CIMSEC – The following is the 1st Place, Gold Prize-winning essay of the First Sea Lord’s Essay Competition.
Israeli freighter becomes first to break Russian blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports
i24 News – A Sierra Leonean-flagged cargo ship from the Israeli port city of Ashdod on Monday became the first to break through Moscow’s blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports since Russia withdrew from the deal cereal. The ship, Ams1, openly declared its destination and crossed the Black Sea on a direct route. (In French)
(Thanks to Alain)
Defense of Japan 2023
Japanese Ministry of Defense – Latest White Paper from the Japanese MOD.
PLA Naval Aviation Reorganization 2023
China Aerospace Studies Institute – In early 2023, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) began transferring PLA Navy Aviation units to the PLA Air Force. By mid-2023, the PLA transferred the majority of PLAN fighter, bomber, radar, air defense, and airfield units to the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). In total, the PLA transferred at least three fighter brigades, two bomber regiments, three radar brigades, three air defense brigades, and numerous airfield stations.
Italian, French frigate upgrades aim to boost missile defense
Defense News – France and Italy will see major mid-life upgrades to their Horizon-class frigates after co-contractors Eurosam and Naviris were awarded a €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) deal earlier this month.
New Zealand Frigate Arrives In Australia For Rare Missile Firing
Naval News – It will be the first time in more than a decade that a New Zealand warship has fired any kind of missile and marks an important milestone in certifying the New Zealand frigate force for operations.
Japan’s MoD Unveils New Image Of ASEV
Naval News – In its latest defense white paper, the Japanese Ministry of Defense has unveiled a new image of the Aegis system equipped vessel (ASEV), which appears similar to the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s existing Aegis-equipped destroyers in terms of the shape of the ship and the configuration of the main armament.
USS Bataan, USS Carter Hall in Mediterranean on Way to Middle East
USNI News – USS Bataan (LHD-5) and USS Carter Hall (LSD-50) are in the Mediterranean Sea, having crossed through the Strait of Gibraltar Wednesday. Bataan, along with Carter Hall and elements of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is being dispatched to U.S. Central Command as part of the U.S. response to Iran’s continued seizure of commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
North Korea’s New Nuclear Underwater Drone-Torpedo Follows Russia’s Playbook
War Zone – new underwater drone, widely presumed to function much like a nuclear-armed torpedo, was revealed at North Korea’s latest military parade, in the capital Pyongyang yesterday. While new unmanned aerial vehicles were also among the highlights of the parade, the underwater drone suggests that North Korea is continuing to look at novel means of delivering nuclear warheads as it expands its strategic weapons ambitions.
Iconic Catalina Amphibious Flying Boat production to restart
Aviation Geek – Iconic Catalina amphibious flying boat to be resurrected as new production transport category turboprop.
U.S. military to use Papua New Guinea naval base for 15 years
Nikkei Asia – The U.S. military will be granted access to six sites in Papua New Guinea, including a naval base, for 15 years under a defense agreement reached between the two countries.
First commercial ships join new program to support military tanker fleet
Breaking Defense – The Transportation Department has successfully recruited nine ships, owned by three different companies, to enroll in a new, congressionally backed initiative aimed at providing the Pentagon with a much-needed sealift capacity boost in times of conflict.
PLA holds cross-sea troop transport drill using large ferry shipFirst commercial ships join new program to support military tanker fleet
Global Times – The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently conducted a cross sea troop transport exercise using a large ferry ship, which could play a vital role in large-scale amphibious landing missions.
Russian Navy Deploys Makeshift GPS Jammers To Warship For St. Petersburg Parade
Covert Shores – The Russian Navy appears to have heightened concerns that its annual Navy Day parade in Saint Petersburg may be attacked by drones. The parade takes place on July 30 and traditionally included a large selection of warships and submarines, including visiting nuclear subs. However this year it is already scaled back. Photographs shared on Russian social media appear to show a GPS jammer aboard a Russian warship in the city.
(Thanks to Alain)
British Defense Ministry Warns of Potential Naval Blockade in Black Sea
USNI News – The British Ministry of Defense warned Wednesday that Russia could be planning a naval blockade of Ukraine. The blockade would prevent ships from pulling into Ukraine and the Kremlin’s latest move in the Black Sea since Moscow withdrew from a U.N. brokered grain deal. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet altered its posture, likely to enforce a blockade of Ukraine, according to the British Ministry of Defense’s latest intelligence update.
Defence Command Paper 2023 – implications for the Royal Navy
Navy Lookout – Last week Government finally published the Defence Command Paper (delayed since mid-June) which was supposed to provide more precise detail about the structure and future of the armed forces following the aspirations of the Integrated Review (Refresh) launched in March. Here we take an overview of what the DCP23 says, or does not say, about the future of the Royal Navy.
Russia Claims It Defeated Ukrainian Drone Boat Attack On Its Corvette
War Zone – One of Russia’s newest warships is said to have come under attack by unmanned naval drones as it enforced the blockade against Ukraine.
US Marines Stand Up First Tomahawk Battery
Naval News – U.S. Marines from the 11th Marine Regiment stood up the Corps’ first Long-Range Missile battery on the 21st of June.
‘It’s all about logistics’: US Marines test Force Design in Pacific
Defense News – A U.S. Marine Corps unit spent seven months in the Indo-Pacific testing the service’s warfighting modernization effort, offering a glimpse at what future operations in the region might look like.
Navy SEAL’s Long-Awaited ‘Dry’ Mini-Submarine Capability Has Finally Arrived
War Zone – For decades the Navy has been trying to realize a small submarine to transport SEALs inside a pressurized cabin, and now it is operational.
New Details On Taiwan’s Future Light Frigate
Naval News – The updated design of Taiwan’s New Light Frigate is larger and heavier in order to accommodate more weapon and sensor systems…
Iran’s Proxy Fleets-In-Being
War on the Rocks – When discussing the risks posed by Iran’s asymmetric capabilities and proxy tactics at sea, observers have overlooked the possibility of Tehran employing a historical maritime strategy called the fleet-in-being. Going back to the 17th century, the fleet-in-being strategy has allowed inferior navies to challenge stronger ones in oceans around the world.
‘Nature is being destroyed’: Russia’s arms buildup in Barents Sea creating toxic legacy
The Guardian – The Barents Sea port of Severomorsk is the base of the Russian navy’s Northern Fleet and, since 2014 – when Russia first invaded eastern Ukraine – it has become the main administrative hub for all of Russia’s Arctic military activities.
As the war in Ukraine grinds on, Russia is not so quietly expanding its military activities in this region, too. In the past six years, Russia has built 475 military sites along its northern border. The Kola peninsula and the archipelagos of the Barents Sea have seen dozens of new airstrips, bunkers and bases.
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.
The U.S. Navy Needs Diesel-Electric Submarines Now
1945 – James Holmes writes that SSK acquisitions would promise not just capable and affordable platforms but a diplomatic boon. Indivisible alliances stand the best chance of weathering peacetime strategic competition as well as hot war.
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