New Yorker – For decades, China has coveted its island neighbor. Is Xi Jinping ready to seize it?
An excellent introduction as well as a thorough review of the current state of play, especially from the Taiwanese side.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
Invisible Blockades and Strategic Coercion
War on the Rocks – When the U.S. seeks to counter aggression, state-sponsored terrorism, or other threats without conducting a full-scale war, the use of naval mining for strategic ends could help it to achieve its aims, as an alternative or complement to aerial bombing. In addition to economic and diplomatic measures, which may not be sufficient, demonstratively mining a nation’s ports can apply pressure both directly and via third parties. Without casualties, and while managing potential escalatory risks, the U.S. can coerce another nation to modify its behavior. The naval mining of North Vietnam was the archetype of such a campaign, one which achieved its limited aims of freeing Americans and enabling withdrawal. Given a modicum of investment in U.S. mining capabilities, overt naval mining could be used to coerce adversarial states by constraining them with an invisible blockade.
How Can the Marines Learn From the Falklands War?
War on the Rocks – The U.S. Marine Corps has made it a priority to address the rise of great-power competition in the Indo-Pacific. British forces in the Falklands operated in a similar manner to how the commandant envisions marines operating in the future: small formations distributed across vast expanses of maritime terrain, relatively limited indirect fire support, and limited traditional close air support. Vertical lift aircraft were critical to enabling British maneuver and logistical sustainment in the South Atlantic. But these aircraft are largely absent from new Marine Corps concepts.
Hoist the Flag and Sound the Trumpet
CDR Salamander – An address delivered by Claude Berube, PhD in which he was asked to address the issue of readiness for war at the Annual Congress of the Naval Order of the United States.
US hypes China’s JL-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile deployment ‘with ulterior motives’
Global Times – The US recently claimed that China has fielded new, longer-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) to threaten the US, but Chinese military experts said on Sunday that China’s SLBM development aims to defend itself from nuclear blackmail, and that the US military’s speculation has ulterior motives which would see it gain more funds to enhance its capabilities.
The Tiny and Nightmarishly Efficient Future of Drone Warfare
The Atlantic – Mark Bowden says Russia’s war on Ukraine has given us just a peek of the world to come.
Royal Navy to buy the Naval Strike Missile
Navy Lookout – While meeting with his Norwegian counterpart on board HMS Queen Elizabeth in Oslo today, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has finally confirmed the RN will purchase the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) to fulfil the interim anti-ship missile requirement.
Two Japanese Destroyers Score in Ballistic Missile Defense Test off Hawaii
USNI News – Two Japanese Maya-class destroyers successfully test-fired SM-3 interceptors against ballistic missile targets off Hawaii last week.
Navy eyeing ‘ZEUS,’ an upgrade program for the Zumwalt destroyers
Breaking Defense – The Zumwalt class has become notorious for its cost overruns. Now, the Navy is considering even further changes.
Navy P-8 Poseidon Can Now Drop Winged Torpedoes In Combat
War Zone – New wing kits allow P-8A crews to lob Mk 54 torpedoes at enemy submarines at standoff ranges while flying at higher altitudes.
“Reunification” with Taiwan through Force Would Be a Pyrrhic Victory for China
CSIS – When considered more holistically, the implications of an attack on Taiwan would be grim for Beijing, even if Chinese forces “successfully” capture the island. China would probably be diplomatically and economically isolated from key advanced economies, and Chinese leader Xi Jinping would have to tread a narrow path to avoid dire consequences for China and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as a whole. This analysis helps clarify what could be at stake for the world and reaffirms the importance of deterring Beijing from contemplating such an attack on Taiwan.
Chinese coast guard seizes rocket debris from Filipino navy
AP – A Philippine military commander says the Chinese coast guard has forcibly seized apparent Chinese rocket debris that was being towed by the Philippine navy, in the latest confrontation in the disputed South China Sea.
