Defense News – The U.S. Navy has completed the initial operational test and evaluation of its Unmanned Influence Sweep System (UISS) program, bringing a key element of the littoral combat ship’s mine countermeasures mission package closer to final approval and fielding.
Yearly Archives: 2021
Cognitive Lasers: Combining Artificial Intelligence With Laser Weapon Systems
CIMSEC – The cognitive laser concept opens a diverse and challenging field of research for innovations in the application of AI methods to both laser weapon operations and the military tactical domain in general.
Putin launches construction of new nuclear subs and warships
AP – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday launched the construction of new nuclear submarines and other warships, part of a sweeping military modernization effort amid tensions with the West.
Russian Spy Ship Yantar Loitering Near Trans-Atlantic Internet Cables
Naval News – Russia’s secretive special survey ship Yantar raises eyebrows when she appears off Western shores. She has previously been noted conducting operations off Syria, in the Persian Gulf and off Americas. And elsewhere. Now she is off the coast of Ireland, loitering in the vicinity of underwater internet cables.
2,000 Marines Now in Afghanistan Assisting Evacuation as More Head to Haiti
USNI News – More than 2,000 Marines were supporting evacuation operations and security in Afghanistan, a senior official said Thursday, as the U.S. military hopes to maintain a semblance of control to process more Americans, Afghans and other evacuees onto military transport planes at the Hamid Karzai International Airport.
Meanwhile, more than 200 infantry Marines along with detachments of heavy vehicle crews are embarked on USS Arlington (LPD-24) to support humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations in Haiti after the devastating Aug. 14 magnitude-7.2 earthquake, the service said.
PLA uses large civilian ferry ship for vehicle transport in cross-sea landing drills for 1st time
Global Times – A Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) amphibious unit recently conducted a series of cross-sea landing drills, in which the troops for the first time used a 10,000 ton-class civilian ferry ship instead of previously used thousands ton-class civilian vessels, with analysts saying on Thursday it could provide a good addition to transporting troops on a large scale in amphibious landing missions.
Russia Increasing Submarine Cruise Missile Capacity as US Navy Decreases Its Own
RUSI – Projections indicate that the coming decade will see more Russian submarines capable of carrying more cruise missiles, while NATO’s corresponding capacity will be constricted.
A Roadmap to Successful Sonar AI
CIMSEC – One particular area that needs Navy-specific investment is that of machine learning systems is for passive sonar systems.
Israel receives 3rd warship from Germany
Middle East Monitor – The Israeli navy yesterday received the third Sa’ar 6-class warship from Germany.
(Thanks to Alain)
South Korea commissions first SLBM submarine
Defense Talk – South Korea’s Navy received its first ballistic-missile-capable submarine on Friday to counter the threat of underwater missiles from the nuclear-armed North.
(Thanks to Alain)
Pakistan left with only two submarines on active duty
Times Now News – Pakistan Navy has only two submarines on active duty. Three of the five Agosta class submarines it has are either being upgraded or have defects.
(Thanks to Alain)
China Submarines Used U.K. Warships for Target Practice, State Media Claims
Newsweek – China’s nuclear-powered submarines may have been using the U.K.’s aircraft carrier group for target practice before intentionally revealing themselves to British warships, a Communist Party newspaper said on Monday.
(Thanks to Alain)
Taiwan must help the US help it
Taipei Times – James Holmes writes that Taiwan should help us help you. That is my standard reply when friends from Taiwan ask how they can guarantee the US will be there for them in times of extreme peril.
Send the Marines to Alaska
War on the Rocks – It is time to station marines in Alaska. The Marine Corps needs Alaska to train. It needs Alaska to deter aggression in vital U.S. littoral regions such as the Bering Strait and the Northwest Passage. And, most importantly, it needs a location from which it can respond in a controlled manner to crises and hostile actions in the Western Pacific.
A Thorough Explanation of China’s Long-Term Strategy
War on the Rocks – What are the Chinese Communist Party’s intentions? Does it seek to turn China into the hegemon of Asia and a global superpower? Or does it just aim to stay in power by whatever means necessary? Unfortunately, U.S. policymakers and analysts haven’t come to an agreement on how to answer these questions. That’s a problem, because China’s intentions ought to shape how the United States develops its strategy toward the Indo-Pacific.
