Navy To Slash 24 Ships in 2021 Plan, Bolster Unmanned Effort

Breaking Defense – The Navy will buy a dozen fewer ships, slash its shipbuilding budget, and possibly decommission 12 more hulls over the next four years as part of a bold cost-cutting proposal submitted to the White House for its fiscal 2021 budget. The proposals would not move the service any closer to its goal of having 355 ships by 2034, as the fleet would actually end up slightly smaller in five years than it is today.

Indo-Pacific Strategy: Shaping a Hybrid Regional Order

War on the Rocks – What does Japan want in the Indo-Pacific? It can be tough to tell, because at the moment, Tokyo seems to be pursuing incompatible aims. Japan is trying to check China geopolitically while deepening economic engagement. At the same time, it wants to deepen its strategic coordination with its closest security partners — the United States, Australia, and India — through the Quad, and it also wants to ensure the participation of a maximum number of countries in its Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative.

If You Can’t See ’em, You Can’t Shoot ’em: Improving US Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting

Hudson Institute – There is a current lack of appreciation for the critical role of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR/T) capabilities in naval combat success. This operational blind spot has concrete ramifications for the balance of power in the Western Pacific and the ability of the United States to force a political settlement without conflict.

India Set To Hand Over Submarine To Myanmar To Counter China

International Business Times – India will soon turn over a Russian-made submarine to Myanmar making it the first-ever commissioned submarine for the country formerly known as Burma. The impending transfer is seen as a boost to the bilateral defense cooperation between the two countries and it supports India’s policy to countermeasure any action China may take with Myanmar.

(Thanks to Alain)

Short Story Fiction Week Concludes on CIMSEC

CIMSEC – Last week CIMSEC featured a dozen short stories submitted in response to our call for articles. Authors used fiction to explore national security topics and share engrossing narratives. From expansive Pacific conflicts to individuals making a decisive difference, these stories explored the technological, exhibited the unconventional, and envisioned the unthinkable.