Barents Observer – The treaty, which is a key pillar to regulate international cooperation in the sea, is seen by the Russian authorities as “detrimental”.
Yearly Archives: 2024
China’s quantum grand strategy
ET – Thomas P. M. Barnett says we think of grand strategy as superpowers fighting over the world’s continents, like who can dominate Eurasia. But what if, in our hyper-connected world, that struggle is best pursued on a subnational scale: first splitting, then transmuting, and finally capturing the core identities of individual citizens?
Searching For Lost Submarines: An Overview of Forensic Underwater Methodologies
CIMSEC – How does one find an object not meant to be found? Forensic maritime investigators in 2017 stumbled across this question when searching for the disappeared ARA San Juan (S-42) – an Argentinian submarine whose mission centered around stealth. Despite the environmental challenges and the restrictions imposed by the profile of submarines, several complementary forensic tools have emerged as authoritative standards and best practices for underwater search operations. These include: (1) optimization of preliminary search boxes through Bayesian probabilities, with updates for posterior probabilities throughout the search; (2) side-scanning sonar systems; and (3) unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for imagery, access, and identity verification. In explaining the efficacies and drawbacks of such methods, this analysis highlights the importance and evolving future of search optimization strategies.
US officials say pact with strategically key Pacific island nations underscores American commitment
AP – U.S. officials stressed Tuesday that newly-approved legislation providing billions of dollars in funding for three strategically important Pacific island nations is an important sign of American commitment, which comes amid warnings China is actively trying to pry them away from Washington’s sphere of influence.
Royal Navy plays a leading role in largest NATO exercise for more than 35 years
Navy Lookout – Steadfast Defender 2024 (STDE24) is the largest military exercise staged by NATO since the alliance conducted ‘Reforger’ in 1988. In this photo essay, we cover the RN’s participation in the maritime elements of the exercise.
Multi-Mission Capabilities Sit Central In France’s Future MPA Requirements
Naval News – France’s future maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) must deliver multi-mission capability and greater capacity. The new MPA must also be in service by 2035, according to a French naval maritime patrol officer and subject matter expert.
U.S. Still Developing Gaza Pier Details as Crews Work to Prepare Components
USNI News – Two weeks after President Joe Biden ordered the Pentagon to build a pier to ferry humanitarian aid to the war-torn residents of Gaza, the steel chunks that will make up the promised lifeline have been coming together in Newport News, Va.
US Navy aircraft carrier faces relentless battle against Houthi attacks
BBC – It’s not just merchant ships being targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea. The US carrier strike group trying to protect them has also been under constant threat too.
Admiral Raoul Castex: The Naval Strategist for Non-Hegemons
War on the Rocks – French Navy Adm. Raoul Castex (1878–1968) is the greatest naval strategist you probably never heard of.
Indian Navy seizes ship from Somali pirates and rescues 17 crew
Reuters – Indian naval forces including special commandos seized a cargo vessel that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing 17 crew members.
China to unveil fourth aircraft carrier soon: PLA Navy political commissar
Global Times – China will unveil its fourth aircraft carrier soon and answer the question as to whether it will be nuclear-powered, said the political commissar of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy at the ongoing two sessions in Beijing.
Navy delays next-generation submarine start to early 2040s
Defense News – The U.S. Navy is pushing back the start of construction on its next-generation attack submarine by nearly a decade, citing tight budgets and a need to fund current and near-term operations.
Houthis Threaten to Target Merchant Ships in Indian Ocean
USNI News – The Houthis plan to attack ships in the Indian Ocean, as they travel toward the Cape of Good Hope, the group announced on Thursday.
Super-secret nuclear submarine Losharik soon back in service
Barents Observer – The notorious special purpose sub that was badly damaged in a fire in 2019 will start sea trials in June-July this year, a source connected with the Russian shipbuilding industry says to the state news agency.
Russia, China and Iran Finish Drills in Gulf of Oman
USNI News – Russia, China and Iran completed the at-sea phase of the Sea Security Belt 2024 exercise on Thursday near the Gulf of Oman and carried out a shore phase along with a debriefing in the Iranian city of Chabahar, with the drills scheduled to end on Friday.
Japan’s Mogami-Class Frigates Will Start Getting VLS In FY 2024
Naval News – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will start delivering the Mk 41 vertical launching system for a planned fleet of 12 Mogami-class multirole frigate for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in fiscal year 2024.
New Images Of China’s J-35 Naval Stealth Fighter, Could Depict Third Example
The War Zone – The images come amid indications that the navalized fighter could operate aboard China’s first two aircraft carriers, as well as its third.
Lessons From Ukraine: Taiwan Eyes 200 ‘Multipurpose’ Drone Boats That Can Swarm Chinese Warships
Eurasian Times – The Taiwanese military is considering purchasing 200 units of an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that can be used for multiple purposes. These range from a target drone to one armed with interchangeable modules for reconnaissance, surveillance, electronic intelligence (ELINT), and warheads for attack purposes.
What we now know about the Marine Corps’ plans for Medium Landing Ship
Breaking Defense – The inclusion of the Medium Landing Ship in the fiscal year 2025 shipbuilding request is a major win for the Marine Corps, which faced significant amphibious shipbuilding cuts last year.
It’s time to appreciate energy’s influence upon sea power
Defense News – There is no more valued attribute, as famed naval tactician Wayne Hughes declared, than “the number of ships … a fleet can have.” But ships must be sustained — something the naval officer Alfred Thayer Mahan recognized nearly a century earlier when he wrote: “Fuel stands first in importance of the resources necessary to a fleet.”
Army Watercraft Depart for Gaza Port Mission, Navy Preparing East Coast Reserve Ship to Sail
USNI News – More pieces of the extensive Pentagon effort to build a pier and establish a sea route for humanitarian aid to Gaza departed from the East Coast this week.
Construction of corvettes for the Ukrainian Navy in Turkey
BMPD – It is reported that on March 8, 2024, during his visit to Turkey, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the RMK Marine shipyard in Tuzla (the southern outskirts of the Asian part of Istanbul), where he got acquainted with the construction of two Turkish-type corvettes Ada (MILGEM) for the Ukrainian Navy.
(In Russian)
(Thanks to Alain)
Marine Corps budget would add range, lethality to Force Design tools
Defense News – The U.S. Marine Corps plans to upgrade systems it already fielded during its Force Design modernization effort, with its fiscal 2025 budget request looking to boost sensing and striking capabilities.
The Russian Navy’s Commander-in-Chief Has Been Removed and Replaced
The Maritime Executive – Russian state media has confirmed the dismissal of the Russian Navy’s top officer, Adm. Nikolai Evmenov. He has been removed and replaced by the commander of the Northern Fleet, Adm. Aleksandr Moiseev.
(Thanks to Alain)
The U.S. Navy’s Real China Problem Won’t Be Easy to Fix
National Interest – In short, Secretary Del Toro has taken on an unenviable task: persuading Asian business leaders to invest in the U.S. shipbuilding complex to take on China at a time when domestic political headwinds are fierce. Profit, risk, time. Let’s wish him well.
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