USNI News – The German Navy anticipated China’s reaction to its ships operating in the East and South China seas, Chief of the German Navy Vice Adm. Jan Christian Kaack said last week. Frigate FGS Baden-Württemberg (F222) and Frankfurt am Main – the ships that comprised Indo-Pacific Deployment 2024, – arrived at Changi Naval Base the day before. In a press conference marking the occasion, task force commander Rear Adm. Axel Schulz said that while the German Navy task force operated in the East China Sea and transited through the Taiwan Strait, People’s Army Liberation Navy warships shadowed the German ships.
Yearly Archives: 2024
Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter test-fires Sea Venom anti-ship missile for first time
Navy Lookout – A Wildcat Helicopter has conducted a single successful test-firing of the Sea Venom missile at a barge anchored off the Aberporth Range in Wales. This trail marks a major step forward in the much-delayed integration of this important capability onto the Wildcat. Sea Venom has been in development since the late 1990s as the replacement for Sea Skua light anti-ship missile which was retired in 2017. It was supposed to go into service in 2023 but instead this capability has been gapped for almost a decade with FOC due in 2026.
Signs Point To North Korea Building A Nuclear-Powered Submarine: South Korean Intel
The War Zone – North Korea appears to have started building a new submarine, which may feature nuclear propulsion, according to a South Korean official. The development would be in line with previous reports and follows the launch, last September, of a reworked Cold War-era Romeo class diesel-electric submarine designed to carry ballistic missiles.
First Royal Navy attack submarine to put to sea in 3 months sails to join exercise Strike Warrior
Navy Lookout – An Astute Class submarine left HMNB Clyde this afternoon and is likely to be involved in the carrier strike group exercise Strike Warrior. She is the first Royal Navy SSN to go to sea since HMS Triumph returned to Devonport on 3rd July this year.
HMNZS Manawanui: What we know about the ship’s sinking
Radio New Zealand – What caused the crash, what’s next and how much will the ship cost to replace? Here’s what we know.
(Thanks to Alain)
RFA Fort Victoria to be placed in long-term lay up
Navy Lookout – The sole UK solid stores support ship RFA Fort Victoria is being prepared to be laid up for at least a year, joining RFA Tiderace and RFA Wave Ruler in Seaforth Docks, Liverpool in long-term reserve.
CMSI Translations #8: U.S.-Philippine Military Cooperation in the South China Sea: Challenges and Responses
China Maritime Studies Institute – With the new generation of Philippine government taking office, U.S.-Philippines relations have rapidly warmed, and the depth and breadth of their military cooperation have increased. This has brought new challenges and threats to China’s national security. How to deal with these challenges will be a difficult problem before us.
China’s Monster Amphibious Assault Ship Has Twin Island Superstructures Optimized For Aviation Ops
The War Zone – The first of China’s new class of big-deck amphibious assault ships is rapidly taking shape and we can now get a much better look at the vessel’s twin-island configuration. The design choice is typically made to simplify air operations and is very likely another indicator of this class of vessels being tailored, at least in part, for going to sea with enhanced air wings that include larger types of drones.
Does China now have a permanent military base in Cambodia?
BBC – The Cambodian government has repeatedly denied such a possibility, citing its constitution which bans any permanent foreign military presence, and stating that the naval base at Ream is open to use by all friendly navies.
Interview With The Chief Of The Colombian Navy
Naval News – Vice Admiral Juan Ricardo Rozo Obregón, Chief of the Colombian Navy, shared his insights on the strategic vision and future prospects of the Navy in an exclusive interview with Naval News.
New Zealand Navy Hydrographic Ship HMNZS Manawanu Sinks Near Samoa
USNI News – Royal New Zealand Navy hydrographic dive and survey ship HMNZS Manawanui (A09) sank on Sunday after running aground off the southern coast of the island of Upolu, Samoa. The ship ran aground on Saturday evening while on a survey mission in the area. All aboard were rescued.
