Defense News – The U.K. Royal Navy wants a future fleet with its sensors and weapons disaggregated and its ships flexible enough to change missions as needed, as the service acknowledges that traditional technology superiority may not be possible in the coming decades.
Monthly Archives: September 2021
Mediterranean: An Anti-Access ‘No-Man’s Land’ For The U.S. Navy?
1945 – James Holmes appraises the U.S. strategic perspective on the Mediterranean Sea.
US Southern Command Needs A Permanently-Assigned Hospital Ship
CIMSEC – The variety of extreme natural disasters that annually hit U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) area of responsibilities, exacerbated by climate change, demonstrates the Command’s need for a permanently-assigned hospital vessel.
Perception that France is ‘too soft’ on China fed Australia submarine dispute
France 24 – As France rages over last week’s Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) defence deal that saw Canberra ditch multibillion dollar submarine contracts, analysts suggest Paris should not have been so shocked – considering Australia’s desire for nuclear submarine technology rooted in its fear of a Chinese threat, alongside a broader Anglophone perception that France’s China policy is too ambiguous.
Why Nuclear Submarines For Australia Make Perfect Sense
1945 – James Holmes writes that nuclear-powered boats make perfect sense for Australia.
New Australia Nuclear Sub Deal Brings Big Questions, Hard Road Ahead
Breaking Defense – The trilateral defense pact laid out by President Joe Biden and counterparts Wednesday will present serious workforce challenges for Australia, a precedent-setting discussion of non-proliferation policy and could take two decades before coming to fruition.
French Attack Boat Design, Costs Opened Door to Nuclear Australian Sub Says Expert
USNI News – Australia’s surprise move to procure nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) with U.S. and U.K. follows difficulties the country has experienced on its SEA 1000 Attack-class future submarine program and the realization that a conventionally powered submarine (SSK) will not meet its future needs.
UK, US and Australia launch landmark security pact
BBC – The UK, US and Australia have announced a special security pact to share advanced technologies including nuclear-powered submarine know-how.
Mine Warfare in the Littorals
USNI Proceedings – Integrating naval mining and mine countermeasures capabilities with EAB forces will improve sea-control and denial operations.
Naval Flight Officers’ Unmanned Future
USNI Proceedings – Semiautonomous aviation platforms may mean more work, not less, for “backseaters.”
Taiwan’s 2022 Defense Budget: An Overview Of The New Naval Programs
Naval News – The budget proposal, “Annual reports on the China’s military strength”(中共軍力報告書) and “Five year’s military strength construction and administrative plan”(五年兵力整建及施政計畫) mentions a number of new naval weapon systems, naval programs or naval facilities.
Iranian Navy Flotilla Wraps up Four-Month Atlantic Deployment, Pledges More International Operations
USNI News – The two-ship Iranian Navy group that stalked the West Coast of Africa and the Baltic Sea this summer has returned home, as leaders in Tehran pledge more international naval operations.
Civilian Shipping: Ferrying the People’s Liberation Army Ashore
CIMSEC – The Chinese offshore mobile debarkation system, while not as striking as the Chinese Navy’s newest amphibious assault ships, may have greater implications for how the PLA projects power over-the-shore, especially in a cross-strait amphibious invasion of Taiwan. Any large-scale landing by PLA Navy amphibious assault ships will require significant maritime lift for second echelon forces and logistics. This modular pier system may allow China’s substantial fleet of large civilian RO-RO ships to offload combat troops and equipment directly onto Taiwan’s beaches. Proficiency with this system and other JLOTS capabilities will be a critical capability in a cross-strait invasion if the PLA is unable seize Taiwan’s port infrastructure intact.
Taiwan Commissions First Upgraded Catamaran Corvette Ta Chiang 塔江
Naval News – The second Tuo Chiang class corvette, Ta Chiang (塔江，PGG-619) was officially commissioned today with the Republic of China (ROC) Navy during a ceremony in presence of Taiwan’s President, Tsai Ing-wen.
Testing of the first corvette of Spanish construction for Saudi Arabia has begun
BMPD – On September 7, 2021, the Spanish Shipbuilding Association Navantia announced the beginning of factory sea trials of the head Avante 2200 corvette Al Jubail for the Saudi Navy, built at its plant in San Fernando, Cadiz. (In Russian)
(Thanks to Alain)
Gilday: New task force will help US Navy speed up unmanned system integration
Defense News – Despite significant progress on unmanned systems and manned-unmanned integration in the past year, the U.S. Navy needs to move faster and is establishing a new task force to help, according to the chief of naval operations.
Expect China’s Coast Guard to Conduct Counter-Drug Patrols Off Latin America
CIMSEC – The China Coast Guard (CCG) is growing in capability, capacity, and confidence. With an established presence throughout China’s “near seas” in East Asia and further abroad in the North Pacific on fishery patrols, the possibility of additional long-distance deployments by the CCG should be seen as a matter of when and not if. One such location is off the west coast of Latin America in the Eastern Pacific on counter-narcotic patrols due the increasing problem of illegal drugs from Latin America making their way across the Pacific to Chinese consumers.
Navy Arming Surface Ships with Drone Repellent System
USNI News – With the use of drones becoming more prevalent, the Navy has found a way to ensure all of its surface ships can repel unmanned aerial vehicles. The Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare system, or DRAKE, built by Northrop Grumman and originally used on Humvees during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, is now used across the Navy’s surface fleet.
Navy’s Path To Distributed Maritime Operations Unclear: Govini
Breaking Defense – Analysts from Govini say the Navy’s current investments leaves open the question whether the service can fulfill its vision for Distributed Maritime Operations in the next decade.
Israel receives fourth and final Sa’ar 6 warship from Germany
Defense News – Israel has received its fourth and final Sa’ar 6 warship as the country implements a new naval doctrine aimed at bolstering defensive capabilities in its exclusive economic zone.
A Conversation With General Anthony Zinni (Ret.) On Leaders and Strategic Thinking
CIMSEC – This is the first of what we hope will be several conversations with General Anthony Zinni, USMC (ret.) about leadership, strategy, learning, and the art and science of warfighting. General Anthony Zinni served 39 years as a U.S. Marine and retired as Commander–in–Chief, U.S. Central Command, in 2000.
Royal Navy’s River-Class OPVs Begin 5-Year Indo-Pacific Deployment
Naval News – Royal Navy River-class Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV) HMS Spey and HMS Tamar have today begun deployment to the Indo-Pacific region to bolster Britain’s presence in the region.
Game Changer: AIP Submarine Has Fired A Ballistic Missile For The First Time
Naval News – The latest non-nuclear submarines are much more stealthy and formidable than previous generations. Now the South Koreans have combined this with a ballistic missile capability. This could foreshadow a new dawn in submarine capabilities.
Deployed to Africa, USS ‘Woody’ Williams Key Platform to Train, Engage Partners in Piracy Hotspot
USNI News – USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4), which is serving as the training platform for exercise Operation Guinex that’s underway in the Gulf of Guinea. The area, with significant seaports and commercial traffic, is a known hotspot for piracy and theft on vessels at sea.
Use Virtual Reality to Prepare Maritime Crews for Terrorist And Piracy Attacks
CIMSEC – Virtual Reality presents an invaluable, evidence-based approach to promoting the efficient and effective decision-making required to respond to and minimize the impact of an attempted attack on a maritime target at sea.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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