War Zone – New details about Australia’s plan to transition to an all nuclear submarine fleet have emerged during intense questioning in Canberra.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
Japan Kicks Off New Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Project
War Zone – Japan has kicked off a project to field a new coastal, anti-ship cruise missile as part of the country’s Defense Buildup Program. The “new SSM [surface-to-ship missile]” represents one of many new missile projects, including hypersonic missiles, recently announced by Japan’s Ministry of Defense specifically for “island defense.” It’s likely the new missile will be used on Japan’s southern islands, including around the Senkakus, to deter Chinese military aggression against what is known as the First Island Chain.
TRANSCOM looking for more tankers to move fuel in shallower water between Pacific island chains
Breaking Defense – The commander of US Transportation Command says her agency is working on finding and recruiting 10 additional tanker vessels, especially those that can operate in shallower water, as part of a congressionally authorized program to boost the Defense Department’s ability to move fuel in and around the Indo-Pacific.
US Marine Corps gives update on drone, ship needs for amphibious ops
Defense News – The U.S. Marine Corps is examining what unmanned systems and disruptive technology will benefit the force during amphibious operations in the coming decades, and which combination of ships would best serve future missions.
Unseen Threat: Russia Adds Unusual Defenses To Secretive Navy Base
Naval News – In a new move, the Russian Navy has started building defenses at a secretive submarine base in the Arctic. The floating barrier is similar to what they have deployed in Crimea to protect against Ukrainian attacks. This is highly unusual.
Taiwan’s Navy Caught Between Two Strategies to Counter Chinese Threat
USNI News – Taiwan’s Republic of China Navy is facing two looming threats from China and has been struggling to create a force structure to handle both. First, the ROCN must be able to meet the risk of a potential full-scale invasion by the People’s Republic of China. Second, it has to confront the constant grey zone activities carried out by Chinese forces that are harassing Taiwan’s borders on a daily basis.
Germany’s TKMS signs submarine construction pact with Indian shipyard
Defense News – German submarine builder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has signed a pact with Indian shipyard Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Ltd. that would secure local manufacturing in the event the Indian Navy taps the German vendor for new boats.
Cold War U.S. Navy Nearly Armed Its Frigates With Mk 48 Heavyweight Torpedoes
War Zone – The Navy once toyed with the idea of putting heavyweight anti-submarine torpedoes on its frigates, an idea that could be relevant again today.
Quarter of Royal Navy’s frigates spent zero days at sea in 2022
Forces Net – A quarter of the Royal Navy’s frigates spent zero days at sea in 2022, it has been revealed.
(Thanks to Alain)
Makin Island ARG, 13th MEU Deployment Marks Amphibious Shift to the Pacific
USNI News – When the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group returns from deployment this week, it will mark the beginning of a shift in how amphibious forces deploy globally – shifting naval resources away from the Middle East to the Western Pacific.
US naval ship activities in Irish waters cause concern for Defence Force officials
Irish Times – An advanced US naval ship which has been operating in Irish-controlled waters for four months with its transmitter turned off is causing concern among Irish defence officials.
(Thanks to Alain)
When the Balloon Goes Up” Naval Mesh Networking with Stratospheric Balloons
CIMSEC – Stratospheric balloons operate well above typical aircraft, but well below LEO satellites, challenging the conventional counters for high-altitude and space-based sensors. By offering a strong combination of high endurance, low cost, small footprints, and modular payloads, stratospheric balloons are poised to make major contributions to mesh networking in the battlespace.
Germany, India near deal for 6 subs: Why this is significant for Delhi
First Post – Germany’s defence minister Boris Pistorius, who is in India on a four-day visit, said his country is in a ‘good place’ to bag the six-submarine deal worth Rs 43,000 crore. The deal is part of New Delhi’s P-75I project that envisages the construction of advanced underwater vessels.
