The Strategist – The most dangerous assumption in current contingency planning is that any war, even a regional war in Asia involving the United States, would be short. Four interacting forces would make high-intensity regional conflicts hard to terminate: regime legitimacy pressures, alliance dynamics, operational stalemate and nuclear escalation limits. Together they create a protraction trap. This means that strategies for deterrence should prioritise the ability to sustain and manage a conflict that lasts for many months, at least. The outcome of such a conflict may depend less on who wins the opening battle than on who has greater political, military and economic endurance. One side may seek rapid victory, but the US and its allies should plan to sustain the fight.
UK Re-deploys Destroyer Dragon to Middle East for Potential Hormuz Mission
Naval News – The UK is re-deploying its Type 45 air-defence destroyer HMS Dragon to the Middle East, to pre-position the ship in preparation for any potential multinational mission to secure Strait of Hormuz commercial shipping transits. Such a mission would be intended to take place when the current conflict in the Gulf region has concluded.
Could Russia Follow the “Hormuz Playbook” in the Baltic and Black Seas?
War on the Rocks – By effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has demonstrated that a chokepoint vital for global trade can be closed with drone attacks, insurance repricing, and the self-interested logic of shipping companies. The lesson for Europe is immediate: Russia could employ the same mechanism to close key maritime chokepoints at the Danish or Turkish Straits.
Mystery USV Possibly Linked to Ukraine Found by Greek Fishermen
Naval News – Greek fishermen discovered a suspected Ukrainian unmanned surface vessel (USV) hidden inside a sea cave off Lefkada island. The vessel was recovered by the Hellenic Coast Guard amid reports it may have carried explosives. Authorities are investigating its origin and possible links to recent maritime attacks in the Mediterranean.
India to build strategic outpost near key shipping lane in Indo-Pacific
Defense News – India is pressing ahead with a $9 billion infrastructure project to bolster its military footprint on the Great Nicobar Island which sits far from the Indian mainland near one of the world’s most critical shipping arteries.
US forces disable Iranian-flagged tankers trying to cross blockade
Defense News – American forces fired on and disabled two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers on Friday after the ships attempted to cross a U.S. Navy blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.
Strait of Hormuz Shipping in State of Confusion as Industry Watches U.S., Iranian Actions
USNI News – It is sometimes difficult to tell where the U.S. and Iran are in their “tit-for-tat” actions in the strait, Chris Newton, a senior analyst with International Crisis Group, told USNI News.
HMS Trent sets sail for her third Caribbean deployment
Navy Lookout – Royal Navy OPV, HMS Trent, sailed from Devonport at the weekend and is on her way to the Caribbean for her third deployment in the region.
China Maritime Report #53: Filling the Ranks: China’s Military Recruiting System and the PLA Navy
US Naval War College Review – Despite improvements in precision recruiting, pay, and benefits, and general outreach, several challenges continue to hamper efforts by the PLAN and other services to recruit the best possible candidates. These included overburdened recruiting officials, ineffectual support for military recruitment within China’s universities, and low physical fitness among potential recruits.
F/A-18 Super Hornet Blasts Blockade-Running Iranian Ship’s Rudder With 20mm Cannon
The War Zone – The Super Hornet strafing the ship is the latest instance where the Navy used direct fire to disable Iranian ships trying to run the blockade.
Pakistan’s first Chinese submarine set to boost naval capability
Defense News – Pakistan has commissioned the first of eight advanced Chinese submarines, marking a significant step in strengthening its maritime capabilities and deepening defense cooperation with its close ally Beijing.
HMS Prince of Wales leads Royal Navy task group on High North exercises
Navy Lookout – HMS Prince of Wales sailed from Scotland yesterday for the first phase of operation FIRECREST, leading a small task group on exercises across Nordic waters and the High North.
French Carrier Strike Group Transits Suez Amid Hormuz Tensions
Naval News – The French carrier strike group has transited the Suez Canal and is now moving toward the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, according to the French armed forces, which linked the deployment to the changing international situation around the Strait of Hormuz.
Navy’s Unwanted Sea Base Ship Will Test At-Sea Rearming Of Warships
The War Zone – At-sea reloading demonstrated by USNS Montford Point could be key in a future fight in the Pacific and give these ships a new lease on life.
‘Littoral Deep Battle’
USNI News – The Army’s Plan to Defeat an Amphibious Invasion in the Indo-Pacific.
New Details Of Russia’s Super-Weapon Submarine ‘Khabarovsk’
Covert Shores – Russia is investing heavily in a new generation of “super weapons” designed to bypass and potentially nullify conventional defenses. Foremost among them is Poseidon, an autonomous, nuclear-powered, nuclear-armed underwater weapon with effectively intercontinental range. Details about its newest dedicated carrier submarine, Khabarovsk, are only gradually coming into focus.
Aussie firm commissions first US export of drone submarine
UK Defence Journal – Australian company C2 Robotics has commissioned and christened its first Speartooth Large Uncrewed Undersea Vehicle delivered to the United States.
(Thanks to Alain)
Royal Navy Plans to Use Hybrid Fleet to Keep Pace with Russia in High North
USNI News – The Royal Navy will use its hybrid fleet, enhanced with autonomous and uncrewed vessels, to keep pace with Russia in the High North and North Atlantic, according to the service’s transformation plan.
A Four Ocean Navy: A Wrong Solution to the Right Problem
CIMSEC – Professor Reveron has identified a genuine strategic problem and proposed a historically grounded solution. His geographic differentiation is the correct starting point for the analysis the nation needs. The problem is that he skips that analysis and proceeds directly to organizational and industrial solutions — giving us the Four-Ocean Navy Act before the strategy that would justify it.
Practice Makes Deterrence: India’s Next Nuclear Challenge at Sea
War on the Rocks – India’s ballistic missile-carrying, nuclear-powered submarine fleet is a commendable achievement, but to fully reap the benefits of these powerful platforms, greater operational readiness and doctrinal innovation will be necessary. Some issues will be addressed as India develops more capable boomers with greater endurance and the ability to carry more advanced missiles, while also testing and integrating longer-range missiles.
India’s Great Nicobar Project is The Dragon’s Nightmare
Sunday Guardian – A sprawling, $10 billion initiative to transform India’s southernmost island into a commercial and military hub, it has the potential to fundamentally alter the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Operating in the Mediterranean Sea
USNI News – Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) is now operating in the Mediterranean after leaving the Red Sea last week.
U.S. AH-64 Apache, MH-60 Seahawk Helicopters Sink Six Iranian Boats
The War Zone – Commercial vessels and American warships are coming under Iranian attack around the Strait of Hormuz as a new U.S. maritime protection plan has kicked off.
First Ships Transit Strait Of Hormuz Under New U.S. Protection Plan
WordPress – Project Freedom appears to be aimed, at least for now, at evacuating ships stuck in the Persian Gulf since the war with Iran began.
Lyme Bay MCM Uncrewed Systems Fit Illustrates ‘Hybrid Navy’ Flexibility
Naval News – The UK’s outfitting of its Bay-class auxiliary vessel RFA Lyme Bay as a naval mine warfare (NMW) ‘mothership’ carrying uncrewed systems for the mine-hunting role illustrates how the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) ‘hybrid navy’ approach can provide flexibility to respond to events like the current Middle East crisis, the UK’s navy chief told a conference in London.
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