Navy Lookout – The commissioning of the Royal Navy’s First Autonomous Squadron and the showcase of a new Capability Accelerator Hub in Portsmouth mark a deliberate attempt to field equipment in weeks rather than years. Senior officers speaking at the launch set out a strong case for cheap uncrewed mass, but were also honest about the risks of moving this fast and the personnel pressures behind the new squadron.
Royal Navy Commissions First Unmanned Surface Vehicle Squadron
USNI News – The Royal Navy commissioned its first unmanned surface vessel squadron last week as it transforms into a hybrid fleet.
Sous-marins d’attaque du futur, Pt.1: Finding out what’s inside a French nuclear-powered submarine
Corporal Frisk – In October I got to join the EURONAVAL press trip which included a tour of the newest class of nuclear-powered attack submarines in service anywhere in the world, and it was an extremely interesting insight into the capabilities and operations of a modern hunter-killer boat.
The Future of French Fleet Close-in Defense
USNI News – Like many navies across the world, the French Navy is adopting a variety of concepts to counter the maritime challenges of the 21st Century. For Paris, that means adopting point defense methods primarily against swarming threats in the Mediterranean while also retaining advanced anti-aircraft capabilities for North Atlantic contingencies.
USMC Says It Needs Nine More Amphibious Warships To Carry Out Its Missions
The War Zone – The current fleet of 31 amphibs needs to grow to 40 according to USMC leadership, but where the funding will come from is more in doubt after the midterms.
Who Repairs the Internet in Wartime?
War on the Rocks – Wartime submarine cable repair should be treated as a national security mission and funded as such. The designation of submarine cables as critical infrastructure, the establishment of a federal coordinating authority with emergency powers to prioritize repairs, and an increased budget to expand the Cable Security Fleet would give the United States a way to decide which cables are repaired first and which ships are needed to carry out those decisions.
French Navy Underpins Enduring Missions with New Capabilities to Counter Emerging Threats
Naval News – The French Navy is continuing to reinforce its core operational concepts and capabilities as it responds to continuing evolutions in threats at sea.
Royal Navy Carriers Operate in the High North, Mediterranean
USNI News – Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (R09) is conducting operations across the High North as HMS Queen Elizabeth (RO8) trains in the Mediterranean.
CMSI Note 26: Easy Infiltration: The Rise of PRC Small Boat Landings on Taiwan
China Maritime Studies Institute – The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) appears to have a doctrine that calls for infiltrating undercover operatives into Taiwan to collect intelligence and to conduct special missions, according to its textbooks. Research shows that cross-Strait small boat landings seem to have begun in 2021, and at least eight Chinese men have been arrested on Taiwan in connection with these cases. Each reported landing occurred at a sensitive location. Five of the eight happened on a known invasion beach. The other three happened at ports and river deltas believed to be of high interest to war planners in the PLA. There are many possible explanations for these landings, such as smuggling, espionage, or human trafficking. Reconnaissance by the PLA, however, cannot be ruled out.
China Maritime Report #60: PLA Naval Aviation Personnel: Training and Career Paths for a Modern Force
China Maritime Studies Institute – PLA Naval Aviation has undergone substantial institutional transformation over the past two decades. This transformation is driven by the goal of becoming a carrier-based force capable of effective joint operations in the maritime domain. This transformation has been accompanied by reforms to pilot education, training, and career management systems, aimed at producing a qualified force capable of conducting long-range maritime operations. Despite significant progress, there are still areas that require improvements, particularly the Naval Aviation University.
On American destroyers, avoid a self-inflicted wound in Spain
Defense News – Consider the case of the Trump administration’s ongoing review of U.S. force posture in Europe and whether Washington will maintain a handful of American naval destroyers forward-stationed in Rota, Spain. Stationing destroyers at Rota helps secure vital American interests in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East and allows the ships to spend more time conducting missions than traversing back and forth across the Atlantic.
Australia preps Bluebottle USV for submarine-hunting role
Defense News – Australia’s Navy is doubling down on unmanned systems as it adopts platforms like the Bluebottle unmanned surface vessel and Ghost Shark and Speartooth extra-large autonomous underwater vehicles.
