Defense News – The U.S. Navy’s fleet would never reach the statutorily required 355 ships under two of the three scenarios outlined in the service’s latest long-range shipbuilding plan.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
Ukraine war: The Russian ships accused of North Sea sabotage
BBC – Russia has a programme to sabotage wind farms and communication cables in the North Sea, according to new allegations.
Romania Seeks Acquisition of First Submarines in 20 Years
The Maritime Executive – With most NATO members committed to increasing defense spending in light of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine, Romania is seeking to modernize its navy. Among the elements planned is the acquisition of the country’s first submarines in nearly 20 years.
(Thanks to Alain)
Fighting DMO Part 7: The Future of the Aircraft Carrier in Distributed Warfighting
CIMSEC – The aircraft carrier has been the main striking arm of the U.S. Navy for decades, but distributed warfighting demands something new. Anti-ship missile firepower is proliferating across the force structure of both friendly and competitor forces, creating larger demands for the tactical information required to leverage these long-range weapons. Massed fires heavily depend on information to work, and air superiority is a powerful enabler of information superiority. By focusing on a set of critical information functions and fleet air defense, the aircraft carrier can serve as a powerful enabler and force multiplier for distributed fleets and massed fires. These roles foreshadow how nations who engage in naval salvo warfare without naval aviation will be at a sore disadvantage.
Netherlands Selects Tomahawk To Arm Frigate And Submarines
Naval News – According to an article published by the Dutch Ministry of Defense, the Dutch Navy plans to strengthen the De Zeven Provinciën-class (LCF) air defense and command frigates and submarines with Tomahawk land-attack missiles.
Why the US is Losing the Race For the Arctic and What To Do About It
CIMSEC – This article attempts to explain why the US is behaving as it does in the Arctic. It then argues that paradoxically falling behind in this regional competition may actually improve America’s overall security and international influence when compared to Russia and China.
US Navy, Marines push to make virtual training more real
Defense News – U.S. Navy and Marine Corps leaders are pushing to make Live, Virtual and Constructive training environments more realistic because, they say, lives are at stake.
NRP “Arpão” submarine will set sail on an unprecedented 120-day mission
El Snorkel – The trip is carried out within the framework of the “Open Sea” mission, which provides for the collection of information that will be delivered to Portugal and NATO and its partners. (In Spanish)
(Thanks to Alain)
Containing the Bomb: An Assessment of Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
CIMSEC – This article is part of a series that will explore the use and legal issues surrounding military zones employed during peace and war to control the entry, exit, and activities of forces operating in these zones.
High demand for submarines in the world, Germany in search of talent.
El Snorkel – Until the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Germany’s arms industry was a declining sector that was increasingly dependent on exports. Now companies have to change course and urgently need new staff. (In Spanish)
(Thanks to Alain)
US Navy aims to field manned-unmanned fleet within 10 years
Defense News – The U.S. Navy plans to operate a fleet of crewed and unmanned platforms within the next 10 years — an ambitious timeline that will require the service to quickly develop and mature autonomous systems, while ensuring confidence in the technology.
Russian military docks vessel for first time in Saudi Arabia
War is Boring – The Admiral Gorshkov has become the first Russian warship to dock in Saudi Arabia.
(Thanks to Alain)
Turkey’s ‘Drone Carrier’ Amphibious Assault Ship Enters Service
War Zone – The Turkish Navy on Monday celebrated the entry into service of its new flagship, the TCG Anadolu, now the country’s largest warship, with an inauguration ceremony held about three months after the ship’s actual delivery due to scheduling conflicts. The Anadolu is classed as an amphibious assault ship, but officials in Turkey say they have big plans to also use the vessel as a carrier for different tiers of armed drones.
Has the Russian submarine threat been diminished by the Ukraine war?
Navy Lookout – Head of the US Northern Command recently told Senators that Russia could have its most powerful Yasen (NATO name Severodvinsk) class attack submarines on persistent patrols off either of America’s coasts within two years which will “reduce decision space for a national senior leader in a time of crisis”. Here we look at these boats and the wider Russian submarine threat that is equally applicable to the UK and Europe.
US and Philippines begin largest-ever drills after China exercises
BBC – The US and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills a day after China concluded large-scale exercises around Taiwan.
How the US Navy prioritized readiness, and got more ships too
Defense News – What happens when the chief of naval operations wants more money for readiness — maintenance, spare parts, munitions and training time — to create a more prepared fleet, but lawmakers prefer to buy more ships? In this case, they both get their way.
Russia’s Accident-Prone Aircraft Carrier Has No Crew
War Zone – The carrier Admiral Kuznetsov needs to recruit crew members quickly if it’s going to rejoin the Russian Navy in 2024 on schedule.
Fighting DMO Part 6: Naval Platform Advantages and Combined Arms Roles
CIMSEC – Massed fires and naval warfighting are greatly enhanced when different platform communities form combined arms relationships. Combined force development and shared platform fluency will strengthen integration between communities. Warfighters will better understand their role in the combined arms team and the operational dynamics that govern the behavior of their cross-community partners. While these relationships will not be without friction or challenging tradeoffs, they will create a force that is far more effective than one that struggles to rise above its silos and parochialism.
China-Taiwan: Aircraft carrier ‘seals off’ island on third day of drills
BBC – China said it was simulating “sealing off” Taiwan in a third day of drills as it appeared to use an aircraft carrier to launch jets towards the island.
New Chinese Carrier Concept Looks A Lot Like U.S. Navy’s Ford Class
War Zone – Two pieces of artwork from China’s Jiangnan Shipyard have recently emerged depicting what appears to be a new aircraft carrier design. This could be a glimpse at one concept for a planned future Chinese carrier commonly referred to as the Type 004. The images show a vessel that is distinct from the Chinese carrier Fujian, also known as the Type 003, which Jiangnan is building now. It also has some broad external similarities to the U.S. Navy’s Ford class and France’s future New Generation Aircraft Carrier.
China simulates hitting ‘key targets’ on Taiwan
BBC – China has simulated precision strikes against key targets on Taiwan and its surrounding waters during a second day of military drills. The drills – which Beijing has called a “stern warning” to the self-governing island – are a response to Taiwan’s president visiting the US last week.
Seabed Espionage Variant Of Virginia Class Submarine In Development
War Zone – A new variant of the Virginia class nuclear submarine is being developed to execute espionage missions on the seafloor.
In Defense of Denial: Why Deterring China Requires New Airpower Thinking
War on the Rocks – Air denial is not a new strategy, but neither is an alternative based on air superiority and penetrating strikes. It is a way to use the U.S. Air Force and surface-based air defenses to increase Chinese Communist Party perceptions of the uncertainty and risks inherent in an invasion without potentially provoking nuclear escalation. This approach is controversial to many in the Air Force because this strategy upends decades of Air Force doctrine. But that doctrine was based on using aviation offensively, which may be unwise in a Taiwan scenario.
Italian Navy PPA Starts Asia Pacific Deployment
Naval News – The Italian Navy’s second Thaon di Revel-class PPA Francesco Morosini left La Spezia naval base on the evening of 6 April for a deployment of five months in the Asia-Pacific region. The crew of the second Thaon di Revel-class PPA will call in fifteen ports of fourteen countries across the area up to Japan and South Korea to promote freedom of navigation and the respect of international law of the sea alongside the conduction of naval diplomacy and maritime security missions. The Italian Navy vessel will also participate in Operations Atalanta and Agenor, the later under the European-led Maritime Awareness in the Strait of Hormuz.
Chinese military rehearses encirclement of Taiwan
BBC – China’s military is rehearsing the encirclement of Taiwan during three days of military drills.
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