Naval News – The Spanish Council of Ministers has approved an agreement that modifies the limits to acquire spending commitments charged to future years, in order to enable the Spanish Ministry of Defense the acquisition of six Airbus C295W Maritime Patrol Aircraft and ten C295W Maritime Surveillance Aircraft.
China builds port to support deep sea research in South China Sea
Global Times – China has begun to build a dedicated port to support deep sea research in the South China Sea, a move experts said on Sunday will serve many ocean-related activities as well as national defense.
A Deep Dive Into Germany’s Submarine Force
War Zone – An exclusive look into the German Navy’s submarine squadron and one of the world’s most capable diesel-electric submarines.
(Thanks to Alain)
H-6K bombers conduct nighttime Taiwan island encirclement flights
Global Times – H-6K bombers of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force have carried out nighttime sorties encircling the island of Taiwan, a move experts said on Monday will become routine and will send a warning to everyone who attempts to separate the island from China.
Pakistan, Iran pledge to further improve military-to-military ties between two countries
Radio Pakistan – Pakistan and Iran have pledged to further improve military-to-military ties between two countries to ensure peace and stability in the region.
(Thanks to Alain)
Navy, TRANSCOM Supporting Search for Submersible Missing After Dive to Titanic Wreck
USNI News – The Navy and U.S. Transportation Command are sending salvage equipment to help find a submersible that went missing while trying to travel to the wreck of RMS Titanic, the Coast Guard announced Tuesday.
Navy Rushing Deep Sea Salvage System To Aid In Titan Submersible Search
War Zone – The Navy has other deep-sea rescue, and search and salvage capabilities, but the depths around the Titanic exceed some of their abilities.
Six Lessons From Ukraine for Japanese Defense Planners
War on the Rocks – Japanese leaders have already begun internalizing key lessons from Ukraine. As shown in a triad of strategic documents released last December, Tokyo is ramping up spending on munition stocks, maintenance, and base hardening and readiness, as well as making new investments across all domains. But despite this, Japanese officials are silent on whether they are preparing for a short conflict or a long one. This matters because, as the Ukrainian war demonstrates, a protracted struggle could require different plans from the ones Japan is possibly making.
US, NATO wrap up joint exercises in the Baltics, Europe’s High North
Defense News – The U.S. Navy and its NATO allies and partners wrapped up their annual maritime-focused exercise in the Baltic region Friday.
Surface Warfare Tackles Persistent Problems as More than Half of JOs Say They Don’t Want Command
USNI News – Over the last year, the Navy surveyed 2,500 officers on the highs and lows of a surface warfare career. The results surprised no one.
Readiness And Future Of India’s Aircraft Carriers
Naval News – The Indian Navy has reacquired the capability to conduct multi-carrier operations. It demonstrated last week the coordinated deployment of more than 35 aircraft from two aircraft carriers: INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant, and their respective escorts. Meanwhile discussions for the procurement of a third aircraft carrier are ongoing.
Cruising to Nome: The first U.S. deep water port for the Arctic to host cruise ships, military
AP – A $600 million-plus expansion will make Nome, population 3,500, the nation’s first deep-water Arctic port. The expansion, expected to be operational by the end of the decade, will accommodate not just larger cruise ships of up to 4,000 passengers, but cargo ships to deliver additional goods for the 60 Alaska Native villages in the region, and military vessels to counter the presence of Russian and Chinese ships in the Arctic.
Examining China’s Global Port Empire
National Interest – Recent data confirms that Chinese state ownership of ports, or investment firms that own ports, carries a unique array of economic, strategic, and political risks for recipient port states.
Guided-Missile Submarine USS Michigan Pulls Into South Korea
USNI News – Ohio-class guided-missile submarine USS Michigan arrived in Busan, South Korea, Friday, the Navy announced.
House committee may conduct greater oversight of Navy ship maintenance
Defense News – The House Armed Services Committee’s members may take a more active oversight role on Navy ship maintenance, after one lawmaker was “bitterly disappointed” the service let some of its cruisers “decay” amid high demand.
