BBC – The UK is preparing to send HMS Trent to Guyana in a show of diplomatic and military support for the former British colony
Tanker hit off India coast by drone from Iran
BBC – The US said the Chem Pluto was hit by “a one-way attack drone fired from Iran”. It is believed to be the first time the US has publicly accused Iran of targeting a ship directly.
Into the Cold: Special Operations in the Arctic
Wavell Room – Strategic competition has superseded the Global War on Terrorism as the central organizing principle for America’s military. Conflict has returned to the European continent with Russia’s expanded invasion of Ukraine. The accession of Finland to NATO, and hopefully Sweden soon, the Arctic environment has taken on new importance in strategic calculus. As the defence enterprise writ large shifts to this new environment, so must Special Operations Forces.
The UK must prepare for a rapidly changing Arctic
Wavell Room – The UK is the Arctic’s nearest neighbour, and developments in the Arctic significantly impact the UK’s environment, security, and energy supply.
Australia’s anti-submarine frigate program sails rough seas
Defense News – The shipbuilder for a $30 billion Australian program is pushing back against criticism over the design and capabilities of the anti-submarine warfare frigate.
Red Sea Task Force Grows, How It Actually Will Work Remains Unclear
War Zone – As the Houthis hurled threats at the U.S. Navy, more than 20 nations are set to participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian in some manner.
Austal USA Wins U.S. Navy Contract For Expeditionary Medical Ship
Naval News – Austal USA received an $867.6 million undefinitized contract award for final design and construction of three Expeditionary Medical Ships from the U.S. Navy today.
South Korean CVX Aircraft Carrier Program In The Mist
Naval News – In the 2024-2028 Mid-term Defense Blueprint released by the South Korean Ministry of National Defense on December 12th, detailed plan for the CVX aircraft carrier was nowhere to be found.
Spain Orders 16 Airbus C295 In Maritime Patrol And Surveillance Configurations
Naval News – The Spanish Ministry of Defence has ordered 16 Airbus C295 aircraft in Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) configuration and Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) configuration.
Orca Drone Submarine Delivered To Navy
War Zone – Orca, which Is set to perform a variety of missions for the Navy including mine laying, has suffered significant delays prior to delivery.
Chilean Navy Deploys Submarine To Monitor Fishing Activity
Naval News – The Chilean Navy recently deployed one of its Scorpène-class attack submarines to the Juan Fernández islands in the Eastern Pacific, to “verify and control the transit of foreign fishing vessels through the region.”
Netherlands to boost North Sea surveillance to deter seabed threats
Defense News – The Netherlands plans to spend as much as €250 million (U.S. $274 million) on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities in the North Sea to protect the cables and pipelines that crisscross the seabed off its coast.
Russia Forced To Adapt To Ukraine’s Maritime Drone Warfare In Black Sea
Naval News – If you can measure a new weapon’s impact by the lengths the enemy has to go to feel safe against it, then Ukraine’s maritime drones are hugely successful. The Russian Navy is deploying a multi-layered approach to defeating them.
Guns, missiles and drones – naval actions in the Red Sea
Navy Lookout – HMS Diamond has now been formally allocated to US-led operation Prosperity Guardian which will protect merchant ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Here we look at the recent naval operations and consider the current situation in the region.
Italy Sends A FREMM In The Red Sea To Protect International Trade
Naval News – The Italian Ministry of Defence announced on 19 December that the Bergamini-class FREMM Frigate Virginio Fasan (F 591) was set to leave “in the next few hours” the Mediterranean Sea to reach the Red Sea and contribute to the protection of the international trade under the national Operation “Mediterraneo Sicuro”.
What do Red Sea assaults mean for global trade?
BBC – Global supply chains could face severe disruption as a result of the world’s biggest shipping companies diverting journeys away from the Red Sea.
Previously Unreported Italian Special Forces BIR-87 SDV Seen For First Time
Covert Shores – Italy’s elite naval special forces, COMSUBIN (aka Incursori / GOI), is extremely secretive. And their swimmer delivery vehicles (SDVs) and submarines are among their best kept secrets. Only now, after it has been retired, has the BIR-87 been displayed to the public.
(Thanks to Alain)
Japan MoD Secures $2.5 Billion To Build Two ASEV For FY2024
Naval News – The Japanese Ministry of Defense on December 19 announced it has secured $2.59 billion for fiscal year 2024 from the Ministry of Finance to build two Aegis System Equipped Vessels, which are alternatives to Japan’s now-scrapped plan for a land-based Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense system.
US Navy recovers unmanned submarine after launch
Jerusalem Post – The US Navy announced that they successfully launched and recovered an unmanned underwater vehicle for the second time ever in an early December test.
(Thanks to Alain)
US unveils international force to defend Red Sea. Here’s what we know
Defense News – Several nations have announced their contributions to Operation Prosperity Guardian, a new multinational security initiative in the Middle East to help protect merchant ships in the Red Sea area from drones and missiles.
Chinese Maritime Militia Swarms Second Thomas Shoal as Manila Mulls Contingency Plans
USNI News – Chinese Maritime Militia vessels swarmed within and around Second Thomas Shoal this week in Beijing’s latest move against the Philippines in the South China Sea.
Here Is What Each Of The Navy’s Ship-Launched Missiles Actually Costs
War Zone – Arming America’s fleet of fighting ships is an extremely expensive endeavor.
‘Operation Prosperity Guardian’ Set to Protect Ships in the Red Sea, Carrier IKE in Gulf of Aden
USNI News – The Pentagon, on Monday, announced an initiative to protect commercial traffic in the region after almost two months of attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea by forces in Yemen.
Why Hasn’t The U.S. Struck Back After Red Sea Anti-Ship Attacks?
War Zone – Many are calling for strikes on Houthi forces after multiple anti-ship attacks off Yemen’s coast, but is that really the best option?
Dropping Out Of Sight West of Heligoland
CIMSEC – A FICINT short story
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
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