The Barents Observer – Two Russian vessels suspiciously zigzag in the Norwegian Sea, near the area of the ongoing German Maritime Firing Exercise.
Maritime Statecraft and its Future
CIMSEC – With shipping and shipbuilding receiving high-level political and diplomatic attention across two administrations after decades of neglect, the United States has the chance to realize a much-needed maritime revival. Having initiated a change in course from the past forty years of stagnation, Washington should double down on its winning bipartisan strategy to build maritime power through allied investments in U.S. shipping and shipbuilding—and keep off the rocks and shoals that could run the nascent American maritime renaissance aground.
Trump backs AUKUS deal, pushing to expedite sub delivery to Australia
Breaking Defense – Navy Secretary John Phelan said the ongoing review is designed to make the original deal “better,” to clear up some of the “ambiguity” and be a “win-win for everybody.”
CMSI Note 15: PLAN Chief of Staff VADM Li Hanjun: Fast-Rising Star of Training and Education Extinguished
China Maritime Studies Institute – The removal of VADM Li Hanjun would suggest that Xi believes he can burn through a tremendous amount of talent to make the PLA into the force he envisions. If Xi continues to feel he can afford this price, then we must seriously consider the possibility that a degree of military leadership churn is “priced in” to his approach to building the world class forces he seeks.
Echoes of the Flower-class corvettes – Royal Navy’s plans to increase anti-submarine warfare mass
Navy Lookout – In this guest article, Tom Hoyland considers the parallels between mass-produced wartime corvettes and today’s uncrewed systems as a means to increase anti-submarine effect.
Venezuela’s Supersonic Anti-Ship Missiles Are A Real Threat To American Warships
The War Zone – Fired by Su-30MK2V Flankers, the Russian-supplied Kh-31 anti-ship missiles are still a danger to U.S. warships operating near Venezuelan shores.
China’s burgeoning undersea sensor net aims to turn the ocean transparent
Defense News – The PLA is building a self-healing “kill web” to surpass today’s brittle kill chains.
First Sea Lord orders 100-day plan to fix Royal Navy submarine availability crisis
Navy Lookout – Defence Eye reports that General Sir Gwyn Jenkins has launched an urgent 100-day drive to tackle systemic submarine maintenance delays. He has ordered the creation of a new Submarine Maintenance Recovery Plan designed to urgently address issues causing extended patrols for the Vanguard-class and the chronically poor availability of Astute-class boats.
China Deploys Buoys, Security Officers to Scarborough Shoal Amid Philippine Drills
USNI News – Chinese forces deployed maritime security officers, fighter jets and new buoys to Scarborough Shoal on Friday following Philippine fishery support efforts at disputed maritime features across the South China Sea this week.
Why U.S. Strikes Against Drug Boats Matter
War on the Rocks – On Oct. 14, President Donald Trump announced on social media that the United States had once more attacked an alleged drug smuggling small boat in international waters off the coast of Venezuela. This is the latest strike in what the Trump administration has, in a notification to Congress, designated a “non-international armed conflict” against Tren de Aragua, a narco-group based in Venezuela. In other words, the administration has invoked war powers to justify the targeting of these vessels and, ostensibly, other assets of the organization in the future — perhaps even inside Venezuela. This assertion that the United States is now engaged in a “war” against Tren de Aragua matters for two profound reasons…
Chinese Submarine Warfare – A Natural Evolution or Game Changing Revolution?
RUSI – In a submarine arms race between China and the US, the PLAN appears to be closing the gap.
Ten German naval ships engage in missile firing at Norwegian Arctic test range
The Barents Observer – The German Navy starts its largest naval firing exercise in decades off the coast of Andøya, Norwegian Sea.
U.S. Kills 6 People in Fifth Strike on Suspected Drug Boat
USNI News – The U.S. military conducted a fifth strike on a suspected drug boat, killing six people in international waters off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday afternoon.
Russia’s Submarine Problem Is Much Worse Than Many Imagine
Naval News – The Russian submarine Novorossiysk, an Improved Kilo-class vessel, has been forced to limp home to the Baltic after a mechanical failure in the Mediterranean. While some reports exaggerated its plight, the incident exposes the Russian Navy’s declining presence in the region. Since losing its Syrian base at Tartus in 2024 and facing restrictions on movement through the Bosporus, Russia’s Mediterranean task force has largely collapsed. The Novorossiysk’s troubles highlight mounting maintenance issues and the broader erosion of Moscow’s naval reach in the Mediterranean.
The evolution of towed array sonar and its growing role in anti-submarine warfare
Navy Lookout – Towed array sonar is a sinuous cable of hydrophones trailed astern of warships and submarines, a technology that has taken ASW from speculative hunting at short range to a long-distance pursuit. Here we look at this key sensor and its development.
250 Years On, the US Navy Needs a “Great Relearning”
National Interest – James Holmes says that after resting on its laurels for the better part of three decades, the US Navy must relearn how to fight a naval war—potentially as the weaker combatant.
The Battleship Continues to Haunt the US Navy
National Interest – James Holmes writes in principle, he is all for fitting out a modern-day descendant of Iowa-class dreadnoughts. Whether doing so is practical is another question.
Chinese fighters intercepted Japanese surveillance planes during carrier exercise:
Breaking Defense – China’s unprecedented deployment of two aircraft carrier groups this summer provided Japanese surveillance aircraft with a wealth of information about the ships, a Japanese official told Breaking Defense, though the People’s Liberation Army — Navy (PLAN) made sure it wasn’t too easy to gather.
NATO sees Russian naval presence wane in the Mediterranean
Defense News – NATO officials have been tracking a decrease in Russia’s naval presence in the Mediterranean, which officials have attributed to readiness problems and the Baltic Sea and High North regions demanding greater attention in Moscow’s eyes.
Defense of Japan 2025
Japanese Ministry of Defense – This year’s defense white paper from the Japanese MOD.
Japan Will Arm Its Submarines With Long-Range Cruise Missiles
The War Zone – As well as a new sub-launched cruise missile, Japan will be getting upgraded versions of its Type 12 anti-ship missile for its surface combatants.
Philippine Coast Guard Resupplies Fishermen in the South China Sea Despite Chinese Harassment
USNI News – Manila provided supplies and protection to Philippine fishermen against a fleet of Chinese patrol ships, warships and aircraft operating in the South China Sea near two disputed maritime features on Tuesday.
As US military boosts posture in Caribbean, how does Venezuela’s navy stack up?
Breaking Defense – Official information is tough to come by, but analysts say open questions abound about Caracas’ biggest ticket vessels.
Strategic Minerals and the False Promise of Seabed Mining
CIMSEC – The seabed mining industry has stepped in and offered themselves as one of several proposed solutions to alleviating the problem of shortages of critical minerals. Unfortunately, these firms are mostly pitching false promises.
Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group leaves the Pacific and begins exercise with Indian Navy
Navy Lookout – After a visit to Japan that marked deepening UK-Japanese defence cooperation, HMS Prince of Wales and the UK-led Carrier Strike Group have begun the return leg of their global deployment. Departing Tokyo on 2 September, the group has continued to conduct a succession of multinational exercises.
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