– National Interest – James Holmes writes that “Southeast Asians—and lovers of freedom of the sea everywhere—must come to terms with China’s bid for sovereignty. They must act, making common cause with likeminded partners and fashioning counterstrategies to meet Beijing’s high-plains offensive. Otherwise the region courts an American Indian fate.”
Ships! Ships! All We Need is Ships!
– War on the Rocks – The ability to project sea power must be a strategic priority for the entire government and not solely a U.S. Navy challenge to solve.
The International Commanders Respond
– USNI Proceedings – This year, Proceedings asked the commanders of the world’s navies, “What is your Navy and/or Coast Guard doing to monitor and enforce international maritime law and a rules-based order?” Their answers reaffirm how important navies and coast guards are to ensuring free and fair global trade and environmental protection.
The Hawaii navy base fueling Trump’s quest for ‘super duper’ missiles
– Guardian – Kauai has one of the Pentagon’s most valued testing sites. It’s an economic driver, but some residents say the military shouldn’t be on the islands at all
Taiwan Wants Land-Based Harpoon Anti-Ship Missiles To Counter Growing Chinese Naval Power
– War Zone – Taiwanese authorities say that they are looking to buy ground-launched Harpoon anti-ship missiles and mobile launchers to augment the island’s coastal defenses.
Vice Admiral Brian Brown on the U.S. Naval Information Warfare Community
– CIMSEC – CIMSEC had the opportunity to discuss the formation and future of the U.S. Navy’s Information Warfare (IW) community with Vice Admiral Brian B. Brown, commander of U.S. Naval Information forces (NAVIFOR).
Russia’s Pacific Fleet To Get 15 New Vessels In 2020
– Naval News – Fifteen new warships and supply vessels will operate in the Far East by the end of 2020.
Russian Navy Landing Ship ‘Petr Morgunov’ In Final Stage Of Sea Trials
– Naval News – The ‘Petr Morginov’ big amphibious assault ship of project 11711 built by Yantar Shipyard began the final stage of running trials.
PLA drill in South China Sea about combat readiness, not seizing Taiwanese islands, experts say
– South China Morning Post – Aircraft carriers from the PLA Navy are set to take part in combat readiness exercises this summer in the South China Sea, and while the drills are likely to raise concerns in Taipei, their aim is not to seize Taiwan-controlled territory, military observers say.
Taiwan to fire up missile programme as Tsai puts focus on asymmetric warfare against mainland China
– South China Morning Post – Taiwan is expected to step up the development of missiles able to strike mainland China in the face of growing military threats by Beijing.
Australia, India, and the Islands of the Indo-Pacific
– War on the Rocks – As India and Australia prepare for a virtual summit next month between prime ministers amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, a possible strategic initiative could involve the cooperative use of their respective island territories in the Indian Ocean for strategic purposes. India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands are well positioned to offer significant advantages for both countries.
Project 22350 frigate Admiral Golovko launched
– BMPD – The Project 22350 frigate class moves forward…
(Thanks to Alain)
A contract was signed for two universal landing ships for the Russian Navy
– BMPD – the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation signed a contract with the Zaliv shipyard in Kerch for the construction of the first two Russian universal landing ships.
(Thanks to Alain)
Italian Navy Will Go Its Own Way With New Submarines
– Forbes – Italy’s Near Future Submarine (NFS) design will be Italian in nature.
(Thanks to Alain)
Venezuela Sends SAMs, Rocket Artillery To Caribbean Outpost As Iranian Tankers Get Closer
– War Zone – The Venezuelan military has pledged to protect the tankers, which are carrying gasoline, from any American attempts to seize them.
(Thanks to Alain)
Taiwan Launched A 600 Ton Coast Guard Cataraman That Can Fire 16 ASM
– Naval News – Taiwanese shipyard Jong Shyn Shipbuilding launched a new 600 tons patrol vessel for the Coast Guard on 27 April 2020. Based on the ROC Navy catamaran corvette, the new patrol vessel can be fitted with up to 16x anti-ship missiles.
Beyond Mercy: Navy’s COVID-19 Hospital Ship Missions and the Future of Medicine at Sea
– USNI News – For nearly two decades, the Navy has grappled with replacement concepts for the hospital ships. It’s eyeing retirements for the ships in 2035 and 2036 under its long-range shipbuilding plan, but those projections are far from certain.
We Must Win the Competition for Maritime Partners
– USNI Proceedings – The U.S. ally network is under attack, and the Navy must redouble its efforts to build and expand global partnerships.
Crafting the US Marine Corps Mystique: A Conversation With Heather Venable
– CIMSEC – Professor Heather Venable discusses her new book, How the Few Became the Proud: Crafting the Marine Corps Mystique, 1874-1918. It is a fascinating look at how the U.S. Marine Corps, struggling to define its role as a small fighting force in the earlier days of the republic, crafted a reputation and truly — a mystique — to ensure the service’s survival.
Dragon Against the Sun: Chinese Views of Japanese Seapower
– CSBA – Over the past decade, the Chinese navy overtook Japan’s maritime service in critical measures of power, including fleet size, aggregate tonnage, and firepower. China eclipsing Japan in naval power could introduce unwelcome strategic trends. It may well fuel an even more intense competition between Tokyo and Beijing, two seafaring rivals that already regard each other with deep suspicion. Japan’s displacement at sea could increase the probability of deterrence failure in the next crisis. It threatens to undercut U.S. confidence in Japan’s capacity to fulfill its allied responsibilities, sowing acrimony within the security partnership.
Has China’s Navy Caught Up (and Surpassed) Japan?
– National Interest – While the world focuses on the Coronavirus crisis, a new report lays out the rise of Chinese seapower and how it could impact Japan and the entire Indo-Pacific region.
The Russian Navy Is Bringing Serious Firepower to the Baltic
– National Interest – The head of the Russian Navy announced that the Baltic Fleet will be bolstered by the addition of six new warships, which will be armed with Kaliber cruise missiles.
The Amphibious Warship USS Portland Has Shot Down A Drone With Its New High-Power Laser
– War Zone – The successful test of the powerful laser is a major step forward for the Navy’s directed energy weapons ambitions.
How the U.S. Can Better Suppress Illegal Drug Trafficking in the Caribbean
– CIMSEC – The United States has the largest and most advanced navy in the world, and is an important actor in the Caribbean region and the Western Hemisphere as a whole. Increased maritime enforcement is vital, especially to combat drug trafficking in the region. However, aiming to control drug trafficking will not make these criminal groups disappear. They will take alternate routes and capitalize on trading other illicit goods. In order to establish a sustainable and peaceful approach to the region’s maritime security challenges, the U.S. must take a holistic approach to maritime security threats and empower local organizations to solve regional security challenges at their source.
Navy Releases RFP for Medium Unmanned Underwater Vehicle
– USNI News – The Navy this week released a request for proposals for a Medium Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (MUUV) that is meant to streamline two existing unmanned systems into a single open architecture UUV.
