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.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
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.
CMSI Note 15: PLAN Chief of Staff VADM Li Hanjun: Fast-Rising Star of Training and Education Extinguished
China Maritime Studies Institute – VADM Li Hanjun was a fast-rising star, terminated before he could make his full contribution and career achievements:
China Builds New Large Jet-Powered Ekranoplan
Naval News – Ekranoplans, special ultra-low flying aircraft, promise to combine features from ships, airplanes, and hovercraft. There are many designs and projects out there, but they have yet to truly realise their promise. Now the discovery of the large 4-jet ‘Bohai Sea Monster’ in China harks back to the mysterious Soviet projects of the Cold War.
Royal Marines leave infantry role to bolster special forces
Daily Express – Royal Marines are to be withdrawn from conventional infantry roles and reassigned to a new naval special operations unit supporting the UK’s elite Special Boat Service (SBS). The radical restructuring was confirmed during last week’s NATO summit, where military chiefs warned of rising threats from Russia and non-state actors.
The Royal Navy’s Pacific Test
USNI News – HMS Prince of Wales Pacific is underway in a last series of test to prove the operational capability of the Royal Navy’s carrier strike group.
Why the U.S. Should Support South Korea’s Naval Expansion
CIMSEC – When people think about the U.S.-ROK alliance, they often envision the Korean Peninsula: joint ground drills, combined air exercises, and the perennial challenge of deterring a North Korean invasion. But the next chapter of this alliance is unfolding at sea. With the U.S. Navy stretched across multiple theaters—from the Mediterranean to the South China Sea—South Korea’s maritime ambitions are no longer a peripheral concern. They are a strategic asset.
Sea Power – The Missing Ingredient in a Strategy of Denial
Center for Maritime Strategy – In his confirmation hearing, the current holder of that office, Elbridge Colby, made a strong case for his so-called “strategy of denial” that aims to make clear to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that the United States will not allow it to seize Taiwan or another Asian ally by force. What remained unclear was his vision for the role of sea power in carrying out that strategy. However, a careful review of his book, other writings, and comments made in interviews reveals that sea power, as understood by navalists, does not factor heavily in Colby’s thinking. Indeed, in many respects he seems rather dismissive of the concept.
U.S. Marine Corps Abandons Tomahawk Missiles, Doubles Down on Extended Range NMESIS in FY2026 Budget
Naval News – The U.S. Marine Corps’ Long Range Fires (LRF) launcher, built around a single-cell Mark 41 VLS cell for Tomahawk missiles on a ROGUE-Fires carrier vehicle, has been cancelled due to concerns over maneuverability in littoral and austere environments.
RFA Lyme Bay begins refit, leaving the UK with just one active amphibious vessel
Navy Lookout – Royal Fleet Auxiliary Lyme Bay has arrived at the A&P Tyne shipyard for a period of maintenance and upgrades, the first time an RFA has docked on the River Tyne in over 15 years.
Building the Royal Navy’s silent hunter: Type 26 frigate programme update
Navy Lookout – On the day the new Shipbuilding Hall at Govan was formally opened, we were invited to BAE Systems’ Clyde facilities to visit HMS Glasgow and see the progress resulting from a £300M portfolio of investment in the yards.
Royal Navy Details MRSS Requirements and Challenges
Naval News – The UK Royal Navy (RN) has detailed the requirements for its future Multi-Role Strike Ship (MRSS), requirements underlining the platform’s importance in providing strike capability to support amphibious operations in littoral environments.
U.S. Navy Destroyer Tests Gun-Based Hypervelocity Projectiles in Support of Counter-UAS Development
Naval News – In August 2024, during the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) Composite Training Unit Exercise, the USS Jason Dunham (DDG 107) tested BAE Systems’ Hypervelocity Projectiles (HVP) as part of a fleet trial of Counter-UAS systems. The series of tests were the first of two major campaigns to aid the U.S. Navy in determining its future courses of action regarding low-cost air and missile defense.
Canadian Navy commissions fifth Harry DeWolf-class AOPV
Naval Today – The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) has welcomed HMCS Frédérick Rolette, the fifth Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and offshore patrol vessel (AOPV), into naval service with a commissioning ceremony.
(Thanks to Alain)
Anti submarine warfare in the North Atlantic – Royal Navy project CABOT
Navy Lookout – In this guest article, David O’Sullivan considers the challenges of the RN’s project CABOT that aims to create an anti-submarine barrier in the North Atlantic based predominantly on autonomous platforms.
Russian Warship “Admiral Grigorovitch” Docks at Oran Port in Strategic Naval Visit
The Tube – On Thursday, the Russian frigate “Admiral Grigorovitch”, belonging to the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy, officially docked at Oran Port, in northwestern Algeria. The arrival of the warship marks a significant step in the framework of ongoing bilateral military cooperation between Algeria and the Russian Federation, as stated by the Algerian Ministry of National Defence.
(Thanks to Alain)
Exposed Undersea: PLA Navy Officer Reflections on China’s Not So Secret Service
CIMSEC – Writing in the November 2023 issue of Military Art (军事学术), a prestigious journal published by the Chinese Academy of Military Science, three PLAN officers revealed that the peacetime operations of Chinese submarines are highly vulnerable to the U.S. Navy’s undersea surveillance system, raising serious questions about their strategic and operational utility.
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