Navy Lookout – The UK’s investment in the F-35 Lightning II fleet represents the most advanced combat air capability ever fielded by the Royal Navy or RAF. In a report published by the National Audit Office today, it is clear, this formidable aircraft risks being undermined by the chronic lack of people and under-delivery of the infrastructure, weapons, and support needed to realise its full potential.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
Houthis sunk two merchant ships in Red Sea in a week
Naval News – Yemen-based Houthi rebels reportedly sank two merchant vessels last week, the Liberian-flagged, Greek-operated cargo ships Magic Seas and Eternity C, using missiles, unmanned surface vessels, and RPGs.
U.S. Army Expanding Presence in the Philippines as China Threat Looms
USNI News – In the jungles, plains and mountains of Luzon, the U.S. Army is experimenting with 3D-printed drones, missile launchers and new operational maneuvers in a test of their ability to defend the Philippines’ largest island. The drills come amid Manila’s concerns of potential spillover from a cross-strait conflict between Beijing and Taipei reaching Northern Luzon, located just 155 miles south of Taiwan.
Houthis Attack Commercial Ship in the Red Sea, Israeli Forces Strike Targets in Yemen
The War Zone – The Houthis attacked a commercial ship for the first time in approximately seven months, causing the crew aboard to abandon ship.
Mysterious Guided Rocket Launcher Disguised In A Shipping Container At Fort Bragg Identified
The War Zone – The Army’s top general in the Pacific recently touted how “boxes of rockets” hiding out in the open creates dilemmas for adversaries.
Navy Cancels Nuclear Submarine Torpedo Tube-Launched And Recovered Underwater Drone
The War Zone – The Navy has been pushing to give its submarines new ways to hunt and gather intelligence with drones sent out and retrieved via torpedo tube.
Overextended and Overwhelmed: Navigating Dual-Theater Challenges Facing the U.S. Navy
Center for Maritime Strategy – The United States Navy, tasked with preserving global maritime dominance, faces acute pressure from concurrent crises in the Red Sea and the Western Pacific.
Project Revolver: The U.S. Navy’s Concept for Multi-Packed Torpedoes in the Indo-PacificRoyal Navy accepts new autonomous mine hunting system into service
Naval News – A program in development by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) is rapidly moving forward into the fleet to provide much deeper magazine depth for torpedoes on Virginia-class SSNs. The effort is testing and fielding multi-packed 6.75-inch Mark 58 Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW) torpedoes or 3-inch UAVs in a single 21-inch torpedo tube.
Carrier John F. Kennedy Delivery Delayed 2 Years, Fleet Will Drop to 10 Carriers For 1 Year
USNI News – The next Ford-class aircraft carrier is facing a two-year delay that will leave the Navy with ten carriers for about a year.
German Surveillance Plane Targeted By Chinese Warship’s Laser In Red Sea Points To Disturbing Pattern
The War Zone – The incident is the latest in which a Chinese naval vessel has been accused of firing a laser at a Western military aircraft.
Japan in talks to transfer warships, surveillance aircraft to the Philippines
Naval News – Japan is in talks with the Philippines over a potential transfer of used navy destroyers and maritime surveillance aircraft, as part of Tokyo’s efforts to bolster Manila’s defense capabilities amid China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
HMS Lancaster to be withdrawn from the Gulf region without replacement
Navy Lookout – Royal Navy frigate, HMS Lancaster, has reached the end of her life and will return home to be decommissioned later this year. There are no warships available to replace her, and her departure marks the end of a significant RN permanent presence in the Gulf region, at least for now.
Buying F-35A – implications for UK defence and the Royal Navy
Navy Lookout – Speaking at the NATO conference on 24th June, the Prime Minister announced the RAF will be equipped with F-35A jets to deliver free-fall nuclear bombs. In this article, we focus on the issues around the selection of this aircraft.
NATO testing Baltic Sea drones to track Russian warships, freighters
Defense News – U.S.-based Saildrone deployed a handful of unmanned surface vessels as part of NATO’s Task Force X demonstration in the Baltic Sea, which helped detect and track Russian shadow-fleet vessels operating in the area.
China’s Mysterious Ekranoplan Seen In Full For First Time
The War Zone – The first full image of China’s “Bohai Sea Monster” wing-in-ground effect craft has emerged, but major questions remain.
U.S. Navy Sets Sights on Fleet-Wide Anti-Torpedo Weapon Rollout in Coming Years
Naval News – U.S. Navy budget documentation released last week is adding a series of new capabilities to the current AN/SLQ-25 Nixie countermeasures suite, including a new hard-kill capability via deck launchers, set to be deployed to over 168 different front-line ships in coming years.
Fontanka: Main naval parade cancelled in fear of attacks
Barents Observer – Preparations for the Main Naval Parade in St. Petersburg were stopped earlier this week, allegedly for security concerns, Fontanka reports.
Ukraine’s Uncrewed Surface Vessels Are Now Launching Bomber Drones To Attack Crimea
The War Zone – Ukraine launched bomber drones from sea drones and took out a prized Russian Nebo-M radar system ashore in Crimea.
Royal Navy shadows Russian submarine as Moscow maintains Mediterranean foothold
Navy Lookout – A surfaced Russian submarine transiting through the English Channel has once again prompted a coordinated monitoring effort by the RN. The operation comes as the Russians manage to retain a naval presence in the Mediterranean, following the loss of their base in Syria.
Japan’s ARDB Combat Landing Battalion: An interview with its Commander
Naval News – Since the 2010s, Japan has been compelled to respond to China’s maritime expansion and military buildup. A particularly critical issue has been how to defend Japan’s remote islands and key island chains in the East China Sea, commonly known as the Nansei Islands. To address this challenge, the Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade (ARDB), a specialized force for initial defense operations, was established in March 2018.
Filipino military pushes naval base upgrades, fearing Chinese spying
Defense News – The Philippines is ramping up its maritime defense posture with plans to establish and upgrade several naval bases in critical areas across the archipelago, including an island base under a basing agreement with the United States and a former American base in Luzon.
A Workforce Strategy for America’s Shipbuilding Future
War on the Rocks – The future of American maritime dominance will not be determined solely by the number of ships launched or contracts signed, but rather by the strength and sustainability of the workforce behind them. The current moment presents a rare alignment of bipartisan support, political will, and strategic necessity. By embracing a skills-based approach to hiring, leveraging untapped talent pools — including veterans, service-minded civilians, and talent across the interior of the United States — and expanding shipbuilding across the nation, the United States can ensure a resilient, mission-ready shipbuilding workforce to meet current and future requirements.
Indian Navy Inducts Last Imported Warship; INS Tamal Commissioned in Russia
Naval News – INS Tamal is the last warship to be inducted from a foreign source, in line with India’s impetus on Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
Railgun Installed On Japanese Warship Seen In New Photos
The War Zone – The turreted prototype installed on a testbed surface combatant is the latest step forward in Japan’s work on railguns, something the U.S. Navy shelved years ago.
It’s Going to Take $3 Billion to Ensure Submarine Cable Repair Ships Can Keep the World Connected
Telegeography – A new report details what is needed to sustain current service levels and reduce repair delays for the undersea cables that carry global internet traffic.
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