Naval News – In early November, the French Navy’s Modernised Tripartite/Éridan-class minehunter arrived in the Baltic region for a two-month deployment, joining NATO Allied Maritime Command’s (MARCOM’s) Standing NATO Mine Counter Measures Group 1 (SNMCMG1). The group is MARCOM’s Northern European-focused mine countermeasures (MCM) force. Since Sagittaire arrived, SNMCMG1 has participated in the Finnish Navy-led, multinational ‘Freezing Winds’ exercise.
Author Archives: Naval Open Source Intelligence (NOSI)
Japan responds to China with unprecedented number of F-2 Fighters with anti-ship missiles
Naval News – In December 2025, Japan responded in an unusual manner to activities conducted by Chinese Navy vessels in waters near Japan: JASDF F-2 fighters were observed with a combined total of 64 anti-ship missiles.
German Navy to procure MQ-9B SeaGuardian for reconnaissance, ASW
Naval News – The German Navy will receive four Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) for maritime long-range reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare. Each system consists of two MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones, as well as other components and a command and control system, meaning the German Armed Forces will procure a total of eight MQ-9Bs.
The Pentagon’s New China Report: ‘Conventional’ ICBMs, More Nuclear Weapons And New Aircraft Carriers On The Horizon
1945 – Earlier today, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) launched its latest military exercise around Taiwan and nearby areas: “Justice Mission 2025” (正义使命-2025). Combat readiness patrols are already underway, with sea and air exclusion zones designated for live-fire exercises tomorrow. This makes it all the more urgent to consider the most important revelations from the Pentagon’s China Military Power Report, released on December 23, 2025.
YJ-20 High-Speed Anti-Ship Missile Seen In Action On China’s Type 055 Super Destroyer
The War Zone – The People’s Liberation Army Navy claims the ship-killing missile capable of hypersonic speeds has completed its “finalization test.”
Primer: North Korea’s New Nuclear Submarine
Covert Shores – North Korea’s first nuclear submarine was initially revealed to the public in March 2025. At the time only partial images of the hull were shared. Now new images, published on December 25, show the largely complete submarine.
China Launches Snap “Warning” Drills Around Taiwan Simulating A Total Blockade
The War Zone – A key part of the latest maneuvers is dissuading international “interference” in any future Chinese move against Taiwan.
What’s next for America’s icebreakers: 2026 preview
Breaking Defense – The White House in 2024 and 2025 prioritized rebuilding America’s icebreaker fleet. But how long will that last?
The Wargame: New Sky News and Tortoise Media podcast series simulates a Russian attack on UK
Sky News – Former senior politicians, including Sir Ben Wallace, Jack Straw and Amber Rudd, play a fictional British government pitched against an imagined Kremlin.
A podcast series worth listening to.
In focus: The FDI – France’s mid-size frigate
Navy Lookout – France’s Frégate de Défense et d’Intervention (FDI) represents a deliberate attempt to concentrate a balanced mix of air defence, anti-submarine and digital resilience capability into a compact but high-end frigate. Here, we look at the development and construction of this combatant and consider the merits of its design philosophy.
China’s DF-27 Missile: Threatening Pacific Ships and the U.S. Homeland
Maritime Executive – Among the 2025 Pentagon report’s greatest revelations, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has fielded a conventional intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) able to range parts of America’s homeland. This makes China the first nation publicly assessed to have fielded an operational, conventionally-armed ICBM—the DF-27—albeit at the low end of the ICBM range band and with variant-dependent roles. America’s homeland is not a sanctuary from either PRC nuclear or conventional missiles.
Chinese Cargo Ship Packed Full Of Modular Missile Launchers Emerges
The War Zone – China has packed a deck of a medium-sized cargo ship with 60 containerized vertical launch cells, radar, and close-in weapons.
Fincantieri Delivers Indonesian Navy Combat Ship
Marine Link – Fincantieri delivered the PPA (Multipurpose Combat Ship) KRI Prabu Siliwangi-321 to the Indonesian Navy, marking the completion of a two-ship program that significantly upgrades Indonesia’s surface combatant fleet.
(Thanks to Alain)
HMS Halland Returns to Service After Extensive Modernization, Completes Gotland-Class Submarine Upgrades
SSBCrack News – Sweden is intensifying its commitment to enhancing its naval capabilities while simultaneously ensuring the operational readiness of its existing submarine fleet.
(Thanks to Alain)
US Department of Defense Annual Report to Congress: Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China 2025
US Department of Defense – The DOD’s Annual Report on the Chinese military
Warship shoots down drone swarm off UK coast
UK Defence Journal – The Royal Netherlands Navy has successfully shot down aerial and surface drone threats during a live-fire exercise off the Welsh coast, becoming the first NATO ally to participate in QinetiQ’s Exercise Sharpshooter.
(Thanks to Alain)
Trump Class Battleship Construction Won’t Begin Until 2030s
The War Zone – With Trump class ship construction many years off, the survival of a program to build such large and expensive warships is even more questionable.
Iran Navy dispatches task groups to South Africa as it expands maritime presence
Iran Press TV – Iran’s Navy commander praised the country’s “expanding maritime presence” beyond the region, announcing that the Navy’s 103rd and 104th task groups have set sail on overseas missions and are currently en route to South Africa.
(Thanks to Alain)
Keeping the Marine Corps Amphibious
USNI News – Confidence in Amphibious Combat Vehicles grows as landing craft deploy.
Taiwan’s new submarine suffers failure during sea trial
Defence Blog – Taiwan’s domestically built Hai Kun submarine experienced a serious hydraulic system failure during sea trials, temporarily leaving the vessel without powered control of its X-shaped stern rudder and forcing sailors to rely on manual steering to avoid an accident, according to an exclusive report by Mirror Media.
(Thanks to Alain)
Poland, Sweden sign submarine deal
Polskie Radio – The Polish and Swedish defence ministers signed a memorandum of understanding in Warsaw on Wednesday for the acquisition of Swedish submarines by Poland under its Orca programme.
(Thanks to Alain)
What We Know About The Trump Class “Battleship”
The War Zone – The USS Defiant would be the first Trump class battleship, but major questions remain about affordability and logic of such a massive design.
Navy’s New Frigate Will Not Have A Vertical Launch System For Missiles
The War Zone – The U.S. Navy has confirmed that the armament package for its first “flight” of its new FF(X) frigates will not include a built-in Vertical Launch System (VLS). A lack of any type of VLS on the FF(X) design is a glaring omission that can only raise questions about the operational utility and flexibility of the ships. At the same time, the new frigates will be able to carry modular payloads, including containerized missile launchers, on their sterns.
Pax Americana to Pax Sinica
Australian Naval Institute – Guided by Geoffrey Till’s emphasis on naval balance and freedom of navigation[i], this essay argues that China’s expanding naval posture near Australia signals a contested transition from Pax Americana to a prospective Pax Sinica. The analysis evaluates the broader implications for Canberra’s alliances, strategic autonomy, and regional security and considered whether these developments represent a natural recalibration of great-power behaviour or a deliberate challenge to Australia’s sovereignty.
Progress with the Royal Navy’s PODS programme
Navy Lookout – In this guest article, Paul Keating-Brown considers the RN’s Persistent Operational Deployment Systems (PODS) concept and outlines developments to date.
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