(Thanks to Alain)
Britain, Germany give update on future Indo-Pacific naval deployments
Defense News – The defense ministers of Germany and the United Kingdom have pledged to keep up their respective military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, while also outlining their plans for military deployments
Procuring Modular Containerships For Flexible and Affordable Capability
CIMSEC – The U.S. Navy should pursue commercial containerships and compatible containerized mission systems. These ships and systems will allow the U.S. Navy to rapidly field new technologies, expand the maritime industrial base, grow the ranks of experienced seafarers, and provide surge capacity in times of national need. Containerships, as well as combination containership/roll-on roll-off vessels (ConRo), would allow the U.S. Navy to affordably procure a large number of hulls compared to typical naval warships, and open options to augment a range of missions. These ships would allow conventional combatants to focus their high-end capabilities on the highest priority missions, while augmenting many of their capabilities with containerized support. Containerships can act as valuable force multipliers and retain a significant amount of modularity in a time when conventional naval force structure is at risk of falling behind the rapidly evolving state of capability.
Marine Corps pushes ‘dramatic change’ for its reconnaissance forces
Defense News – The U.S. Marine Corps’ Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle is undergoing testing throughout this year, cementing a previously debatable requirement that senior officials now believe will be critical in Europe, the Middle East and Africa — though too heavy for Pacific environs.
British and American warships scare off Iranian vessels
UK Defence Journal – British and American naval forces came to the aid of a merchant ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz on June 4, after the vessel made a distress call claiming harassment by Iranian fast-attack boats. The fast-attack boats were identified as belonging to the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.
Marines Betting Big On “Critical” Air-Launched Swarming Drones
War Zone – Marines see loitering munitions launched in swarms from many aircraft, including F-35s and MV-22s, as critical to winning a future fight.
Three Cheers For The New U.S. Marine Corps, None For The Old
1945 – Let the paradigm shift continue! This week the Biden administration nominated General Eric Smith, the deputy U.S. Marine Corps commandant for combat development and integration, to ascend to the post of commandant, or top uniformed marine. This comes as glad tidings to those of us who favor “naval integration,” meaning the effort to alloy the American sea services—the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard—into a single keen-edged implement for denying, winning, and exploiting command of the sea in concert with our fellow armed services and allies.
A Strait Too Far: How a Deliberate Campaigning Approach in the Pacific Can Make Beijing Think Twice
War on the Rocks – Leading Northeast Asia security analyst Ian Easton argues that March through May is one of two ideal windows of meteorological opportunity for cross-strait amphibious operations, with the other occurring in September and October. For the U.S. joint force, the spring campaigning season in the Indo-Pacific is thus essential for strengthening regional partnerships, increasing multinational lethality, and instilling doubt in Chinese leaders’ minds about whether they could successfully invade Taiwan.
More Changes Coming to the Marine Corps as Planners Refine Force Design 2030
USNI News – After three years of modeling and experimentation to overhaul the Marine Corps for an island-hopping campaign in the Indo-Pacific, service officials say they are done divesting of older platforms and capabilities and need more money to continue modernizing the force.
The annual update to Force Design 2030, released Monday, says the Marines will ask for more funding to address infrastructure needs like base housing while continuing to build a lighter force that’s mobile enough to move smaller units around islands and shorelines.
Poisoned Water: How a Navy Ship Dumped Fuel and Sickened Its Own Crew
Military.com – A years-long investigation reveals that the Boxer unintentionally compromised its own water supply in 2016, when it intentionally and potentially illegally dumped diesel fuel into the ocean and immediately sucked the noxious liquid back aboard the ship and into its water supply. Those conclusions can be revealed by Military.com for the first time after interviewing key personnel on the ship at the time of the incident, as well as through a review of documents obtained from sources.
Fleet’s material condition keeps getting worse, new INSURV report says
Defense News – The Navy fleet’s overall material condition declined slightly in fiscal 2022, “resuming a slight but steady negative trend” that has occurred since fiscal 2017, according to the Navy’s annual Board of Inspection and Survey, or INSURV, report released by the Navy on Friday.
Canada boosts Indo-Pacific naval deployments, military engagements
Defense News – Canada is pledging to step up its military posture in the Indo-Pacific, with its defense minister announcing the nation will annually commit to the region an additional warship.
The Royal Navy has ambitious plans for its Future Maritime Aviation Force
Navy Lookout – A long-term project is underway to develop a suite of maritime uncrewed air systems (MUAS) to dramatically enhance the carrier air group and RN air power. Here we look at the latest plans for the Future Maritime Aviation Force.
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