Breaking Defense – Existing amphibious ships might be the “Swiss Army Knife of the fleet,” but the Navy and Marines want an enemy who “jumps on it in the opening gambit…they’re gonna have the shock of their life.”
How to Prevent a War in Asia
Foreign Affairs – The resurgence of U.S.-Chinese competition poses a host of challenges for policymakers—related to trade and economics, technology, global influence, and more—but none is more consequential than reducing the risk of war. Unfortunately, thanks to today’s uniquely dangerous mix of growing Chinese assertiveness and military strength and eroding U.S. deterrence, that risk is higher than it has been for decades, and it is growing.
Russian Submarine Sets Off Alarm Bells After Surfacing Near Alaska Amid Rash Of Posturing
War Zone – Russia is holding its largest naval drills in the Pacific in recent memory as the U.S. Navy’s big RIMPAC wargames are underway.
China’s navy goes back to work on big ambitions but long-term gaps remain
South China Morning Post – China’s efforts to modernize and expand its naval forces have once again kicked into high gear after disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, pressing on with efforts to have at least four carrier strike groups in the next decade. But military watchers and insiders said that even without the coronavirus disruptions, China still had a long way to go to train the personnel it needed to realise its ambitions.
China’s navy drills in 4 regions show ability to counter US, observers say
South China Morning Post – China is conducting military drills almost simultaneously in four sea regions, a rare move possibly designed to signal its readiness to handle confrontation with the United States and self-ruled Taiwan.
Chinese navy may launch eighth Type 055 stealth destroyer later this year
South China Morning Post – China is expected to launch an eighth guided-missile destroyer designed for the navy’s aircraft carrier strike groups llater this year.
China’s Type 075 amphibious assault ship completes trial, but needs aircraft
South China Morning Post – China’s first Type 075 landing helicopter assault dock completed its first test voyage on Sunday, and is expected to join the Chinese Navy’s marines next year, military analysts said. However, a military insider said the amphibious warship was still awaiting the launch of the aircraft it would carry: the naval versions of the Z-8J and Z-20J, which are modified based on the air force’s Z-8 and Z-20 armed helicopters.
Chinese military fires ‘aircraft-carrier killer’ missile into South China Sea in ‘warning to the United States’
South China Morning Post – China launched two missiles, including an “aircraft-carrier killer”, into the South China Sea on Wednesday morning, a source close to the Chinese military said, sending a clear warning to the United States.
China Freaks Out Over Supposed U-2 Spy Plane Flight Over Its Naval Exercise
War Zone – China is making a big deal out of a supposed overflight by a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane of one of its currently underway People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) exercises.
Turkish submarines surrounded by Greek military blared with ear piercing frequencies & Beatles song
Greek City Times – In previous days, the episode between the Greek Limnos frigate and the Turkish Kemal Reis frigate were broadcast to the world, as were the air confrontations between Greek and Turkish jets, but lesser known is what has been happening underwater with Turkish submarines in Greek maritime space.
(Thanks to Alain)
Aegean Tensions: Turkish submarine had difficult night surrounded by Greek helicopter & stealth submarine
Greek City Times – There is undeniable superiority of Greek submarines over the Turkish ones, something that the Turkish lieutenant commander of the “Type 209” submarine, of older technology and German construction, discovered.
(Thanks to Alain)
U.S. Navy’s most advanced attack submarine surfaced outside Tromsø
Barents Observer – The USS Seawolf conducted a brief stop in the fjord near Tromsø on August 21 for personnel change before sailing out to waters inside the Arctic Circle.
Surprise! The Chinese Navy Just Transformed This Cargo Ship Into An Instant Helicopter Carrier
Forbes – In a creative—some might say desperate—bid to bolster its amphibious fleet, the U.S. Navy in recent years has been building so-called “expeditionary sea-base ships” that are little more than commercial heavy-load carrier ships with a gray coat of paint and some military radios. Now the Chinese fleet has demonstrated the same creativity—or desperation. A commercial heavy-load carrier flying a Hong Kong flag recently supported a Chinese naval exercise, functioning as a base for at least two army helicopters.
