– US Naval War College Review – The security of Japan’s maritime borders is a top priority for the country’s government. The roles of the Japan Coast Guard and the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force are paramount in these security operations as Japan navigates an international landscape in the East China Sea complicated by an emboldened China.
Why a New Missile Arms Race with China Might Not Be Worth the Cost
– National Interest – As a new generation of “whiz-kids” takes up the challenge in the post-INF world of confronting Beijing in the Western Pacific, the Chinese are busy assessing possible countermeasures.
Rethink Navy Ballistic Missile Defense
– USNI Proceedings – The traditional ballistic missile defense mission is too narrow and operationally limiting.
2019 World Naval Operational News Highlights
The ten most significant naval news stories / trends / themes this year included:
- Iranian attacks on oil tankers, oil refineries, and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Persian Gulf as Western sanctions continue to harm the Iranian economy. Can the US continue to stay the course and resist retaliation?
- The steady increase in the size of the Israeli Navy and the increasing recognition within Israel of its importance in protecting its shipping lanes, littorals, ports, energy reserves and deterrence capability. Will it receive the increasing portion of the defense budget that it deserves in the future?
- The debut of Chinese containerized anti-ship cruise missiles that could turn their commerical fleet into warships and the commercial ports they control around the world into missile bases. How does this change the world-wide balance of naval power?
- China’s creative experiments at undersea replenishment using commercial ships to resupply its warships. When will the US Navy undertake similar experiments to help compensate for the small size and vulnerability of its logistics force? Amateurs talk tactics, generals (and admirals!) talk logistics…
- China’s firing of anti-ship ballistic missiles from its island bases in the South China Sea. As their militarization of the South China Sea progresses, where will they build their next sand castle?
- The year of the flattop. The US Marine Corps gained increased experience in operating its F-35Bs in large numbers from its amphibious assault ships (“Lightning Carrier” concept), the Royal Navy gained increased experience in operating its F-35Bs from its aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and commissioned its second carrier HMS Prince of Wales, and the Chinese Navy commissioned its second aircraft carrier Shandong and its first amphibious assault ship Type 075. When will the US Navy take significant steps towards extending the range of its carrier air wing, besides buying a token number of MQ-25 tankers?
- The chaotic leadership at the US Department of Defense in general with multiple Secretaries of Defense this year, and in the US Navy in specific with the resignations of the nominee for the Chief of Naval Operations and the Secretary of the Navy. What negative effect is this having on the Department of the Navy?
- The declaration of what the future of the Marines is by the new US Marine Corps Commandant: Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations, and their rapid progress towards defining it, wargaming it and starting to determine how they need to change their force structure to be able to implement it. Will the US Congress approve the changes in US Marine Corps structure necessary to accomplish it?
- As part of its definition of Distributed Maritime Operations, the US Navy is taking its first concrete steps towards building unmanned surface vehicles. Can the US Navy articulate its plan clearly to the US Congress so they will approve the budget for it? Was asking the US Congress to retire early a carrier (USS Truman) with 25 years of life left on it the right way for the Navy to try to fund its future?
- All the hype about hypersonic weapons. Will 2020 be the year that we see these weapons tested and deployed within a coherent concept of operations?
Pentagon proposal cuts an FFG(X) and an attack submarine out of the budget
– Defense News – A small but potentially substantial change in the Pentagon’s five-year budget projection slows down the buying profile for the U.S. Navy’s new frigate, which is expected to be awarded in 2020.
The Future Navy—Near-Term Applications of Artificial Intelligence
– US Naval War College Review – Many examples of task automation using artificial intelligence exist in private industry. The U.S. military has a great opportunity to exploit these developments and adapt them for use throughout the force, particularly in areas such as logistics and administration, freeing up man-hours and resources for other, more-complex activities.
China’s 10,000 ton-class destroyer equipped with long-range land-attack missiles
– Global Times – China’s latest 10,000 ton-class guided missile destroyer, the Type 055, is capable of launching long-range land-attack cruise missiles.
What Does the Navy Need from the Marine Corps?
