French Navy – The nuclear aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was formally accepted last week by the French Navy.

• ABC: France puts costly new nuclear-powered carrier into service

Royal New Zealand Navy – More on the New Zealand decision to scrap their combat aircraft. Meanwhile the opposition has stated their support in reconstituting the combat aircraft if they are reelected, perhaps in a joint force with Australia.

• Jane’s: New Zealand scraps air combat role
• Times of India: NZ Opposition for merging air force with Australia
• Stuff: English explains stand on fighters

US Navy – In a bid to improve aircraft carrier survivability, the US Navy intends to install the Cooperative Engagement Capability on all its ships.

• NY Times (registration required): New technology enlisted to save aircraft carrier

US Navy – Good, pensive reading for a Sunday: the summary of a meeting held to help determine what US ASW efforts should be today and in the future. The concern is that ASW is not receiving enough emphasis today, with the Soviet threat essentially gone; but that there is a new, equally important threat today and in the future – non-nuclear attack submarines operated by developing nations which could play a key role during major regional conflicts. In our next major regional conflict, will SCUD hunting be replaced by ASW hunting?

• MIT Security Studies Program: Antisubmarine Warfare
  after the Cold War

US Navy – The LPD-17 San Antonio-class ships will be key to the US Navy’s expeditionary warfare capabilities.

• Jane’s: LPD-17 – the key to transformed expeditions

US Navy – Dominance of the seas today requires dominance of space???

• MSNBC: Forward, march ??? into space

Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan is tired of being bullied by China. The bullying includes sending spy ships into the waters around Japan and China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea which are important trade routes for Japan.

• International Herald Tribune: China’s Bullying of Japan Is Bound to Backfire

Iranian Navy – The Iranian Navy will acquire advanced Yakhont cruise missiles from Russia.

• Times of London (registration required): Russia sells missiles to Iran

US Navy – If “smart ships” with reduced crew are to survive they must be able to automate many aspects of damage control. Here is an example of how they may do it.

• Science Daily: Research Could Help Warships Survive Combat

US Navy – The US Navy is developing small robotic craft that mimic marine animals to perform functions such as mine clearing.

• Times of London (registration required): Pentagon sends robo-lobster on ocean patrol

Indian Navy – A cruise through the International Fleet Review, by one who was on the President of India’s yacht.

• Rediff: Spectacular Fleet Review salutes Navy’s grand tradition

US Navy – The threat from sea mines, the weapon that waits, is greater than ever — so the US Navy is exploring the use of robotic vehicles to help clear them.

• Wired: Sea Mines: An Explosive Problem
  

US Navy – The US Navy appears to be getting its money’s worth out of its Cyclone-class patrol coastal vessels.

• Virginian Pilot: Two ships change commands in historic dual ceremony

Egyptian Navy – The Egyptian Navy has purchased two vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for use in aerial surveillance. The UAVs will be used on Egyptian frigates.

• Jane’s: Egyptian Navy secures Camcopter deal
  

Indian Navy – The fast attack craft INS Tillanchang has been christened.

• The Hindu: INS Tillanchang commissioned

Taiwanese Navy – The Taiwanese military has lost its reason for being – reconquest of the mainland – and is so short on trained personnel it may not be able to operate the naval ships the Bush administration has promised it.

• The International News: Identity crisis is not the only problem plaguing Taiwan’s military
  

Russian Navy – The salvage of the Kursk will begin in June.

• BBC: Kursk salvage to begin ‘in June’
  

Malaysian Navy – Malaysia continues to shop for new submarines, to counter those obtained last year by Singapore.

• Associated Press: Malaysia Mulls Buying S Korea-Made Submarines

Chinese Navy – The Chinese Navy is sending two ships on a port visit to Mumbai. They may exercise with the Indian Navy afterwards. Meanwhile the Indian Navy continues to send its vessels on goodwill visits.

• Indian Express: China to send two of its Navy ships to Mumbai
  

Israeli Navy – The Israeli Navy has captured a fishing boat that was attempting to smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip.

• BBC: Israel seizes ‘Palestinian missiles’
  

• Reuters: Israeli Navy captures arms ship off North Coast

Taiwanese Navy – The Taiwanese mull over whether or not it would be a good idea to accept those Kidd-class destroyers after all???

• ABC News: Taiwan Wrangles Over U.S. Arms Offer
  

• Los Angeles Times: 2d Thoughts in Taipei on Those U.S. Weapons

US Navy – Northrup has also bid for Newport News, challenging General Dynamic’s previous offer.

