Defense News – The defense ministers of Germany and the United Kingdom have pledged to keep up their respective military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, while also outlining their plans for military deployments
Procuring Modular Containerships For Flexible and Affordable Capability
CIMSEC – The U.S. Navy should pursue commercial containerships and compatible containerized mission systems. These ships and systems will allow the U.S. Navy to rapidly field new technologies, expand the maritime industrial base, grow the ranks of experienced seafarers, and provide surge capacity in times of national need. Containerships, as well as combination containership/roll-on roll-off vessels (ConRo), would allow the U.S. Navy to affordably procure a large number of hulls compared to typical naval warships, and open options to augment a range of missions. These ships would allow conventional combatants to focus their high-end capabilities on the highest priority missions, while augmenting many of their capabilities with containerized support. Containerships can act as valuable force multipliers and retain a significant amount of modularity in a time when conventional naval force structure is at risk of falling behind the rapidly evolving state of capability.
Marine Corps pushes ‘dramatic change’ for its reconnaissance forces
Defense News – The U.S. Marine Corps’ Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle is undergoing testing throughout this year, cementing a previously debatable requirement that senior officials now believe will be critical in Europe, the Middle East and Africa — though too heavy for Pacific environs.
British and American warships scare off Iranian vessels
UK Defence Journal – British and American naval forces came to the aid of a merchant ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz on June 4, after the vessel made a distress call claiming harassment by Iranian fast-attack boats. The fast-attack boats were identified as belonging to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
Marines Betting Big On “Critical” Air-Launched Swarming Drones
War Zone – Marines see loitering munitions launched in swarms from many aircraft, including F-35s and MV-22s, as critical to winning a future fight.
Three Cheers For The New U.S. Marine Corps, None For The Old
1945 – Let the paradigm shift continue! This week the Biden administration nominated General Eric Smith, the deputy U.S. Marine Corps commandant for combat development and integration, to ascend to the post of commandant, or top uniformed marine. This comes as glad tidings to those of us who favor “naval integration,” meaning the effort to alloy the American sea services—the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard—into a single keen-edged implement for denying, winning, and exploiting command of the sea in concert with our fellow armed services and allies.
A Strait Too Far: How a Deliberate Campaigning Approach in the Pacific Can Make Beijing Think Twice
War on the Rocks – Leading Northeast Asia security analyst Ian Easton argues that March through May is one of two ideal windows of meteorological opportunity for cross-strait amphibious operations, with the other occurring in September and October. For the U.S. joint force, the spring campaigning season in the Indo-Pacific is thus essential for strengthening regional partnerships, increasing multinational lethality, and instilling doubt in Chinese leaders’ minds about whether they could successfully invade Taiwan.
More Changes Coming to the Marine Corps as Planners Refine Force Design 2030
USNI News – After three years of modeling and experimentation to overhaul the Marine Corps for an island-hopping campaign in the Indo-Pacific, service officials say they are done divesting of older platforms and capabilities and need more money to continue modernizing the force.
The annual update to Force Design 2030, released Monday, says the Marines will ask for more funding to address infrastructure needs like base housing while continuing to build a lighter force that’s mobile enough to move smaller units around islands and shorelines.
Poisoned Water: How a Navy Ship Dumped Fuel and Sickened Its Own Crew
Military.com – A years-long investigation reveals that the Boxer unintentionally compromised its own water supply in 2016, when it intentionally and potentially illegally dumped diesel fuel into the ocean and immediately sucked the noxious liquid back aboard the ship and into its water supply. Those conclusions can be revealed by Military.com for the first time after interviewing key personnel on the ship at the time of the incident, as well as through a review of documents obtained from sources.
Fleet’s material condition keeps getting worse, new INSURV report says
Defense News – The Navy fleet’s overall material condition declined slightly in fiscal 2022, “resuming a slight but steady negative trend” that has occurred since fiscal 2017, according to the Navy’s annual Board of Inspection and Survey, or INSURV, report released by the Navy on Friday.
Canada boosts Indo-Pacific naval deployments, military engagements
Defense News – Canada is pledging to step up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific, with its defense minister announcing the nation will annually commit to the region an additional warship.
The Royal Navy has ambitious plans for its Future Maritime Aviation Force
Navy Lookout – A long-term project is underway to develop a suite of maritime uncrewed air systems (MUAS) to dramatically enhance the carrier air group and RN air power. Here we look at the latest plans for the Future Maritime Aviation Force.
North to Hokkaido: The Case For a Permanent US Army Presence on Japan’s Northern Frontier
Modern War Institute – The commanding general of US Army Japan recently persuasively argued that as part of the joint force’s “contact layer” on the frontier of the Pacific in the first island chain, Japan is the ideal location to station a US Army multidomain task force.
These may be the world’s best warships. And they’re not American
CNN – It’s a growing problem that has United States naval commanders scratching their heads: How to keep up with China’s ever-expanding fleet of warships.
A potential solution is within reach, if the US is prepared to think outside the box.
Allies in South Korea and Japan are building some of the highest spec – and affordable – naval hardware on the oceans.
Buying ships from these countries, or even building US-designed vessels in their shipyards, could be a cost-effective way of closing the gap with China.
New US Marine unit prepares for major role in the Philippines
Defense News – The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment that arrived in the Philippines this spring for the annual Balikatan exercise was nearly unrecognizable from last year, leaders say.
RNLN Looks At Low-Manned Platform To Augment Frigate Fire Power
Naval News – The Royal Netherlands Navy is exploring the case for acquiring low-cost, low-manned vessels that could quickly
UK Explores Cats And Traps Retrofit To QEC Aircraft Carriers
Naval News – The UK Royal Navy is studying the introduction of aircraft launch and recovery systems on board its two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers to ‘open up’ the flight deck to a broader range of crewed and uncrewed air systems.
Royal Navy Plans Carrier Trial For Mojave STOL UAS
Naval News – The UK Royal Navy is planning to flight test the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Mojave short takeoff/landing unmanned air system from the aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales later this year.
But what came out of the sail of the submarine O’higgins?
El Snorkel – The greatest similarity was, as submarine experts well knew, those of the Walrus class of the Netherlands.
(Thanks to Alain)
UK Details Delivery Timeframes And Capabilities For MROSS Ships
Naval News – The UK Royal Navy has provided further details on the development, delivery timeframe, and operational capabilities of its Multi-Role Ocean Surveillance Ship programme, including plans for the second vessel in the two-ship class.
Israel’s Saar 6 flagships are ready for naval battle against Iran
i24 – The powerful missile-equipped corvette-class has a mission to ensure the safety of maritime routes and protect Israeli gas platforms.
(Thanks to Alain)
French Navy Chief Calls For European Navies To Increase Presence And Engagement In Key Waters
Naval News – European navies may need to provide greater-still at-sea presence in key European waters – and further afield, into the Indian Ocean and beyond – to add mass in these regions to deter security threats if US Navy forces are increasingly focused on operational deployments in the Pacific, the French Navy’s Chief of Naval Staff told a major UK Royal Navy (RN) conference in London.
Philippine president hints at plan to build a submarine fleet
Stars and Stripes – The Philippines is developing a plan to acquire submarines, the country’s president said Friday after the navy’s 125th anniversary celebration in Manila.
(Thanks to Alain)
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UK Plans New Commando Insertion Craft (CIC)
Naval News – The UK Royal Navy officer overseeing the Commando Force modernisation programme has set out plans for the acquisition of a new high-speed, low-signature Commando Insertion Craft (CIC) to replace the Royal Marines’ current Landing Craft Vehicle Personnel (LCVP) MK 5.
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