Naval News – The United States’ State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Germany of Boeing P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and associated support, and related equipment.
For first time, France and Cyprus join Israel’s Noble Dina naval drill
Defense News – France and Cyprus for the first time have joined the Israeli Navy-led Noble Dina naval exercise, which takes place annually but was canceled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Implementing National Maritime Strategy With a Shrunken Fleet
CIMSEC – The current structure of the Unified Command Plan bakes in an inefficient approach to the execution of the national grand strategy and its maritime component. When the United States enjoyed a robust force structure this inefficiency could be tolerated; in the current environment of resource scarcity it creates more strategic risk than is necessary by limiting the global mobility of naval forces, and to some extent other forces.
France In The Indo-Pacific: A Mediating Power?
Breaking Defense – France has ramped up activity in the region in accordance with its 2019 Indo-Pacific strategy.
Italian Carriers Upgraded
StrategyPage – Italy is going to convert one of its two aircraft carriers, the 35-year-old Garibaldi, to a platform for launching SLVs (Satellite Launch Vehicle) rockets that put satellites into orbit.
Turkey plans to deploy attack drones from its amphibious assault ship
Defense News – The Turkish government hopes to transform its landing helicopter dock Anadolu into a carrier ship for attack drones, and has already begun tests to see if the dock ship is strong enough for the mission.
Royal Malaysian Navy Launches ScanEagle UAS Squadron
Naval News – The Royal Malaysian Navy has launched its first ever Unmanned Aerial System Squadron. The newly created “Squadron 601” will operate the Insitu ScanEagle UAS.
Israel ‘bombed a dozen ships carrying Iranian oil or weapons in past two years’
Guardian – Israel has bombed at least a dozen ships en route to Syria during the past two years, most of which have been carrying Iranian oil.
‘We’re going to lose fast’: U.S. Air Force held a war game that started with a Chinese biological attack
War Zone – Last fall, the U.S. Air Force simulated a conflict set more than a decade in the future that began with a Chinese biological-weapon attack that swept through U.S. bases and warships in the Indo-Pacific region. Then a major Chinese military exercise was used as cover for the deployment of a massive invasion force. The simulation culminated with Chinese missile strikes raining down on U.S. bases and warships in the region, and a lightning air and amphibious assault on the island of Taiwan.
The U.S. Navy’s Submarine-Launched Aerial Drone Capacity Is Set To Greatly Expand
War Zone – The Blackwing drones, which can be fired from countermeasures launchers, will carry surveillance payloads, and possibly more in the future.
US Navy’s Zumwalt-Class Destroyers Update With NAVSEA
Naval News – Here is the latest information on the status of the three DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyers.
The 100,000 Ton US Navy Ship That Iran Is Copying
Naval News – The US Navy’s gigantic Expeditionary Mobile Base (ESB) ships are among the largest naval vessels afloat. They are part of America’s unrivalled global reach, but they are no longer unique. Iran is testing a similar Forward Base Ship which is comparable in size.
Predictable Unpredictability? U.S. Arctic Strategy and Ways of Doing Business in the Region
War on the Rocks – The U.S. Navy approach toward the Arctic appears to be fraught with contradiction. Its new strategic plan for the region, Blue Arctic: a Strategic Plan for the Arctic, was published in January 2021 and calls for a stronger U.S. footprint and greater influence in the region. In line with the tri-service maritime strategy, it highlights an increased urgency to strengthen Arctic deterrence without undermining stability, reducing trust, or triggering conflict. The Navy, however, seems to be pursuing the two main goals — deterrence and stability — with contradictory methods at times.
China Is Showing Its Commitment to Invading Taiwan By Sea
National Interest – The Chinese have been heavily investing in amphibious capabilities.
Indian Navy Commissions 3rd Scorpene-Class Submarine INS Karanj
Naval News – The Indian Navy today commissioned INS Karanj, its third Scorpene-class submarine. Karanj follows INS Kalvari and INS Khanderi. Three more submarines of the class will join the Indian Navy fleet as part of P-75 program.
New Details Emerge On UK-Built FACM Vessels For Ukraine
Naval News – New details on the Ukrainian navy’s future missile boats emerged from an interview given by British military attaché in Ukraine to the local news paper The Day.
Russian Black Sea Fleet Activity in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea: Implications For the Israeli Navy
CIMSEC – The Russian Navy’s presence and maritime control in the Mediterranean region threaten Israel’s vessels and aircraft operations, essentially constituting access denial operations carried out by the Russian Navy in the Mediterranean arena towards the Israeli Navy.
British Armed Forces Poised To Make Big Cuts To F-35 Plans And More
War Zone – As the United Kingdom Armed Forces brace themselves for the government’s next defense review, signs point to significant cuts to the Royal Air Force and the British Army, including a potential reduction of the planned F-35B stealth fighter fleet by around two-thirds.
JMSDF Commissions New Hibiki-Class SURTASS / Ocean Surveillance Ship JS Aki
Naval News – A new ocean surveillance ship, JS Aki (AOS-5203), was commissioned by the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.
Lada Languishes
StrategyPage – In early 2021, when Russia announced its planned warship deliveries, one delivery was considered doubtful. This involved actually putting a second Lada class diesel-electric boat into service by the end of 2021.
The Navy Needs New Game Changers in Mine Countermeasures Warfare
USNI Blog – The “final solution” to mine countermeasures (MCM) warfare essentially is the same as it was during World War II, and that is to detonate the mine(s) (usually) in place…Therefore, once detected, located, and marked, how best to neutralize enemy mines?
Tackling Maritime Cyber Threats: A Call For Cross-Stakeholder Cooperation
CIMSEC – Earning serious proficiency in offensive and defensive cyber capabilities will become fundamental. Especially in the maritime domain, with its vast interdependencies, cyber threats must be faced cooperatively to ensure a resilient and reliable cyberspace, which has become indispensable for the functioning of the global maritime commons.
The stealth destroyer Zumwalt sails through rough seas testing
Defense News – The stealth destroyer Zumwalt aced its rough seas testing, leaders from Naval Sea Systems Command said in a recent release.
The United States and Japan Still Benefit From Complimentary Maritime Capabilities
War on the Rocks – Japan may be moving to a more independent maritime force structure — will that make the U.S.-Japanese alliance stronger?
Japan’s New Aegis Ships Will Need To Counter Hypersonic Weapons
Naval News – Following the sudden announcement of the suspension of the Aegis Ashore deployment, the Japanese government announced in December 2020 a plan to procure two “Aegis System-equipped ships” for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. The ability of these ships to deal with Hypersonic Weapons is a key issue.
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