– USNI Proceedings – Align the Commandant’s planning guidance and the Navy’s strategic vision.
Sevmash floats out second Yasen-M class nuclear attack submarine
– Barents Observer – After the two previous 4th generation multi-purpose submarines experienced long delays in construction, Russia now seems to have gain speed at the shipyard in Severodvinsk.
Research & Debate—The Medium Is the Message: Weaving Wargaming More Tightly into the Fabric of the Navy
– US Naval War College Review – By now, the challenge and threat of a rising and contentious China and an increasingly hostile Russia have penetrated the Navy’s corporate consciousness, and current leaders are taking steps to shift the service from a purely power- projection posture to one that focuses again on defending American command of the sea. The Navy is initiating adjustments to fleet design and architecture as well as a rebirth of fleet experimentation. While perhaps late in coming, these responses to the emergent challenges of our time are encouraging.
Advanced supply ship conducts carrier group supplement mission
– Global Times – China’s latest domestically developed comprehensive supply ship conducted its first aircraft carrier battle group supplement mission during a high sea exercise, prompting experts to say that Chinese aircraft carriers are ready to sail farther into deep blue waters.
Fighting Along a Knife Edge in the Falklands
– USNI Proceedings – To prepare for a fight over the western Pacific’s contested islands, there is no better resource than the 1982 Falklands War.
China’s third aircraft carrier in 2 years
– Global Times – China’s third aircraft carrier could be launched within the next two years, be combat ready by 2025 and feature an electromagnetic catapult and stealth fighter jets, a professional Chinese military magazine predicted.
What planes will be on board China’s second aircraft carrier, the Shandong?
– South China Morning Post – The first home-built Chinese carrier will deploy a range of aircraft from J-15 ‘Flying Shark’ fighter planes to anti-submarine ‘Sea Eagle’ helicopters.
What’s in a name? A history lesson in the case of China’s new aircraft carrier the Shandong
– South China Morning Post – Warship is named after the province where it will be based, but it also carries a message aimed at reminding the PLA Navy to learn from past humiliations
Turkish 1st Type 214 class submarine launched
– Naval Today – Turkey is pushing forward with the development of its submarine program, having witnessed its first Type 214 class submarine TCG Piri Reis hit the water on December 22 at the Gölcük Shipyard in northwestern Turkey.
(Thanks to Alain)
The latest Chinese aircraft carrier “Shandong” at sea
– BMPD – Beautiful images and video of the Shandong conducting flight operations. (In Russian)
(Thanks to Alain)
US Navy proposes decommissioning first 4 LCS more than a decade early
– Defense News – The US Navy has put forward a proposal to decommission the first four littoral combat ships in 2021 as part of a cost-savings measure, according to a memorandum from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget to the Defense Department.
Aerial early warning, reconnaissance training boosts PLA Navy’s capability in S. China Sea
– Global Times – A naval aviation division of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Southern Theater Command wrapped up an aerial early warning and reconnaissance training exercise recently, which experts said will boost China’s defense capability in the South China Sea as US warships and aircraft have trespassed frequently into Chinese territorial waters and airspace.
Pentagon proposes big cuts to US Navy destroyer construction, retiring 13 cruisers
– Defense News – The Department of Defense has sent a plan to the White House that would cut the construction of more than 40 percent of its planed Flight III Arleigh Burke destroyers in in fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
White House poised to blow up US Navy’s plans to recapitalize its aging sealift ships
– Defense News – The White House wants the U.S. Navy to go back to the drawing board and find new ways to replace its aging sealift fleet, a move that could set back efforts that military officials see as vital to maintaining the military’s ability to project power across the globe.
What If Trump Ordered a Naval Blockade of North Korea?
– National Interest – Could this be one way to respond to Kim’s supposed ‘Christmas gift’?
Report to Congress on Chinese Naval Modernization
– Congressional Research Service – The following is the Dec. 20, 2019 Congressional Research Service, China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress.
Learn About the 100-Megaton Nuclear Torpedos Russia Has Up Its Sleeve
– National Interest – These doomsday weapons are the latest iterations of the new arms race.
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