USNI Proceedings – Anyone attempting to predict the future is well-advised to first examine the past, for if history is not always a prelude to the future, its parallels often are uncomfortably close.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
China’s Global Navy—Today’s Challenge for the United States and the U.S. Navy
US Naval War College Review – James Fannell writes that the PRC continues to build a naval force that, if left unchallenged, will be increasingly capable of achieving sea control in the global maritime commons as early as 2030, and potentially achieving sea superiority by 2049.
How to solve logistical challenges during a South China Sea conflict
Defense News – The logistical challenges that would be faced in a conflict with China are daunting.
South China Sea: PLA’s new dry dock in Hainan big enough for Type 002 aircraft carriers, analysts say
South China Morning Post – A dry dock being built at China’s naval complex on the island province of Hainan in the South China Sea will be big enough to accommodate the country’s new generation of aircraft carriers, military analysts say.
H-6K variant seen at China-Russia strategic patrol
Global Times – A new variant of China’s H-6K bomber, which experts said on Wednesday is more powerful than the original version, was spotted in the second joint aerial strategic patrol by the air forces of China and Russia on Tuesday.
China marches into new era with two aircraft carriers
Global Times – Nice infographic on China’s aircraft carriers.
How To Deter China: Enter The Democratic Armada
1945 – James Holmes writes that the closer the United States and its allies come to fielding a cohesive democratic armada, the better their chances of deterring aggressors and shoring up the rules-based international order at sea.
Congress guts funding for cruiser replacements
Defense News – The U.S. Navy’s new shipbuilding plan shows that over the next five years it plans to decommission 11 cruisers with more than 1,340 vertical launch tubes, but Congress doesn’t think the Navy has a serious plan to replace them with a new generation of large surface combatants, according to the text of a recent funding bill.
Advantage At Sea: U.S. Maritime Strategy Focuses On China
1945 – We recently spoke with Dr. Andrew Erickson, a professor of strategy in the U.S. Naval War College (NWC)’s China Maritime Studies Institute (CMSI), to get his take on the newly released U.S. maritime strategy, Advantage at Sea.
Swedish submarine HMS Uppland returns to duty after upgrades
UPI – A 1990s-era Swedish submarine was relaunched after a 12-month mid-life upgrade.
(Thanks to Alain)
Hey Iran: Israeli Sub Heads To Persian Gulf With Egypt OK
Breaking Defense – An Israeli Dolphin submarine possibly carrying nuclear weapons crossed the Suez Canal last week on its way to the Persian Gulf, sources here confirmed on Dec 22. The submarine crossed the Suez Canal with Egyptian approval and sailed on the surface, a source said, “sending a clear warning to Teheran.”
The Saga Of This Long-Busted Submarine Is An Example Of How Sad Canada’s Tiny Sub Fleet Is
War Zone – The Royal Canadian Navy’s Victoria class diesel-electric submarine HMCS Corner Brook will be out of commission until at least next summer after a recent leak caused damage to the boat, which has already been undergoing maintenance for some six years. The plight of the Corner Brook in many ways reflects the at best disappointing service career of all four of the Victorias, which Canada first agreed to acquire second-hand from the United Kingdom more than two decades ago and that have spent far more time laid up than at sea.
French Navy’s Upgraded ATL2 MPA Reaches IOC
Naval News – The French Navy Atlantique 2 (ATL2) “Standard 6” maritime has reached initial operational capacity.
Sea Shepherd: The Evolution of an Eco-Vigilante to Legitimized Maritime Capacity Builder
United States Naval War College Center on Irregular Warfare and Armed Groups – This case study focuses on the evolution and development of a non-state group, Sea Shepherd, in the maritime domain. While some might argue that this organization is too small to warrant the attention of the U.S. Navy, others, including the author, argue that its cross-jurisdictional activities and international reach provide important insight into how other groups, or even states, with small maritime capabilities, might challenge international maritime norms.
French Navy Rubis-Class SSN Trains With JMSDF And US Navy In Philippine Sea
Naval News – French Navy Rubis-class nuclear powered submarine (SSN) “Emeraude” continues its long duration deployment in the Pacific region: It recently trained with the JMSDF and U.S. Navy in the Philippine Sea.