• Reuters: Northrop bids on Newport News, matches GD offer
  

Pakistani Navy – More on the significance of the recent exercises between the Pakistani and Myanmarese Navies.

• The Hindu: Pak. naval ships in Myanmaron eve of Musharraf visit

US Marines – An analysis of the advantages of the MV-22 Osprey, illustrated by showing how it would have been employed over the last decade if it had been available.

• Marine Corps Gazette: Tiltrotor Advantages to Assault Support

US Navy – The US Navy ELF communications system for communications with ballistic missile submarines was put out of action for 24 hours last year by 2 anti-nuclear activists with a chainsaw???

• Duluth Tribune: Anti-nuclear activists sentenced for damaging Navy antenna

Background – Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles – An update on UCAV’s, including what their projected capabilities will be in USAF and USN versions.

• Jane’s: UCAVs spread their wings

Royal Australian Navy – The Royal Australian Navy, in concert with the US Navy, has launched Exercise Tandem Thrust off the Great Barrier Reef.

• The Age: Military exercise launched on reef

Malaysian Navy – The Malaysian Navy continues to intercept fishing trawlers fishing illegally in its territory.

• The Star: Navy detains two more Vietnamese trawlers

Chinese Navy – The Chinese Navy has purchased 2 more Sovremenny-class guided missile destroyers from Russia.

• Washington Times: Inside the Ring

Taiwanese Navy – The downside of Taiwan’s accepting the Kidd-class destroyers – are they too big a drain on the Taiwanese Navy’s resources?

• Taipei Times: Naval strategy needs more thought

Asian Navies – Background – A preview of the IMDEX Asia 2001 show.

• Jane’s: IMDEX Asia 2001

Royal New Zealand Navy – New Zealand has released a new defense policy. The ANZAC frigates will be retained, the P-3 Orions will be upgraded, and the A-4 Skyhawks will be scrapped.

• New Zealand Herald: Plan gives a sustainable, affordable path forward
  

Background – Undersea weapons – A review of the state-of-the-art in undersea supercavitating weapons, including supercavitating torpedoes such as the Shkval .

• Scientific American: Warp drive underwater

US Navy – The US is rethinking how it goes about enforcing the no-fly zones over Iraq — as the Iraqi’s increase their chances of downing a patroling aircraft.

• Washington Post: Cuts Urged In Patrols Over Iraq
• BBC: US generals urge Iraq patrol cuts
  

Royal Australian Navy – More on the Global Hawk’s pioneering flight to Australia, and the role it could play in maritime surveillance.

• Jane’s: UAV makes record-breaking transPacific flight
  

• Jane’s: Australian maritime missions await Global Hawk UAV

US Navy – A description of the US global signals intelligence gathering capabilities.

• MSNBC: Americaís global embrace

US Navy – A succint description of why the US Navy wants to keep using Vieques – for realistic training.

• Chicago Sun Times: Why the Navy wants to stay at Vieques

US Navy – The US has resumed ELINT missions off China yesterday, using a RC-135 this time. There was no response from the Chinese. Meanwhile, a US team has examined the EP-3 and determined that it could be fixed and flown home from China.

• BBC: US resumes spy plane flights
  

Royal Navy – The nuclear attack submarine HMS Tireless, stranded at Gibraltar for nearly 12 months while undergoing repairs to its nuclear reactor, has set sail, presumably for home.

• BBC: Nuclear sub leaves Gibraltar
  

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy has purchased the Barak anti-missile defense system from Israel. Meanwhile, the Commander of the Indian Navy is visiting Israel to inspect the system.

• The Hindustan Times: Israel to give India anti-missile system
  

• Jerusalem Post: Indian navy chief visits

US Navy – A possible future for the US Navy that is being pushed by some elements within the Pentagon – smaller and more numerous ships using unique hull forms.

• MSNBC: In the Navy, size does matter

Indian Navy – An interview with the Indian Naval Chief, at the time of the International Fleet Review held in February.

• Rediff: The Indian Navy is a stabilizing force in the region

Indian Navy – Experts are urging the Indian government to pay more attention to the importance of the Indian Navy.

• Rediff: Experts urge govts to see importance of seas

US Navy – Part one of a series on the Pentagon defense review, which will urge the military to fundamentally rethink their approach to the weapons they buy.

• MSNBC: Sacred cows in the cross hairs

Canadian Navy – The Canadian Navy continues to hint it will soon retire its Tribal-class destroyers, along with 2 of its supply ships.

