American Affairs Journal – The priority of American national security policymakers today must be the revitalization of the nation’s defense industrial base. We have let it atrophy for far too long. But even within that priority, special emphasis must be placed upon the submarine industrial base, both new construction and repair capacity. Because of the severity of the Chinese threat to American national interests in the Pacific, and the specific role of submarines in both deterring that threat and responding if deterrence breaks down, addressing shortfalls in submarine production and repair must be at the head of the line. Or our navy faces being sunk at the pier.
Yearly Archives: 2024
Video shows smugglers testing remote-controlled submarine to transport drugs, Italian police say
CBS – Italian police announced Tuesday the seizure of a remote-controlled submarine likely intended to transport drugs as part of an international drug trafficking network, marking the discovery of a much smaller version of the so-called “narco subs”that are routinely spotted in international waters.
(Thanks to Alain)
Satellite Shows Two russian Submarines Semi-Submerged at Novorossiysk Base
Defence Express – This could be a russian way to disguise or protect their submarines from Ukrainian strikes.
(Thanks to Alain)
‘High risk’ to breathe life into old subs
The Australian – The Albanese government has been warned that the $5bn plan to extend the life of the navy’s ageing fleet of Collins-class submarines for another decade is a perilously high-risk endeavour that is not guaranteed to succeed.
(Thanks to Alain)
Charting the Challenges in the Baltic Sea
War on the Rocks – What happens in the Baltic will have major implications for regional defense and deterrence efforts. As such, it should be of interest to alliance members well beyond the sea’s littoral.
Ukraine Has World’s First Navy Drone Armed With Anti-Aircraft Missiles
Naval News – Ukraine’s uncrewed surface vessels are dominating naval combat in the Black Sea. Yet they have, until now, been particularly vulnerable to aircraft. So Russian defenses have emphasized using helicopters and fighter jets to stop them. Now a version armed with two repurposed air-air missiles could change the tide again.
China’s PLAN: Maritime dominion beyond the South China Sea
Council on Geostrategy – The People’s Republic of China’s naval build-up over the past decade has been substantial. Once a maritime minnow, the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) – the Chinese navy – has grown into a shark. And that shark is increasingly less constrained. Propelled by a growing auxiliary fleet, the PLAN is becoming increasingly mobile, able to operate well beyond the PRC’s shores and adjacent seas. The PLAN may have some way to go to meet the might of the United States (US) Navy or even navies such as the Royal Navy or Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force, especially if supporting the US Navy, but it will only be a matter of time until large Chinese expeditionary fleets are found regularly operating in the world’s oceans.
By, With, and Through at the Second Thomas Shoal
War on the Rocks – If war breaks out in the Indo-Pacific, it will not be over Taiwan but over the atolls and shoals dotting the South China Sea. At least, that’s the argument the Philippine ambassador to Washington has made, calling these sovereignty disputes, particularly between China and the Philippines, the region’s “real flashpoint.”…Nowhere in the South China Sea seems as ripe for conflict as Second Thomas Shoal.
Proteus Provides Operating And Testing Platform For Royal Navy Seabed Warfare Capability
Naval News – To counter continuing seabed warfare challenges in Northern Europe, the UK Royal Navy (RN) is continuing to build its understanding of the technologies, capabilities, and operational impact RFA Proteus¬ – its new, dedicated seabed warfare vessel – will have in developing the navy’s knowledge of the seabed operating environment, the RN’s First Sea Lord told an international seapower conference.
A more lethal Royal Navy: Sharpening Britain’s naval power
Council on Geostrategy – As an island state, Britain and its overseas territories are heavily dependent on open access to the sea and freedom of navigation. The sea is a superhighway to access the rest of the world, whether by ship or by critical maritime infrastructure in the form of fibre optic cables, power lines, or gas pipelines. To meet its environmental commitments and maximise the opportunities of Net Zero, the UK also generates a growing percentage of its electricity from offshore wind farms. Guarding these maritime interests is the Royal Navy, as the custodian of the British nuclear deterrent which acts as the ultimate guarantor of the nation.
