Irish Times – Ireland would find it very difficult to fully secure its maritime area, even with significantly increased naval capabilities, according to a United Nations expert on subsea security.
Imagery Suggests Pakistan Navy Has Only Two Working Submarines as India Tensions Rise
Indian Defense Research Wing – Satellite imagery from March 2025 shows only two of Pakistan’s submarines to be in the water.
(Thanks to Alain)
Protecting maritime infrastructure from attack: new technologies and tactics
Navy Lookout – In this guest article, Kamil Sadowski considers the challenges of protecting the maritime infrastructure which underpins much of Europe’s economic activity and is increasingly seen as a major vulnerability for many NATO nations.
Why Poland Is Asking South Korea to Help with Submarine Improvements
National Interest – Poland is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with South Korean-based Hanwha Ocean that could include investment in Polish shipyards and the construction of three submarines.
(Thanks to Alain)
Learning from the Royal Navy: Lessons for the USN on Sea Power Politics
Center for Maritime Security – The U.S. Navy can learn from the Royal Navy by analysing mistakes it made in educating -or not educating- the British government about seapower. Across all naval, maritime, and wider defense and security debates, the baseline fact is that if education on the relationship between the sea and state is not carefully managed, all the efforts of seapower can be quickly undone. From that sea-state nexus flows political discussion, policy, funding, and direction. In short, why do nations invest in these costly, complex organizations known as navies? Land and land-based air perspectives have always been easy paths for policy; this is perfectly natural, as humans are land-dwellers who cannot see over the horizon. Consider how outer space was and remains such a challenge, maritime in nature but resistant to mastery due to vast distance. Shortsightedness is why the perpetual, pernicious and permanent challenge of ‘seablindness’ exists. It cannot be defeated, nor overcome, but it can be tamed.
Modernization as Readiness in the US Marine Corps
War on the Rocks – Modernization as readiness is a journey that requires the Marine Corps to move out now. The service can no longer afford to move at the pace of the future years’ defense plan. The horizon for pursuing advanced technologies is moving ever closer and the Marine Corps can longer afford to innovate at the pace of money. The commandant has been clear-eyed on how the Marine Corps will be postured for near-peer conflict, crisis response, and future warfare. Service efforts to pursue high-end intelligent systems and supporting capabilities will not only make the Marine Corps more lethal but help avoid the false dilemma of modernization versus readiness.
The Caribbean Sea: A Strategic Area With Many US Allies and Partners
CIMSEC – Washington has many allies and partners across the Greater Caribbean, particularly among the region’s English-speaking nations. Despite having limited budgets and assets, the defense forces of the English-speaking Caribbean are training and increasing their capabilities to carry out missions, which aligns with US diplomatic and military objectives.
North Korea Commissions Heavily Armed Missile Destroyer “Choe Hyon”
Naval News – New destroyer becomes by far the largest surface combatant in North Korean fleet. However, while a second hull appears to be under construction, most technical details and specifications remain highly speculative.
India Orders 26 Rafale Marine carrier-based aircraft for $7.5 billion
Naval News – The biggest ever defence deal between India and France also marks the first ever export order for the naval variant of the French fighter: The Rafale Marine (Rafale M).
Beijing seizes tiny sandbank in South China Sea
BBC – The Chinese coastguard has seized a tiny sandbank in the South China Sea, state media has reported, in an escalation of a regional dispute with the Philippines.
Keeping America Engaged: Three Possibilities For European Navies
CIMSEC – To keep the U.S. engaged in the waters around Europe, European NATO members must find areas of common interest with the U.S. The threat of China to both European and American security interests creates many such opportunities. By monitoring China’s activities in the Arctic, becoming more active in the Indo-Pacific, and buying American, Europeans can maintain a strong military and industrial link to the U.S. even if U.S. military presence in and around Europe shrinks in the near future.
Frigate shortage exposed as Royal Navy shadows more Russian ships
Navy Lookout – RN vessels have again been activated in the last two weeks to monitor increased Russian naval activity close to the UK.
North Korea’s New Frigate Has Ballistic Missile Launchers
The War Zone – North Korea just unveiled its new air warfare frigate and the ship has a whopping 74 vertical launch cells, some of which could launch cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as SAMs.
