Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)

China’s big new combat aircraft: an airborne cruiser against air and surface targets

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The Strategist – Bill Sweetman says the speed, agility, range and stealth of an individual aircraft type are still important, but they’re no longer the whole story of air combat. Advances in sensing, processing and communications are changing military operations. The Chengdu J-36, the big Chinese combat aircraft that first appeared on 26 December, has been developed to exploit these changes and support China’s strategic goal: to establish regional dominance, including the ability to annex Taiwan by force.

Nuclear icebreaker “Yakutia” has been put into operation

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BMPD – On December 28, 2024, a solemn ceremony of raising the national flag was held in St. Petersburg at JSC “Baltic Plant” (part of JSC “United Shipbuilding Corporation” – USC) on the universal nuclear icebreaker “Yakutia” of project 22220 (LK-60Ya), built by order of FSUE “Atomflot”. This is the fourth nuclear icebreaker of Project 22220.

(In Russian)

(Thanks to Alain)

Russian Navy Launches Second Arctic ‘Combat Icebreaker’

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gCaptain – The Admiralty Shipyards in Saint Petersburg launched the second armed Arctic icebreaker for Russia’s Navy. Upon commissioning the Nikolay Zubov will become part of the country’s Northern Fleet Kola division. The Arc7 ice-class will allow the patrol ship to break through up to 1.7 meters of ice ensuring year-round access to Russia’s Arctic waters.

(Thanks to Alain)

China’s big new combat aircraft: a technical assessment

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Australian Strategic Policy Institute – Bill Sweetman on the most spectacular debutant, making its maiden flight on December 26 was from Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group: a stealth combat aircraft that various anonymous commenters on the Chinese internet identify as the J-36. It is the largest combat aircraft designed and developed in China, and the second-largest to fly anywhere in 35 years.

North Korea’s New Warship Appears To Be Designed For Vertical Launch System, Phased Array Radar

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The War Zone – North Korea’s new warship design has emerged and it appears to be the largest the country has yet constructed. The vessel, which looks to be around the size of a typical modern frigate, or at the least a very large corvette, also appears to be designed to accommodate a vertical launch system (VLS) for missiles and a phased-array radar — two advanced items not previously seen on a North Korean design.

2024 World Naval Operational News Highlights

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The ten most significant naval news stories / trends / themes this year included:

  • The Houthi’s anti-access area denial campaign which has effectively closed commercial shipping through the Suez Canal. How much longer will they be allowed to continue it?

  • The US Navy’s superb effort to defend commercial shipping and itself from Houthi attacks by all manner of above sea, at sea, and undersea weapons. How much longer can its luck hold out, and at what overall cost?

  • The inability of the Western nations to shut down the Houthi threat – a small nation state has effected commerce on a global basis and the world has done nothing about it. Why not?

  • The Indian Navy’s efforts to protect its own merchantmen from Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Somali pirates off of Africa. Where next will it project its growing naval power?

  • The ever-growing vulnerability of undersea infrastructure of all types to nefarious actors. When will the West undertake substantiative action to actively defend this critical infrastructure?

  • The ever continuing rise of the People’s Liberation Army Navy and its ever-agressive actions around the world. When will the US seriously contribute resources to countering it?

    Instead we have repeatedly seen over the last decade:

  • The inability of the US Navy to design ships in a logical manner.

  • The inability of the US Navy to construct ships in a regular manner.

  • The inability of the US Navy to crew ships in a consistent manner.

  • The inability of the US Navy to maintain and repair ships in a timely manner.

    Are these the actions of a country that is serious about countering the Chinese Navy? The time to act is growing very, very short…

China Names Type 076 Amphibious Catapult Carrier “Sichuan” At Launch Ceremony In Shanghai

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Naval News – Chinese shipyard Hudong-Zhonghua today, December 27, conducted a launch ceremony for the innovative new Type 076 amphibious carrier, at its facilities on Changxing Island in Shanghai. The event marks a major milestone in a project drawing significant international attention. According to officials statements the new ship will receive the hull number 51 and the name “Sichuan”, after the eponymous province in southwestern China.

Russia-linked cable-cutting tanker seized by Finland ‘was loaded with spying equipment’

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LloydsList – Eagle S, the Russia-linked tanker suspected of damaging an underwater electricity cable on Christmas Day, was kitted out with special transmitting and receiving devices that were used to monitor naval activity, according to a source with direct involvement in the ship, which has since been detained by Finnish police.