USNI News – As France’s Jeanne D’Arc deployment nears its conclusion, the French are looking to continue high-end operations in the Indo-Pacific region, according to two French officials in command of the deployment.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
The Little Carriers That Could
USNI Proceedings – Lessons for great power competition from Independence-class CVLs.
China Maritime Report No. 14: Chinese Views of the Military Balance in the Western Pacific
China Maritime Studies Institute – This report examines Chinese views about the military balance of power between China and the United States in the Western Pacific. It argues that while there is no single “Chinese” view on this topic, Chinese analysts tend to agree that 1) the gap between the two militaries has narrowed significantly in recent years, 2) the Chinese military still lags in important ways, and 3) Chinese military inferiority vis-à-vis the U.S. increases the further away it operates from the Mainland. In terms of specific areas of relative strength, the Chinese military has shown the greatest improvements in military hardware, but has farther to go in the area of jointness, training, and other military “software.” Nevertheless, despite continued criticism from senior civilian leaders, training quality has likely improved due to a greater focus on realism, and recent military reforms have, to a degree, improved the prospects for jointness.
Australia To Upgrade All Its Aging Submarines Amid Chronic Delays To Its New French Design
War Zone – The costly refurbishment comes as the government confirms its new submarines won’t be fully combat-ready until 2054.
The Navy Concluded Transmedium Flying Submersibles Were Possible A Decade Ago
War Zone – A vehicle that can travel under the sea and in the air may seem like a fantasy, but the Navy says it is possible and relevant for special operations.
Will Swarms Of Underwater ‘Drones’ Make Submarines Obsolete?
1945 – James Holmes writes that every now and again the idea that ultramodern technology will someday render the oceans and seas transparent—and expose submarine fleets to detection, tracking, and targeting—comes into vogue.
Iranian Warship Could Be Bringing Millions of Gallons of Fuel to Venezuela
USNI News – The former oil-tanker the Iranian Navy converted into a warship could be carrying millions of gallons of fuel to Venezuela in a ploy to get around U.S. sanctions, according to photos that emerged on Persian social media.
South Korea Is Looking At Building A Way Bigger Carrier Than We Thought
War Zone – Rival designs are going head-to-head as South Korea seeks to put F-35 stealth fighters to sea.
MADEX 2021: HHI Unveils New CVX Aircraft Carrier Design
Naval News – A new design for CVX, South Korea’s light aircraft carrier program, was revealed by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) at MADEX 2021. The new design is significantly different from both HHI’s own previous design and Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME)’s current design.
Lebanon’s Navy chief talks fleet expansion, new security missions
Defense News – Lebanon’s sole coastline along the Mediterranean Sea is about 150 miles, and its Navy is largely tasked with protecting the country’s exclusive economic zone. But with the government becoming more interested in oil exploration, the maritime service may have to bolster its security capabilities.
Memo reveals US Navy must pick between future destroyer, fighter or sub for FY23 plan
Defense News – The U.S. Navy may have to pick just one of three major modernization programs on the horizon to fund — pursuing a new destroyer, a new attack submarine or a new fighter jet, the acting Navy secretary warns in a recent memo. The other two due would be postponed to budget limitations, he wrote.
20 warships sail out for new Barents Sea exercise
Barents Observer – Coastal flotilla, submarines, and aircraft will over the coming days conduct a tactical exercise to protect Russia’s Arctic borders.
US Navy zeroed in on LCS flawed parts, maintenance slow-downs to improve operational days
Defense News – The U.S. Navy hopes to boost the number of days the littoral combat ship is operational by targeting the drivers of down time: design flaws in 32 parts that need to be replaced and a sluggish contractor-based maintenance model that needs to be made more responsive.
The Navy’s Tanker Drone Makes History By Refueling A Manned Aircraft For The First Time
War Zone – The Boeing demonstrator for the MQ-25 Stingray program successfully passed fuel to an F/A-18 Super Hornet jet.
First Sighting Of New Stealth Fighter For Chinese Navy Aircraft Carrier
Naval News – The Chinese Navy is massively expanding its fleet, with at least three aircraft carriers at its vanguard. Yet these lack low-observable fighters. But that is expected to change. A new image offers the first look at the new stealthy fighter.
Canceled in Combat: Get Ready for Smear War
USNI Proceedings – To understand future information warfare threats, it is helpful to identify specific tactics that can be used and how they have been employed recently.
Classic Works on Sea Power Have Enduring Value
USNI Proceedings – Alfred Thayer Mahan and Sir Julian Corbett are as relevant today as ever.
Long In Development Hypervelocity Rounds For Navy Railguns And Deck Guns Killed Off In Budget
USNI News – The Navy and other services had hoped to be able to fire hypervelocity projectiles from various guns at a range of surface and aerial threats.
PACAF CO: U.S. Working to Dampen Chinese Missile Advantage in the Pacific
USNI News – U.S. Pacific Air Forces is crafting a dual strategy of defensive capabilities and dispersal of forces in order to negate the threat posed to its forces and bases by China’s increasing military capabilities, the PACAF commander said.
Two Iranian Navy Ships Are About To Sail Into The Atlantic And That’s A Big Deal
War Zone – The two Iranian Navy ships appear headed for Venezuela, which, while a token gesture, could still have significant geopolitical ramifications.
US Navy creates DDG(X) program office after years of delays for large combatant replacement
Defense News – The U.S. Navy has created a new program office to usher the next class of destroyer into the fleet, after the service has struggled to find a replacement for its aging cruisers and destroyers over the past decade.
Close-Up Photo Shows China’s New Aircraft Carrier Rapidly Taking Shape
War Zone – Work is well underway on the next aircraft carrier due to join China’s fast-expanding navy. A leaked photo now brings us our closest view yet of the vessel, which is set to provide the People’s Liberation Army Navy, or PLAN, with a significant leap in capabilities, including catapults for launching aircraft, a major advantage over the service’s previous two, smaller aircraft carriers with their “ski jump” takeoff ramps.
Analysis: Hammerhead, Orca, SSGN
Strikepod Systems – With great power competition driving shifts in weapons priorities, offensive mine warfare, long neglected since World War II, is on the cusp of dramatic change both within the United States Navy, and within the navies of U.S. adversaries as well.
Pat Roll on Tactics of the Maritime Strategy and Cover and Deception Operations
CIMSEC – CIMSEC discussed the 1980s Maritime Strategy with Captain Pat Roll (ret.), who served as a staff tactician for Admirals Ace Lyons, Joe Metcalf, and Hank Mustin. In this conversation, Capt. Roll discusses how tactical development fleshed out the execution of the Maritime Strategy at sea, the Navy’s use of cover and deception operations to move battle groups undetected, and the core relationship between strategy and tactics.
Navy Picks Pacific Homeport For Future Frigates: Hello, China
Breaking Defense – The first 12 Constellation-class frigates will all be based out of Everett, Wash.
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