French Maritime Strategy: Carrier-Led and Indo-Pacific Focused
CIMSEC – France’s resident sovereignty and associated EEZ give France a continuing anchor in the Indo-Pacific, and interests to maintain, that other European actors do not have.
Salamis Shipyards Reemerges as Naval Hub in Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean
Naval News – Mr. Sébastien Lecornu, French Republic’s Minister of Defense, visited Salamis Shipyards in Greece, where pre‑outfitted blocks for the FDI frigates—among the most advanced warships in the world—are under construction for both the Hellenic and French navies. Through the FDI frigate program, and other programs, such as the reactivation and upgrade of Island-class patrol vessels, Salamis Shipyards are emerging as a key player in the Franco-Hellenic strategic partnership and a driving force in the revitalization of Greece’s shipbuilding industry.
F-35C Naval Joint Strike Fighters Have Been Shooting Down Houthi Drones
The War Zone – F-35Cs are also striking targets in Yemen, with their stealth being of unique importance as the Houthi air defense threat comes into the spotlight.
A Post Mortem of the Red Sea Crisis: NATO vs. the European Union
CIMSEC – A better understanding of expectations and goals in the Red Sea could generate premises to mend transatlantic fences. Presently, no one has the perfect recipe to bring this crisis to a halt, and a split approach has likely extended the crisis. Not only have the Houthis taken the lead in messaging victory, but the first true victim of this crisis – the Israeli port of Eilat – has fallen under financial pressure. Time has run out for the United States to complain about Europe without a plan. Likewise, time has proven that the European Union is still not a reliable security actor. An integrated NATO strategy that accounts for both US and European perspectives is the only choice for victory. The alternative option spells defeat.
With Indo-Pacific undersea cables at risk, companies tout their tech
Defense News – Naval tech companies are sensing a new market for their equipment.
Northern Fleet continues with exercises close to Norwegian waters
Barents Observer – A strike group of Russian warships, including frigates, submarines and anti-submarine hunters, are currently conducting a series of exercises on the east of the maritime border with Norway.
Strengthening Unity of Effort in the Atlantic From Wargaming
WordPress – This article offers insights and recommendations based on our wargaming experience to help U.S. and NATO naval leaders strengthen operational integration, refine force employment, and better prepare for future maritime challenges in the Euro-Atlantic theater.
HMS Spey takes part in Five Power defence exercise off Malaysia
Navy Lookout – Royal Navy offshore patrol vessel, HMS Spey has completed a 16-day training exercise in the South China Sea, operating alongside Commonwealth allies to sharpen combined maritime, air and land capabilities under the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).
Marines Test Supply Drones Inspired by Narco Subs in Okinawa, North Carolina
USNI News – Marine Corps Combat Logistics Battalions in Japan and the United States have been employing logistics supply drones inspired by drug-smuggling narco subs in recent exercises and tests.
China Maritime Report No. 46: China’s Fishermen Spies: Intelligence Specialists in the Maritime Militia
China Maritime Studies Institute – Collecting and reporting maritime intelligence is a core mission of China’s maritime militia. Militia forces help fill in “blind spots” (补盲) for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and enhance its situational awareness. They are widely dispersed in the waters of greatest strategic and operational importance to Beijing, available in large numbers, extremely familiar with the operating environment, and, the PLA believes, less provocative than other military instruments.
To protect undersea cables in the Middle East, US needs a new hub
Breaking Defense – Undersea cable cut incidents will eventually spread to the Middle East, retired Vice Adm. Michael J. Connor and JINSA analyst Yoni Tobin argue in this op-ed, so the US must get ready.
The Case For a Baltic SNMG-3: Developing Regional NATO Forces at Sea
CIMSEC – NATO’s return to its core mission of deterrence and the defense of the Euro-Atlantic area has been made only more necessary by Russia’s continued aggressive actions both above and below the threshold of war. Ongoing restructuring of the operational components of the alliance is focusing on regional clusters of mutually supporting states. It is time for the maritime component to evolve in the same way the air and land components are. An SNMG-3 focused on the Baltic would not only allow SNMG-1 to concentrate on its core operational area in the North Atlantic, but it would also send a powerful signal of NATO’s intent to undermine and deter Russian malign actions in the region.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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