War on the Rocks – Should a war erupt with China over Taiwan, many observers seem to think that Europe would be largely irrelevant as far as the actual fighting is concerned. Those who share this opinion typically point to Europe’s reluctance to confront China or a lack of meaningful military capabilities to bring to the table. Or they prefer Europe simply mind its knitting and focus on the Russian threat, which is much closer to home, and would free up the United States to concentrate on China…We have a different perspective.
French Navy’s 2025 Budget: What To Expect ?
Naval News – Every October, budget for the French Armed Forces is updated and voted depending on the needs, the international context and the national budget situation. However, following a vote of no-confidence for the preceding government, there is now a lot of uncertainty regarding what the French military (and its navy) may expect for 2025 and beyond.
Ukraine Claims Its Drone Boats Are Now Launching Kamikaze FPV Drones At Russian Shore Targets
The War Zone – Ukraine has claimed that it’s successfully used uncrewed surface vessels (USV), better known as drone boats, to launch aerial drones against Russian targets for the first time. According to Ukrainian authorities, the first-person view (FPV) drones were employed in combat during strikes on Russian ground-based air defense systems.
Northern Fleet gives priority to faraway voyages
The Barents Observer – A key part of combat training for the Russian navy’s new frigates in 2025 will be long-distance sailings. In Severomorsk, the Admiral Gorshkov was welcomed home after a voyage that lasted 226 days.
Murder Hornet Nickname For F/A-18s Equipped With Nine Air-To-Air Missiles Now Official
The War Zone – The U.S. Navy is now officially using “Murder Hornet” to refer to F/A-18E/F fighters armed with five AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) and four AIM-9X Sidewinders. The air-to-air ordnance configuration for the Super Hornet made its combat debut last year in operations over and around the Red Sea and was enabled by a crash program to allow F/A-18E/Fs to carry more AIM-9Xs.
Russian Navy: New Ships Milestones In December 2024
Naval News – As almost every year, December 2024 brought interesting news about the Russian Navy. In keeping with “good Soviet tradition,” by the end of each year Russian shipyards sought to complete important stages of new shipbuilding. 2024, despite the devastating Russian war in Ukraine, was an interesting and fruitful year for the Kremlin’s naval forces in this regard.
Chinese Naval Developments 2024 In Review – Part 2: Submarines, Auxiliaries, Experimental Programs
Naval News – New submarines appear, while auxiliary fleet receives important additions. Meanwhile Chinese naval shipbuilding reveals some curious new designs.
Red Sea Attacks Are Testing Combat Information Centers Aboard U.S. Navy Warships Like Never Before
The War Zone – The Combat Information Center (CIC) is the nerve center and tactical brain of a U.S. Navy surface combatant. These high-tech floating command centers and their watchstanders have been put to the test over the last year, unlike any other time in history, as missile and drone barrages from Houthi rebels in Yemen have plagued the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. With this in mind, TWZ spoke with multiple surface warfare officers (SWOs) about the realities sailors face when fighting their ship from within the CIC, including what factors come into play, what mistakes can arise during tense, time sensitive engagements, and the effects of being on patrol in a free-fire zone for months on end.
After Loss Of Tartus, Russia Now Has No Submarines In The Mediterranean
Naval News – The Russian Navy is significantly weakened in the Mediterranean. The collapse of the Assad regime in Syria has denied them their permanent base there. And with it, their ability to maintain conventional submarines there for any length of time. The only boat known to be there has just left, leaving no Russian submarines in the Mediterranean.
The Mayhem of Russia’s “Research Fleet”
War on the Rocks – Russia wields a formidable capability to target NATO’s undersea infrastructure in critical regions such as the Baltic, Barents, and North Seas, as well as across the world’s oceans: its “research” vessels. These are ostensibly civilian ships used for scientific exploration that double as intelligence-gathering platforms. Equipped with advanced surveillance technology, these ships often operate near critical undersea infrastructure, raising concerns about covert espionage and sabotage capabilities under the guise of academic study.
Taiwan Coast Guard Blames Chinese-Owned Ship For Cutting Undersea Communications Cable
The War Zone – A Chinese-owned vessel is suspected of severing an undersea cable off the Taiwanese coast recently, according to authorities on the island. Taiwan’s coast guard requested that the cargo ship return to shore for an investigation, but it eventually continued its passage. Last Friday’s incident is the latest to have affected Taiwanese cables and is part of a pattern of similar events that have also occurred recently around Europe.
