Navy Lookout – To some extent, the capability of the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate cannot be fully appreciated without understanding the background to its development. Public perception has perhaps been over-focused on cost and initial armament, obscuring what has been achieved. In this article, we look at the procurement process and design philosophy that underpins the project.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
Russia’s Twenty-First-Century Naval Strategy—Combining Admiral Gorshkov with the Jeune École
US Naval War College Review – Both France after the Franco-Prussian War and post-Soviet Russia found themselves squeezed in multipolar worlds, with poor economies and loss of industrial power. Alongside Admiral Gorshkov’s continuing influence, modern Russian naval thinking has evolved toward an emphasis on smaller surface units with advanced capabilities—similar to the Jeune École concept—with implications for Western naval planning.
Iranian Navy Sending Ships to Panama Canal, Says Commander
USNI News – The Islamic Republic of Iran Navy is sending ships to the Panama Canal.
Partnership, Not Threats: How to Deepen U.S.-Indian Naval Cooperation
War on the Rocks – Despite increased cooperation and regular statements from American and Indian naval leaders expressing a desire to work together more, the India-U.S. naval relationship remains one of considerable untapped potential.
Navy’s Task Force 59 To Keep Tabs On Iran With Armada Of Drones
War Zone – TF59 and its regional allies hope to deploy a fleet of 100 unmanned vessels by this summer as it works toward building a ‘Digital Ocean.’
US Navy more certain of role for medium surface drones following tests
Defense News – The U.S. Navy is firming up plans for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel, after previously questioning the need or utility of the system.
Japan’s Shift to War Footing
War on the Rocks – Throughout the Cold War, the United States and Japan focused on the threat from the Soviet Union, but with tensions increasing around Taiwan, Tokyo has turned to its south, adopting principles that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pushed for before his death.
Nigeria’s Navy and the Battle for Economic Survival
RUSI – With the West African state facing economic difficulties and a range of threats from criminals and violent actors, the Nigerian Navy has stepped up to protect the country’s maritime security.
Navy Wants Independence LCS in Bahrain for Mine Countermeasure Mission
USNI News – The Navy could deploy the aluminum hull, Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship to the Middle East as part of a future mine-countermeasures force in U.S. Central Command.
Japan signs off on Marines plan for new littoral ‘stand-in’ group in Okinawa
Breaking Defense – A revamped US Marine Corps quick-reaction force outfitted with offensive and defensive weapons will be stood up on Okinawa by 2025, Japanese and American officials announced today during a high-profile engagement in Washington, the latest in a string of diplomatic moves by Tokyo apparently aimed at checking Chinese influence in the region.
Fleet Forces Studying ‘Plug and Play’ Destroyers in New Carrier Strike Group Concept
USNI News – U.S. Fleet Forces is rethinking how to deploy carrier strike groups by changing how it would train and maintain its guided-missile destroyers.
The Swedish Navy in NATO: Opportunities and Challenges
CIMSEC – This article will provide some thoughts on the Swedish Navy, what it will bring to NATO, what NATO needs from it and where some overlaps and opportunities exist.
To shipbuilders who think they can build more, CNO says: ‘Prove it’
Defense News – Following a budget that yielded a record-breaking $31.5 billion in shipbuilding funds for the U.S. Navy, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Mike Gilday has one message to ship construction yards: “Pick up the pace.”
Navy aims for 75 ‘mission-capable’ surface ships amid readiness drive
Defense News – The U.S. Navy wants to keep nearly half its surface fleet in a deployable state, as it aims to raise the overall readiness of the force in case it’s called upon to fight.
Sudden Surge In Russian Navy Ships And Submarines In Black Sea
Naval News – This morning Russian Navy ships and submarines left their base at Novorossiysk, in the Black Sea, en-masse. This is highly unusual and may indicate ongoing operations.
4 submarines, similar to Invincible-class submarines ordered by Singapore, cost about S$2.4 billion
Channel News Asia.- Singapore has ordered four Invincible-class submarines to replace older submarines that are more than 40 years old.
(Thanks to Alain)
French Navy’s 2022 Report On Global Maritime Security
Naval News – The Maritime Information Cooperation and Awareness Center (MICA Center) of the French Navy released its 2022 annual report on maritime piracy and robbery acts that impacted worldwide maritime security.01
Add Israel to the Combined Maritime Forces and its Red Sea task force
Defense News – Egypt took command of the multinational Combined Task Force 153 on Dec. 12 during a ceremony in Bahrain. The task force, which was established in April 2022, focuses on maritime security in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb and the Gulf of Aden. Egypt’s laudable new leadership of CTF 153 and the task force’s growing momentum will help secure vital waterways, while building partner capacity and enhancing cooperation among regional and international forces.
How the surface fleet can meet the Chinese challenge
Breaking Defense – Long-range missiles, missile defenses, and robotic ships will be essential adjuncts to the big, expensive “Death Stars” that dominate the Navy budget, says Bryan Clark of the Hudson Institute.
US Navy considers Cold War-era squadrons to boost readiness
Defense News – As ship maintenance metrics improve from a recent low, but remain inadequate, according to naval officials — the sea service is poised to establish “surface groups” meant to renew the Navy’s focus on maintenance and training.
Europeans wade into fighting seabed threats with drones and sensors
Defense News – Shaken by an underwater explosion that ripped through the Nord Stream pipelines in September, European nations are waking up to the task of securing the ocean floors that house the continent’s arteries of wealth. But protecting the vast network of energy pipelines and communications cables that line the surrounding bodies of water comes down to a familiar question: Who’s in charge?
The Royal Navy’s Astute class submarines: Part 1 – development and delivery
Navy Lookout – In the first of a series of articles focussing on the Astute class SSNs, we look at the programme’s history and how decisions made decades ago continue to impact today’s fleet.
Facing US lawmaker concerns, Australian prime minister defends AUKUS sub efforts
Breaking Defense – A letter from key US lawmakers has raised concerns about the AUKUS plan down under.
The First Battle of the Next War: Wargaming a Chinese Invasion of Taiwan
CSIS – CSIS developed a wargame for a Chinese amphibious invasion of Taiwan and ran it 24 times. In most scenarios, the United States/Taiwan/Japan defeated a conventional amphibious invasion by China and maintained an autonomous Taiwan. However, this defense came at high cost. The United States and its allies lost dozens of ships, hundreds of aircraft, and tens of thousands of servicemembers. Taiwan saw its economy devastated. Further, the high losses damaged the U.S. global position for many years. China also lost heavily, and failure to occupy Taiwan might destabilize Chinese Communist Party rule. Victory is therefore not enough. The United States needs to strengthen deterrence immediately.
How the Weak Can Beat the Strong in War at Sea
US Naval War College Review – Modern asymmetric naval technologies have not erased the effects of geography. As fortress fleets evolved from dominating harbors to dominating near-sea expanses, weaker naval powers continued to blend the land with the sea to overcome their relative weakness. In response, the stronger naval power must stand ready to win command of the sea through an equally blended strategy.
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