Ukraine’s Maritime Drone Strikes Again: Reports Indicate Attack On Novorossiysk
Naval News – It appears that a Ukrainian maritime drone, similar to those using in an attack on Sevastopol, has struck Novorossiysk. This would be strategically important, showing that more of the Russian Navy is under threat. Efforts may be underway to suppress this story in Russian media.
5 Aircraft Carriers Set to Operate Together in Europe for NATO Exercise
USNI News – U.S. aircraft carriers USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) and USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) will exercise with aircraft carriers from France, Italy and the United Kingdom as part of a joint operation across Europe meant to show NATO interoperability.
South Korea Reveals New Unmanned ‘Navy Sea GHOST’ Concept
USNI News – During a ceremony that marked the 77th anniversary of its founding on Nov. 11, the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy revealed a new operational concept combining manned and unmanned systems.
This Is How Taiwan’s Military Would Go To War With China
War Zone – With tensions in the Taiwan Strait remaining high, we look at how Taiwan’s armed forces would prepare to face a Chinese invasion.
U.S. Blames Iran for Drone Attack on Tanker Near Oman
USNI News – U.S. Central Command and Israeli officials are blaming Iran for a Tuesday attack on an oil tanker linked to an Israeli billionaire off the coast of Oman.
Interview With Ukrainian Ambassador To Turkiye About The Fundraising Campaign For USV Fleet
Naval News – While analysts and experts are still talking about Ukraine’s shocking kamikaze attack on Russian warships at the Sevastopol naval base, Ukraine has launched a new fundraising campaign to build an unmanned surface fleet.
(Thanks to Alain)
Team Resolute selected as preferred bidder to build the Fleet Solid Support Ships
Navy Lookout – Subject to final ministerial approval, the Team Resolute consortium comprising BMT, Harland & Wolff and Navantia UK has been selected ahead of Team UK to build the three Fleet Solid Support Ships. This decision has been announced earlier than expected and will prove to be controversial.
France’s Upgraded Atlantique 2s Are More Than Just Maritime Patrol Planes
War Zone – The newly commissioned latest version of the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft is now equally proficient in overland missions.
Accelerating capability for the fleet: The case of the CMV-22B
Breaking Defense – The Navy faces a key strategic decision. Will it leave a very predictable contested logistics gap for the fleet? Or will it close that gap by ramping up its buy of CMV-22Bs with a hot production line in place? By adding 24 CMV-22Bs to the buy, provision for carrier resupply in contested operations would be significantly enhanced. This kind of decision, which provides an ability to ramp up fleet capabilities in the midterm and provide an input the kind of capabilities which the US Navy and allies like the Aussies need as well, for the Osprey can provide for point-to-point support to Aussie ships as well.
A future vision for the Royal Navy – the Maritime Operating Concept
Navy Lookout – In September 2022 the RN published the Maritime Operating Concept (MarOpC) which essentially lays out a vision of how the RN and other stakeholders in the maritime domain will evolve and develop to meet the challenges of the future. Here we examine aspects of the document and look at some of the questions around taking its ideas and making them a reality.
Why a small shipyard merger could signal bigger problems for the US military
Breaking Defense – Bollinger’s CEO says the deal has strengthened his company’s standing in the industrial base, but analysts worry the merger is a bellwether for more consolidation to come – which could impact the Pentagon’s shipbuilding plans.
Evolving Marines and Aerial ASW For the Undersea Fight
CIMSEC – The Marine Corps has two rapid options for establishing an ASW capability – a modified MV-22 or the MQ-9B Sea Guardian. Although the Corps has not planned to acquire ASW aircraft, the Commandant’s thoughts on the importance of ASW in the High North and the western Pacific combined with the ARG’s vulnerability means that consideration for a platform must be considered. The Commandant is divesting of legacy equipment and end strength to invest in future equipment. With the Navy’s shortage of ASW assets, it makes sense for the Marine Corps to support the maritime fight not just with land-based anti-surface fires and sensing, but also with its own ASW aircraft.
China’s Quad-Tracked Amphibious Unmanned Vehicle Is Fascinating
War Zone – The intriguing unmanned amphibious could be useful in future operations, such as during an invasion of Taiwan.
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