But a number of hostile states and competitors have grown stronger at sea over the past decade, countries which have sought to subvert the international order. To meet this challenge, it is widely acknowledged that Britain needs a larger and even more capable fleet. This Report provides a number of ideas as to how a stronger navy could be realised.
The quiet Japanese island paradise on the frontline of growing Taiwan-China tensions
The Guardian – Yonaguni is a tourist hotspot – but its location just 100km from Taiwan means residents must wrestle with the creeping militarisation of their home.
Why Russia and China Won’t Go the Distance in the High North
RUSI – Despite some common interests, Russia and China have different goals in the Arctic.
Rounding up a week of news following the Royal Navy’s Sea Power Conference
Navy Lookout – At the First Sea Lord’s Conference held this week in London, there were several announcements made about the future of the RN. Here we reflect on the news and events of the week.
Philippines And Japan Finalize Largest Coast Guard Project To Date
Naval News – Manila and Tokyo finalized their largest maritime security project to date, which will see Japan fund the construction of five large patrol ships for the Philippine Coast Guard.
Three Questions: Congressional Guidance for a National Maritime Strategy
Center for Maritime Security – Last week, a bipartisan, bicameral group of Congress members released a document outlining their vision for a U.S. National Maritime Strategy to “reverse the decline of American maritime power and our susceptibility to coercion from strategic competitors on the world’s oceans.” Their effort is a welcome first step and an important signal of bipartisan Congressional backing for a major effort to revitalize America’s maritime industry and maritime national security; however, much more work remains to be done by both the legislative and executive branches.
Another Historic Year for the PLA Navy
USNI Proceedings – In 2023, China continued to build its fleet and increase its operations at sea.
Military’s novel floating pier arrives in Gaza amid security concerns
Defense News – Since President Joe Biden announced during his State of the Union address that the U.S. military would build a humanitarian aid pier on the Gaza Strip, and that “no U.S. boots will be on the ground” in Gaza, Keith Robbins and other retired military logistics officers have been watching. And on Thursday, after weeks of preparation, security planning and weather delays, the Pentagon announced that a trident pier had been stabbed into the Gaza beach.
How Do Alliances End?
National Interest – James Holmes writes that the United States’ standing in the world hinges on alliances and fellowships of all types—chiefly in the rimlands and marginal seas ringing the Eurasian supercontinent. America has no strategic position in the rimlands without them.
MRSS Offers Modularity, Amphibious Manoeuvre To Support UK Conventional Deterrence
US says floating pier for Gaza aid operational ‘in days’
BBC – A floating pier designed to increase the amount of aid getting into Gaza will be operational “within days”, US officials say.
In China’s backyard: The new Marine regiments changing the fight
Defense News – The Corps’ newest regiment, the Marine littoral regiment, combines new drone and sensing tech, anti-aircraft equipment and a ship-sinking missile into one formation — purpose-built to move around the land and sea, hopefully going unnoticed so that it can strike when needed, allowing Navy ships to roam freely while thwarting the Chinese military’s access to key terrain and maritime choke points.
House panel takes aim at Navy size, new capabilities in defense bill
Defense News – A defense policy bill released this week by the House Armed Services Committee expresses concerns over the Navy’s aging cruisers, the cost and capability of a planned amphibious ship, development of capability to rearm vessels at sea, and more.
Gulf of Guinea Maritime Security: Lessons, Latency and Law Enforcement
War on the Rocks – A bottom-up approach to securitywould help the West engage effectively with West African countries whilst also pushing back against misinformation from Russia and economic competition from China.
China Builds World’s First Dedicated Drone Carrier
Naval News – China has built the world’s first dedicated drone carrier. The ship has not been reported however and many of the circumstances surrounding it remain a mystery.
Navy CMV-22B Ospreys Only Allowed To Fly 30 Minutes From A Divert Airfield: Congress
The War Zone – The flight limit means the Navy’s CMV-22Bs cannot perform their critical transport mission for carriers on deployment.
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