Not enough sailors – another Royal Navy personnel crisis is brewing
Navy Lookout – An increase in resignations and slow down in recruitment in the last 18 months means sailor numbers are declining. Here we look at some of the causes, the long-term effects and potential remedies.
US military will have ‘unimpeded’ access to Papua New Guinea bases under new security deal
The Guardian – Deal signed last month gives US ‘exclusive use’ of parts of bases, as Palau PM says he has asked US to step up patrols after Chinese incursions into its waters
Next commandant says he will accelerate Marine Corps’ transformation
Defense News – The general who has been nominated to become the next top Marine signaled his strong commitment to two of the main priorities of the current commandant: reshaping the Marine Corps and building out the military’s amphibious fleet.
Island Blitz: A Campaign Analysis of a Taiwan Takeover by the PLA
CIMSEC – This campaign analysis seeks to determine how long U.S. decision-makers can realistically have debates about intervening in a Taiwan crisis before the PLA seizes Taipei and the window for effective intervention with military force has closed. It does so by employing analytical modeling, informed by historical data, to determine how long the Taiwanese can resist a Chinese invasion absent direct U.S. military intervention given best-case-scenario timelines for the PLA. That is to say in this campaign analysis, tactical and operational chance favors the PLA, and Taiwanese resistance is more similar to that of the brave but desperate 2014 Ukrainian military fighting in the Donbass than the more successful and combat credible 2022 Ukrainian military which halted a Russian invasion. What follows is not meant to be predictive, but rather cautionary, and presents the most stressing timeline for U.S. decision-makers. Any deviations from this scenario would only serve to elongate the timeline for the PLA’s campaign, thereby increasing the decision-making space for U.S. leadership.
Key Lawmakers Flex New Positions to Bolster Shipbuilding Industry
Defense News – A flurry of trips to shipyards shows Capitol Hill’s intensified attention to shipbuilding, with several lawmakers from the Gulf Coast and other shipbuilding states assuming key leadership positions on congressional defense committees. They have made clear they want to maximize ship production and repair lines, and some have proposed spending billions of dollars to upgrade shipyard infrastructure. They also want to expand the workforce and continue to approve multiyear, multi-ship procurement contracts. And they’re now in position to help make that happen.
INS Vikrant goes for refit, Indian Navy gets ready for Indo-Pacific
Hindustan Times – Even though INS Vikrant is headed for “guarantee refit” at Cochin shipyard, INS Vikramaditya is fully operational and ready to chart Indo-Pacific.
Russia Doubles Trained Dolphins Defending Base Against Ukrainian Attacks
Naval News – The threat of Ukraine’s elite special forces divers must loom large in the minds of the Russian Navy. As well as extensive anti-torpedo nets and rocket launchers, Russia has increased the trained dolphins guarding Sevastopol in Crimea.
Fire on the Indonesian landing ship Teluk Hading
BMPD – According to Indonesian media, on the afternoon of June 3, 2023, a major fire broke out on board the Teluk Hading , a medium landing ship of the Indonesian Navy. (In Russian)
(Thanks to Alain)
European forces flex their Indo-Pacific reach
Defense News – For decades France served as the European Union’s main representative in the Indo-Pacific, and as the sole member to maintain regional territories, conducting two to three deployments per year. But in the past two years, the number of allies and partners stretching their ability to launch long-distance, rapid deployments and maintain operational capacity in the area has increased.
Fighting into the Bastions: Getting Noisier to Sustain the US Undersea Advantage
Hudson Institute – The US fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) has long been considered an asymmetric advantage against potential adversaries like the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia, which lacked robust and effective anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities. Relying on this advantage, the US Department of Defense (DoD) has increasingly relied on SSNs to compensate for the impact of improved air defenses on the ability of bombers and strike fighters to execute attacks. However, the unfailing ability of US SSNs to reach their targets is eroding as emerging technologies and weapons proliferation combine in new approaches to ASW that could neutralize America’s undersea advantage.
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