Carrier USS Carl Vinson Back in the South China Sea, French Carrier in Indian Ocean
USNI News – The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group is back in the South China Sea following a port visit to Port Klang, Malaysia. Meanwhile, the French Carrier Strike Group is now operating in the Indian Ocean.
Update On The U.S. Navy’s Littoral Combat Ship Mine Countermeasures Mission Package
Naval News – The U.S. Navy’s LCS fleet continues to expand its capability portfolio as new systems are integrated onto the multi-mission ships.
Mao’s Army Goes to Sea: The Island Campaigns and the Founding of China’s Navy
CIMSEC – This review discusses the content and implications of Toshi Yoshihara’s book, Mao’s Army Goes to Sea: The Island Campaigns and the Founding of China’s Navy, starting with the author’s background and followed by chapter breakdowns. This review also evaluates the implications of Yoshihara’s research, considering how the historical circumstances behind the creation of the People’s Liberation Army/Navy (hereafter PLA Navy, or PLAN) informs its present-day actions vis-à-vis Taiwan.
Russia Commissions Fifth Yasen Nuclear Attack Sub
USNI News – The Russian Navy accepted the fifth in a class of advanced nuclear attack submarines that is set to be based near Norway, Moscow announced last week.
Turkish Navy Starts Construction Of 3 Major Projects: MUGEM Aircraft Carrier, TF-2000 Destroyer, MILDEN Submarine
Naval News – On January 2, 2025, the Turkish Ministry of Defence announced the steel cutting ceremony of the MUGEM indigenous aircraft carrier, TF-2000 AAW destroyer, and MILDEN indigenous submarine.
Armed Forces Of The Philippines Investigate Chinese Submarine Drone
Naval News – The Armed Forces of the Philippines said it was conducting an investigation into the origin and purpose of a submarine drone found in the waters of central Philippines.
China’s big new combat aircraft: an airborne cruiser against air and surface targets
The Strategist – Bill Sweetman says the speed, agility, range and stealth of an individual aircraft type are still important, but they’re no longer the whole story of air combat. Advances in sensing, processing and communications are changing military operations. The Chengdu J-36, the big Chinese combat aircraft that first appeared on 26 December, has been developed to exploit these changes and support China’s strategic goal: to establish regional dominance, including the ability to annex Taiwan by force.
Chinese Naval Developments 2024 In Review – Part 1: Major Programs
Naval News – Chinese carrier force underwent significant developments over the past year. Meanwhile production of frigates and destroyers was augmented by robust Coast Guard-deliveries.
Royal Navy warship HMS Somerset deployed at Christmas to shadow Russian naval group
Navy Lookout – HMS Somerset ship’s company were re-called to Devonport on Christmas day and sailed on 27th December to monitor Russian vessels close to the UK.
Saab signs modernisation deal for Sweden’s coastal anti-ship missile capability
Shepard Media – Sweden’s Baltic coastal defence will be upgraded with new missile options.
(Thanks to Alain)
Nuclear icebreaker “Yakutia” has been put into operation
BMPD – On December 28, 2024, a solemn ceremony of raising the national flag was held in St. Petersburg at JSC “Baltic Plant” (part of JSC “United Shipbuilding Corporation” – USC) on the universal nuclear icebreaker “Yakutia” of project 22220 (LK-60Ya), built by order of FSUE “Atomflot”. This is the fourth nuclear icebreaker of Project 22220.
(In Russian)
(Thanks to Alain)
Myanmar launches new FF-135 frigate, the largest ever built in its domestic yards
Shephard Media – The launch of the King Thalun marks a high point for shipbuilding in Myanmar.
(Thanks to Alain)
Russian Navy Launches Second Arctic ‘Combat Icebreaker’
gCaptain – The Admiralty Shipyards in Saint Petersburg launched the second armed Arctic icebreaker for Russia’s Navy. Upon commissioning the Nikolay Zubov will become part of the country’s Northern Fleet Kola division. The Arc7 ice-class will allow the patrol ship to break through up to 1.7 meters of ice ensuring year-round access to Russia’s Arctic waters.
(Thanks to Alain)
The J-36 And Shenyang Stealth Fighters: China’s Great Aerospace Leap
1945 – It’s that time again, when end-of-the-year advancements roll out in the People’s Republic of China (PRC). On 26 December, just in time for Mao’s birthday in China and Boxing Day elsewhere, footage of two “tailless” developmental “stealth” aircraft debuted within hours.
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