Naval News – The Russian Navy is reinforcing its mine countermeasures (MCM) capabilities.
Monthly Archives: May 2021
How the Pentagon Started Taking U.F.O.s Seriously
New Yorker – For decades, flying saucers were a punch line. Then the U.S. government got over the taboo.
U.K. Committed to Operate More in Indo-Pacific with U.S., Allies
USNI News – The U.K. plans to have a greater British presence in the Indo-Pacific region, as it adheres to a recent security assessment that calls for a pivot to Asia, the top admiral in the Royal Navy said on Wednesday.
Elaine Luria Says Navy Needs to Build ‘Battle Force 2025’ Instead of Divesting to Prepare for a 2045 Fight
USNI News – The vice-chair of the House Armed Services Committee does not support the Navy’s “divest to invest” strategy of ridding the fleet of aging and expensive-to-maintain ships and systems to free up money for the development of unmanned platforms and other new technology, saying the sea service needs to focus on getting ready for a near-term battle instead of looking too far out into the future.
China’s new nuclear submarine missiles expand range in US
South China Morning Post – China’s newly commissioned nuclear-powered submarine is armed with the country’s most powerful submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) capable of hitting the US mainland.
China’s newly commissioned amphibious landing ship joins exercises, ‘to form powerful partnership with amphibious assault ship’
Global Times – China’s eighth Type 071 amphibious landing ship recently made its first publicly known maritime exercise appearance, and it has gained operational capabilities in troops delivery, air defense, anti-ship and land attack after entering service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy late last year.
Investments in Global Maritime Infrastructure: Implications for Port Access
CIMSEC – The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has embarked on a massive investment spree and established a meaningful stake in the control of global maritime infrastructure. These investments include the construction of new ports, the expansion and modernization of cargo handling facilities, the purchase of port management rights, and the establishment of control over the operations of petroleum storage and transshipment depots. Much of the capital is formally sourced from the PRC’s One Belt One Road Initiative, but major investments are also being made directly by state-owned, PLA-linked, and other Chinese enterprises. The scope of control over global maritime infrastructure has become sufficiently large to be of concern. The U.S. Navy’s 2021 Chief of Navy Operations NAVPLAN warns that China is, “extending their infrastructure across the globe to control access to critical waterways.“
Northern Fleet gets first Yasen-M class submarine
Barents Observer – Kazan is the first of eight modern nuclear-powered cruise missile submarines to be delivered from the shipyard in Severodvinsk.
UK Royal Navy ships patrolling Jersey amid fishing row with France
BBC – Two Royal Navy ships are patrolling waters around Jersey and a French patrol vessel is nearby, as fishermen protest over their post-Brexit rights.
Report to Congress on Hypersonic Weapons
USNI News – The following is the April 26, 2021 Congressional Research Service report, Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress.
(Thanks to Alain)
Marines Seeking Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle Prototypes After Unsuccessful Attempts to Replace LAV
USNI News – The Marine Corps has collected proposals to design and build a prototype Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle, meant to far surpass the capabilities of the legacy Light Armored Vehicle and help reconnaissance Marines observe their surroundings, find targets and even take out threats on their own.
Heavy nuclear missile cruiser “Admiral Lazarev” set aside for scrapping
BMPD – As reported, on April 30, 2021, the heavy nuclear missile cruiser Admiral Lazarev (formerly Frunze, serial number 801) of project 11442 , decommissioned from the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy, was towed from the place of its long stay at a layover in Fokino (Abrek Bay, Strelok Bay ) for recycling at JSC “30th ship repair plant” (Danube village, Primorsky Territory). (In Russian)
(Thanks to Alain)
Chinese Navy to Help with Recovery of Indonesian Sub Wreck
USNI News – China has dispatched three ships to Indonesia to assist in the salvaging of the Indonesian attack submarine KRI Nanggala (402). Two ships – the People’s Liberation Army Navy Ocean Tug Nantuo-195and PLAN Ocean Salvage and Rescue Ship Yongxing Dao-863 – arrived on scene May 3 and the third ship, scientific research vessel Tan Suo 2, is expected to arrive today.
Russian submarine Kazan to be delivered on May 7
Navy Recognition – According to information published by Tass on May 3, 2021, the lead Project 885M Kazan nuclear-powered submarine will be provisionally turned over to the Russian Navy on May 7.
(Thanks to Alain)
Surface Navy to Kick Off Program to Track, Assess Sailors Combat Skills
USNI News – The surface navy community is rolling out a new way to track and assess sailors’ experience and proficiency in combat skills – with the promise that commanders could tailor future training and build better watch bills – through a new Surface Warfare Combat Training Continuum (SWCTC) effort that is wrapping up a pilot program and will hit the fleet this summer.
How the Decarbonization Dilemma Will Impact Shipbuilding and Great Power Competition
CMISEC – The security-related risks of the United States pursuing decarbonization merit further scrutiny, especially with respect to decarbonization’s impact on the shipbuilding industrial base and its ability to contribute in a protracted great power conflict. Examples abound of the American decline in relative industrial strength and that of western nations generally. But unique to this point in time are the defense risks brought on by the proposed path to decarbonization and its likelihood to accelerate these trends.
Does the U.S. Navy Have a Strategy Problem?
National Interest – James Holmes writes that over at the Wall Street Journal last week, former deputy undersecretary of the navy and current Hudson Institute analyst Seth Cropsey aims a broadside at the U.S. sea services’ latest maritime strategy, titled Advantage at Sea. Cropsey’s broadside sails well wide of the mark. Let’s inspect—and see if we can correct—the fall of shot.
Soft Cyber Law Makes Port Facilities Soft Cyber Targets
CIMSEC – There is widespread recognition that cybersecurity vulnerabilities make the maritime transportation system a soft target…Despite the widespread recognition of these vulnerabilities, international port cybersecurity laws remain soft—unenforceable and discretionary. The international community should take steps to harden these laws and therefore harden the targets.
7 naval ships deployed for shipment of oxygen
Mumbai Mirror – The Indian Navy has been tasked with delivering oxygen to the country.
Every Grunt a Swimmer: Behind the Marine Corps’ New Focus on Water Skills
Military Times – “Expect to start by getting wet.”
A Naval Memo of Grand Strategic Importance
USNI Proceedings – Just over a year before the U.S. entry into World War II, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Harold Stark wrote a strategic memorandum to Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox outlining the challenges and choices ahead. It should be required reading for naval professionals, joint planners, and civilian policymakers today.
Russian Navy Expanding Presence in the Mediterranean Sea, Africa
USNI News – Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conviction that a “world power needs a great navy” goes a long way in explaining Russia’s growing naval presence and operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and along the African coast.
Admiral Tom Hayward on Challenging War Plans and Revamping Strategy
CIMSEC – CIMSEC discussed the 1980s Maritime Strategy with Admiral Tom Hayward (ret.), who initiated much of the Navy’s efforts toward changing war plans and adopting a more offensive role that would later be embodied in the Maritime Strategy. In this conversation, Admiral Hayward discusses how he came to learn of the Swing Strategy, how he initiated efforts to revise war plans, and how he advocated for these changes as commander of the Pacific Fleet and as the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).
Japan’s MoD New Aegis-Equipped Missile Defense Ships May Be Multihulls
Naval News – Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) is planning a multihull as one of the proposed designs for the Aegis system equipped ship.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 