DefenseTech – A Threat to America Or?
Norman Polmar on the two Russian nuclear-propelled attack submarines that appeared off the U.S. East Coast.
US Navy – Underwater laser pops in navy ops
BBC – Underwater laser pops in navy ops
US military researchers are developing a method for communication that uses lasers to make sound underwater.
AirWarfare – Attack of the drones
Economist – Attack of the drones
Smaller and smarter unmanned aircraft are transforming spying and redefining the idea of air power.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Incoming Tokyo government threatens split with US
Daily Telegraph – Incoming Tokyo government threatens split with US
A split is emerging between the United States and Japan over the new Tokyo government’s anti-globalisation rhetoric and its threats to end a refueling agreement for US ships in support of the war in Afghanistan.
Russian Navy – Black Sea Port Is Flash Point for Georgia and Russia
New York Times – Black Sea Port Is Flash Point for Georgia and Russia
Rising tensions between Russia and Georgia over shipping rights to a breakaway Georgian region have opened a potential new theater for conflict between the countries, a little more than a year after they went to war.
Somali Navy – Pirate-plagued Somalia graduates naval recruits
CBC – Pirate-plagued Somalia graduates naval recruits
Somalia took a tentative step toward policing its own waters on Tuesday with the graduation of its first 500 naval recruits, though officials say international funds are needed to make the navy a force against piracy.
Information Warfare – Click, click … counting down to Cyber 9/11
San Francisco Chronicle – Click, click … counting down to Cyber 9/11
John Arquilla writes that when it comes to national security, our leaders are overly focused on nuclear weapons of mass destruction; more thought should be given to the looming threat of cyber “mass disruption.”
Information Warfare – Halted ’03 Iraq Plan Illustrates U.S. Fear of Cyberwar Risk
New York Times – Halted ’03 Iraq Plan Illustrates U.S. Fear of Cyberwar Risk
It would have been the most far-reaching case of computer sabotage in history. In 2003, the Pentagon and American intelligence agencies made plans for a cyberattack to freeze billions of dollars in the bank accounts of Saddam Hussein and cripple his government’s financial system before the United States invaded Iraq. He would have no money for war supplies. No money to pay troops. “We knew we could pull it off – we had the tools,” said one senior official who worked at the Pentagon when the highly classified plan was developed. But the attack never got the green light. Bush administration officials worried that the effects would not be limited to Iraq but would instead create worldwide financial havoc, spreading across the Middle East to Europe and perhaps to the United States.
Russian Navy – Arctic Sea ghost ship 'was carrying weapons to Iran'
Daily Telegraph – Arctic Sea ghost ship ‘was carrying weapons to Iran’
The Arctic Sea cargo ship that disappeared for almost a month earlier this summer, was carrying weapons to Iran and was being tracked by Mossad, the Israeli security service, according to reports.
Daily Telegraph – ‘Hijackers’ of Arctic Sea ghost ship in murky waters
How did petty thugs, drunks and drug dealers get arrested on a hijacked freighter and become linked to espionage, gun running and the Russian Mafia?
US Navy – Fear and Loathing in the Post-Naval Era
US Naval Institute Proceedings – Fear and Loathing in the Post-Naval Era
Since the United States has not fought a real naval battle since World War II, justifying the high cost of a large Fleet of warships and aircraft is a tall order.
US Navy – Destroyer Stout to back today from Black Sea mission
Virginian Pilot – Destroyer Stout to back today from Black Sea mission
The guided-missile destroyer Stout is due back today from a deployment that took it to the Black Sea – a region that drew worldwide attention last summer when fighting broke out between Russia and Georgia. This was the ship’s first deployment with the ballistic missile defense system – a technology designed to track and destroy missiles that can travel more than 600 miles, threatening military and civilian targets. The Stout, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, is one of two East Coast ships with that capability.
Chinese Navy – US and Australia invite China to war games
Daily Telegraph – US and Australia invite China to war games
The US and Australia will invite China to take part in joint naval and military exercises in a move that highlights the changing balance of power in the Pacific.
Russian Navy – Russia ship mystery editor flees
BBC – Russia ship mystery editor flees
A journalist has fled Russia after suggesting the Arctic Sea cargo ship that was apparently hijacked in July may have been carrying illegal weapons.
Russian Navy – Abkhazia threatens Georgian ships as possibility of Black Sea naval skirmish rises
Daily Telegraph – Abkhazia threatens Georgian ships as possibility of Black Sea naval skirmish rises
A potentially dangerous new flash point between Russia and Georgia is emerging: naval skirmishing in the Black Sea.
US Navy – Reapers Go Searching For High Seas Pirates
StrategyPage – Reapers Go Searching For High Seas Pirates
The U.S. is going base some Reaper UAVs and P-3 maritime patrol aircraft on the Seychelles islands, to search for Somali pirates operating far from their bases.
Afghanistan – A War Won Less by Force Than by Persuasion?
New York Times – A War Won Less by Force Than by Persuasion?
CJ Chivers comments upon the latest counterinsurgency guidance for the American and international units fighting the Afghan war that was released this week.
Russian Navy – Russia Surprises France with Mistral Announcement
Defense Technology International – Russia Surprises France with Mistral Announcement
Russia is considering buying at least one French-built Mistral-class helicopter landing dock.
Geopolitics – The New Rules: The Evolution of the U.S. Military
World Politics Review – The New Rules: The Evolution of the U.S. Military
Thomas P.M. Barnett on the new basing reality for the US military.
US Navy – Pirates fire on US helicopter
Associated Press – Pirates fire on US helicopter
Somali pirates holding a hijacked ship off the coast of Somalia fired at a U.S. Navy helicopter as it made a surveillance flight over the vessel, the first such attack by pirates on an American military aircraft.
Russian Navy – Russia says it tracked hijacked Arctic Sea all along, but questions grow over cargo
The Times – Russia says it tracked hijacked Arctic Sea all along, but questions grow over cargo
Russia’s top general hinted today that the ship allegedly hijacked by pirates earlier this month may have been carrying a secret cargo, as it emerged that the country’s Navy tracked the vessel throughout its journey.
Indian Navy – Navy grounds entire Sea Harrier jet fleet after recent crash
PTI – Navy grounds entire Sea Harrier jet fleet after recent crash
The Indian Navy has grounded the entire Sea Harrier fighter jet fleet against the backdrop of one of the aircraft crashing off Goa last week, rendering its lone aircraft carrier, INS Viraat, without its aerial firepower.
Miscellaneous – 'Cloak of silence' tech could hide submarines
Discovery News – ‘Cloak of silence’ tech could hide submarines
A new invisibility cloak for sound could help doctors find tiny tumors or hide submarines from enemy sonar.
(Thanks to Justin for the pointer…)
Afghanistan – Marines Fight Taliban With Little Aid From Afghans
New York Times – Marines Fight Taliban With Little Aid From Afghans
Lack of support from Afghan officials has hindered US Marine efforts to win over residents in a region where the Taliban remain a menacing presence.
US Navy – Four subs examined for troubles with bolts
Virginian Pilot – Four subs examined for troubles with bolts
The US Navy said Friday it is investigating mechanical problems involving bolts in the torpedo rooms of four Virginia-class submarines built at Northrop Grumman’s shipyard.
Piracy – Splashing, and clashing, in murky waters
The Economist – Splashing, and clashing, in murky waters
Private security firms are increasingly involved in the fight against pirates. The allocation of tasks between them and navies needs some thought.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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