Leviathan Wakes: China’s Growing Fleet of Autonomous Undersea Vehicles
CIMSEC – This article draws on a wide array of primary sources—including advertisements from defense companies, PLA writings and research papers, and information released by state-run research institutes—to illuminate China’s growing fleet of autonomous undersea vehicles. After profiling three major AUV research institutes, the article identifies potential applications of China’s growing fleet of AUVs and continued barriers to development.
Mind the Gap: How China’s Civilian Shipping Could Enable a Taiwan Invasion
War on the Rocks – Recent months have seen much discussion of the “Davidson Window” — the idea that China could take military action against Taiwan in the next six to 10 years. Assessments of China’s amphibious sealift capability have typically focused on its navy’s dedicated amphibious assault ships, and have largely discounted the ability of China’s civilian merchant shipping to contribute to an invasion — especially in its initial stages. This approach does not take sufficient account of the emerging and ongoing integration of substantial portions of China’s merchant marine into its cross-strait assault forces. When civilian shipping is included in an assessment of China’s cross-strait sealift capability, Davidson’s warning gains added credibility.
The Influence of Technology on Fleet Architecture
CIMSEC – Today’s maritime security environment recalls the early days of the United States Navy, when its economic and geographic limitations helped create a technologically bold yet focused fleet architecture. Just as the United States Navy couldn’t out build its rivals then, it can’t out build the Chinese Navy today. Even so, by drawing from its best traditions, and implementing a fleet design incorporating mission agile platforms and platform agile payloads, the Navy and Marine Corps team can affordably produce a fleet and fleet Marine force fit for purpose – even as those purposes change with the decades.
U.S. to Send Amphibious Warship to Haiti to Support Earthquake Relief
USNI News – The U.S. is preparing to send an amphibious warship to support the ongoing disaster relief efforts in Haiti following a massive earthquake that shook the island nation on Saturday.
The U.S. Sea Services (Navy, Marines, Coast Guard) Are Preparing For Great Power War
1945 – James Holmes writes that the U.S. sea services are currently prosecuting “Large Scale Exercise 2021.” The maneuver’s banal codename belies its ambition. Navy spokesmen bill it as the biggest exercise in a generation, and one that spans seventeen time zones. Its immediate goal is to prove out operational concepts that have remained mostly hypothetical—concepts bearing such arcane-sounding titles as Distributed Maritime Operations, Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment, and Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations.
Chinese See U.S. Littoral Combat Ship as ‘Powerful Tool’ in Future Distributed Conflicts
USNI News – The Chinese military sees the Littoral Combat Ship armed with anti-ship missiles as a key element of a U.S. distributed maritime force in the Western Pacific.
Navy nearing decisions on small, medium UUV replacement options
Defense News – The U.S. Navy is “well on its way” to delivering a replacement small unmanned underwater vehicle for mine countermeasures and is in source selection for a replacement medium UUV that will support both the submarine and the explosive ordnance disposal communities.
Type 054A frigate good choice to expand PLA naval fleet and boost combat preparedness: experts
Global Times – China is reportedly building another batch of Type 054A frigates for the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy) after it had launched two new ships of this class over the past few months, a move Chinese military observers said on Thursday was aimed at rapidly expanding the country’s naval fleet amid the need to boost its combat preparedness.
Taiwan scraps US$1.1 billion mini missile assault boat project
South China Morning Post – Taiwan’s navy is scrapping an NT$31.6 billion (US$1.1 billion) project to build 60 mini missile assault boats originally aimed to boost the island’s asymmetric warfare ability against the mainland, a reversal that is expected to cost NT$200 million.
Media report claiming UK carrier group spots PLA submarines ‘not credible’
Global Times – A report by a UK media organization recently claimed a UK aircraft carrier strike group that sailed in the South China Sea in late July spotted Chinese nuclear-powered submarines that shadowed it during its voyage, but Chinese military experts said on Monday that the report is not credible, and is aimed at showing off the group’s presence and boasting of the its anti-submarine capability.
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