Global Times – China’s domestically developed 10,000 ton-class Type 055 guided missile destroyer can counter stealth aircraft and low-Earth orbit satellites, a state-owned media has recently revealed for the first time, leading Chinese experts to say on Sunday that the capabilities will give Chinese forces a key edge over their opponents in modern warfare.
Chinese navy fleet returns from escort mission
China Daily – A Chinese navy flotilla returned to the port city of Zhoushan in East China’s Zhejiang province Wednesday after completing its mission of escorting civilian vessels in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia.
A world without alliances
The Hill – James Holmes asks what would a world without U.S. alliances look like? It’s a worthwhile thought experiment. President Trump is famously leery toward foreign alliances and standing military commitments of all types.
Outgoing Pakistan Navy chief reveals details of modernization programs
Defense News – Pakistan’s Navy is racing to plug operational and technological gaps as part of an unprecedented modernization effort, according to the outgoing naval chief, but analysts are divided on whether the move will deter adversaries.
Are the US Army and US Marine Corps competing for missions in the Pacific?
Defense News – With the U.S. military locked in on what it sees as a long-term competition with the People’s Republic of China for ascendency in the Indo-Pacific region, two services seeking to pivot away from heavy ground conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are looking toward missiles as a ticket to relevance in a potential future conflict.
‘Machines set loose to slaughter’: the dangerous rise of military AI
The Guardian – Autonomous machines capable of deadly force are increasingly prevalent in modern warfare, despite numerous ethical concerns. Is there anything we can do to halt the advance of the killer robots?
This Is The Cave Facility In Norway That U.S. Navy Submarines Could Soon Operate From
War Zone – Norway sold this once-secret sub base nearly a decade ago, but it has taken on new relevance as Russia steps up its activity in the region.
MHI Just Launched The First Of The New Taigei-Class Submarines For JMSDF
Naval News – Japan’s newest submarine “Taigei” (previously known as 29SS) was launched today at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) shipyard in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Space Force: An Essential Partnership in Maritime Security
USNI Blog – Considering the historical role space has played in maritime security, the Coast Guard should partner with the USSF to help shape the doctrine and space-based capabilities that will directly contribute to the Coast Guard’s maritime security mission in the decades to come.
US Navy eyes new design for next-generation destroyer
Defense News – The U.S. Navy is looking to build a new generation of destroyers from a clean-sheet design, following the model of one of its most successful ship classes, the Arleigh Burke-class DDG, the service’s top officer said Tuesday.
American-Made Spy Boat on Secret Mission Washes Up in Scotland
Popular Mechanics – Beachcombers on the Scottish Isle of Tiree called the local coastguard after discovering a mysterious boat-like object. They found the American-made drone wedged between two rocks, presumably after it ran aground. As of now, no one has claimed ownership of the uncrewed boat, and the details of how it washed up in Scotland remain a total mystery.
(Thanks to Alain!)
Chinese Increasing Nuclear Submarine Shipyard Capacity
USNI News – As China pushes to become a blue-water power, nuclear-powered submarines are critically important to Beijing’s plan. Historically the Chinese Navy’s (PLAN) nuclear-powered submarine fleet has been constrained by its limited construction capacity. There is only one shipyard in the country up to the task. But that yard has been undergoing a massive enlargement. And now, recent satellite imagery suggests an additional capacity expansion.
Shell Games at Sea: A Resilient Force Structure Component for Modern Maritime Competition
CIMSEC – A hybrid commercial-military approach to force projection in contested environments deserves closer examination, and is an approach that is immediately available. It offers an evolutionary and rapid path to the future.
The Navy Needs a Course Correction: Prototyping with Purpose
USNI Proceedings – There have been far too many shipbuilding programs with unacceptably high cost overruns. The Navy needs to stop repeating the same process while expecting a different result.
Kim Jong Un Just Showed The World The War Machine He Built While Feinting Diplomacy
War Zone – A giant new intercontinental ballistic missile was just one of the many revelations from the remarkably well-produced showcase of authoritarian might.
Sustaining an Intellectual Overmatch: Management Education for Our Naval Warfighters
CIMSEC – Given the need for the Navy team to perform at its peak under challenging circumstances, the Navy would be well-served by incorporating more management education into PME for both officers and enlisted sailors.
China may pose threat to UK as northern sea route clears, says navy chief
The Guardian – China represents a strategic threat to Britain as its navy could reach the North Atlantic via the Arctic by a route opened up by global heating, the head of the Royal Navy has said.
Navy, Coast Guard Keep Up Operations in Africa
USNI News – The U.S Navy and Coast Guard remain committed to supporting and building the maritime security capabilities of its African partners.
US Navy inspections of Ingalls-built ships uncovered significant problems, report shows
Defense News – Navy inspectors found serious technical issues across all three U.S. Navy ship classes being built at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi in 2018 and 2019, according to an unclassified report sent to Congress earlier this year.
Russia Says This Is Our First Glimpse Of Its Zircon Hypersonic Cruise Missile
War Zone – The Russian Ministry of Defense has announced what it says is the first test launch of its Zircon hypersonic cruise missile against a naval target. The first-in-class Project 22350 frigate Admiral Gorshkov fired the weapon during an event that may have been timed to coincide with the birthday of President Vladimir Putin.
Saab’s A26 Submarine Program Transitioning From Design To Production
Naval News – Saab recently conducted an online Submarine Seminar, with a strong focus on the A26 program. The A26 design is the baseline on which Saab is building its next generation multi-role submarine offering. With the type already in production for the Swedish Navy, Saab is now seeking to make the A26 a world class reference in the conventional submarine market.
Battle Force 2045: The U.S. Navy’s Bold Plan for a 500-Ship Fleet
National Interest – James Holmes writes that Battle Force 2045 aspires to accomplish Mahanian strategic goals using a non-Mahanian fleet to prosecute non-Mahanian operations. Can it work?
How Warships Hunt For Enemy Submarines Down Below
War Zone – The cat and mouse game of anti-submarine warfare is very high-stakes. Heres’s how modern navies go about it with their surface fleets.
Sea Machines to Develop Autonomous Refueling Barge for U.S. Military
gCaptain – Boston-based autonomous marine navigation company Sea Machines says it has been awarded a U.S. Department of Defense contract to develop a prototype autonomous barge that will essentially serve as floating gas station for military aircraft.
Why the Pentagon Should Focus on Taiwan
War on the Rocks – China is now the official “pacing threat” for the U.S. armed forces. Simply put, the Pentagon considers the People’s Liberation Army its most serious competition. This is a major and vital shift. But competing with China is a tremendously broad concept that could take any number of forms, and the reality is that China is too powerful to permit the U.S. defense establishment to fritter away money. The Defense Department needs to focus. Most of all, it needs to be capable of achieving U.S. objectives against China in a war.
