US Navy – More Navy ships undertaking humanitarian missions

Virginian Pilot – More Navy ships undertaking humanitarian missions

The USS Kearsarge is just one of the Norfolk-based ships that has undertaken a humanitarian mission in recent months, and these deployments signal a shift in the military’s role on the world stage. As these ships arrive on distant shores, their goal is to back up U.S. talk of friendship with action.

US Navy – New Rescue System Replaces Submersibles

DefenseTech – New Rescue System Replaces Submersibles

Normal Polmar writes that the US Navy has officially placed in service a new submarine rescue capability, replacing its long-serving and highly versatile rescue submersibles. The Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS)replaces the submersible Mystic, the Navy’s last Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).

Afghanistan – From Great Game to Grand Bargain: Ending Chaos in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Foreign Affairs – From Great Game to Grand Bargain: Ending Chaos in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Ahmed Rashid writes that the crisis in Afghanistan and Pakistan is beyond the point where more troops will help. U.S. strategy must be to seek compromise with insurgents while addressing regional rivalries and insecurities

German Navy – What's German For "Avast, Lubberly Scum"?

Defense Technology International – What’s German For “Avast, Lubberly Scum”?

The German Ministry of Defense will make up to 1,400 military personnel available for the EU’s anti-piracy naval operation…The frigate that Germany plans to contribute to the mission only requires 500 men for alternating crews but it is also planned to place commandos on German-owned cargo ships.

Chinese Navy – OTH Radar and the ASBM Threat

IMINT & Analysis – OTH Radar and the ASBM Threat

A fascinating post on how China can close the sensor-shooter loop to provide targeting for its anti ship ballistic missiles – “Over the horizon radar systems, once a source of long range early warning for Cold War enemies, have evolved to the point that their presence on the battlefield poses a serious threat to friendly forces. While many nations have developed OTH systems for various surveillance purposes, Chinese developments in this and other fields have effectively transformed the OTH from a missile warning system to a missile targeting system.”

(Special thanks to Cris for bringing this post and some other recent posts to my attention!)