The U.S. Navy on Saturday christened USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. (ESB 8), the Military Sealift Command’s sixth and final ship in the Expeditionary Sea Base program, during a ceremony at the General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego, DVIDS reported. 

The christening of USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. highlights the Navy’s continued investment in flexible maritime platforms and the evolving capabilities that support modern naval operations. Industry and government leaders will explore the latest capabilities and the future of naval strategy at the 2026 Navy Summit on Aug. 27. Sign up today to book your spot!

Family members of the ship’s namesake joined Navy leaders, Marine Corps officials and shipyard personnel to mark the milestone ahead of the vessel’s entry into service.

“We look forward to welcoming USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. into our operational family, where it will play a critical role in how the Navy adapts, innovates, and fights,” said Rear Adm. Benjamin Nicholson, commander of Military Sealift Command.

Vice Adm. John F. G. Wade, commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, said the ship carries forward the legacy of its namesake and will support missions that strengthen deterrence and reassure allies.

Who Was Hector A. Cafferata Jr.?

The ship honors U.S. Marine Corps Private First Class Hector A. Cafferata Jr., who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War’s Battle of Chosin Reservoir in November 1950.

According to his Medal of Honor citation, Cafferata defended his unit against a regimental-sized enemy force during the battle and protected wounded Marines by throwing away a live grenade that had landed among them, sustaining severe injuries.

What Are the Capabilities and Features of ESB 8?

USNS Hector A. Cafferata Jr. is designed to support aviation mine countermeasure and special operations force missions. The vessel incorporates four primary capabilities: aviation, command and control, berthing and equipment staging area.

The ship features a flight deck and hangar space with two aviation operating spots capable of supporting MH-53E Sea Dragon-equivalent helicopters. It also includes workspaces, accommodations and ordnance storage for embarked forces, along with enhanced command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems. A reconfigurable mission deck allows the vessel to stage equipment such as mine countermeasure sleds and rigid-hull inflatable boats.

What Is ESB Ship?

According to General Dynamics, the ESB ship class is a flexible maritime platform designed to support multiple sea-based missions. These ships serve as mobile bases at sea and are part of the Navy’s access infrastructure that enables the deployment of forces, equipment and supplies while supporting operational capabilities.

Each ESB vessel measures approximately 784 feet in length and includes a 52,000-square-foot flight deck designed to support aircraft such as MH-53, MH-60, H1 and MV-22.

Five ships in the program have already been delivered to the Navy: USS Lewis B. Puller (ESB 3); USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4); USS Miguel Keith (ESB 5); USS John L. Canley (ESB 6); and USNS Robert E. Simanek (ESB 7).

The U.S. Army’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, or C5ISR, Center is developing the Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope, or FLAT, to provide high-resolution imaging for unmanned aerial systems at extended ranges.

The C5ISR Center’s FLAT project highlights the Army’s transformation priorities as it works toward its 2030 goals. Gain more insights on the service’s modernization initiatives at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2026 Army Summit on June 18. Save your seat now!

What Is the Folded Lightweight Annular Telescope Project?

The FLAT initiative is led by the C5ISR Center under the Combat Capabilities Development Command, the Army said Thursday. The project applies electro-optic and infrared research to support emerging UAS operational requirements. FLAT utilizes a reflective telescopic design combined with precision mirror fabrication to create compact, low-cost payloads for small drones.

How Does FLAT Boost Battlefield Awareness?

According to optical engineer Brian Kellermeyer, the system delivers higher image definition compared to currently fielded hardware. When integrated with aided target recognition algorithms, the technology enhances the ability to locate and avoid threats in contested environments.

“These optics deliver much higher definition images and superior performance at extended ranges than currently fielded capabilities when coupled with aided target recognition algorithms for rapid search and cueing, increasing Soldier lethality and situational awareness,” Kellermeyer said.

How Will the Technology Transition to Industry?

The C5ISR Center can transition the technology directly to multiple vendors because the government leads the FLAT program and retains design rights. The center works with industry through cooperative research and development agreements, Small Business Innovation Research and manufacturing technology partnerships.

Looking ahead, prototypes of small FLAT payloads are scheduled for field demonstrations and operational experimentation in 2026. Once packaged into a gimbal-based sensor suite, the technology could be listed on the UAS Marketplace, allowing the Department of War and interagency users to identify and procure validated equipment.

Supporting Broader Drone Efforts

The FLAT project complements the Army’s wider initiatives to accelerate unmanned and counter-UAS capabilities. Programs such as the xTechOverwatch competition, launched in 2025 to identify AI and sensor technologies for autonomous systems, and the counter-drone online marketplace that reached initial operational capability in February, are helping transition emerging technologies into deployable systems.

Vice Adm. Robert Gaucher has begun his tenure as the Department of War’s first direct reporting portfolio manager, or DPRM, for submarines, a newly created leadership role to oversee the Navy’s nuclear submarine programs, Breaking Defense reported.

He was nominated by President Donald Trump in December and confirmed by the Senate through a voice vote in January, according to Congress.gov.

What Are Robert Gaucher’s New Responsibilities as Submarine Czar?

As the Pentagon’s submarine portfolio manager, Gaucher will oversee the acquisition and production of all U.S. nuclear submarines and coordinate with defense leaders on program priorities and resources.

“The establishment of the new DRPM Submarines elevates this critical portfolio, providing dedicated leadership that streamlines and enhances the ability of the Secretary of War, Deputy Secretary of War, and Secretary of the Navy to address the complexities of submarine construction and inform their resource decisions,” a spokesperson for the Navy told Breaking Defense.

He will also work with the director of naval reactors and collaborate with the chief of naval operations to help develop requirements for future submarines. The role includes oversight of submarine program offices and responsibility for budgeting maintenance for in-service submarines, USNI News reported.

Gaucher will report directly to Stephen Feinberg, deputy secretary of war.

Who Is Robert Gaucher?

Gaucher previously served as commander of Naval Submarine Forces and Submarine Force Atlantic, where he oversaw all Atlantic-based submarines and served as the Navy’s undersea domain lead.

A native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Gaucher graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering and later earned a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Central Florida.

His operational assignments include service aboard fast attack and ballistic missile submarines. Gaucher has also served as commander of Submarine Group 9 and held multiple leadership roles across the Navy’s submarine enterprise.