German Navy corvettes at the Port of Hamburg, with acts including grit in engines, punctured water lines, removed fuel caps and disabled safety switches. Authorities conducted searches in Hamburg, Greece and Romania as part of a broader cross-border probe, and a lawmaker linked the case to a Russian pattern of targeting critical infrastructure amid Europe-wide saboteur activity since the Ukraine war.
The New York Times graphics show the U.S. has expanded its naval footprint near Iran—deploying an aircraft carrier, destroyers, and attack aircraft—even though President Trump has not authorized military action, underscoring heightened regional stakes amid ongoing Iranian protests and broader Middle East tensions.
The Russian Maritime Board, chaired by Nikolai Patrushev, says it has drawn up measures to defend Russian shipping from unfriendly states, including potential naval protection for ships serving Russian interests. The move comes amid a growing “shadow fleet” of sanctioned tankers and allegations of maritime-law violations affecting strategic routes and Russia’s Arctic and global shipping security.
President Trump said a U.S. carrier strike group, including the USS Abraham Lincoln and about 5,000 sailors, is heading toward the Middle East “just in case” amid ongoing Iranian protests, signaling a show of force but not committing to immediate action; the group could reach the region within days.
A former U.S. Navy sailor, Jinchao Wei, was sentenced to 200 months (16 years) in federal prison after supplying photos and documents to a Chinese handler for $12,000; he was approached on social media in 2022, recognized it as espionage, told a friend he was no fool, and later pleaded in court, saying “I screwed up.” He had served aboard the USS Essex and was arrested in 2023 after the DOJ described the case as spying for Beijing.
Navy is favored to win the Liberty Bowl against Cincinnati, especially with Cincinnati missing key players including quarterback Brendan Sorsby. The prediction leans towards an under on the total points, with Navy likely to cover the spread due to their strong offense led by Blake Horvath and Cincinnati's depleted defense. The recommended bet is Navy -8.5 and under 53.5 points.