Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group to return after 9-month deployment
The strike group includes USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Gettysburg (CG 64), Arleigh Burke-class destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55) and USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 28, and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 1 with nine embarked squadrons.
The USS Stout and the Truman will return Sunday, per a news release issued Thursday.
During the deployment, the USS Harry Truman collided with another vessel near Egypt, a F-18 Super Hornet fell overboard during an attack by the Houthis and the USS Gettysburg mistakenly fired another Super Hornet.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Poland's F-16s Are About To Become Much More Potent
The Polish Ministry of Defense has signed a $3.8 billion contract to upgrade the country's 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ Viper fighters to the F-16V configuration. Poland's Block 52+ jets are already some of the most advanced F-16s in Europe. This is the latest example of a staggering Polish defense spending spree that has now been going on for years, as the country works to modernize its entire armed forces, with a particular eye toward meeting threats from Russia. Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Poland's Defense Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, announced the signing of the F-16 upgrade deal today. The state-run Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 2 S.A. (Military Aviation Works No. 2), which has a formal relationship with the manufacturer of the jets, Lockheed Martin, will perform the upgrade work. 'Over 20 years ago, our predecessors made the choice of aircraft to replace the post-Soviet equipment in the Polish Air Force. We chose the F-16, and it was a very good decision – a proven aircraft, a platform capable of extraordinary combat operations,' Kosiniak-Kamysz said, according to a machine translation of a Polish-language statement put out today. 'The current capabilities of the F-16 C/D version are good, but after 20 years, they are insufficient to address the threats. We need to improve reconnaissance capabilities, communications, integration with the F-35 … as well as the ability to operate in any domain.' Poland is in the process of acquiring a fleet of 32 F-35A Joint Strike Fighters. The goal is for that force to reach full operational capability by the end of the decade. Lockheed Martin rolled out the first of the jets, which will be named Husarz (Hussar) in Polish service, last year. Polish pilots also began training on the F-35A in the United States in January. 'The modernization will cover not only the aircraft themselves but also radar, communications, friend-or-foe reconnaissance systems, ground infrastructure, simulators, and trainers,' Poland's Kosiniak-Kamysz said today, but did not provide further specifics. The U.S. government had approved the potential sale of items and services required for what was referred to as a 'Viper Midlife Upgrade' back in October 2024. At that time, the value of the total package was estimated to be around $7.3 billion, nearly twice as much as the stated price tag on the deal announced today. It is very possible that the contract with Wojskowe Zakłady Lotnicze No. 2 S.A. is just one part of what will be required to complete the upgrade program. From what was outlined last year, the upgrades for Poland's F-16s are set to most prominently include Northrop Grumman's AN/APG-83 active Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR). This active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar is the centerpiece of the F-16V configuration and is also now a standard feature on new-production Block 70/72 Vipers. SABR offers important benefits compared to the mechanically-scanned AN/APG-68 radars found on Poland's Vipers now. This includes being able to scan far faster, acquiring more targets and at longer ranges, as well as the ability to produce more precise and higher fidelity tracks, even when it comes to smaller and stealthier objects. The radar is also far more reliable than its predecessor and more resistant to electronic countermeasures. AESAs, in general, have secondary electronic warfare and communications potential, as well. Polish Vipers are also in line to get new modular, open-architecture mission computers, as well as upgrades to their communications and navigation capabilities. New AN/APX-126/127 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) combined interrogator/transponders were listed in the Pentagon's press release about the Viper Midlife Upgrade. A new electronic warfare package will also go into Poland's modernized F-16s, though what type is not yet clear. The door was left open last year to either L3Harris' AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield or Northrop Grumman's AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS). In September 2024, Breaking Defense reported that the two companies were hotly competing for a Polish contract. As Lockheed Martin has laid it out in the past, the F-16V upgrade package also includes improved datalinks and cockpit displays. Improved inoperability with the F-35 was also an important factor in the development of the V configuration. Poland's Block 52+ jets already feature conformal fuel tanks, and the country's two-seat D variants have enlarged dorsal spines, which can accommodate additional avionics, communications systems, countermeasures, and more. The Polish Ministry of Defense says the F-16 upgrade program will begin in earnest in 2028 and run through 2038. 'For 20 years, F-16s have protected Polish skies, participated in foreign missions, including air policing over the Baltic states, and were sent wherever our allies needed them,' Poland's Kosiniak-Kamysz noted in his statement today. Poland became a member of NATO in 1999. The aerial threat picture facing Poland has substantially evolved in recent years in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Polish authorities are acutely aware of the risk of spillover, including from stray missiles and drones. In 2022, two civilians in Poland were killed by falling debris as Ukrainian forces worked to intercept incoming Russian threats. Polish airspace has been violated on other occasions since then. For Poland, there is also the matter of simmering geopolitical friction with Russian ally Belarus. Tensions along the Polish-Belarusian border have flared multiple times in recent years. Amid all of this, Poland has steadily pushed to take a greater role in NATO. This includes moves to join the alliance's nuclear sharing agreements, through which select members are prepared to employ U.S. B61-series nuclear gravity bombs, if authorized. As noted, the F-16 upgrade plan is just one part of a larger Polish modernization effort across its entire military. In recent years, the country has signed billions of dollars' worth of contracts for other combat jets (including the F-35s and FA-50 light fighters from South Korea) and a massive buy of AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, as well as new main battle tanks, short-range ballistic missiles, and self-propelled artillery. On the air defense front, Poland is also planning to field a network of balloon-based early-warning sensors. Poland's Kosiniak-Kamysz also touted the benefits that the F-16 modernization work, specifically, will bring to the country's domestic defense industry, which has also been steadily expanding in recent years. 'This is a major investment, carried out with the state's finances in mind and thanks to taxpayers,' he said. 'Our goal is for Poland to be among the top three NATO countries in terms of operational capabilities. This modernization is a step in that direction.' Overall, Poland's F-16 upgrade program represents a major commitment by the country to continue operating the Viper for the foreseeable future, even as its stealthy F-35 fleet comes online. Contact the author: joe@ Solve the daily Crossword
