Defense News – The U.S. Navy sets a fleet goal of 381 ships, up from 373, in a new long-range shipbuilding plan.
Russian Submarines Now Appear To Be Getting Anti-Drone “Cope Cages”
The War Zone – An apparent counter-drone screen on the ballistic missile submarine Tula’s conning tower speaks to growing drone threats Russia is facing.
Submarine Decoy Appears On Russian Naval Base Pier
The War Zone – A painted submarine silhouette with an actual conning tower structure follows a trend first seen at Russian strategic bomber bases.
Revisiting the Tanker War
War on the Rocks – Looking back at the “Tanker War,” the Iran-Iraq war at sea, is interesting to provide lessons for current operations in the Red Sea but also for how to think about contingencies in other parts of the world.
New Navy Long-Range Shipbuilding Plan Details 19 Ship Decommissionings in FY 2025
USNI News – The latest 30-year shipbuilding plan narrows the range of options the Navy will consider for its future force and provides more details on the service’s plan to decommission 19 ships from the fleet. The Navy’s Long-Range Shipbuilding Plan sketches out two paths to get to a larger fleet – one bounded by flat budgets and a second one that seeks to build the ships the Navy needs to reach its goal of 381 ships the service says it needs to meet its obligation to the Pentagon’s National Defense Strategy.
The U.S. Military’s New Defense Budget Makes No Sense
National Interest – James Holmes writes that last week the Biden Pentagon submitted its budget request for fiscal year 2025. If executed as written, the request would shrink the U.S. armed forces at a time when grave dangers—and thus the demands on the armed forces—are surging around maritime Eurasia.
Russia is considering withdrawal from the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the Arctic
Barents Observer – The treaty, which is a key pillar to regulate international cooperation in the sea, is seen by the Russian authorities as “detrimental”.
China’s quantum grand strategy
ET – Thomas P. M. Barnett says we think of grand strategy as superpowers fighting over the world’s continents, like who can dominate Eurasia. But what if, in our hyper-connected world, that struggle is best pursued on a subnational scale: first splitting, then transmuting, and finally capturing the core identities of individual citizens?
Searching For Lost Submarines: An Overview of Forensic Underwater Methodologies
CIMSEC – How does one find an object not meant to be found? Forensic maritime investigators in 2017 stumbled across this question when searching for the disappeared ARA San Juan (S-42) – an Argentinian submarine whose mission centered around stealth. Despite the environmental challenges and the restrictions imposed by the profile of submarines, several complementary forensic tools have emerged as authoritative standards and best practices for underwater search operations. These include: (1) optimization of preliminary search boxes through Bayesian probabilities, with updates for posterior probabilities throughout the search; (2) side-scanning sonar systems; and (3) unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) for imagery, access, and identity verification. In explaining the efficacies and drawbacks of such methods, this analysis highlights the importance and evolving future of search optimization strategies.
US officials say pact with strategically key Pacific island nations underscores American commitment
AP – U.S. officials stressed Tuesday that newly-approved legislation providing billions of dollars in funding for three strategically important Pacific island nations is an important sign of American commitment, which comes amid warnings China is actively trying to pry them away from Washington’s sphere of influence.
Royal Navy plays a leading role in largest NATO exercise for more than 35 years
Navy Lookout – Steadfast Defender 2024 (STDE24) is the largest military exercise staged by NATO since the alliance conducted ‘Reforger’ in 1988. In this photo essay, we cover the RN’s participation in the maritime elements of the exercise.
Multi-Mission Capabilities Sit Central In France’s Future MPA Requirements
Naval News – France’s future maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) must deliver multi-mission capability and greater capacity. The new MPA must also be in service by 2035, according to a French naval maritime patrol officer and subject matter expert.
U.S. Still Developing Gaza Pier Details as Crews Work to Prepare Components
USNI News – Two weeks after President Joe Biden ordered the Pentagon to build a pier to ferry humanitarian aid to the war-torn residents of Gaza, the steel chunks that will make up the promised lifeline have been coming together in Newport News, Va.
US Navy aircraft carrier faces relentless battle against Houthi attacks
BBC – It’s not just merchant ships being targeted by the Houthis in the Red Sea. The US carrier strike group trying to protect them has also been under constant threat too.
Admiral Raoul Castex: The Naval Strategist for Non-Hegemons
War on the Rocks – French Navy Adm. Raoul Castex (1878–1968) is the greatest naval strategist you probably never heard of.
Indian Navy seizes ship from Somali pirates and rescues 17 crew
Reuters – Indian naval forces including special commandos seized a cargo vessel that had been hijacked by Somali pirates, rescuing 17 crew members.
China to unveil fourth aircraft carrier soon: PLA Navy political commissar
Global Times – China will unveil its fourth aircraft carrier soon and answer the question as to whether it will be nuclear-powered, said the political commissar of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy at the ongoing two sessions in Beijing.
Navy delays next-generation submarine start to early 2040s
Defense News – The U.S. Navy is pushing back the start of construction on its next-generation attack submarine by nearly a decade, citing tight budgets and a need to fund current and near-term operations.
Houthis Threaten to Target Merchant Ships in Indian Ocean
USNI News – The Houthis plan to attack ships in the Indian Ocean, as they travel toward the Cape of Good Hope, the group announced on Thursday.
Super-secret nuclear submarine Losharik soon back in service
Barents Observer – The notorious special purpose sub that was badly damaged in a fire in 2019 will start sea trials in June-July this year, a source connected with the Russian shipbuilding industry says to the state news agency.
Russia, China and Iran Finish Drills in Gulf of Oman
USNI News – Russia, China and Iran completed the at-sea phase of the Sea Security Belt 2024 exercise on Thursday near the Gulf of Oman and carried out a shore phase along with a debriefing in the Iranian city of Chabahar, with the drills scheduled to end on Friday.
Japan’s Mogami-Class Frigates Will Start Getting VLS In FY 2024
Naval News – Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will start delivering the Mk 41 vertical launching system for a planned fleet of 12 Mogami-class multirole frigate for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force in fiscal year 2024.
New Images Of China’s J-35 Naval Stealth Fighter, Could Depict Third Example
The War Zone – The images come amid indications that the navalized fighter could operate aboard China’s first two aircraft carriers, as well as its third.
Lessons From Ukraine: Taiwan Eyes 200 ‘Multipurpose’ Drone Boats That Can Swarm Chinese Warships
Eurasian Times – The Taiwanese military is considering purchasing 200 units of an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) that can be used for multiple purposes. These range from a target drone to one armed with interchangeable modules for reconnaissance, surveillance, electronic intelligence (ELINT), and warheads for attack purposes.
What we now know about the Marine Corps’ plans for Medium Landing Ship
Breaking Defense – The inclusion of the Medium Landing Ship in the fiscal year 2025 shipbuilding request is a major win for the Marine Corps, which faced significant amphibious shipbuilding cuts last year.
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