The U.S. Navy plans to deploy additional manned and unmanned maritime planes across the the branch’s Asia-Pacific operational area as part of a five-year navigation strategy, Flightglobal reported Tuesday.James Drew writes the military service wants to increase APAC presence of U.S. naval air platforms, including Northrop Grumman-built Triton and Fire Scout drones and Boeing-made Super Hornet fighters and Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
“Our mandate is to be where it matters, when it matters, ready to respond to crises and ensure the security that underpins our global economy,†said Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert.
The strategy also calls for the Navy to facilitate initial operational capability for carrier-based Lockheed Martin F-35 aircraft in 2018 and upgrade its E-2C tactical airborne warning and control system by 2020.
The Navy is also looking to procure up to 24 Bell Boeing V-22s over the next five years to perform carrier onboard delivery missions beginning in 2021, the report said.
