CIMSEC – Russia and North Korea are both fielding a novel type of naval weapon – nuclear-armed torpedo drones. These new weapons introduce a variety of strategic and operational challenges that further complicate a worsening threat environment. They also pose critical legal questions about whether their intended concepts of operation are lawful. These weapons have a fearsome potential to weaponize the maritime environment, and precise questions of their legality should be resolved in order to dissuade their proliferation.
Multi Role Support Ships – the future of Royal Navy amphibious capability
Navy Lookout – The UK and Netherlands have formally announced they will explore opportunities to work together to purchase a new generation of amphibious warships. Here we look at the background and the options for this important programme.
Smaller, leaner: Marines put their new ways to fight to the test
Breaking Defense – Breaking Defense was on hand to see a Marine combat logistics regiment train to stay low-profile while extending the Corps’, and Navy’s, reach.
Philippines stands up to Beijing in South China sea tussle
BBC – Where previously Manila may have softly whimpered at China’s actions to block its ships, its voice has now soared to a roar, emboldened by support from Washington and its allies.
World’s First Specialized Explosive Naval Drone Unit Formed In Ukraine
Naval News – Maritime drones are a hot topic in many navies, but Ukraine has become the first to form a specialist unit using explosive-armed ones. The recently revealed 385th Separate Brigade is unique in the world. And it is formed from wartime needs.
Japan’s Missile Defense Ships Will Now Be Multi-Role, Cruiser-Like
War Zone – Japan moves away from procuring dedicated missile defense ships, opting for a multi-role, cruiser-like design that focuses on that mission.
US hype of China-Russia joint naval patrol near Alaska is overreaction, exposes double standards
Global Times – China and Russia’s third joint naval patrol that allegedly reached international waters near Alaska last week has touched the nerves of US media, which hyped the voyage as “highly provocative,” ignoring the fact that the US constantly sends warships and warplanes to China’s doorsteps for close-in reconnaissance and military exercises under the so-called freedom of navigation.
French Navy’s Air Defense FREMM Lorraine Pacific Deployment
Naval News – The French Navy Air Defense FREMM Frigate Lorraine returned to her home-port in Toulon on 2 August, following its long “duration deployment” which took her all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Japan Requests Largest Defense Budget Ever
Naval News – The Japanese Ministry of Defense (MoD) on August 31 requested $52.9 billion (7.7 trillion yen) for fiscal year 2024, its largest ever defense budget request. Plans include the construction of two ASEVs and two new FFMs.
This Is China’s New Type 054B Frigate, Could Become Backbone Of Navy
War Zone – China’s long-awaited new Type 054B frigate is nearing completion and it’s larger and more capable than its predecessor.
Blind, See, Kill: The Grand Networking Plan To Take On China
War Zone – Admiral John Aquilino, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), offered remarkably detailed comments on what he sees as critical future capabilities needed to fight and win a high-end conflict in his vast area of responsibility — namely against China.
Exercise Digital Horizon: Accelerating the Development of Unmanned Surface Vessels
CIMSEC – Digital Horizon presages a new paradigm in the way navies will think about uncrewed assets, no longer as “vehicles” but rather as “systems” that are nodes in a web of assets delivering far greater capability than the sum of the parts. World navies will conduct ambitious unmanned exercises, experiments and demonstrations throughout 2023 and beyond, and the lessons learned from Digital Horizon will no doubt inform those efforts.
Russia Sinks Line Of Ships To Protect Kerch Bridge
War Zone – New satellite imagery confirms a Ukrainian claim that Russia is sinking vessels along the Kerch Bridge to form a protective barrier against future uncrewed surface vessel (USV) attacks.
First New Generation Frigate For Chinese Navy Launched In Shanghai
Naval News – The lead ship of a new type of frigate for the Chinese Navy (PLAN), informally designated Type 054B, has been launched at Hudong-Zhonghua, Shanghai.
DoD Wants Thousands of Drones to Counter China’s Military Mass Advantage
USNI News – The Pentagon is betting that by fielding thousands of attritable autonomous systems across domains in fewer than two years, the United States can overcome China’s advantage of mass in manpower, ships, aircraft and missiles, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks said in a Monday speech.
Submarine “Mozhaisk” went to factory sea trials
BMPD – The large diesel-electric submarine B-608 “Mozhaisk” (plant number 01618) of project 06363, built for the Russian Navy in St. Petersburg at JSC “Admiralty Shipyards” (part of JSC “United Shipbuilding Corporation” – USC), entered the factory sea trials in the Baltic Sea for the first time. This is the fifth of six Project 06363 submarines under construction for the Pacific Fleet. (In Russian)
(Thanks to Alain)
Why are no Royal Navy attack submarines at sea?
Navy Lookout – Through open-source observations, it is clear that none of the Royal Navy’s six commissioned SSNs are at sea at the time of writing. As part of normal maintenance cycles several boats could be expected to be in harbour but it is unusual for the entire force to be alongside.
Drug cartels show increased interest in narco-submarines
Weekly Blitz – Drug trafficking organizations will become increasingly dependent on narco-vessels in future.
(Thanks to Alain)
Carrier Strike Groups Should be Ready to Go Dark in Conflict
War on the Rocks – The U.S. sea services should develop and deploy tactics, techniques, and procedures that stress-test the carrier strike group in order to ensure it can offensively operate under emissions control and a denied and degraded command-and-control environment all while maintaining superior battlespace awareness.
IRGC navy to receive new submarines
Tehran Times – Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps will soon be equipped with a new generation of Ghadir and Fateh submarines.
(Thanks to Alain)
USMC Buying Nearly 2,000 Tamir Interceptors For Its Iron Dome Systems
War Zone – The Marines are purchasing Iron Dome systems to help defend against ever increasing threats posed by cruise missiles and drones.
Japan’s MoD Awards Contract For New FFM Vessels
Naval News – Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced the selection of two contractors for the design and production of a new FFM variant to be delivered to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force.
Navy seeks to offer virtual training to more of the fleet
Defense News – During a major exercise this month, aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower was tied to the pier here at Naval Station Norfolk, but appeared to be operating alongside fellow carrier Gerald R. Ford across the Atlantic in European waters.
The US submarine force should be silent no more
Defense News – China’s recent announcements of new submarine-hunting technologies are probably more hype than hardware, but they highlight Beijing’s goal of countering the threat posed by U.S. attack boats, which remain essential to U.S. war plans. The U.S. submarine force will not be able to rest on its laurels as the world’s finest for much longer. Soon it will need new approaches and capabilities to operate and potentially fight in the bastions that China and Russia consider their home waters.
Navy Medicine Preparing to Care for Troops in a Pacific Conflict
USNI News – As the Navy and other services turn their attention to the Indo-Pacific as the next potential site of combat, researchers under the Navy Medical Research Center are thinking about blood.
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