The War Zone – We dive deep with the captain in charge of the Orca program on the drone’s current abilities and what it could be capable of in the future.

USNI News – Training and learning from ships that already spent months in the Red Sea was focus of a panel that included the heads of naval surface forces and aviation at the Surface Navy Association Symposium Tuesday.

The War Zone – Navy surface combatants have fired off hundreds of missiles and five-inch shells to repel Houthi drone and missile attacks.

CIMSEC – CIMSEC recently engaged with the commander of the Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), RDML Wilson Marks, to discuss the latest developments and priorities of the command. RDML Marks discusses multiple topics in this interview, including how SMWDC is learning from Red Sea combat, the wartime role of the command, and how far SMWDC has come ten years after its establishment.

Naval News – In the Fall of 2024, Naval News sent media inquiries to the United States’ Navy, Marines, DARPA, and Special Operations Command for progress updates on their seaplane programs. Although it took a few months to obtain the answers, these U.S. military agencies responded to Naval News with the following information.

The War Zone – USS Michigan’s operations included three separate missions vital to national security and ones that involved special operations forces.

The War Zone – Sold after the Cold War, the U.S. Navy remains interested in once again using the Olavsvern complex as a hub for Arctic operations.

The War Zone – A wide array of chronic cost overruns and industrial capacity factors could torpedo the Navy’s goal of fielding a 390-ship force by 2054.

The War Zone – The U.S. Navy is now officially using “Murder Hornet” to refer to F/A-18E/F fighters armed with five AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four AIM-9X Sidewinders. The air-to-air ordnance configuration for the Super Hornet made its combat debut last year in operations over and around the Red Sea and was enabled by a crash program to allow F/A-18E/Fs to carry more AIM-9Xs.

The War Zone – The Combat Information Center (CIC) is the nerve center and tactical brain of a U.S. Navy surface combatant. These high-tech floating command centers and their watchstanders have been put to the test over the last year, unlike any other time in history, as missile and drone barrages from Houthi rebels in Yemen have plagued the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. With this in mind, TWZ spoke with multiple surface warfare officers (SWOs) about the realities sailors face when fighting their ship from within the CIC, including what factors come into play, what mistakes can arise during tense, time sensitive engagements, and the effects of being on patrol in a free-fire zone for months on end.

Naval News – The U.S. Navy’s LCS fleet continues to expand its capability portfolio as new systems are integrated onto the multi-mission ships.

China Military Online – The US littoral combat ship USS Savannah(LCS-28) docked at the port of Sihanoukville in Cambodia on Monday. According to AFP, the US warship docked at a dock kilometers away from a Chinese-renovated naval base, marking the first American military port call to one of Beijing’s closest regional allies in eight years.

(Thanks to Alain)

The War Zone – The friendly fire incident also came amid a sustained Houthi drone and missile attack targeting the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group.

National Interest – James Holmes reflects on the US Navy’s big debate: stick with massive ships or embrace a fleet of smaller, nimbler vessels for the future fight.

BBC – An American fighter jet has been shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent “friendly fire” incident, the US military has said.

Center for Maritime Strategy – Bipartisan, bicameral legislation is now in play on Capitol Hill to give U.S. commercial shipbuilding industry the boost it needs to both compete with China and better serve national security needs.

The War Zone – For the cost of adding relatively short extra service life to its three modernized cruisers, the Navy could have nearly bought two brand-new destroyers.

USNI News – The development of a new landing ship key to the Marines Corps’ island-hopping strategy in the Western Pacific is on hold due to Navy concerns over cost.

USNI News – The Constellation-class frigate’s design should be mature enough for the shipbuilder to enter continuous production by May, the Navy’s top acquisition executive said this week.

USNI News – The Navy is planning a lethality upgrade on both classes of the Littoral Combat Ship that includes the ability to launch larger missiles like the SM-6.

National Interest – The U.S. Navy’s failure to maintain a clean, rust-free appearance on vessels like the USS Green Bay risks undermining its strategic credibility. In the global competition for perceptions, visuals of professionalism inspire confidence among allies and deter adversaries.

The War Zone – The test that saw an SM-3 swat down target is a big step forward for the massive air defense system being installed on the island.

Breaking Defense – “What we have been able to do with the Australian navy has begun to make believers” in robotic submarine technology, said Anduril Chief Strategy Officer Chris Brose.

Defense News – The U.S. severely lags behind China in shipbuilding capacity, lawmakers and experts have warned, as the Biden administration tries to build up the country’s ability to develop and produce weapons and other defense supplies to fend off war.