– National Interest – James Holmes writes that the coming weeks and months may see irregular warfare prosecuted with newfound vigor through such familiar unconventional warmaking methods. It’s doubtful Tehran would launch into conventional operations, stepping onto ground it knows America dominates. To launch full-scale military reprisals would justify full-scale U.S. military reprisals that, in all likelihood, would outstrip Iran’s in firepower and ferocity.
Does China Really Need Aircraft Carriers?
– National Interest – In home water, no. Far away, for sure. One of the world’s top naval experts explains.
Royal Navy vessels sent to protect shipping in Strait of Hormuz
– Guardian – The Royal Navy will accompany ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid soaring tensions in the Middle East, following the US’s fatal drone strike on Iran’s top general.
Memo reveals Pentagon again tried to decommission the carrier Truman, cut an air wing
– Defense News – Despite causing a political firestorm earlier this year and forcing President Donald Trump to publicly reverse his administration’s position on the matter, the U.S. military again tried to push a plan that would lead to the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman retiring 25 years early and would defund a carrier air wing.
Russian coast guard receives new ice strengthened patrol vessel
– Barents Observer – The “Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky” will improve search- and rescue capabilities in Russia’s western Arctic region.
Northern Fleet’s new multipurpose Arctic tanker starts service in Barents Sea
– Barents Observer – The «Akademik Pashin» can simultaneously provide three vessels with fuels and other goods while sailing at open sea.
Troubles delay Russia’s prestigious ballistic missile sub
– Barents Observer – “Knyaz Vladimir”, the first upgraded Borey-A class submarine, will not be handed over to the navy by the end of 2019 as planned.
U.S. Fleet Created to Counter Russian Subs Now Fully Operational
– USNI News – The Navy’s fleet created to beef up its Atlantic presence against Russia is now fully operational.
As Navy Mulls Ship Cuts, New 2nd Fleet Opens For Business
– Breaking Defense – The 2nd Fleet says it’s ready to hunt Russian subs and start pushing into the Arctic. But it can only do that if the Navy can spare the ships.
The US military ran the largest stress test of its sealift fleet in years. It’s in big trouble
– Defense News – The U.S. military in September ordered the largest stress test of its wartime sealift fleet in the command’s history, with 33 out of 61 government-owned ships being activated simultaneously. The results were bad, according to a new report.
Fleet commander directs the U.S Navy’s surface force to develop concepts for unmanned ships
– Defense News – The head of the U.S. Navy’s Fleet Forces Command has ordered the service’s surface force to develop a concept of operations for both the large and medium unmanned surface vessels in development.
USS Bataan, Marines 26th MEU Heading to Middle East Amid Tensions with Iran
– USNI News – Amid rising tensions with Iran, the Navy is scrapping an exercise with Morocco as it redirects amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD-5) and embarked 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East
Proposal for sweeping cuts to US Navy shipbuilding, force structure could herald a new strategy, experts say
– Defense News – A sweeping series of proposed cuts to the U.S. Navy’s shipbuilding programs and force structure could herald a new strategy for a slimmed-down fleet, or could fizzle out in the budgetary process. But the fact that such a proposal is on the table in the first place shows the pressure under which the Defense Department is working as it anticipates a flat budget and a stack of modernization bills to pay, experts say.
Mainstreaming: The Case for Optimism within the Mine Warfare Community
– USNI Blog – With the release of the Presidential Budget that outlines unmanned and autonomous systems as the investment priority for the Department of Defense, it is clear to most in the mine warfare community that the U.S. Navy is stepping away from legacy mine countermeasures (MCM) platforms and toward the littoral combat ship (LCS) and the development of the MCM mission package. This shift will introduce capability and capacity gaps within the mission area, and while I don’t argue that many gaps exist, I believe the second- and third-order effects from operating MCM systems from mainstream platforms present an opportunity for the force to be optimistic about the future.
China delivers first littoral mission ship to Malaysia
– Global Times – China’s shipbuilding giant has delivered the first of four littoral mission ships (LMS) to the Royal Malaysian Navy, marking the high-level military cooperation between China and Malaysia.
PPA’s X-Band Radar Arrays Pass Milestone At Land-Based Test Facility
– Naval News – The PPA Programme achieved an important technical milestone in late December 2019: the integration of the first two X-Band fixed sensor arrays of the new Dual Band Radar (DBR) X/C at the test bed in Pratica di Mare airfield, near Rome.
Japan Takes First Steps Towards Refurbishment Of JMSDF Destroyer Izumo
– Naval News – Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has announced in its FY2020 defense budget that it will invest 3.1 billion yen (approximately US $ 28.3 million) to refurbish the destroyer Izumo which is the largest vessel in Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF).
China Launched The 24th Type 052D, 6th Type 055 & 71st Type 056 Vessels For PLAN
– Naval News – The Chinese naval shipbuilding industry maintained its impressive production rate in 2019. In the past week alone, no less than 3 destroyers and a corvette were launched by various yards.
(Thanks to Alain)
Submarine B-603 Volkhov of project 06363 launched
– BMPD – On December 26, 2019, in St. Petersburg, the Admiralty Shipyards JSC (part of United Shipbuilding Corporation – USC) held a launch ceremony for the B-603 large diesel-electric submarine being built for the Navy of the Russian Federation “ Volkhov ” (serial number 01615) of project 06363. This is the second of six submarines of project 06363 being built for the Pacific Fleet. (In Russian)
(Thanks to Alain)
Pilot shortages could ground China’s plans to develop combat-ready carrier fleet
– South China Morning Post – The country’s second aircraft carrier, the Shandong, officially entered service this month, but bottlenecks in training could hamper the navy’s effectiveness.
Veteran Sonarman Explains Why Pump-jets Are Superior To Props On Modern Submarines
– War Zone – The propeller is increasingly giving way to the more complex pump-jet propulsor on larger submarines. Here’s why.
Qasem Soleimani: US kills top Iranian general in Baghdad air strike
– BBC – Iran’s most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani, has been killed by a US air strike in Iraq. The 62-year-old spearheaded Iranian military operations in the Middle East as head of Iran’s elite Quds Force.
Australian navy begins evacuation of beach where thousands had sought refuge from fire
– Reuters – The Australian navy on Friday began the evacuations of some of the thousands of people stranded on the east coast of the fire-ravaged country as a searing weather front was set to whip up more blazes across the states of Victoria and New South Wales.
China Maritime Report No. 4: Civil Transport in PLA Power Projection
– China Maritime Studies Institute – The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has ambitious goals for its power projection capabilities. Aside from preparing for the possibility of using force to resolve Beijing’s territorial claims in East Asia, it is also charged with protecting China’s expanding “overseas interests.” These national objectives require the PLA to be able to project significant combat power beyond China’s borders. To meet these needs, the PLA is building organic logistics support capabilities such as large naval auxiliaries and transport aircraft. But it is also turning to civilian enterprises to supply its transportation needs.
Expeditionary Advanced Maritime Operations: How the Marine Corps Can Avoid Becoming a Second Land Army in the Pacific
– War on the Rocks – As the Marine Corps reorients towards great power competition in the Pacific, it faces the harsh reality that the uncontested maritime maneuver-space it once took for granted — upon which more than $3.4 trillion of annual international maritime trade and America’s most influential companies increasingly depend — is now blanketed with dense layers of Chinese long-range missile weapons engagement zones.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
You must be logged in to post a comment.