(Thanks to Alain)
The Commandant Needs Our Help: Accelerating Marine Corps Force Development
CIMSEC – There are three ways that Marines can help the Commandant reduce the inevitable friction associated with changing the Marine Corps to match emerging operational realities: creativity, concepts, and communications.
F-16V Fighters For Taiwan: $8 Billion Well Spent? Yes and No
National Interest – James Holmes writes that it is incumbent on President Tsai and her advisers to mull the opportunity costs of the looming F-16V purchase. What Taipei spends on Vipers cannot be spent on something else, barring a major increase in the fraction of GDP allocated to defense. If $8 billion would buy platforms and weapons with greater operational and strategic heft, budgeteers should redirect funding to procure them.
Twenty-First-Century Innovation Pathways for the U.S. Navy in the Age of Competition
– US Naval War College Review – Recent programs such as the littoral combat ship, the Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroyer, and the Ford-class aircraft carrier all have highlighted the Navy’s failure to produce innovative, afford-able ships in the quantity and of the quality needed to configure a larger, redesigned fleet. Unless the Navy can address mistakes made in these programs it will have difficulty innovating success-fully—with potentially disastrous consequences.
Prospects for game-changers in submarine-detection technology
The Strategist – Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) has always been a game of hide and seek, with adversarial states looking to adopt and deploy emerging technologies in submarine stealth or detection to give them the strategic edge. The advantage has shifted back and forth, but, on the whole, it has proved easier to hide a submarine than find one: the oceans are wide, deep, dark, noisy, irregular and cluttered.
US Should Stop Weapons Flowing To Libya
Breaking Defense – A growing arms race in the Eastern Mediterranean pits several U.S. allies against each other, raising the risks of confrontation between two NATO allies.
Naval Shipyards Still Under-Resourced; Delays On Sub, Carrier Work Will Continue
USNI News – It’s no secret that the Navy’s four public shipyards have prioritized attack submarines last, instead of focusing the yards’ limited resources on aircraft carrier maintenance and ballistic missile submarine refuelings. But even though the SSBN refuelings are drawing to an end, which should free up resources for SSN maintenance, a Government Accountability Office report released today states the time SSNs will sit idle waiting for maintenance work to begin will actually continue to increase for the next two years.
Chinese Navy Seen Near Pakistani Warships Offshore of Karachi
National Interest – Why China would be interested in a Cold War-era French submarine design still remains a mystery.
(Thanks to Alain)
After collision, Athens plans next steps
Ekathimarini – Greek Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos on Tuesday congratulated the captain of the Greek frigate Limnos that accidentally collided with a Turkish ship during a standoff in the Eastern Mediterranean last week and indicated that Greece is prepared to hold talks with Turkey on the condition that it withdraws its warships and seismic research vessels from the area of the Greek continental shelf.
(Thanks to Alain)
Greece – Hellenic Army Detected the Infiltration of a Turkish Submarine in the Strait of Kafireas
International Security and Conflict Research – A Turkish submarine, Type-209 was located and pursued by Greek anti-submarine helicopters last night in the area of Cape Kafireas in Evia, a few miles off the coast of Attica.
(Thanks to Alain)
See maps and images from Greece’s impressive joint military exercise with France
Greek City Times – A map of the Greek-French joint military exercises held today in the sea area the Eastern Mediterranean, including the area where Turkey has committed illegal naval maneuvers, has been published by Proto Thema.
(Thanks to Alain)
It took 36 hours for the US Marine Corps to 3D print buildings intended to hide military vehicles
3D Adept Media – Professionals in the 3D printing for construction sector are moving the industry around the world with new funding and new projects. The last project we discovered is that of the ICON team, the non-profit organization whose mission is to 3D print homes in underserved communities. This time around, their latest project will take on another dimension as the team has worked with the U.S. military to support military operations and crisis response efforts around the world.
(Thanks to Alain)
Britain moves to boost Ukraine’s naval chops
Defense News – Britain is stepping up its military support in Ukraine with an announcement that the U.K. will lead a multinational maritime initiative to train the Ukrainian navy.
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