Marine Link – Russia’s Black Sea port of Taman, which handles oil products, grain, coal and commodities, has been damaged by a Ukrainian drone attack, the governor of Russia’s Krasnodar region said on Sunday.
(Thanks to Alain)
U.S. Navy MH-60s, Air Force F-16s Will Soon Fly With New C-UAS Missiles
Naval News – Derivatives of the AGR-20F FALCO air-to-air missile are being rapidly prototyped to fulfill the urgent low-cost engagement requirement for one-way attack drone swarms numbered in the hundreds.
Royal Navy sees hybrid shift as central to future force mix
Naval News – The UK Royal Navy (RN) sees its continuing shift to a ‘hybrid fleet’ as central to prevailing in future conflict, and is focused on accelerating delivery of the maritime uncrewed systems integral to this new ‘hybrid’ force structure, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff General Sir Gwyn Jenkins has said.
Major Upgrade Sees Hypersonic Ship-Killer Missiles Aboard China’s AIP Submarines
Naval News – China’s large fleet of air-independent propulsion (AIP) submarines is set to become significantly more lethal. The introduction of the next-generation YJ-19 hypersonic missile dramatically elevates their already serious anti-ship punch. China is currently the only nation known to have armed non-nuclear submarines with hypersonic strike weapons.
UK Carrier Strike Group to deploy to North Atlantic
Naval News – Britain will send its Carrier Strike Group back to sea in 2026 in a major show of force across the Euro-Atlantic and High North, reinforcing NATO’s deterrence at a time of rising Russian threats in the region.
USMC’s Old F/A-18 Hornets To Get Drone Swatting Laser Guided Rockets
The War Zone – U.S. Marine Corps legacy F/A-18C/D Hornets are in line to add air-to-air optimized versions of the 70mm Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) rocket to their arsenal. This will give the jets an important, lower-cost boost in their ability to take down drones, as well as certain cruise missiles.
The case for enhancing the Royal Navy’s 30mm gun
Navy Lookout – Small and medium calibre guns have quietly become some of the most operationally relevant weapons in Royal Navy service. While missiles dominate discussions of high-end naval warfare, it is guns that provide the persistent, affordable and flexible means to deter, warn and defeat close-range threats. In recent years, that role has expanded dramatically as uncrewed aerial and surface systems have proliferated and increasingly appeared in real combat.
Carrier Ford’s Extension to the Middle East Could Break Recent Deployment Records
USNI News – Aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78), its escorts and embarked Carrier Air Wing 8 have been tasked from their current position in the Caribbean to the Middle East to support a U.S. naval buildup in the region, USNI News has learned.
HMS Daring ship’s company moves onboard
Navy Lookout – With her ship staff move onboard (SSMOB), achieved this week, Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer, HMS Daring has reached a major milestone in the epic project to regenerate a ship that has been non-operational for more than 8½ years.
Trump Administration Details ‘Make Shipbuilding Great Again’ Effort in New Action Plan
USNI News – The Trump administration announced its plans Friday for expanding the nation’s commercial shipbuilding and maritime capabilities, a three-pronged approach that calls for bolstering U.S. shipbuilding, increasing the mariner workforce and regulating the industry to encourage use of U.S.-built and flagged vessels.
Indonesian Navy Wants Ex-Italian Aircraft Carrier to be Delivered Before October 5
Naval News – Indonesia’s plan to acquire the former Italian Navy aircraft carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi (C 551) appears to be gathering pace, although a formal contract confirmation is yet to be made.
Navy to experiment with tailored force pairing with Theodore Roosevelt deployment: SWO boss
Breaking Defense – Vice Adm. Brendan McLane said that a medium unmanned surface vessel will deploy alongside the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group that is set to get underway later this year.
India Set to Order 114 Rafale Fighters and Six P-8I Patrol Aircraft
Naval News – On February 12, India’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for various proposals worth a total of $40 billion including acquisition of six P-8I MPAs for the Navy and 114 Rafale fighters for the IAF.