• The Canadian Press: Navy to drop some choppers from contract

Indonesian Navy – The Indonesian Navy assisted in evacuating refugees from the recent ethnic clashes in the province of Central Kalimantan in Borneo.

• BBC: Borneo evacuation chaos as violence spreads
  

Pakistani Navy – The Pakistani Navy intends to equip its submarines with nuclear weapons.

• The Hindu: Pak. subs to have nukes

Malaysian Navy – the Malaysian Navy recently intercepted 15 Filipinos who entered Malaysia illegally.

• Manila Times: Malaysian navy intercepts15 illegal Pinoy migrants
  

Black Sea – background – Members of the newly created Blackseafor have met for the first time.

• Radio Free Europe: Georgia: Black Sea States Naval Chiefs Hold First Congress

Taiwanese Navy – How Taiwan uses its Guppy-class submarines.

• New York Times: Taiwan’s Guppy-Size Force
  

Background – US Defense Review – A potential flaw of the current defense review is that it is focusing on the forces needed for common, low and medium intensity conflicts; but not on the forces needed for rare high intensity conflicts.

• Stratfor: U.S. Military: No Room for the Unexpected

US Marine Corps – An article advocating that the Marines need to change their assault rifle, and a suggestion on what it should be changed to.

• Marine Corps Gazette: Replacing the M16A2: A New Rifle for the 21st Century

US Navy – the US Navy will expand its Master-at-Arms force, to increase security for ships in port.

• Virginian Pilot: Navy expands armed security force

US Marine Corps – An excellent investigation into what went wrong at Osprey squadron VMMT-204, and why there are so many problems with the Osprey.

• Washington Post: A troubled Osprey wounds the Corps

Egyptian Navy – The Egyptian Navy will soon be upgrading its fast attack craft and their surface-to-surface missiles.

• Jane’s: Egypt to upgrade FACs, missiles

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy again appears to be close to a deal with Russia to lease a nuclear submarine.

• Rediff: India, Russia close to clinching sub deal

Royal Navy – The current and projected state of the Royal Navy’s submarine force.

• Jane’s: Coming up from the deep, in from the cold

Pakistani Navy – The Pakistani Navy is exercising with the navies of Bangladesh and Myanmar.

• Pakistan News Service: Pak, Bangladesh hold joint naval exercises

US Navy – Continued debate over whether low frequency active sonar harms marine mammals.

• New York Times: Researchers Fear Navy’s Sonar May Harm Whales
• Honolulu Advertiser: Opinion on Navy sonar sharply divided
  

• Los Angeles Times: Navy Seeks to Test Sonar; Some Fear Effect on Whales

US Navy – China will allow the US to inspect the EP-3, as a first step towards returning the aircraft.

• BBC: China to allow spy plane inspection

US Navy – The final word on the USS Greeneville affair, including questions that remain unanswered.

• Washington Post: Many in Navy Satisfied With Handling of Sub Probe
• Christian Science Monitor: Sub inquiry leaves unanswered questions

Royal Navy – The Royal Navy has launched the last of its 12 Sandown-class minehunters.

• Jane’s: Final Sandown-class minehunter launched by VT

Royal Navy – A protester penetrated the Royal Navy’s Trident base as Faslane, and painted the hull of a Trident-class submarine.

• BBC: Protester paints hull of nuclear sub

Royal Australian Navy – The Chinese Navy has challenged an Australian naval flotilla for “intruding” even though it was in international sea lanes.

• Daily Telgraph (registration required): Chinese ship challenges Australian navy flotilla

United Arab Emirates – The UAE has purchased four C-295M ëPersuaderí maritime patrol aircraft.

• Jane’s: UAE opts for Persuader MPAs

US Navy – Life aboard a Los Angeles-class attack submarine.

• Washington Post: Subs Not Designed For Claustrophobics

Indian Navy – The Indian Navy is integrating its war fighting plans with the other Indian armed forces.

• The Hindu: Naval commanders fine-tune war plans
  

NATO – What life is like with NATO’s Standing Naval Force Atlantic.

• Stars and Strips: Coping with language barrier among
  goals of NATO’s Swordfish exercise

US Navy – Some interesting things we do not know about the flight of the EP-3???

• International Herald Tribune: Neither China nor US is telling all about spy plane

Royal Navy – The Type 22 and Type 23 frigates are to receive an upgrade to their Seawolf missile systems.

• Jane’s: Guidance and tracking upgrade for UK Seawolf