Defense Technology International – Malaysia Takes Delivery of Its First Ever Submarine
Malaysia took delivery today of its first ever submarine: a Scorpene built by French military shipyard DCNS in partnership with Spanish shipyard Navantia.
Monthly Archives: January 2009
Royal Navy – On board Navy's new hi-tech ship
BBC – On board Navy’s new hi-tech ship
A look at HMS Daring, the first of six Type 45 Anti Air Warfare Destroyers in production for the Royal Navy.
Miscellaneous – Arctic's thaw brings security risks for NATO
Associated Press – Arctic’s thaw brings security risks for NATO
NATO will need a military presence in the Arctic as global warming melts frozen sea routes and major powers rush to lay claim to lucrative energy reserves, the military bloc’s chief said Thursday.
Russian Navy – Russian military a 'paper tiger' despite symbolic comeback, says IISS
The Times – Russian military a ‘paper tiger’ despite symbolic comeback, says IISS
Russia may be flexing its military muscle once again, sending warships into international waters and dispatching long-range bombers on reconnaissance trips, but the former superpower remains a paper tiger, according to a respected London think-tank.
Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force – Japan orders ships to fight Somalia pirates
Associated Press – Japan orders ships to fight Somalia pirates
Japan’s defense minister Wednesday ordered the dispatch of ships to fight pirates off the shores of Somalia, joining countries ranging from the United States to Iran to China in the battle against the outlaws.
Editorial Note – Naval Year In Review 2008
2008
World Naval Operational News Highlights
The ten most significant naval news stories / themes this year included:
- The increasing amount of piracy off of Somalia, and the increasingly ad-hoc response from the world’s navies. It seems the law needs to catch up with reality, and that there needs to be better coordination between the various navies in the region.
- The continued conflicting sovereignty claims in the Arctic, as global warming does its work. Can this be settled by a treaty?
- The increased emphasis on humanitarian operations by all navies. Unfortunately, this emphasis is for nought if the devastated country refuses assistance, as Burma did this year.
- The increased number of Russian Navy exercises in the Mediterranean and Caribbean. Can petrodollars help it to keep increasing its tempo of deployments?
- The slow but steady ascent of the Chinese Navy on all fronts. Most interestingly, more clues emerged this year as to how its anti-ship ballistic missile capability works.
- The use of semisubmersibles to smuggle drugs into the U.S. What countermeasures can be effectively deployed against them?
- The MV-22 Osprey’s first successful deployment in Iraq. Will it be deployed to Afghanistan in 2009?
- The shoot-down of a faulty spy satellite by a US Navy cruiser. How widely deployed is this capability in the fleet today?
- The continuing lawfare over US Navy sonar use in training and the potential harm it does to marine mammals, referred this year all the way to the Supreme Court. How closely must the US military follow environmental laws?
- The continuing crisis in quality and quantity in US Navy ship building. Do the shipbuiders have no shame?
Statistics
In 2008, there were news stories linked to on 292 / 365 days – that is on 80% of the days.
In 2008, NOSI linked to 408 news stories.
In 2008, 114 of these stories (28%) were related to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, or U.S. Military Sealift Command.
In 2008, 152 of these stories (37%) were background stories.
The remaining 142 news stories (35%) covered the operational activities of 23 nation’s navies, coast guards, and marine corps:
Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Columbia, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, United Kingdom
In 2008, 189,995 pages of information were read on NOSI by 115,850 users.
French Navy – French Navy Deploys Anti-Smuggling Surveillance Frigate Off Gaza Coast
Defense Technology International – French Navy Deploys Anti-Smuggling Surveillance Frigate Off Gaza Coast
A French frigate carrying a helicopter was on its way Friday to international waters off the coast of Gaza to participate in a mission against arms trafficking in the Palestinian territory.
Chinese Navy – China tries American 'soft power' with hospital ship
Washington Times – China tries American ‘soft power’ with hospital ship
China’s military has a new weapon in the country’s soft-power arsenal that copies a technique long used by the United States – a 10,000-ton hospital ship to be deployed for humanitarian purposes in Asia and beyond.
The vessel, dubbed Ship 866, is meant to soften China’s image overseas and allay concerns among its neighbors over its navy´s growing strength, while at the same time adding to its military capabilities.
US Navy – Navy gets approval for sonar in Atlantic
Virginian Pilot – Navy gets approval for sonar in Atlantic
The government agency responsible for protecting marine mammals on Friday broadly authorized the Navy to use sonar off the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico for the next five years.
