Defense News – Repeated failures in the propulsion train on the Freedom-class littoral combat ships Little Rock and Detroit have raised the specter of a class-wide design flaw that could trigger an expensive reworking of a crucial component on 17 of the Navy’s small surface combatants.
Marine Infantry Training Shifts From ‘Automaton’ to Thinkers, as School Adds Chess to the Curriculum
USNI News – The Marine Corps is about to revolutionize infantry training, more than doubling the length of initial training for enlisted infantry Marines and weighing consolidation of its core grunt specialties into a single, all-around infantry warfighter.
Russia’s Kazan nuclear sub to complete state trials this year — fleet commander
TASS – Russia’s latest nuclear-powered submarine Kazan will complete all state trials by the end of the year, Northern Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Alexander Moiseyev told the Krasnaya Zvezda newspaper.
(Thanks to Alain)
Taiwan says US has approved key submarine technology sale
AFP – The United States has issued an export permit for a digital sonar system critical to Taiwan’s indigenous submarine project. The digital sonar system and an integrated combat system are two key components Taiwan needs to build its own modern submarines.
LCS USS Gabrielle Giffords Nabs Narco Sub in the Pacific
USNI News – Operating in the Eastern Pacific with a Coast Guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET) aboard, the USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS-10) interdicted a so-called narco submarine on Dec. 5.
The US Navy has an upgraded Tomahawk: Here’s 5 things you should know
Defense News – The U.S. Navy test-fired its new Block V Tomahawk from the destroyer Chafee in December, introducing the newest generation of the venerable Tomahawk cruise missile to its arsenal.
Explosive-Laden Boat Strikes Oil Tanker In Saudi Arabian Port
War Zone – The attack has the hallmarks of past operations by Iranian backed Yemeni-rebels and follows weeks of similar incidents in the region.
A Berlin Strategy: How Should America Respond to China’s Taiwan Threats
National Interest – James Holmes writes how a now nearly forgotten flashpoint during the Cold War could help Washington form a response if tensions rise around the Taiwan Strait.
U.S. Navy Submarine Fleet To Be Overtaken By China Before 2030
Naval News – The next ten years could see a major shift in the rankings however. Based on current plans and projections, the U.S. and China will trade places by 2030.
Taiwan’s CSBS Unveils New Frigate Design For ROC Navy
Naval News – Taiwan’s largest shipbuilding company, CSBC Corporation held its investor’s conference on December 4, 2020. The image of a new Frigate (FFG) design was featured during the conference. CSBC revealed its plan to become the contractor of the Republic of China
Trump’s massive Navy buildup bets on savings that wont materialize, experts say
Defense News – Experts and analysts who reviewed the plan for Defense News were skeptical of the mechanisms that the White House Office of Management and Budget used to pay for the increases, including assuming a complete withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, back office savings and cutting legacy equipment.
Four navy ships to help protect fishing waters in case of no-deal Brexit
The Guardian – Four Royal Navy patrol ships will be ready from 1 January to help the UK protect its fishing waters in the event of a no-deal Brexit, in a deployment evoking memories of the “cod wars” in the 1970s.
Navy Creates New Warrant Officer Role To Operate Its Carrier-Based Tanker Drones
War Zone – The U.S. Navy has announced that its Boeing MQ-25 Stingray unmanned aerial vehicles, which will provide aerial refueling from its aircraft carriers, will be operated by warrant officer with a new specialty designation — the Aerial Vehicle Operator.
China launches ‘gray-zone’ warfare to subdue Taiwan
Reuters – Having crushed the resistance to its rule in Hong Kong, China is moving against Taiwan with irregular tactics meant to exhaust the island’s military – which is in bad shape to confront the threat. It’s unclear how the incoming Biden administration will respond.
‘Awesome’ New Submarine-Launched Drone Guides Torpedo Attacks From Unprecedented Range
Forbes – The U.S. Navy has deployed new drones launched from submarines to spy out targets and enable torpedo attacks on ships sailing far beyond the horizon. By acting as the sub’s eyes and ears, the drone can greatly increase its strike range – and keep the submarine well away from any defensive weapons or sensors.
Nuclear-sub builder Sevmash now has 30,000 employees
Barents Observer – Russia’s construction of nuclear-powered submarines hits post-Soviet peak. 15 sub are currently at different stages of readiness at the shipyard in Severodvinsk.
White House-Led Navy Shipbuilding Plan Set to Push Boundaries of Pentagon Budgets, Industry Capacity
USNI News – The administration today released a long-range Navy shipbuilding plan that is likely to set up a fight for resources between the Navy and its sister services and between the Pentagon and Congress over how quickly to pursue these changes.
South China Sea: how a Spratlys radar system could give the PLA an information edge
South China Morning Post – China’s sweeping communications network in the Spratlys will have a decisive role to play in Beijing’s crisis management plans to deal with its increasing tensions with the US in the South China Sea, according to military reports and analysts.
Israeli Offering Could Meet U.S. Navy’s Requirements For A New Submarine Launched Drone
War Zone – The U.S. Navy recently announced that it was interested in acquiring unmanned aircraft that its submarines could launch from the three-inch launchers they all have for deploying signal flares and marine markers. At the same time, earlier this year, an Israeli firm unveiled a line of encapsulated drones that can be deployed from 40mm infantry grenade launchers, 66mm grenade launchers on vehicles, as well as underwater launch systems.
China’s first vessel-borne lightweight helicopter drone makes maiden flight
Global Times – China’s first domestically developed vessel-borne lightweight helicopter drone has recently made its maiden flight, its maker announced. It is designed to conduct maritime monitoring and identification tasks, and is expected to be used on board smaller vessels including corvettes and coast guard ships for missions like patrol and search and rescue, analysts predicted.
Taiwan, US count on giant radar system for early warning if PLA attacks
South China Morning Post – Taiwan’s long-range radar system – which provides early warning of ballistic missiles and warplanes – has become more important for both the self-ruled island and the United States as tensions rise in the region, according to analysts.
PLA anti-submarine warfare aircraft conducts depth charge attack drills, seen as deterrent to Taiwan secessionists
Global Times – In a rare report shared with media, an anti-submarine warfare aircraft of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was shown dropping a new type of depth charge in a recent training exercise, demonstrating its capability to not only detect, but also launch attacks on submarines.
Marine Corps F-35Cs Make First Arrested Landings At An Expeditionary Airfield
War Zone – When it comes to austere operations, the F-35C shows it can do much of what the F-35B can and more as the Marines gear up for a fight in the Pacific.
Japan suspicious as Chinese, South Korean companies buy land near military sites
South China Morning Post – A suspicious increase in the number of foreign companies purchasing plots of land close to Japanese military installations has prompted Tokyo to consider restricting such sales.
PLA naval escort taskforce conducts in-port replenishment in Djibouti
China Military Online – The comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu (Hull 960) attached to the 36th escort taskforce of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy left the Port of Djibouti recently after more than 7 hours’ in-port replenishment. This is the first in-port replenishment of the taskforce since it set sail from China on September 3. And all the supplies of the in-port replenishment came from domestic China.
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