Japan hands over 5 coastal radar systems to Philippines
Naval News – The Japanese government on Wednesday officially turned over five coastal radar systems to the Philippines as part of efforts to bolster Manila’s maritime domain awareness amid China’s continuing aggressive actions in the region.
Destroyer USS Truxtun, Oiler USNS Supply Collide in SOUTHCOM
USNI News – Guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG-103) and fast oiler USNS Supply (AOE-6) collided during an underway replenishment on Wednesday, according to a U.S. Southern Command statement. “Two personnel reported minor injuries and are in stable condition. Both ships have reported sailing safely. The incident is currently under investigation.”
CMSI Translations #26: Sea Dragon Refits Its Armor: The Type 076 Amphibious Assault Ship Ushers in a New Era
Chinese Maritime Studies Institute – At the close of 2024, the first of China’s next-generation Type 076 amphibious assault ships was launched at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipyard in Shanghai. Named the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Sichuan with hull number 51, this milestone concluded the PLAN’s major combat equipment development for the year.
China’s navy only began to develop and construct modern amphibious assault ships around 2017. While the first generation of Type 075 ships (an initial batch of four vessels) was still being rapidly constructed, work commenced on the second-generation Type 076 in less than six years. This demonstrated the Chinese navy’s urgent need for large-scale amphibious operations equipment and the high priority placed on it. More significantly, compared to the Type 075, the Type 076 represents a qualitative leap in design concepts, technological sophistication, combat capabilities, and mission functionality. It will serve as a crucial component of the Chinese navy’s future long-range strike and deterrence capabilities.
Boeing Shows off JDAM LR Anti-Ship, Mining Bomber Payloads
Naval News – Boeing highlighted the anti-ship and mining payloads of its upcoming Joint Direct Attack Munition Long Range (JDAM LR) aboard U.S. B-52H and B-1B strategic bombers.
Trump-class battleships are ‘exactly’ what the Navy needs, SWO boss says
Breaking Defense – The new Trump-class battleship is needed due to limitations the Navy has found with what it could outfit its destroyers with, requiring the service to find a larger hull size, according to by the service’s top surface warfare officer.
CNO: Trump-class battleships could be ‘forcing function’ for Navy to beef up laser efforts
Breaking Defense – The Navy’s top officer is on board with advancing laser weapons — and believes the new Trump-class battleships will drive the service to equip other Navy ships with the weapons, too.
In the Next Pacific War, America Will Be Imperial Japan
National Interest – James Holmes writes that during World War II, Japan’s fleet was large and qualitatively peerless, but unsupported by a broader defense-industrial base. The United States finds itself in the same position today.
First Chinese Type 09V Nuclear Powered Attack Submarine Appears At Bohai
Naval News – Submarine yard Bohai Shipbuilding earlier this week moved the first Chinese Type 09V (or 095) nuclear powered attack submarine (SSN) into the launch bay at the yards facilities in Huludao. Naval News has received a number of detailed satellite photos showing the new design in the flooded drydock.
Second Carrier Strike Group Ordered To Spin-Up For Deployment To Middle East
The War Zone – A second carrier group would provide additional tactical airpower for a sustained operation against Iran, but it wouldn’t arrive for weeks at the earliest.
Navy Rethinking How to Command Robotic Forces, CNO Caudle Says
USNI News – Buoyed by billions in investments into robotic systems, the Navy is considering how it will manage the swarms of unmanned surface, subsurface and aerial drones throughout the fleet.
Chinese Carrier-based Fighter Seen Equipped with New Supersonic Anti-ship Missile
USNI News – The mainstay of Chinese carrier air wings was seen with a new anti-ship missile potentially capable of striking targets more than 1,000 kilometers away at supersonic speeds.
UK faces rising undersea threat, MPs warned in stark evidence session
Navy Lookout – At a special evidence session held today, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee examined growing threats to the UK in the undersea domain and considered what the response should be. It was an unusually strong session, with three highly experienced witnesses providing exceptional clarity on a subject that is often misunderstood or poorly explained.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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