RFA Tideforce sustains Royal Navy and NATO operations in the High North
Navy Lookout – RFA Tideforce has completed six weeks of intensive operations in the North Atlantic and Arctic, supplying Royal Navy and allied warships, carrying out anti-submarine operations and monitoring Russian naval activity. T
On ‘NATO’s lake,’ Nordic allies worry about escalation with Russia
Defense News – When Sweden and Finland applied to join NATO in May 2022, it was hailed as the Baltic Sea’s transformation into “a NATO lake.” Since then, however, the sea has been less than placid, as confrontations with Russia and interference with undersea infrastructure have raised tensions to new heights.
France investing in naval power as military ambition is ‘to be feared’
Breaking Defense – France’s Minister of the Armed Forces says the country’s military ambition to be “feared” on the global stage is driving major modernization investments, including naval drone and munitions programs.
Russian-Made Murena Drone Sank CONTSHIP JET Off Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast?
Novinite – The maritime drone that struck the Greek container ship CONTSHIP JET off Cape Kaliakra was likely a Russian-developed Murena-300S or a modified version of that model, according to security experts, while its exact origin and responsibility for the attack remain unconfirmed.
(Thanks to Alain)
European naval chiefs meet to discuss North Atlantic defence without the Royal Navy
Navy Lookout – European Admirals are quietly meeting to discuss how to defend the North Atlantic as the RN is increasingly absent and at an unprecedented low point. This is another indication that allies are increasingly judging Britain by the forces it can actually put to sea rather than its ambitions for the future.
Marine Force-Southeast Asia Will Maintain Continuous Presence in the Philippines
USNI News – Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia is now on its second continuous rotation to the Philippines, the service announced last week.
Underwater Drone Threats Are Already Here. America Isn’t Ready
Center for Maritime Strategy – America is racing to field autonomous maritime systems, and for good reason: they will be critical to a variety of future operations. However, maritime drones are not an American monopoly. Criminal networks and foreign regimes have already reached, if not perfected, these same advancements.
China Expands Construction Of Type 071 Amphibious Warfare Ships To Guangzhou
Naval News – China is now undertaking construction of new Type 071 LPD (landing platform dock) at a second location, in addition to existing production at Hudong in Shanghai. Detailed satellite imagery obtained by Naval News shows two additional hulls under construction at the COMEC shipyard (formally CSSC Offshore and Marine Engineering), also known as Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), on Longxue Island in Guangzhou.
Russian Navy Cancels Modernization of Kirov-Class Battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy
Naval News – The Russian Navy has officially canceled modernization plans for the Kirov-class / Project 1144.2 “Orlan” nuclear battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy, permanently sidelining the Northern Fleet’s largest surface combatant amid ongoing budget constraints.
HMS Venturer to be delivered to the Royal Navy in 2028
Navy Lookout – Babcock has confirmed they expect to deliver HMS Venturer to the RN in 2028, around two years later than the handover anticipated when she was launched. The date provides some clarity on the delayed Type 31 programme, but delivery is a very different milestone from being ready for operations.
Stealthy GJ-21 Drone Has Launched And Recovered From Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship, China Claims
The War Zone – Signs that the PLAN has been building up to this significant milestone in naval airpower have been growing for more than a year.
Iran Used Limpet Mine Placed On Ship’s Hull In Latest Strait Of Hormuz Attack
The War Zone – More air defenses, ships, troops, ammo and supplies are flowing into the Middle East as the clock ticks down to the potential start of a new air campaign against Iran.
Washington’s Counter-Mine Wakeup Call
Center for Maritime Strategy – The Islamic Republic of Iran delivered a wakeup call to the U.S. Navy regarding the service’s ability to clear mines. The still-contested Strait of Hormuz demonstrates that mine clearing under fire is a slow, risky process.The mission served as a litmus test for the Navy’s capabilities. While some systems proved effective, improvement and scaling are still required. The Pentagon needs to identify and implement corrective measures or else it may pay a higher price in a future conflict with China, whose mine stockpile dwarfs Iran’s.
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