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.

The War Zone – As U.S. Navy destroyers continue to shoot down Iran-backed Houthi militant drone and missile barrages in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, a new Navy recounting of the first of those engagements, which involved the USS Carney (DDG-64), highlights a seldom discussed secondary application for the ship’s Mark 45 5-inch main deck gun — shooting down aerial threats.

Center for Maritime Strategy – The U.S. Navy should consider basing ships in the Indian Ocean to ensure this vast expanse of water (stretching more than 6,200 miles from east to west at its widest point)  to ensure it can quickly respond to threats in the region.  

Breaking Defense – The top two senators overseeing the Pentagon are urging the Navy’s leadership to rethink its plans for the Large Unmanned Surface Vessel (LUSV) over concerns the vessel’s size and complexity will rival that of a manned frigate.

National Interest – James Holmes writes that as the U.S. Navy faces the return of great power competition, especially with China’s maritime rise, it must overcome decades of post-Cold War neglect and reforge its strategic and operational capabilities.

The War Zone – The U.S. military’s plans to build up its forces on the island of Guam received some added firepower Tuesday with the arrival of the Virginia-class attack submarine USS Minnesota (SSN-783), the first of its class to be forward-based at the United States’ vital outpost in the Western Pacific.

Military Aerospace – U.S. military researchers needed enabling technologies for next-generation propulsion for crewed submarines and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) that will be quieter and more efficient than ever before. They found a solution from General Dynamics Applied Physical Sciences Corp., Groton, Conn.

(Thanks to Alain)

Naval News – CVW-5 returned to Japan as the air wing assigned to USS George Washington, now equipped with three new aircraft types.

The War Zone – As President-elect Donald Trump nears his return to the White House, the U.S. Navy’s nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) program started during his first term is potentially returning to the spotlight as well.