Breaking Defense – The Marine Corps is shifting the balance of F-35 Joint Strike Fightersit intends to buy, opting to purchase dozens more carrier-based variants in lieu of the short-take-off and vertical landing variant, according to the service’s new 2025 aviation plan.
Is It Sabotage? Unraveling the Mystery of Undersea Cable Breaks
Telegeography – Cable faults were once an aspect of the industry entirely hidden from common view. Nowadays, any cable fault in the Baltic or off the coast of Taiwan is guaranteed to result in a flurry of headlines like “Another Undersea Cable Attacked in the Baltic Sea.”
Severed undersea cables raise legal challenges for NATO
Defense News – The increased frequency of underwater infrastructure damage across Europe has raised legal challenges related to the jurisdiction and ownership of undersea cables, which may limit NATO’s ability to respond.
11 Baltic cables damaged in 15 months, pushing NATO to boost security
Defense News – With its powerful camera, the French Navy surveillance plane scouring the Baltic Sea zoomed in on a cargo ship plowing the waters below — closer, closer and closer still until the camera operator could make out details on the vessel’s front deck and smoke pouring from its chimney.
Royal Navy submarine diplomacy: sending a warning to Russia
Navy Lookout – In this article, we consider in more detail the implications following the revelation that an RN submarine deliberately surfaced close to the Russian spy ship Yantar in November 2024.
USS Gerald R. Ford Was Still Struggling With Its Dual Band Radar Prior To Deployment
The War Zone – The Ford is the only ship to have the full Dual Band Radar suite installed, and the Navy plans to replace it in the future.
The Invasion That Never Was
Naval History – Operation Causeway, the proposed invasion of Formosa, was shelved to clear the way for the invasion of the Philippines. But Causeway’s plans underscored relevant lessons for today’s concerns in the South China Sea.
NATO 2099 – The science fiction anthology
NATO – A collection of FICINT short stories on the future of NATO.
Fighting to Supply the Fight—Assessing Approaches for Overcoming Contested Logistics
Naval War College Review – A potential conflict in the western Pacific would entail the most challenging logistics and resupply task the U.S. Navy has faced in decades, possibly ever. Three possible approaches, making innovative use of new data and artificial intelligence tools, can guide investments and doctrine to prepare the joint force for that potential fight.
Part III: A Maritime Nation by Necessity
Center for Maritime Security – There is a time to pose questions, and there is a time to propose answers. Today requires that we do both in order that America’s non-military maritime industries flourish, for there can be no doubt that American shipbuilding has declined catastrophically since the end of the Korean War. Total output for this period, in terms of tonnage per year, has dropped by more than 85 percent. The reduction in American shipyards capable of building large vessels matches this decay. Without an adequate shipyard base and the maintenance of the myriad of correlated domestic industries, American naval supremacy is certain to be challenged.
The Study and Utility of Naval History
US Naval War College Review – The proper study of military history is essential to being an effective officer, especially at the higher levels of command—but its misuse can lead to disaster.
Neither Fish Nor Fowl: China’s Develoopment of a Nuclear Battery AIP Submarine
CIMSEC – On September 27, 2024, news broke that a previously unreported new type of Chinese nuclear-powered submarine, dubbed the “Type 041,” had suffered a major mishap at its fitting out pier at the Wuchang shipyard in Wuhan, according to unnamed Pentagon sources. Submarine expert Thomas Shugart had previously spotted an unknown submarine with a distinct x-shaped stern at Wuchang Shipyard from satellite imagery taken on 26 April 2024, and days later reported unusual crane activity at the same pier location from June 2024 imagery, speculating that the new boat suffered a serious incident. Even more intriguing and consequential than the question of whether a submarine incident of some sort actually did occur at Wuchang or not, is however another issue: What type of “nuclear-powered submarine” could this new design possibly be?
NATO 2099 graphic novel imagines the future of the Alliance
NATO – An interesting FICINT graphic novel from NATO. The NATO 2099 graphic novel takes place in a world that experienced a devastating series of global maritime attacks throughout the 2050s. During these ‘Sea Wars’, small groups of malicious actors used unmanned technologies to blow up the warships of national navies, hold cruise ships hostage for ransom, and commit terrorist acts against civilians. After working together to defeat the networks of terrorist groups and private militias, the governments of the world signed a treaty that has kept the peace for almost 40 years. But now, in 2099, a new threat emerges in space…
We Went With Marine F-35Bs As They Fought A Mock War From A Pacific Island
The War Zone – F-35Bs and C-17As fighting their way to, from, and out of the island is the best glimpse yet at what Pacific combat may look like for Marine Joint Strike Fighters.
Cheap Cruise Missile Paired With Affordable Seeker From Ship-Killing Smart Bomb Eyed By USAF
The War Zone – The Quicksink seeker could turn the Extended Range Attack Munition into a new low-cost anti-ship weapon that could be bought quickly in large numbers.
French Carrier Charles de Gaulle Kicks Off La Perouse Exercise in South East Asia
USNI News – The French Carrier Strike Group is spearheading the French Navy-led multinational biennial exercise La Perouse 25 that began on Thursday across three critical maritime passages in South East Asia.
Royal Navy submarine authorised to surface close to Russian spy ship operating close to the UK
Navy Lookout – Speaking in Parliament today the Defence Secretary told Parliament in November he had authorised an RN submarine monitoring Russian spy ship Yantar to surface in close proximity.
Spain S-81 Submarine participates in major naval drills to assess interoperability and combat readiness
Army Recognition – The Spanish Navy recently conducted a critical joint exercise in the waters near Cartagena, centering on the S-81 Isaac Peral, the first of the S-80 class submarines.
(Thanks to Alain)
Russia’s “Underwater War”? Portuguese Aircraft Tracks Moscow’s Oceanographic Vessel Fearing Cable Sabotage
Eurasian Times – A Portuguese Air Force aircraft monitored and tracked a Russian oceanographic vessel after it allegedly entered the Portuguese Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on January 18 amid widespread concerns regarding undersea cable sabotage that have been largely attributed to Russia.
(Thanks to Alain)
Chinese Navy Commissions First Type 054B Next Gen Frigate
Naval News – The Type 054B is a completely new design from the keel up. Nevertheless the frigate appears to share some key characteristics with the preceding Type 054A FFG.
Iran opens 500m deep underground missile base in the Gulf
BulgarianMilitary.com – Iran revealed an underground naval missile base in a secret location somewhere in the Persian Gulf last night
(Thanks to Alain)
Arleigh Burke Destroyers Taking On Navy Air Defense Commander Role As Cruisers Disappear From Fleet
The War Zone – Arleigh Burke class Flight IIA destroyers were the air defense commanders for two carrier strike groups last year and plans are now underway to expand the practice.
Nulka Combat Use Shows Warships Need Longer-Lasting Electronic Warfare-Enabled Decoys
The War Zone – The Navy wants ships to be able to launch decoys that are capable of luring away missiles for tens of minutes to help defend against incoming barrages.
Houthi Pledge To Curtail Ship Attacks Sparks New Security Assessment
The War Zone – In the wake of the Gaza War ceasefire, the Houthis vowed to limit shipping attacks only to vessels directly affiliated with Israel.
The Royal Navy – convening force to protect UK maritime infrastructure
Navy Lookout – The 2025 SDR is likely to give much-increased weight to UK mainland defence. The RN has a critical part to play in this defence, in some ways a return to its historical roots but also adapting to new threats and meeting the exponential growth in seabed warfare challenges.
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