Chinese Navy – China has ordered two additional Russian Sovremenny destroyers to augment the pair it deployed in late 2000.

• Jane’s: China buys two more Project 956EM ships
• National Post: China continues naval expansion
  

US Navy – The maintainence woes aboard the USS John F. Kennedy are longstanding, and are the result of too little maintainence funding for too long.

• Virginian Pilot: Budget woes started spiral for carrier Kennedy
  

• Virginian Pilot: Carrier Kennedy’s woes troubling to congressmen
  

US Navy – The US Navy is extensively using satellite communications capabilities based in Auckland, New Zealand.

• New Zealand Herald: Auckland station to have key role with US Navy

Background – Afghanistan – James F. Dunnigan on how to get your way in Afghanistan – bribery.

• Strategy Page: What Speaks Louder Than Bullets?