– CIMSEC – The U.S. Navy is faced with several big challenges in maintaining undersea warfare dominance – the domain of the fast attack nuclear submarine or “SSN.”
Monthly Archives: June 2019
Navy Culture Must be Adapted to Fit the Information Age
– CIMSEC – A recent independent review of the Navy’s cybersecurity posture, completed in March 2019, was predictably harsh on our Navy’s current culture, people, structure, processes, and resourcing to address cybersecurity.
Addressing America’s Operational Shortfall in the Pacific
– War on the Rocks – The Trump administration has made a number of strong statements about the need for the United States to do more to prepare for great power competition with China. Officials have effectively set the stage for 2019 as a year in which critical progress must occur with regard to implementing posture, budgets, and policies that counter Chinese efforts to displace the United States in the Western Pacific. Unfortunately, the scope and scale of Chinese efforts over the past 25 years diminished America’s influence in Asia, particularly its role in Southeast Asia, in such a way that current U.S. actions must have a sense of urgency if they are to succeed.
The Case for Maritime Security in an era of Great Power Competition
– CIMSEC – Alongside the renewed focus on traditional adversaries, operations in green and brown waters driven by unconventional threats will likely play an enduring role in U.S. foreign policy.
The Combat Information Center In Japan’s New Frigate Is Like A Starship’s Bridge
– War Zone – The innovative round design that is wrapped in screens looks like it came right out of Starfleet’s Utopia Planitia shipyard.
When US Navy and Marine F-35 pilots most need performance, the aircraft becomes erratic
– Defense News – The U.S. Navy’s and Marine Corps’ F-35s become unpredictable to handle when executing the kind of extreme maneuvers a pilot would use in a dogfight or while avoiding a missile.
The Marine Corps’ ‘No. 1 priority’ for the F-35 involves a rough landing in hot environments
– Defense News – Landing vertically in hot environments is a challenge for the F-35B
Gulf of Oman tanker attacks: US says video shows Iran removing mine
– BBC – The US military has released a video which it says shows Iranian special forces removing an unexploded mine from the side of an oil tanker damaged in an attack in the Gulf of Oman on Thursday.
Amid ‘green glow’ concerns, another issue has emerged for pilots flying the F-35 at night
– Defense News – Engineers and pilots continue to struggle with operating the F-35 jet in low-light conditions, with a new issue emerging that obstructs the horizon line for pilots when flying at night with below-average levels of starlight.
Rebuild the Rainbow of Carrier Aviation
– USNI Blog – If the U.S. Navy wants the flat tops to survive in the metaphorical and literal senses, the CVW must be reinvented, diversified, and specialized.
China Tests New Sub-Launched Strategic Missile
– Washington Free Beacon – China conducted a flight test of its newest strategic submarine-launched missile, the JL-3, coinciding with the visit to Asia earlier this month by Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan.
Gulf of Oman tanker blasts: Crews rescued safely
– BBC – Dozens of crew members have been rescued after abandoning two oil tankers hit by explosions in the Gulf of Oman.
The US Navy is seeking upgrades for the F-35 radar’s sea-search mode
– Defense News – The U.S. Navy wants more from the F-35 jet’s radar, which in sea-search mode is limited to what is directly in front of the aircraft.
How US Allies Can Keep An Electronic Eye On China
– Breaking Defense – As it seeks to contain a rising China, America’s great advantage is its larger network of Asian friends and allies. Not all of these nations have the combat power to deter Chinese aggression, let alone fight alongside the US in the nightmare scenario of war. But even our smaller allies can play a vital role as what President Kennedy called “watchmen on the walls of world freedom” by using radar, drones and long-range networks to monitor Chinese moves.
Supersonic speeds could cause big problems for the F-35′s stealth coating
– Defense News – At extremely high altitudes, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ versions of the F-35 jet can only fly at supersonic speeds for short bursts of time before there is a risk of structural damage and loss of stealth capability, a problem that may make it impossible for the Navy’s F-35C to conduct supersonic intercepts.
China and Russia Want to Control the ‘World Island’
– Bloomberg – Increasing military cooperation helps both sides now, but in the long run Beijing will rule.
The Ultimate Way to Deter China: Why Island-Chain Defense Can Work
– National Interest – Message to Beijing: you can try to deny U.S. and allied forces access to the Western Pacific or the freedom to move around within the theater, but you will see your access and freedom of movement curtailed if you do. Strewing missiles of various kinds along the island chain while deploying manned and unmanned aircraft and ships of war nearby would seal up the straits through which surface and air traffic must pass to reach the broad Pacific.
The South China Sea Needs a ‘COIN’ Toss
– USNI Proceedings – China’s actions in the South China Sea are a “maritime insurgency.” Counterinsurgency is the logical response, and history shows the way.
Chinese Nuclear Armed Submarines in Russian Arctic Ports? It Could Happen
– National Interest – What once seemed completely farfetched has now evidently become a topic of semi-serious discussion.
Russian Destroyer Put U.S. Cruiser at Risk with ‘Unsafe’ Maneuver
– USNI News – A Russian destroyer came within 100 feet of a U.S. cruiser operating in the Western Pacific in an incident the U.S. Navy is calling, “unsafe and unprofessional.”
US refutes Iranian claim, says missiles put on small boats were for covert attacks
– ABC – Following claims by Iran about why it deployed missiles in early May that led the U.S. to deploy an aircraft carrier strike group and B-52 bombers to the region, a U.S. defense official has provided ABC News with new details about the intelligence that drove the Trump administration’s strong response.
UAE tanker attacks blamed on ‘state actor’
– BBC – The United Arab Emirates has told the UN Security Council a “state actor” was most likely behind attacks on four tankers off its coast.
Nimitz and Ford Carriers Need Upgrades to Deploy With F-35Cs
– USNI News – The Nimitz-class and Ford-class aircraft carriers, by design, can operate with F-35Cs, however, there are modifications to both carrier classes that are required in order to fully employ the capabilities of the F-35s and enable them to be more effective on a full-length deployment.
France promises a presence in the Pacific amid an anticipated ‘global confrontation’
– Defense News – France’s armed forces minister has pledged the country will remain committed to the Pacific region, as she warned of a “global confrontation” emerging there.
Uncle Sam Takes a R.E.S.T.
– Modern War Institute – The Army Mad Scientist team executed its 2019 Science Fiction Writing Contest to glean insights about the future fight with a near-peer competitor in 2030. The following story was one of four finalists.
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