RUSI – The question that this paper seeks to answer is how Allied maritime power can best contribute to competition with Russia.
Yearly Archives: 2024
Mechanical issue prevents HMS Queen Elizabeth from sailing on NATO exercise
Navy Lookout – During last-minute checks ahead of sailing for NATO exercise Steadfast Defender, it has been discovered that HMS Queen Elizabeth has a significant issue with her starboard propeller shaft. The ship will not sail on 4th February as planned and instead, HMS Prince of Wales will be readied to replace her.
Piracy is Back in the Horn of Africa – What’s Behind its Return?
RUSI – While the US and the UK attempt to contain Houthi attacks in the Bab al-Mandab and Red Sea, Somali pirates have made a daring comeback off the Horn of Africa.
Navy to get nearly £2bn of AI and virtual tech to keep warships at sea
The Guardian – Grant Shapps announces 15-year contract for UK arm of defence and aerospace specialist Thales
Top Issues Facing the U.S. Navy: A Compendium From the Madison Sea Power Workshops
CIMSEC – This paper presents the collated opinions from participants in the Madison Sea Power Workshops, an informal gathering of navalists whose purpose is to explore key issues facing American sea power as we shift to an era of great power competition.
Navy Looking For Counter-Drone Systems That Can Be Rapidly Added To Its Ships
The War Zone – The Navy is interested in quickly enhancing its ships’ ability to down drones, reflecting concerns over what’s happening in the Red Sea.
Navy’s SM-6 Missile Used In Combat
The War Zone – The use of the multi-purpose SM-6 missile in the ongoing battle with the Houthis would mark a major milestone for the versatile weapon.
Drone Boat Swarm Vision Laid Out By DoD
The War Zone – A new program envisions swarms of drone boats autonomously finding and chasing down target ships, and maybe even attacking them directly.
U.S. Approves Potential $3.9B MQ-9B Sea Guardian UAV Sale to India
USNI News – The State Department greenlit a potential $3.9 billion deal of General Atomics MQ-9B drones to India today, marking the latest move between Washington and New Delhi as the two strengthen their defense and security cooperation.
Ukraine ‘hits Russian missile boat Ivanovets in Black Sea’
BBC – Ukrainian forces say they have destroyed a Russian missile boat from the Black Sea Fleet in a special operation off Russian-occupied Crimea.
US and UK strikes fail to slow Houthi attacks
BBC – Repeated US and UK air strikes against the Houthis in Yemen have failed to slow their attacks on ships in the region, BBC Verify has found.
Does The Navy’s New Constellation Class Frigate Have Enough Vertical Launch Cells?
The War Zone – Recent events in the Red Sea again raise questions about whether 32 vertical launch cells is adequate for the Constellation class frigates.
Phalanx CIWS Downs Houthi Missile Dangerously Close To Destroyer
The War Zone – For the first time since they began swatting down Houthi missiles and drones fired into the Red Sea region, a U.S. warship had to use its Mark 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapon System (CIWS) against an incoming threat, CNN reported. Taken at face value, this is a very unsettling revelation as Phalanx’s engagement envelope is very close to the ship and is seen as a ‘last ditch’ point defense system. How the missile managed to penetrate the Aegis destroyer’s defenses is unclear at this time.
Pentagon Puts Out Call for Swarming Attack Drones That Could Blunt a Taiwan Invasion
USNI News – The U.S. military has taken the next step in building thousands of lethal sea-borne attack drones that could be key to deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan.
US Navy works on war response plan amid Red Sea ship surge
Defense News – The U.S. Navy is working on a new wartime response plan that would affect how ships and crews prepare and deploy for combat, according to the head of U.S. Fleet Forces Command.
Denmark Sends Frigate To The Red Sea
Naval News – Denmark sends the frigate Iver Huitfeldt on a mission as part of the international maritime coalition in and around the Red Sea to strengthen maritime security. The frigate is also expected to be missioned in a future EU-led naval mission in the area.
German navy pegs Indian Ocean, Baltic Sea as top destinations in 2024
Defense News – The German navy’s priorities for 2024 will focus on increasing its presence in the Baltic Sea and Indian Ocean, top service officials said this month, while a deployment to the Red Sea to protect trade ships recently targeted by Houthi rebels in Yemen also is on the horizon.
Russia commissions new ultra-silent submarine
Barents Observer – The diesel-engined Kronshtadt is designed for destruction of enemy ships and infrastructure, and is likely to serve in the Northern Fleet.
India’s Navy Has Arrived
National Interest – True to its tradition of nonalignment, India has declined to join the U.S.-led effort to keep open shipping lanes in the Red Sea, where Houthi rebels have pummeled merchant traffic indiscriminately with drones and antiship missiles. At the same time, though, New Delhi has dispatched ships of war to the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden to protect Indian-flagged merchantmen while succoring ships of any flag that suffer damage from Houthi strikes. Ten Indian Navy warships now patrol waters to the subcontinent’s west.
Sweden’s Submarine Fleet Ready to Set Off in Baltic Sea to Deter Russia
Japan News – With Sweden’s entry into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization nearing, a jet-black submarine, which will be on the front line of efforts to deter Russia, is quietly ready for departure from the naval base in Karlskrona, southern Sweden.
(Thanks to Alain)
India navy rescues two hijacked vessels off Somalia coast in two days
BBC – Indian naval forces have rescued two hijacked vessels off Somalia’s coast as fears grow over a possible resurgence in piracy in the area.
Mystery Vessel Seen In San Diego Likely U.S. Navy ‘Narco Sub’ Transport
Covert Shores – A mysterious vessel observed in San Diego harbor appears to be a prototype low-profile transport drone (USV – uncrewed surface vessel). The design is strongly reminiscent of many so-called “narco submarines”. Like so much in this field, most of it is hidden below the surface.
(Thanks to Alain)
Greece Expresses Interest In Co-Production Of Constellation-Class Frigates
Naval News – The Greek Minister of Defence Nikolaos Dendias has officially announced Greece’s ambitious plan to construct seven Constellation-class frigates, showcasing the nation’s commitment to bolstering its naval capabilities.
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Trends in Maritime Challenges Indicate Force Design 2030 is the Proper Path
War on the Rocks – We are concerned about the quality of thinking, data, analysis, and synthesis that informs the decisions to reorganize the Marine Corps to meet its fundamental statutory obligations. It is because of that concern that we see that Force Design is indeed improving, not diminishing, the effectiveness of the Marine Corps to respond to the crises of today’s and tomorrow’s security environment. The current events impacting modern security challenges are providing empirical evidence to bear that observation out. We anticipate these real-world indicators will positively support the Force Design 2030 decisions when they are included in the congressionally directed report in the coming year.
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