Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)

China Maritime Report No. 41: One Force, Two Force, Red Force, Blue Force: PLA Navy Blue Force Development for Realistic Combat Training

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China Maritime Studies Institute – Since the mid-2010s, there has been a concerted effort to professionalize a PLAN “blue force” as an opposition force, or OPFOR, in maritime exercises and training. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) routinely refers to its blue forces as metaphorical “whetstones” used to sharpen the PLA for a future fight against enemies of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Efforts to develop a PLAN blue force appear to have accelerated over the past several years in response to Chairman Xi Jinping’s decade-long demand for more realistic combat training.

This report examines recent developments in the PLAN’s blue force. It comprises four sections. Part one provides background on PLAN efforts to professionalize its maritime blue force. Part two describes the PLAN’s blue force training units. Part three examines companies producing equipment and virtual environments for China’s blue force units, while part four discusses current blue force capabilities. The report concludes with a summary of findings and implications for the United States, its allies, and partners.

Marine Corps Force Design: A Smart U.S. Plan to Counter China

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National Interest – General Eric Smith, the new Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps, has reaffirmed his commitment to the “Force Design” initiative, originally launched by his predecessor, General David Berger. This strategy focuses on adapting the Marine Corps for island warfare in the Western Pacific, particularly in countering China’s ambitions.

Take the Conn! Steering a Course For Technical Talent in Modern Naval Warfare

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CIMSEC –  The naval services – the Navy and Marine Corps – lack an implementation plan for how they will cultivate STEM talent. To succeed in 21st century naval warfare, the naval services must take a holistic approach to recruiting, education, and retention if they are to effectively compete with today’s advanced threats and the multitude of adversaries. Without clear actions and the right personnel, the naval services’ efforts to improve warfare today will remain, at best, aspirational.

A Timeline of the 2024 Sabina Shoal Standoff

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USNI News – Sabina Shoal, known to the Philippines as Escoda and by China as Xianbin Jiao, is the latest flashpoint in the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing. Located 75 nautical miles from the Philippine province of Palawan, the standoff at the maritime feature started in April following claims by the Philippines that China began an island reclamation project.

How Navy chiefs conspired to get themselves illegal warship Wi-Fi

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Navy Times – Senior enlisted leaders among the littoral combat ship Manchester’s gold crew installed and secretly used their very own Wi-Fi network during a deployment.

As the ship prepared for a West Pacific deployment in April 2023, the enlisted leader onboard conspired with the ship’s chiefs to install the secret, unauthorized network aboard the ship, for use exclusively by them.

So while rank-and-file sailors lived without the level of internet connectivity they enjoyed ashore, the chiefs installed a Starlink satellite internet dish on the top of the ship and used a Wi-Fi network they dubbed “STINKY” to check sports scores, text home and stream movies.