“Red Light, Green Light” Faraway from the Beach
Wavell Room – What can you do with amphibious forces given current area denial, especially sea denial, measures; particularly in Europe? Those tools of sea denial mean that fouling the waters is easy but clearing them is hard. Because of this, sea denial is easier today and sea control is growing more challenging. Threats to large landing ships make traditional amphibious assaults—called forcible entry operations in the American vernacular—riskier. Simply using amphibious forces to do ground operations in a new patch of land is too hazardous. On the other hand, a divergent model has promise to contribute to sea control.
CMSI Translations #7: Guarantee of Strategic Security: Expert Discusses China’s Strategic Nuclear Submarines Achieving Continuous Duty
China Maritime Studies Institute – In April of this year, the U.S. Department of Defense released a China military power report, which stated that the Chinese Navy currently has at least six Type 094 ballistic missile nuclear submarines, and has the capability for at least one of them to be on continuous readiness duty. It also said that this is the first time it has been possible for the Chinese Navy to permanently maintain at least one strategic missile nuclear submarine at sea to perform strategic duty tasks. So, what is “continuous readiness duty” (quatianhou zhanbei zhiban), how can it be achieved, and why did the Chinese Navy only just now acquire this capability? With these questions in mind, we interviewed Professor Chi Guocang (迟国仓) of the PLAN Submarine Academy and asked him to give us a detailed explanation.
US warships and planes strike Houthi targets in Yemen
BBC – The US military says it has launched strikes on the Iranian-backed Houthi group in Yemen, hitting 15 targets. The Pentagon said it used aircraft and warships to launch the attacks in order “to protect freedom of navigation”.
The Navy’s New NavPlan Sets Its Sights on China, from a Sea Denial Stance
US Naval Institute Proceedings – James Holmes writes that the Navy’s new Navigation Plan would have met approval from early 20th-century naval strategist Harry Yarnell.
Navy Making Final Selection For F/A-XX Stealth Fighter, Plans For 2030s Service Entry
The War Zone – While the Air Force’s NGAD fighter initiative currently paused, the Navy is pushing ahead with its similar F/A-XX stealth jet program.
French Navy orders underwater drones for deep-sea surveillance
Defense News – The French Navy has ordered an autonomous underwater vehicle from Exail that will surveil critical infrastructure at depths of up to 6,000 meters.
China Coast Guard Now Operating in the Bering Sea
USNI News – China’s Coast Guard is for the first time operating in the Bering Sea as Beijing increasingly uses the Northern Sea Route for shipping, the U.S. commander of the 17th Coast Guard District said this week.
Chinese Submarine That Sunk Had Exotic Hybrid Nuclear Powerplant
The War Zone – The mysterious Chinese submarine that apparently sunk in a shipyard earlier this year was the first of a new class featuring a hybrid nuclear/conventional propulsion system, according to a new report. The latest development in the saga of the Type 041 Zhou class submarine would seem to clear up some of the previous uncertainty about the boat as well as signal that China is working on novel solutions for its fast-growing underwater fleet.
U.S. Destroyers Successfully Down Iranian Missiles with SM-3s, Carrier USS Harry. S. Truman Now in U.S. 6th Fleet
USNI News – Two U.S. guided-missile destroyers destroyed a handful of Iranian missiles using a combination of weapons, including the Standard Missile 3, a U.S. official confirmed to USNI News on Wednesday.
UK will give sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
BBC – The UK has announced it is giving up sovereignty of a remote but strategically important cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean after more than half a century. The deal – reached after years of negotiations – will see the UK hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a historic move.
Russian nuclear submarine surfaced after crossing six Arctic seas
Bulgarian Military – Russia’s nuclear-powered strategic missile submarine, “Emperor Alexander III,” has completed an impressive under-ice journey across six Arctic seas and recently surfaced in the eastern Arctic sector.
(Thanks to Alain)
U.S. Warships Fire a Dozen Interceptors Against Iranian Missile Attack
USNI News – USS Bulkely (DDG-84) and USS Cole (DDG-67) fired a dozen interceptors as part of the U.S. response to Iranian missiles launched at Israel, the Pentagon announced Tuesday.
New M23 Mini-Submarine Seen Undergoing Sea Trials in Italy for the First Time
Militarnyi – The new M23 C-Series mini-submarine, currently under construction for the Qatari Navy, was photographed for the first time in Italy.
(Thanks to Alain)
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