Navy Lookout – A Merlin helicopter equipped with the Crowsnest Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) system took off from RNAS Culdrose today for the long journey to Cyprus. Equipped with radar and specialist operators on board, the aircraft is ideal for tracking drones flying over water.
Italy, allies send warships to protect Europe’s southeastern edge from Iran strikes
Defense News – Italy will send a naval vessel or vessels to protect Cyprus from further Iranian attacks “in the next few days,” Italy’s defense minister said on Thursday.
French Navy Pledges 10 Additional Warships to Middle East, Escorts for Strait of Hormuz
USNI News – The French Navy will send eight frigates and two amphibious assault ships to the Eastern Mediterranean and Red Sea, joining aircraft carrier FS Charles De Gaulle (R91), following an Iranian drone attack on a Cyprus-based joint operating installation.
US, Iran spar over status of Iranian warship sunk by submarine
Defense News – The United States and Iran have offered sharply different accounts of the sinking of an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean last week, with Washington rejecting Tehran’s claim the vessel was unarmed and Iranian officials insisting it was operating in a noncombat role.
Mission and Weapon Drive Fleet Design
US Naval War College Review – Today, the U.S. Navy’s primary mission is changing from power projection to sea control, and as a result its primary weapon is changing from the aerial bomb to the missile. Those shifts in mission and weapon will inevitably drive the Navy to a new fleet design, one different from the carrier-centric model that has dominated since World War II.
Floating Fortresses—American Carriers’ Extraordinary Resilience to Battle Damage
US Naval War College Review – On the basis of Cold War–era munitions accidents and World War II combat experience, U.S. carriers of today are far more resistant to battle damage than commonly believed.
Neither Confirm nor Deny—The U.S. Navy’s Declaratory Policy on Nuclear Weapons
US Naval War College Review – The reintroduction of the submarine-launched nuclear cruise missile into the U.S. Navy’s arsenal signals a shift in U.S. nuclear policy, challenging long-standing declaratory norms and public statements such as the “neither confirm nor deny” stance on the presence of nuclear weapons on warships.
At the Dawn of a Naval Renaissance—India Takes a Relook at Mahan
US Naval War College Review – Mindful of its Chinese neighbor’s extraordinary naval expansion, India looks to bring Mahanian truths into a naval landscape that Captain Mahan might strain to recognize.
Chinese Navy Inducts Additional Type 903 Fleet Replenishment Ships
Naval News – The Chinese Navy has taken into service two additional Type 903-series fleet replenishment oilers. Imagery circulating on social media service “X”, former Twitter, two weeks ago shows the two auxiliaries, also denoted as AOR, wearing their hull numbers, docked at a PLAN naval base. The Chinese Navy assigned pennant numbers 892 and 893 to the new oilers.
The Deluge, the Paper Cup, and Washington’s Lack of Urgency on Guam
War on the Rocks – Guam deserves defenses built for the storm it faces — not the one we hope arrives more slowly.
U.S., Israel Launch Strikes Against Iran, Tehran Retaliates Across Region
USNI News – U.S. and Israeli forces kicked off an ongoing strike campaign against targets in Iran on Saturday.
Iranian Undersea Options to Disrupt the Strait of Hormuz
Strikepod Systems – Possible Iranian concept of operations for disrupting the Strait of Hormuz
Singapore to acquire three Gulfstream maritime surveillance aircraft
Breaking Defense – Singapore’s defense minister announced today it is acquiring three maritime surveillance aircraft based on the Gulfstream G550 business jet as it continues efforts to strengthen its capabilities in the maritime domain.
U.K. to Meet with Northern European Allies to Discuss Russian Arctic, Atlantic Threat
USNI News – The Royal Navy’s First Sea Lord Gen. Sir Gwyn Jenkins plans to hold a Navy summit in April as he calls on his service to take the lead in uniting Northern European navies against Russia’s growing threat in the Arctic and Atlantic.
Historic first: French Aircraft Carrier ‘Shows the Flag’ in Sweden
Naval News – In a high profile naval diplomacy push by France, the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle arrived in Malmö, Sweden on February 24.
Italy moves to transfer Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia, looking to new programmes
Naval News – The Italian Government has formalized a plan to transfer the decommissioned Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia. The handover, subjected to parliamentary approval, would strengthen Jakarta’s naval capabilities and deepens the cooperation between the two countries together with other defence programs, in a move to enlarge Rome’s strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific.
Israel delivers first autonomous submarine to Germany
Defense News – Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has delivered a “BlueWhale” autonomous submarine to the German Navy, the company announced Feb. 25. The vessel is the first unmanned submarine developed by an Israeli defense company. It is the product of a joint venture with Atlas, a subsidiary of Germany’s TKMS, the manufacturer behind the Israeli Navy’s submarine fleet.
HMS Duncan on exercise Sharpshooter – defence against modern surface and missile threats
Navy Lookout – Royal Navy destroyer HMS Duncan has completed an intensive 72-hour live firing serial off the Welsh coast, facing drone and simulated missile attacks and complex internal emergencies. Exercise Sharpshooter attempts to replicate scenarios that reflect modern maritime combat.
Taiwan should create drone swarm ‘asymmetric hellscape’ to blunt Chinese invasion: Report
Breaking Defense – Taiwan’s current approach to defense is unlikely to deter Chinese aggression, and it needs a new operational concept that builds mass and provides operational flexibility but yet remain affordable, according to a new report.
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13 Warships, Support Ships Slated for Inactivation This Year
USNI News – More than a dozen warships and support ships will leave the U.S. Navy’s battle force this year, according to the Fiscal Year 2026 ship inactivation schedule released last week.
Navy Fighters, Air Force B-2 Bomber Rehearse Anti-ship Missions off California
USNI News – U.S. naval aviation equipped with long-range air-to-air missiles and a B-2 stealth bomber held an integrated maritime strike exercise off California, the Air Force announced Tuesday.
CMSI Note 20: Flying Higher and Higher: VADM Cui Yuzhong – Moving Up in Complex Times
China Maritime Studies Institute – On 5 November 2025, the aircraft carrier Fujian (福建舰) was commissioned into People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy (PLAN) service. One man was notably absent on this auspicious day—the PLAN Commander himself, Admiral (ADM) Hu Zhongming (胡中明), the leader CMSI profiled in CMSI Note 1.5 Instead, Vice Admiral (VADM) Cui Yuzhong (崔玉忠) was one of the PLAN’s senior representatives attending the ceremony. Cui’s high-profile appearance on the PLAN’s red-letter day may portend that Cui is slated to assume the highest PLAN billet.
Chinese Navy progresses development of new large calibre naval gun
Naval News – A photo circulating on social media service “X” (formerly Twitter) last week serves as an indication that the Chinese Navy (PLAN) is moving ahead with development of a new large naval gun for surface combatants. The photo shows one of PLAN’s Type 910 test and evaluation vessels docked at Liaonan shipyard south of Dalian in Liaoning province.
Stability over speed: Pioneer – a different approach to uncrewed surface vessels
Navy Lookout – In this article, we look at Pioneer, a uniquely stable USV platform developed in the UK capable of deploying serious payloads for naval or commercial applications in sea conditions that would defeat many competitors.
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