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Trump and Putin will meet at an Alaska military base long used to counter Russia
WASHINGTON (AP) — In an ironic twist, President Donald Trump is set to discuss the war in Ukraine with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at a military base in Alaska that was crucial to countering the Soviet Union during the height of Cold War and still plays a role today. The meeting is scheduled to take place Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. The base created by merging Elmendorf Air Force Base and Army Fort Richardson in 2010 has played a key strategic role in monitoring and deterring the Soviet Union during much of the Cold War. Throughout its long history, the base hosted large numbers of aircraft and oversaw operations of a variety of early warning radar sites that were aimed at detecting Soviet military activity and any possible nuclear launches. It earned the motto 'Top Cover for North America' at this time, according to the base website. While much of the military hardware has since been deactivated, the base still hosts key aircraft squadrons, including the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jet. Planes from the base also still intercept Russian aircraft that regularly fly into U.S. airspace. The irony of Putin visiting an American military base that long has — and still does — aimed to counter Russian threats comes as Trump works to reach a ceasefire deal in a war that he promised during the 2024 campaign to end quickly. Officials from Ukraine and Europe fear that the one-on-one meeting they will not take part in could lead to an outcome that favors Russian goals. French President Emmanuel Macron said Trump was 'very clear' that the United States wants to achieve a ceasefire at the summit. Macron spoke after a virtual meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders. Trump has said any major agreement could involve land swaps and that Zelenskyy and Putin could meet next or he could meet with both leaders. 'There's a very good chance that we're going to have a second meeting, which will be more productive than the first, because the first is I'm going to find out where we are and what we're doing," Trump told reporters Wednesday. 'It's going to be a very important meeting, but it's setting the table for the second meeting.'
Newsweek
4 hours ago
- Newsweek
Student Visas to Be Upended Under Trump Admin Proposal
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Department of Homeland Security rule proposal that would limit how long international students could remain in the United States has cleared a final White House review, a move that could lead to huge changes to the visa applications for international students. The regulation would replace the current practice under which F-1 and J-1 visa holders are authorized to remain for the full length of an academic program with fixed-term limits that could require renewals while students remained enrolled, creating potential procedural disruptions for campuses and visa applicants, according to Bloomberg Law. Newsweek reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment. Why it Matters Higher education institutions and advocates have argued that limiting authorized duration would require students to reapply for status mid-program, potentially introducing processing delays, gaps in lawful status, and interruptions to work authorization tied to study. Advocates and university leaders previously told Newsweek that tightened student visa rules and other immigration changes have already prompted some prospective international students to choose institutions outside the United States, a trend that analysts said could reduce enrollment and revenue for U.S. colleges. NAFSA: Association of International Educators projects new international enrollment in the U.S. could fall 30 to 40 percent this fall, a potential $7 billion hit to the economy. With many foreign students paying full tuition, the drop could deal a sharp blow to college finances. Stock image of college students attending their graduation ceremony. Stock image of college students attending their graduation ceremony. Getty Images What To Know F-1 student and J-1 exchange visitor visa holders are allowed under current regulations to stay in the U.S. for the duration of an academic program or internship. If finalized, the new regulation would restrict their legal status to a fixed period of time before they are required to apply for renewal, potentially before the completion of their studies. The Department of Homeland Security submitted the rulemaking package (RIN: 1653-AA95) to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) on June 27, which completed its review the following week. The proposal would limit how long F-1 and J-1 visa holders could remain authorized without seeking a renewal, replacing the current program length authorization, marking a major departure from decades of practice that allowed enrollment-tied stays. A prior version of the idea under the Trump administration sought two- or four-year limits by field of study and drew sharp criticism from educational groups for creating needless disruption to academic programs. That proposed rule was subsequently withdrawn by the Biden administration. The rule change will now be publicized in the Federal Register following OIRA clearance, which would trigger a public comment period before any final rule could be issued. A separate DHS proposal to change how H-1B visas are allocated also cleared White House review. That rule change would see the current random lottery for H-1B visas replaced with a "weighted selection process" that gives priority to registrants who meet or exceed certain criteria, such as wage or education level. The Trump administration has earlier taken steps that unsettled many international students, including the temporary revocation and later partial restoration of legal status for thousands of students and enhanced scrutiny of visa applicants' social media, moves that courts and advocates challenged. What People Are Saying Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services, told the Associated Press about international students bypassing American universities: "The American brand has taken a massive hit, and the U.K. is the one that is benefiting." What Happens Next The proposal will be published in the Federal Register next, which would open a formal public comment period and begin a multi‑step process before any final rule could take effect.
