– USNI News – The Marine Corps will soon lay out its path to achieve a 2030 force optimized for conflict with China in the littorals – a force that will completely divest of its tanks and slash most of its artillery cannon battalions, instead focusing on developing light mobility options to get around island chains with the assistance of unmanned systems and mobile anti-ship missiles.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
US Navy must stay at sea and stay vigilant to defeat coronavirus
– The Hill – James Holmes writes that last week Adm. Mike Gilday, the chief of naval operations or America’s top naval officer, released a video message reviewing precautions the service has taken to fend off the coronavirus. Chief among them: enlisting water as a barrier against contagion. Themistocles’ fleet staged a waterborne defense of land against human antagonists; the U.S. Navy fleet can defend its crews from landborne pestilence by remaining at sea. It can self-isolate.
Colombia’s narco-submarines – a photo essay
– Guardian – For years, they were referred to in hushed tones simply as “Big Foot” – a mythical creature rumored but never seen – but these days, the narco-submarines used by Colombia’s drug cartels have become almost commonplace.
Inside the U.S. Military’s Plans to Stop ‘Civil Disturbances’ Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, Something They Haven’t Done in 30 Years
– Newsweek – William Arkin writes that with the National Guard now active in 22 states and governors continuing to declare more severe emergency measures daily, the U.S. military is preparing forces to assume a larger role in the coronavirus response, including the controversial mission of quelling “civil disturbances” and enforcing the law, a mission that the military has not engaged in for almost 30 years.
Explosive Boat Threat To Tankers Off Yemen
– Naval News – 2020 continues to see explosive boats being launched against tanker traffic in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea area. They also pose a threat to warships, particularly of the Saudi-led coalition. This represents a persistent threat to International SLOCs (Sea Lines of Communication) in the Southern Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb strait, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea. The threat can exist over 100 nautical miles off the coast.
Beware of Pandemic America
– National Interest – James Holmes writes: Note to China and Russia: despite appearances, the time of coronavirus may not be an opportune time for you to chisel away at America’s global standing.
Pentagon successfully tests hypersonic missile
– AFP – The United States announced Friday it has successfully tested an unarmed prototype of a hypersonic missile, a nuclear-capable weapon that could accelerate the arms race between superpowers.
French Navy To Deploy Mistral-Class LHD Tonnerre For Coronavirus Response
– Naval News – The French Navy is about to deploy its Mistral-class LHD “Tonnerre” to the Island of Corsica in a mission to evacuate several Coronavirus / COVID19 patients towards mainland France.
Which Future Destroyer For The Russian Navy ? – Part 2
– Naval News – The main missions of big-displacement warships armed with a major number of missiles is to provide air defense to warship formations and deliver missile strikes at sea and coastal targets.
Which Future Destroyer For The Russian Navy ? – Part 1
– Naval News – Open sources reported in July 2018 that it had been decided to take a break in the creation of a prospective destroyer (heavy nuclear missile cruiser) of project 23560. A publication in February 2020 in FlotProm online media outlet did not add anything new.
US intrusions in S.China Sea can be stopped by electromagnetic weapons
– Global Times – Chinese military experts on Tuesday suggested the use of non-lethal electromagnetic weapons, including low-energy laser devices, in expelling US warships that have been repeatedly intruding into the South China Sea in the past week.
Report on China Naval Modernization and Implications for the U.S. Navy
– Congressional Research Service – Latest report as of March 18, 2020.
JMSDF Commissions First-Of-Class AEGIS Destroyer DDG-179 JS Maya まや
– Naval News – The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) commissioned today its first Maya-class AEGIS Destroyer at Japan Marine United Corporation (JMU) Isogo shipyard in Yokohama. JS Maya まや (DDG-179) joins the JMSDF’s Escort Flotilla 1, based in Yokosuka.
Behold the Black Swan
– USNI Blog – Toss out your plans to get to 355.
N95 Mask Shortage Is A Horrific Manifestation Of America’s Crazy “Defense” Priorities
– War Zone – A lack of investment has left America’s N95 stockpile hollowed out. Meanwhile, the U.S. will spend $738 billion on weapons and war-fighting this year.
Pentagon Preparing Navy Hospital Ships Mercy, Comfort for Coronavirus Response
– USNI News – The Pentagon is starting the process of activating Navy hospital ships USNS Mercy (T-AH-19) and USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) as part of the Defense Department’s domestic response to the spreading COVID-19 virus.
Cost of upgrading Arleigh Burke destroyers may not be worth it, says US Navy
– Defense News – The U.S. Navy is backing away from the idea of a classwide service-life extension project for the Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, but is leaving open the possibility to upgrade some of its workhorse surface combatant.
Beyond “Conventional Wisdom”: Evaluating the PLA’s South China Sea Bases in Operational Context
– War on the Rocks – China’s Spratly Island outposts’ offer Beijing decisive information superiority against any challenger in the South China Sea. Their primary purpose is not military power projection and the deployment of weapons, but information power. The Chinese bases’ main contribution is to facilitate substantial command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities in the South China Sea.
A Terrible Decision by the Commandant of the Marine Corps
– CDR Salamander – Bryan McGrath opines on the USMC’s recent decisions on unmanned air systems.
Allies shoulder for influence in the Gulf region as naval security remains top priority
– Defense News – Even with two separate coalitions charged with ensuring maritime security in the Arabian Gulf region, the waterways are still proving unstable.
Japan builds new surveillance warship targeting Chinese, North Korean submarines
– South China Morning Post – The Aki is first ship in three decades built to hunt for submarines, as Japan sees a rise in unidentified subs, believed to be from China, within its waters. But Tokyo is also keeping a close eye on North Korea, which has been developing a platform for submarine-launched ballistic missiles.
(Thanks to Alain)
Russia to Test Fire Tsirkon Hypersonic Missile From Yasen-Class Submarine
– The Diplomat – The launch will reportedly take place as part of the Tsirkon missile’s state trials.
(Thanks to Alain)
Nonalignment Nuances: America Is Laying the Groundwork for a Stronger Relationship With India
– National Interest – Nonalignment remains a powerful strain in Indian foreign policy. Still, India and the United States have fashioned placeholders in case things take a drastic turn for the worse in South Asia—one that might prompt New Delhi to tilt toward Washington.
New UUVs: China’s Plan to ‘Attack from the Sea Floor’
– National Interest – The robot submarine (and unmanned surface ship) era is now nearly upon us. Chinese naval strategist have stated explicitly that they intend to circumvent their long-recognized weakness in submarine warfare by cultivating undersea AI and by developing highly capable UUVs. America should take notice.
Two Carriers & Marine Amphib Converge On Mid East; Patriots Too
– Breaking Defense – Two American aircraft carriers are sailing in the Middle East for the first time since 2012, a deployment which joins a large new Marine force and the repositioning of Patriot batteries to Iraq. The movements are part of a broad realignment of forces reflecting the deepening American effort to keep Iran in check.
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