– National Interest – It feels like 1973 again in the Mediterranean Sea. That’s when the Soviet Navy administered a rude shock to Western navies in the Eastern Mediterranean, deploying a squadron that outnumbered the Italy-based U.S. Sixth Fleet during that year’s Arab-Israeli war. America sided with Israel, the Soviet Union with the Arab powers. For a time it appeared the Yom Kippur War might ensnare the superpower navies. In other words, war between small Middle East allies might embroil the U.S. Navy and Soviet Navy in combat.
Et tu Vanuatu?
– USNI Blog – Geography matters. Last week saw a rather interesting rash of articles of alarm and concern that, well beyond the South China Sea, that China was building a “military base” in Vanuatu.
France turns to plan B when missile launch fails during Syria airstrikes
– Defense News – When a French multimission frigate failed to fire its salvo of three naval cruise missiles during last weekend’s joint airstrike on Syria, the military drew on a backup plan. The frigate’s sister ship, the Languedoc, instead launched its naval cruise missiles at the three Syrian targets.
The Next America Class Amphibious Assault Ship Will Almost Be In a Class of its Own
– War Zone – USS Bougainville (LHA-8) will be built with a well-deck unlike her two sister ships, but that’s just one of its unique features.
Navy Plans to Spend $21B Over 20 Years to Optimize, Modernize Public Shipyards
– USNI News – The Navy will execute a $21-billion, 20-year public shipyard optimization plan as a series of small projects that can be done even as maintenance work on submarines and aircraft carriers continues at the yards.
The Navy Eyes Replacing Its Hospital Ships With A Fleet of Smaller Medical Vessels
– War Zone – The service says a mix of less capable ships that are cheaper to operate might be better for future, distributed operations.
This remote controlled ‘naval mine’ attaches to ships, explodes on command
– Defense News – A leading Turkish drone manufacturer says it developed a “mobile naval mine” that can blow up warships of all types.
2018 World Navies in Review
– USNI Proceedings – This review of the world’s navies presents a snapshot of activities and developments during the past year. It is arranged by region, with nations discussed alphabetically under each subheading.
Navy F/A-18 Legacy Hornets Have Taken Their Last Cruise Aboard A U.S. Aircraft Carrier
– War Zone – 33 years after the F/A-18’s first cruise, the Navy’s Legacy Hornet fleet has made its last scheduled deployment aboard a carrier.
Autonomous weapons are a game-changer
– The Economist – AI-empowered robots pose entirely new dangers, possibly of an existential kind.
Syria Struck From All Sides, No Missiles Intercepted
– Breaking Defense – In one of the largest coordinated international air operations in years, over 100 American, British and French guided missiles slammed into three Syrian chemical weapons facilities early Saturday morning, launched from an armada of aircraft, submarines, and ships offshore.
Weapons the US, UK and France used to target Syria
– CNN – The United States combined with the armed forces of the United Kingdom and France early Saturday to carry out airstrikes against the chemical weapons facilities maintained by the regime of Syria. Here are some of the weapons they used.
United States, France, And UK Begin Air Strikes On Syria
– War Zone – The strikes come after days of conflicting reports, rapid diplomatic exchanges, and threats of retaliation from Russia.
Navy, Marines Testing Unmanned Systems to Learn Integration Lessons
– USNI News – The Navy hopes to eventually make unmanned systems just one tool among many for commanders to pick from. However, to get to that point the service will have to get unmanned systems into the hands of warfighters to work out the kinks.
Navy Will Extend All DDGs to a 45-Year Service Life; ‘No Destroyer Left Behind’ Officials Say
– USNI News – The Navy will keep every one of its Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in service for 45 years, extending the life of the entire class. The move allows the Navy to reach a 355-ship fleet by 2036 or 2037.
The Navy’s top submarine builder talks Virginia-class challenges, successes
– Defense News – Whether it’s 355 ships or 342, the Navy is getting bigger. And as it looks to expand its fleet, the service is looking to its Virginia-class program as a model for success.
Navy Designates Upcoming LX(R) Amphibs as San Antonio-Class LPD Flight II
– USNI News – The Navy’s dock landing ship replacement program officially has a name: San Antonio-class LPD Flight II.
Northrop to begin cutting in aerial refueling capability in E-2D Advanced Hawkeye production this year
– Defense News – This year, Northrop Grumman will begin manufacturing the first E-2D Advanced Hawkeye early warning aircraft built from the ground up with an aerial refueling capability.
Navy’s top officer lays out aggressive new cruiser replacement strategy
– Defense News – Buoyed by rapid progress on the next-generation Frigate, the U.S. Navy’s top officer is ready to quickly move out on the long-debated replacement for the Navy’s aging cruisers.
Lockheed Is Already Pushing A Stealthy Version Of Its MQ-25 Stingray Tanker Drone
– War Zone – The sad thing is, the whole idea originally was for the Navy to get a stealth drone, but it ended up getting a flying gas can.
British warship to help police North Korean sanctions
– Reuters – A British warship “changed its deployment” and arrived in Japan on Wednesday to join efforts to police U.N. sanctions imposed on North Korea over its nuclear and missile programs.
New undersea drones are smaller, cheaper and can be refueled deep under water
– Defense News – Bright yellow underwater drones were a visible highlight on the exhibition floor here at the Sea-Air-Space Exposition. Among the autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) featured: a new high-speed, micro-sized vehicle by Hydroid and a subsea drone refueling station by Teledyne Energy.
In Japan, a hard-hit US Navy fleet is steadying on a new course
– Defense News – Seven months have passed since 10 of McCain’s sailors were killed in a preventable collision, a loss made all the more shocking by the fact that it came just a few weeks after a collision between the destroyer Fitzgerald and a container ship claimed seven lives. While much work and many months lie ahead before McCain will go back in the water and on patrol in the Pacific, the wound in her port side is being healed. Seventh Fleet is healing as well.
Sweden navy chief aims to grow sea power
– Defense News – Sweden, one of the only non-NATO aligned nations on the Baltic Sea, is developing a range of naval assets.
Confessions Of A U.S. Marine F/A-18 Hornet Maintainer
– War Zone – What it really takes to keep the USMC’s tired Hornet fleet in the air and first-hand experience of Marine Aviation’s waning readiness.
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