Why The Navy Is Looking To End Carrier Qualifications Entirely For Its Pilots In Training
War Zone – The U.S. Navy is looking at ways that a new jet trainer aircraft could help the service to completely overhaul the way it trains its aviators. The planned successor to the current Boeing T-45 Goshawk could be employed across a number of roles in naval aviation — not just training brand new pilots. But above all else, top Navy officers are looking at how the aircraft could facilitate a totally new approach to the way it trains tactical jet pilots.
The Navy’s Wants To Go Back To Flying The C-130 Hercules As Its Next Doomsday Plane
War Zone – The U.S. Navy says it has determined that a modified C-130J-30 Hercules turboprop airlifter is the best available platform to provide airborne command and control support for America’s nuclear deterrent forces, including relaying orders to carry out a nuclear strike or even remotely initiating the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles from their silos.
Russian Arctic research in high spirits as yard sets the “North Pole” afloat
Barents Observer – Hardly ever before has a ship with such a peculiar shape been rolled out of the Admiralty Yard in St.Petersburg. On the 18th December, the stout 83 meter long vessel made it onto the water of the Neva River. It is met with great expectation by Russia’s increasingly numerous Arctic research community.
U.S. Aircraft Carrier, 2,500 Marines Off the Coast of Somalia as Pentagon Repositions Forces in Africa
USNI News – The U.S. has moved an aircraft carrier and an Amphibious Ready Group embarked with Marines off the coast of Somalia as U.S. Africa Command has begun repositioning troops from Somalia.
Taiwan’s planned submarine fleet could forestall a potential Chinese invasion for decades
CNN – Taiwan has begun building a fleet of state-of-the-art submarines as it looks to further bolster its defensive capabilities, a move analysts say could complicate any potential Chinese military plans to invade the island or install a naval blockade.
French Navy’s Albatros To Set New Maritime Surveillance Standards… Until UAVs Come Into Play
Naval News – On Novembre 19, 2020, the French Minister of the Armed Forces confirmed a contract notification to Dassault Aviation for twelve “Albatros” Maritime Surveillance and Intervention Aircraft (AVSIMAR). Based on the Falcon 2000LXS, the Albatros is set to replace previous generations of maritime surveillance aircraft in service with the French Navy and on the export market. Arriving after 2025, it is likely to operate alongside next generation maritime UAVs.
Advantage at Sea: A Naval Service Strategy That Sticks?
National Interest – James Holmes writes that on Thursday the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard—which have taken to calling themselves the Naval Service, singular—released a “Triservice Maritime Strategy” entitled Advantage at Sea. Let’s look at some noteworthy facets of the strategy, the third in a series reaching back to 2007, when the George W. Bush administration was nearing its end.
The U.S. Marine Corps Wants A Generation Of Free Thinkers
1945 – James Holmes writes that the Marine Corps is about to replace its eight-week Rifleman Course for junior infantrymen with a seventeen-week Infantry Marine Course. Some of that extra time will go to . . . chess!
MCDP 1-4: Competing
US Marines – Western conceptions of the international struggle among nations (and other political actors) often use binary war or peace labels to describe it. The actual truth is more complicated. Actors on the world stage are always trying to create a relative advantage for themselves and for their group. Sometimes this maneuvering leads to violence, but the use of violence to achieve goals is more often the exception than the rule. Instead, most actors use other means in their competitive interactions to achieve their goals. The competition continuum encompasses all of these efforts, including the use of violence.
Command and Control in U.S. Naval Competition with China
RAND – As China pursues its rise as a global power, it is incrementally orienting its People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy toward power projection missions. At the same time, the U.S. Navy is working to enhance its capabilities to conduct counter-power projection missions. Command and control (C2) in naval competition presents one lens with which to view these evolving missions. Mission command, a pillar of the U.S. Navy’s culture for centuries, is central to its execution of power projection missions: leaders throughout the command chain are disciplined, apprised of their commander’s intent, and empowered to make decisions and execute actions. Historically, the PLA Navy has utilized a C2 system that reflects the Chinese Communist Party’s authoritarian rule and overall culture, which is fundamentally different from that of the U.S. Navy. The PLA Navy operates under tightly managed C2 — better described as control and command — that allows for little delegation of authority or independent action. The U.S. Navy and the PLA Navy are both likely to face challenges as they shift to new maritime missions unless they adapt their existing concepts of C2.
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