– National Interest – James Holmes writes that “Chinese and American strategists, past and present, delight in invoking sporting metaphors to explain how they intend to do business. Sports talk commonly conjures up the image of two boxers squaring off in the Western Pacific. Defensive-minded pugilists circle warily, but neither relishes being the first to throw a haymaker. The bout may never happen if the contenders deter each other or see little point in a fistfight.”
Europe’s Operation Agénor Reaches Full Operational Capacity
– Naval News – The French ministry of the armed forces announced that Operation Agénor, the military component of the European led Maritime Situation Awareness in the Straight of Hormuz (EMASOH) initiative, has reached full operational capacity (FOC).
Trump called for a 350-ship fleet, but his budget falls short of even Obama-era goals
– Defense News – Despite campaigning on a 350-ship Navy, U.S. President Donald Trump is on track to leave office with a fleet smaller than the 308 ships called for by the Obama administration.
Interwar Navy-Marine Corps Integration: A Roadmap For Today
– CIMSEC – The path to the level of integration blazed in the interwar period provides a blueprint for integrating today’s Navy and Marine warfighting and warfighters.
US Navy submarine spotted with massive damage to its “stealth” coating
– War is Boring – The USS Colorado (SSN 788) was spotted with significant cracking along her hull, though she remained structurally sound and the damage appeared to only affect the Special Hull Treatment, an anechoic coating used to absorb sound waves.
Thanks to Alain!
For Amphibious and Expeditionary Forces, ‘East-East/West-West’ Is Best
– USNI Blog – Among the long list of Navy challenges resulting from cumulative program and budget decisions, two are of particular concern to Marines. The first is near term and centered on the poor availability of the current amphibious force. The second is the growing concern that the present amphibious force, even if funded to a better availability rate, may not be well suited to the likely conditions of modern peer warfare in regard to its primary purpose: the execution of amphibious assaults.
A New Carrier Strike Group Staff For Warfighting and Warfighter
– CIMSEC – The Carrier Strike Group staff could benefit from an overhaul. The complexity of the future fight in terms of surveillance, maneuver, and fires call for a level of synchronization and expertise in planning that the current staff is unprepared for.
Sub vs. Sub: ASW Lessons from the Cold War
– USNI Proceedings – The U.S. Navy needs to relearn lessons from the Cold War era and rebuild as it confronts a Russian and Chinese threat that is smaller but considerably more capable that its predecessors.
Inside Russia’s Laika Next Generation Attack Submarine
– Naval News – The Project 545 ‘Laika’ was first revealed in the background of a media report on a Russian defense exhibition in December. Although it has not been officially confirmed the new design is likely to be the next generation Russian attack submarine project known as Husky. The name Laika refers to a breed of Siberian hunting dog very similar to the husky.
Pentagon reveals deal with Britain to replace Trident
– Guardian – Britain has committed itself to buying a new generation of nuclear warheads to replace Trident, which will be based on US technology.
New PLA Navy Ship Identification Guide
– From the Office of Naval Intelligence
New Russian Navy Ship Identification Guide
– From the Office of Naval Intelligence
The Navy Wants A Rapidly Deployable Version Of Its Cold War Era Submarine Monitoring Network
– War Zone – The containerized concept would allow various types of ships to readily emplace these sonar arrays wherever and whenever necessary.
Cutter Funding Welcomed But More Investments Needed to Sustain Coast Guard
– USNI News – While the Coast Guard Fiscal Year 2021 budget funded two important cutters programs, the service’s top official said more investment is needed to support the demanding daily operations at sea and at home. That includes closing the growing backlog of infrastructure repairs and updating failing information technology and communications systems.
Canada’s CP-140 Aurora MPA Upgraded To Block IV Takes First Flight
– Naval News – The Government of Canada is modernizing its fleet of 14 CP-140 Aurora aircraft. The Aurora Incremental Modernization Project (AIMP) involves 23 individual projects to acquire, integrate and install new mission systems and sensors onto the CP-140 for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. This project is being executed in a phased approach with four blocks; blocks I, II and III are complete, and block IV is now in the implementation phase.
An Integrated Approach to Peer Competition in the Undersea Warfare Domain
– USNI Blog – Today, some U.S. military leaders would contend that the antisubmarine warfare (ASW) blade is dull because of a lack of attention during the global war on terror. U.S. forces track adversary submarines with MH-60R helicopters, P-8 Poseidon aircraft, surface ships, and submarines. Together, this array of tools could pose a serious challenge to U.S. adversaries. But the U.S. Navy currently does not collate these tools into a sufficiently coherent unit.
India clears $2.12 billion purchase of Hellfire-equipped naval helicopters
– Defense News – India on Wednesday cleared the purchase of 24 Sikorsky MH-60R naval multirole helicopters through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.
Navy Researching New Class of Medium Amphibious Ship, New Logistics Ships
– USNI News – The Navy’s research and development portfolio will devote $30 million to a “next-generation medium amphibious ship design” that will likely be based on an Australian designer’s stern landing vessel.
The Raisina Dialogues: Naval Convergence in the Indo-Pacific
– CIMSEC – The annual Raisina Dialogue, hosted by India since 2016, is useful for highlighting the process of maritime strategic convergence between Australia, France, India, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. The Raisina Dialogue was initially set up by India as a high-level forum for international discussion. Tellingly, Chinese officials have never been invited.
Australia Accepts 3rd & Final Hobart-Class Air Warfare Destroyer
– Naval News – NUSHIP Sydney, the third and last Hobart-class Air Warfare Destroyer (AWD), was provisionally accepted by the Commonwealth of Australia.
Iron Fist Teaching Japanese Amphib Force to Synch with U.S. Marines
– USNI News – This year’s Iron Fist exercise marked the first time this group of 310 Japanese soldiers – 3rd Company with 2nd Amphibious Rapid Deployment Regiment Landing Team – launched from a ship and landed ashore in a coordinated mission alongside Marines, who earlier had launched their AAVs from the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Portland (LPD-27).
Strengthening the U.S. Defense Maritime Industrial Base: A Plan to Improve Maritime Industry’s Contribution to National Security
– Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments – CSBA’s report finds that a robust maritime industry, and the policies that support it, are increasingly important in an era of great power competition.
Navy Confirms Global Strike Hypersonic Weapon Will First Deploy on Virginia Attack Subs
– USNI News – The Navy intends to deploy its conventional prompt strike hypersonic weapon on Virginia-class attack submarines, after previous discussions of putting the weapon on the larger Ohio-class guided-missile submarine (SSGN).
MHI To Build 2 Multi-Role Response Vessels For The Philippine Coast Guard
– Naval News – The Philippines Department of Transportation signed a procurement contract with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for two 94-meter Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) for the Philippine Coast Guard.
Reclaim the Coast Guard’s Military Roots
– USNI Proceedings – Despite a history of warfighting, the Coast Guard has trouble explaining why it is a military branch.
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