CIMSEC – At the time of publishing on 10 February the Baltic and Northern Fleet amphibious forces have arrived in the Black Sea. However, these forces would only augment existing Black Sea Fleet capability and so should not be used as an indicator of Russian readiness for offensive action. On the other hand, these amphibious forces are unlikely to be a feint; the Russians have demonstrated the capability to land battalion-scale forces in the region, and such a landing fits into their theory and practice.
Will Russia Send Missiles to Cuba?
National Interest – Russia-watchers have been quick to invoke the Cuban Missile Crisis precedent, which implies that Russia would station nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles of some type in the Caribbean. But history may not repeat itself.
It Looks Like Russia Wants To All But Wall Off Ukraine’s Coastlines Next Week
War Zone – The Russian government has reportedly issued notices warning mariners and aviators to avoid significant portions of the northern end of the Black Sea, as well as the adjacent Sea of Azov, next week ostensibly due to upcoming live-fire naval exercises. The obvious concern is that this could amount to a de facto blockade of Ukraine’s southern coastlines, which in turn might be part of preparations for new large-scale Russian military intervention into that country.
China encounters problem on engine supply for Thailand S26T submarine
Asia Pacific Defense Journal – Reports from Thai press came out indicating that Chinas has encountered problems in sourcing engines for the S26T diesel-electric attack submarine it is building for the Royal Thai Navy.
(Thanks to Alain)
New Chinese Diesel-Electric Submarine Breaks Cover
War Zone – Another new and previously unknown Chinese submarine design has appeared, continuing the country’s prodigious naval shipbuilding program. The emergence of this submarine comes after a new subclass of a conventionally-powered type broke cover last year and the reveal of a highly intriguing “sail-less” design three years before that, though there are no clear indications one way or another that any of these are directly related to each other.
6 Russian Warships And Submarine Now Entering Black Sea Towards Ukraine
Naval News – Russia’s military build-up around Ukraine is moving into a new phase. Emerging from under a veil of ‘drills’, 6 landing ships and a submarine are now sailing into the Black Sea.
Russian Navy Amphibious Group Enters Black Sea as Warships Mass in the Mediterranean
USNI News – A group of three Russian warships capable of landing tanks and troops ashore is now in the Black Sea, as the Russian Navy begins to mass ships in the Mediterranean.
US Navy should view space, power margins as a ‘warfighting capability’ worth paying for
Defense News – As the U.S. Navy works through the detail design of its Constellation-class frigate and the concept design of its DDG(X) destroyer, the service wants to add all the latest offensive and defensive systems. But at least as important, leaders say, is leaving room for new systems down the road.
The US Navy and Marine Corps should acquire Army watercraft
Defense News – The Navy and Marine Corps should delay any new construction and immediately acquire some of the Army’s existing vessels to drive experimentation and better inform their requirements for the light amphibious warship program.
A Warfighting Imperative: Back to Basics for the Navy
USNI Proceedings – The service must think about what it will take to fight and win in a future great power war.
Turkish Naval Programs: Here Is What To Expect In 2022
Naval News – Activities planned for 2022 with regard to Turkey’s naval projects.
Forward Battle Damage Repair Keeps Ships in the Fight
USNI Proceedings – A navy’s strength lies not only in the number of hulls it possesses, but also in its ability to return damaged ships to combat as soon as possible.
Putin and Xi’s Potemkin alliance
The Spectator – Mark Galeotti opines on the recent meeting between the two leaders.
Sweden Reinforces Its Defence Posture Along The Baltic Sea
Naval News – The Swedish Armed Forces (Försvarsmakten) have increased their presence on the country’s southern coast, including Gotland – Sweden’s southern island, as well as at sea.
Flotilla Of Russian Landing Ships Is Now In Syria Weeks After Deploying From The Baltic Sea
War Zone – Six Russian Navy amphibious warfare ships that departed the Baltic Sea region in January and entered the Mediterranean Sea last week are now in Syria. The vessels are resupplying at Russia’s naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartus, ostensibly ahead of a large maritime exercise that is set to kick off in the Mediterranean soon. However, there have been persistent discussions about whether these ships might be moving into a place where they could relatively quickly redeploy into the Black Sea to support a potential new Russian military incursion into Ukraine, and they are certainly better positioned for such a contingency now.
Digital warfare tech at sea helping US foes evade sanctions
AP – Technology to hide a ship’s location previously available only to the world’s militaries is spreading fast through the global maritime industry as governments from Iran to Venezuela — and the rogue shipping companies they depend on to move their petroleum products — look for stealthier ways to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
US Navy carrier Ford to go on unusual deployment this year
Defense News – The U.S. Navy has promised a first deployment for its new aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford by this fall — but that deployment won’t be a typical one. Ford won’t fall under the operational command of a regional combatant commander. Rather, it will conduct a “service-retained early employment” period where the Navy keeps full control over the ship’s activities and schedule.
A Blast From The Past? The Role of Maritime Sabotage in Strategic Competition
Modern War Institute – Today, as the US military shifts priorities from counterterrorism to strategic competition, SOF have begun to rebalance to focus on both countering violent extremist organizations and competing with peer and near-peer actors. In light of SOF’s history with sabotage and recent renewed interest in the subject (strategic sabotage was listed as a priority research topic for the Joint Special Operations University in 2020, for example), the time is ripe for an analytical examination of the subject. Maritime sabotage operations in particular deserve further study given the growing importance of maritime regions from the Indo-Pacific to the Black Sea.
The Russian military build up near Ukraine is happening at sea too
Russian Navy – Russia has “been very thoughtful about how they’ve been ramping up their level of activity” in the Black Sea, said Bryan Clark, a fellow at the Hudson Institute.
Only female Kazak deck operation officer on the Liaoning realizes dream of ‘carrying burden’ for peace in motherland
Global Times – During an interview with the Global Times, Remila said her life on the Liaoning is very happy and she loves her career and is willing to shoulder the responsibility to safeguard the happiness and peaceful life of millions of families in the motherland.
The Missing ‘D’ in Defending the Nation: Disruption
USNI Blog – The end of the Soviet Union; September 11th; Russian occupation of Crimea; and the emergence of a more aggressive China have dramatically changed the national security and defense equations. Concurrently and invisibly, however, another overarching threat emerged. This threat is one of “massive attacks of disruption,” whether by man or nature. And the shorthand also is MAD.
Interview With The Chief Of The Philippine Navy
Naval News – Exclusive interview with Vice Admiral Adeluis S. Bordado, Flag Officer in-Command of the Philippine Navy, during his visit to France in January 2022.
Argentina Deploys New Patrol Vessels to Combat IUU Fishing
CIMSEC – The Argentine Navy has deployed its two newest offshore patrol vessels (OPVs), ARA Bouchard (P-51) and ARA Piedrabuena (P-52), to monitor an international fishing fleet traveling close to the country’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) en route to the South Atlantic. While there have been no confirmed reports of these vessels engaging in illegal, unregulated, or unreported (IUU) fishing, recent history suggests that this is occurring or will occur soon.
Will Turkey Modify Its Future LHD To Carry More UAVs?
Naval News – The design of Turkey’s prospective Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), Anadolu, appears to have been modified in the footage to deploy more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).
China Likely Scrapping KILO Class Submarines
Covert Shores – There are indications that the Chinese Navy (PLAN) has begun decommissioning its KILO Class submarines.
(Thanks to Alain)
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