– National Interest – Yesterday’s Beijing V-Day parade addressed multiple audiences. Among them, clearly—the U.S. Navy, the U.S. military writ large and their regional allied and partner counterparts. After years of foreign speculation and surprising skepticism about an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM), China has for the first time officially revealed two variants: the DF-21D and DF-26.
Missile March: China Parade Projects Patriotism at Home, Aims for Awe Abroad
– Wall Street Journal – The greatest military parade in Chinese history sent strong messages to multiple audiences Thursday. Chinese viewers were informed that under the Chinese Communist Party’s irreplaceable leadership, their nation repelled Japanese invasion, has reunified—largely, and is now rightfully reclaiming “great power” status. But amid political pomp and circumstance and patriotic pride as citizens rallied round the red flag was a core external military function: deterring potential foreign adversaries who might otherwise interfere with Beijing’s completion of the latter two missions.
Faslane base gets £500m contracts ‘to secure 6,700 jobs’
– BBC – Chancellor George Osborne has announced more than £500m of contracts for the Royal Navy’s submarine base at Faslane.
McCain, Reed Chide Navy Over Problems with LCS Mine Countermeasure Package, Recommend Review of Other Technologies
– USNI News – The heads of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) expressed disappointment in the progress of the Mine Countermeasures (MCM) package for the Littoral Combat Ship and are recommending the Navy review other mine hunting technologies to fill looming needs in the fleet.
China building two aircraft carriers: Taiwan defense ministry report
– Reuters – China is building two aircraft carriers that will be the same size as its sole carrier, a 60,000-tonne refurbished Soviet-era ship, according to a new Taiwanese Defence Ministry report on the capabilities of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Is China’s “Carrier-Killer” Really a Threat to the U.S. Navy?
– National Interest – It seems tomorrow will be a big day for China-military watchers around the world: the mighty DF-21D, or “carrier-killer” anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) will likely be one of the features of Beijing’s end of World War II celebrations. But how much should America or anyone else in Asia fear this supposed killer of carriers?
Russian Arms Sales Give China a Better Chance in Competing with U.S. Ships
– USNI News – “Improved maritime strike capability has given Chinese warships a much greater chance of competing against their U.S. counterparts” and improved naval air defenses allow its warships “the ability to operate at increasingly great distances from shore”—major advances in large part speeded by arms, vessels and technology sales from Russia since the end of the Cold War. Those were two observations contained in a new report from the Washington, D.C.-based think tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Five Chinese ships seen off Alaska coast, Pentagon says
– BBC – Five Chinese naval ships are currently positioned in the Bering Sea off the coast of Alaska
Yours, Mine, and Moscow’s: Breaking Down Russia’s Latest Arctic Claims
– USNI – On August 4th, the Russian Federation’s Foreign Ministry reported that it had resubmitted its claim to a vast swath (more than 1.2 million square kilometers, including the North Pole) of the rapidly changing and potentially lucrative Arctic to the United Nations. In 2002, Russia put forth a similar claim, but it was rejected based on lack of sufficient support. This latest petition, however, is supported by “ample scientific data collected in years of arctic research,” according to Moscow.
Sweeping Change in China’s Military: Xi’s PLA Restructuring
– Wall Street Journal – Long after the soldiers and crowds disperse, however, China stands to experience far more lasting impact from a move that may be announced following the pomp and circumstance: major military reforms. Propelled by Xi’s vigorous efforts to realize his dream of a strong country with a strong military, reform plans long underway are finally surfacing. Now reportedly afoot: a sweeping transformation of China’s military, with tremendous implications for its strategy and operations.
U.S., Ukraine Exercise Sea Breeze Begins in Black Sea, Russia Promises to Observe
– USNI News – The U.S. and Ukraine formally kicked off almost two weeks of naval exercises on Monday in and around the Black Sea as part of the latest iteration of Sea Breeze.
LCS Fort Worth Integrates Fire Scout UAV, RHIBs Into Bilateral Exercises For First Time
– USNI News – The Navy’s summer series of bilateral exercises in the Pacific gave the Littoral Combat Ship USS Fort Worth (LCS-3) a chance to demonstrate emerging capabilities of the new platform, using its rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the first time in an operational context.
PLA’s nuclear subs still unable to strike US homeland
– Want China Times – China’s 12 nuclear-powered submarines are still unable to launch a direct attack against the US homeland.
Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Leaves for Japan Starting Second Phase of 3-Carrier Crew Swap
– USNI News – Later today of Nimitz-class carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) will depart San Diego, Calif. for its new home in Yokosuka, Japan.
Dredging Under the Radar: China Expands South Sea Foothold
– National Interest – The growth of China’s dredging industry so far has been impressive, more than tripling capacity and going from fifth to first globally in ten years. Why make such a move?
China, Russia Land 400 Marines in First Joint Pacific Amphibious Exercise
– USNI News – Chinese and Russian forces conducted a first-ever joint amphibious exercise landing 400 marines on Russia’s Pacific Coast about 300 miles away from Japan’s home islands.
India, Australia to hold naval drills with eye on China
– Reuters – India and Australia will hold their first ever joint naval drills next month, as the two countries seek to deepen defence ties and counter China’s growing sway in the Indian Ocean. The maritime exercises, to be held in the Bay of Bengal off India’s eastern coast next month, will include anti-submarine warfare and coordinated anti-submarine drills.
New Ship-Killing Missiles Are Making the U.S. Navy More Dangerous
– War is Boring – The U.S. Navy has begun testing a new, radar-evading, air-launched anti-ship missile — a big step forward in the sailing branch’s march toward a more lethal fleet. In the next few years, the Navy could add three new ship-killing weapons to its warplanes and surface ships, augmenting existing Harpoon missiles that began entering service in 1977 and today are badly outclassed by Chinese- and Russian-made designs.
Step by Step, Here’s How to Fight and Defeat China
– War is Boring – Strategic interdiction focuses on depriving Beijing of energy resources.
Inside the Pentagon’s Manhunting Machine
– The Atlantic – Sean Naylor provides a brief history of special operations, from Panama to the war on terror.
With new paint and grease, Navy tries to lengthen subs’ life
– Associated Press – As it tries to get the most out of each of its $2.6 billion attack submarines, the U.S. Navy is finding a lot depends on the right paint job.
Japan Launches Latest Helicopter Carrier
– USNI News – Japan has launched the second in its new class of helicopter carrier — the largest Japanese ships since World War II — in a Thursday ceremony in Yokohama.
North Korea’s Ongoing Massive Submarine Deployment Is Worrisome
– Foxtrot Alpha – After what was seemingly a three week march toward war between North and South Korea, which ended in an agreement followed by handshakes, smiles and supposedly a draw-down in both sides war-time footing, one question still remains — where is the majority of North Korea’s submarine fleet?
Osprey readiness a challenge years after troubling report
– Military Times – The Marine Corps has made strides to improve standards for the MV-22B Osprey nearly two years after a report found unsettling evidence the service was deploying squadrons that were not mission-ready. But some problems persist due to high operational demand and a lack of resources.
USS Fort Worth is one sleek warship
– USA Today – The first thing you notice when you step aboard this sleek new warship is that there aren’t many sailors — but almost all are doing double duty.
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