– War Zone – Australian, Japanese and U.S. forces combine to demonstrate an impressive show of integrated air and sea power in the tense Pacific.
South China Sea dispute: Australia says Beijing’s claims have no legal basis
– BBC – Australia has formally rejected China’s territorial and maritime claims in the South China Sea, aligning itself more closely with the US as tensions rise.
Regional Maritime Security Governance and the Challenges of State Cooperation on Piracy
– CIMSEC – When operating, pirates are not restrained by national borders, and exploit states’ inconsistencies in maritime security capacities and capabilities. Therefore, the unabatedly high numbers of pirate attacks underlines the need for littoral and user states to cooperate on counterpiracy.
Stealth UAVs Could Give China’s Type-076 Assault Carrier More Firepower
– Forbes – The Chinese Navy is building assault carriers to support amphibious operations, like a possible invasion of Taiwan or landings on disputed islands in the South China Sea. The first two ships, called LHDs (landing helicopter docks) in naval terminology, are still being outfitted. But information is already emerging suggesting that the follow-on design, the Type-076, will have much more firepower.
Make Maritime Stability Operations A Core US Coast Guard Mission Focus
– CIMSEC – The following provides a re-introduction to Maritime Stability Operations, its preeminence amid the multitude of modern maritime challenges, along with why the Coast Guard — in coordination with the U.S. Department of State — must not only be the lead implementing agency but make maritime stability operations its core or priority future mission focus.
Stop Seabed Mining Now
– CIMSEC – The deep sea is rapidly approaching an era reminiscent of the gold rush period of the American West, when pioneers could potentially strike it big solely by venturing out to where few others wanted to go. The risk is high, but the rewards are potentially massive – if one could get seabed mining to scale. The problem is that nobody should be mining the seabed anytime soon. The looming environmental cost is monumental, and the race for seabed resources could reinvigorate any number of maritime disputes. Is seabed mining really worth the trouble?
US Navy makes progress on aircraft carrier Ford’s bedeviled weapons elevators
– Defense News – The U.S. Navy is over the halfway mark in certifying the new aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford’s 11 advanced weapons elevators, which have been at the center of an ongoing controversy over delays in getting the Navy’s most expensive-ever warship ready for its first deployment.
US Navy’s top officer reveals grim new details of the damage to Bonhomme Richard
– Defense News – A series of explosions and a 1,200-degree inferno damaged 11 of the amphibious assault ship Bonhomme Richard’s 14 decks, according to a summary of the damage by the U.S. Navy’s top officer.
China expands its amphibious forces in challenge to U.S. supremacy beyond Asia
– Reuters – China is launching new amphibious assault ships and beefing up its marines. Its main aim is to project power far from home, but it is also strengthening its ability to invade Taiwan.
India, Australia, and Containing the China Challenge
– War on the Rocks – Australia’s strategy on engaging India has long revolved around the so-called “three Cs:” cricket, curry, and the Commonwealth. In light of the changing status of bilateral relations in 2020, let’s add a couple more Cs to the list: China, and containment of.
Norwegian car carrier collided with Korean submarine
– Maritime Bulletin – On Jul 17 Korean media reported minor collision between car carrier Hoegh London and Korean Navy submarine.
(Thanks to Alain)
Stena Line ferry in Irish Sea involved in ‘near miss’ with nuclear submarine
– Irish Mirror – A ferry carrying hundreds of passengers narrowly avoided smashing into a British nuclear-powered submarine killing many and sparking a maritime disaster. A ferry officer spotted the nuke sub’s periscope at the last minute and took action to avoid the collision in the Irish Sea two years ago, an investigation has discovered.
(Thanks to Alain)
Brazil activates a new Submarine Base da Ilha da Madeira
– El Snorkel – The Brazilian Navy activated this Friday the Ilha da Madeira Submarine Base, the most modern naval base of the South American giant and that will host the five submarines that the country is building, including one with nuclear power.
(Thanks to Alain)
Reflecting the Law of the Sea: In Defense of the Bay of Bengal’s Grey Area
– CIMSEC – The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), more than any other implement of international law, has underpinned the orderly delimitation and governance of the world’s oceans. Despite its status as an unparalleled accomplishment of diplomacy and international law, the treaty is not exhaustive or without ambiguities. One outstanding issue in delimitation arbitration is the relationship between the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf – specifically whether one state’s EEZ rights can overlap with another state’s continental shelf rights. What deserves greater attention is how recent court maritime boundary delimitations derided by some observers as legislation from the bench in fact follow the black letter of the law more closely than state practice or previous court decisions.
China steps up shipbuilding with two more aircraft carriers under construction towards 2035 navy goal
– South China Morning Post – China is expected to launch its next-generation aircraft carrier within a year and construction on a sister ship for the new giant vessel has been hastened, two sources close to the projects said.
Pakistan Navy Keeps Silent On Mystery Submarine But New Details Emerge
– Forbes – The Pakistani Navy has not yet officially acknowledged the submarine sitting on the quay outside its special forces headquarters. The submarine was first revealed on Forbes in April. Since then further satellite images have emerged. These provide additional clues about the unidentified boat.
(Thanks to Alain)
All-female crew embarks on Black Sea patrol in first for Russian Navy
– Reuters – In a first for the Russian Navy, an all-female navy crew carried out patrols on the Black Sea on Friday in preparation for Russia’s Navy Day celebrations later this month.
(Thanks to Alain!)
Protecting Guam from Chinese Missiles is Top Priority for INDO-PACOM’s Davidson
– USNI News – The head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command told reporters today he wants the Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system to bolster the defense of Guam from Chinese missiles.
Reagan CSG Drilling with Australian, Japanese Ships in Philippine Sea
– USNI News – The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is now operating alongside Australian and Japanese forces in the Philippine Sea in a large trilateral exercise involving nine ships, a carrier air wing and other aircraft.
“Cocaine Logistics” For the Marine Corps
– War on the Rocks – In a future conflict with China, how would the Marine Corps supply small units deep inside enemy controlled areas, hundreds or even thousands of miles from their logistics bases?
US Navy to develop drone deployment strategy
– Defense News – The U.S. Navy’s top officer has ordered his staff to develop a comprehensive strategy to field unmanned systems in the air, on the water and under the sea over the coming years.
US Navy takes delivery of new, more powerful radar
– Defense News – The U.S. Navy has taken delivery of the first AN/SPY-6 radar array for the Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Jack Lucas, which was designed and built specifically to accommodate the upgraded air and missile defense radar.
U.S.-Ukraine Sea Breeze Exercise Starts as Russian Black Sea Fleet Holds Snap Drills
– USNI News – Naval drills led by the U.S. and Ukraine kicked off today in the Black Sea, while Russia called for a series of nearby snap naval drills.
Carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Operating in Red Sea, Nimitz Exercising with Indian Navy
– USNI News – Admiral James Kirk is in the Indian Ocean…
Rethinking the U.S. Navy’s Carrier Fleet
– War on the Rocks – There has never been a better moment for a fundamental reassessment of the country’s naval posture. In the words of one analyst, “If the fleet were designed today, with the technologies now available and the threats now emerging, it likely would look very different from the way it actually looks now.”
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