Geopolitics – Where Are the Civilians? How to Rebuild the U.S. Foreign Service
Foreign Affairs – Where Are the Civilians? How to Rebuild the U.S. Foreign Service
If it hopes to achieve its foreign policy agenda, the Obama administration will need to undo the damage to the Foreign Service wrought by the Bush administration.
Piracy – Faced with rising piracy problem, Navy is taking fight to Africa
Virginian Pilot – Faced with rising piracy problem, Navy is taking fight to Africa
In just two weeks, a new U.S. Navy anti-piracy effort has picked up a pair of allies – the weather and a nation willing to accept captured pirates.
Choppy seas have discouraged piracy attempts since the Navy established the force, known as Combined Task Force 151, two weeks ago. The U.S. also has reached a preliminary agreement with Kenya to accept captured pirates
Royal Navy – John Hutton ‘deceived MPs over Navy cuts’
The Times – John Hutton ‘deceived MPs over Navy cuts’
John Hutton has been accused of deceiving Parliament over his explanation for a two-year delay in the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier programme.
The allegation came after Lockheed Martin, the American defence company, contradicted his account. He had said that the delay was linked to a later delivery date for the aircraft that the vessels will carry.
US Navy – From Preponderance to Partnership: American Maritime Power in the 21st Century
Center For A New American Security – From Preponderance to Partnership: American Maritime Power in the 21st Century
A proposed naval strategy for the U.S. in the 21st century.
Sri Lankan Navy – Sri Lankan Navy destoys four Tamil boats fleeing island
AFP – Sri Lankan Navy destoys four Tamil boats fleeing island
Sri Lanka said yesterday it had destroyed four Tamil Tiger boats trying to escape government soldiers closing in on the rebels’ last base in the northeast of the island.
South Korean Navy – Cabinet backs plan to send SKorea warship against Somali pirates
AFP – Cabinet backs plan to send SKorea warship against Somali pirates
Seoul’s cabinet on Tuesday approved a plan to send a warship and 310 troops to combat piracy off Somalia where several South Korean ships have been seized, officials said. The dispatch of a destroyer, which must be approved by parliament next month, would mark the first-ever overseas combat deployment by the country’s navy.
Wargaming – PACAF’s “Vision” Thing
Air Force – PACAF’s “Vision” Thing
A new wargame tells airmen what it will take to hold the line in the Far East.
Transformation – A Balanced Strategy: Reprogramming the Pentagon for a New Age
Foreign Affairs – A Balanced Strategy: Reprogramming the Pentagon for a New Age
Secretary of Defense Robert Gates writes that the Pentagon has to do more than modernize its conventional forces; it must also focus on today’s unconventional conflicts — and tomorrow’s.
US Marines – Keeping Marines Off The Beach
DefenseTech – Keeping Marines Off The Beach
Norman Polmar writes that one of the leading candidates for cancellation by the new administration is the long-gestating Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), the advanced “amtrac” that has been under development for almost two decades.
US Navy – Navy backs plan to move an aircraft carrier to Mayport, Fla.
Virginian Pilot – Navy backs plan to move an aircraft carrier to Mayport, Fla.
The Navy on Wednesday formally endorsed plans to make Florida’s Mayport Naval Station the home of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, potentially ending Norfolk’s status as the lone nuclear-capable carrier port on the East Coast.
Iraq – When gadgetry becomes strategy
World Affairs – When gadgetry becomes strategy
The US military’s reliance of technical superiority highlights a wayward path that leads back to Vietnam writes H R McMaster.
Royal Marines – UK forces take key Taleban bases
BBC – UK forces take key Taleban bases
BBC – Voices from the Afghan front line
StrategyPage – The Royal Marines Show How It’s Done
British troops in Afghanistan captured four key Taleban strongholds after an 18-day offensive in Helmand Province.
Editorial Note – 2008 Archive Now Available
NOSI’s archive from January – December 2008 is now available: January – December 2008
US Navy – Problems Persist for SEAL Mini-Subs
DefenseTech – Problems Persist for SEAL Mini-Subs
Norman Polmar writes that the nations’ problem-plagued effort to develop an effective means of landing special forces from submarines has suffered still another setback.
Nuclear Warfare – The Worst Pakistan Nightmare for Obama
New York Times Magazine – The Worst Pakistan Nightmare for Obama
The new administration’s biggest fear is not jihadists taking control of the border regions. It’s what happens if the country’s nuclear arsenal falls into the wrong hands.
Geopolitics / Middle East – Beyond Iraq: A New U.S. Strategy for the Middle East
Foreign Affairs – Beyond Iraq: A New U.S. Strategy for the Middle East
To be successful in the Middle East, the Obama administration will need to move beyond Iraq, find ways to deal constructively with Iran, and forge a final-status Israeli-Palestinian agreement.
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