U.S. Naval Institute

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of July 20, 2026, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Total Battle Force Deployed Underway 293 (USS 233, USNS 60) 99 (USS 71, USNS 28) (39 FDNF, 60 Rotational) 90 (59 Deployed, 31 Local) In the Philippine Sea Aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN-73) is operating in the Philippine Sea. The carrier and its escorts are conducting their

The following is the July 17, 2026, Government Accountability Office report, Navy Ship Modernization: DoD Needs Comprehensive Strategy to Field Hypersonic Missile Capability. From the report What GAO Found The Navy is currently 24 months behind in its efforts to modernize three DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class destroyers to host the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile as part of its surface strike mission. Both the DDG 1000 and CPS efforts face challenges: Although modernization of the first ship in the class, USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000), was 94 percent complete as of January 2026, it is behind schedule due to unplanned work. The

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te reviewed domestic drone industrial efforts last week ahead of his administration’s push for a $6.6 billion attack drone plan to enhance the island’s defense against Chinese aggression. On Friday, Lai and members of the Taiwan Cabinet visited the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology’s (NCSIST) Taichung facilities to review existing and ongoing unmanned programs. The state-run defense firm specializes in development of aircraft, missiles and long-range strike systems. Lai emphasized the need to domestically develop and produce drones to help counter Beijing’s increased “verbal and military intimidation” against Taiwan, according to the Presidential Communications Office.

The Office of Management and Budget wants Congress to allow the Navy to start work on the Trump-class battleship program, buy more on critical munitions and fund long lead materials for future aircraft carrier William J. Clinton (CVN-82) in response to a House Continuing Resolution proposal to keep the government funded through the midterm elections, according to a summary of the anomalies reviewed by USNI News. At the moment, the $1.5 trillion-dollar Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act is blocked by Senate Democrats as a protest to the ongoing war between the U.S. and Iran. Likewise, the House version

Multinational crews are flying on U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft for first time during Rim of the Pacific 2026 exercise. U.S. Navy P-8As from the “Fighting Tigers” of Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 8 and the “Golden Eagles” of VP-9 are operating alongside a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force P-1 MPA, a Royal Canadian Air Force CP-140 Aurora MPA, two Royal Australian Air Force P-8As and a E-7 Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft, a Republic of Korea Navy P-8A and an Indian Navy’s P-8I Neptune MPA. All the aircraft are operating under Commander, Task Force (CTF) 172

A contentious Senate hearing on a supplemental budget request of nearly $88 billion, largely earmarked to cover the ongoing war on Iran, revealed new figures about the war’s cost to date and the effects of the military’s Project Freedom initiative to escort commercial ships through the Strait of Hormuz. The hearing did little, however, to provide concrete answers on what it would take to end the conflict. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth appeared Tuesday before the Senate Appropriations Committee alongside the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, to defend the request, more than $67 billion

A trio of Republican senators have introduced a bill to create Secretary of the Coast Guard and Undersecretary positions as the civilian head of the 43,000-member service, USNI News has learned. According to the draft ‘‘Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act’’ obtained by USNI News, the new Secretary of the Coast Guard position would report to the Secretary of Homeland Security and takeover many of the interactions the service had with the Pentagon, according to the bill text. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and was introduced Wednesday. “The

The U.S. Army deployed its Dark Eagle hypersonic missiles for a multinational warfighting exercise last month in the Western Pacific, according to recently released photos. Troops operating the long-range hypersonic weapon assigned to Multi-Domain Command – Pacific, the recent merge of the Washington-based 7th Infantry Division and 1st Multi-Domain Task Force, were reviewed by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command chief Adm. Samuel Paparo last month during Valiant Shield 2026. Defense department media of the deployment was released Sunday, almost one month after the exercise concluded. According to a Pacific Fleet release, this year’s Valiant Shield focused on operating against enemies on land,

A People’s Liberation Army Navy destroyer conducted a small caliber live-fire drill on Sunday within Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone near Okinotori Island, the archipelago country’s southernmost island. Japan Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi revealed the live firing during his keynote address at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 held Monday in the U.K. Local media Kyodo News reported that during his speech, Koizumi said the live firing, as well as China and Russia’s joint bomber flight in June, was a manifestation of the deepening military cooperation between the two countries. Subsequently on Tuesday, Japan’s Joint Staff Office issued a release detailing the

Big deck amphibious ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7), lead ship of the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group, wrapped up on Wednesday a six-month patrol that took the group to the Indo-Pacific and Middle East. Tripoli pulled into White Beach Naval Facility, Okinawa, on Wednesday to offload elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. Along with the embarked 31st MEU, the Tripoli ARG included Tripoli, amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans (LPD-18) and amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD-47). Tripoli, forward deployed to Japan, departed in mid-January in preparation for the annual U.S. Marine Corps – Japan Ground Self-Defense Force exercise Iron