RUSI – Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz without formally closing it. The question facing Washington is not how to secure the waterway – it is whether any realistic military operation actually can.
Useful Lemons
CIMSEC – This article proposes the creation of sea-going factories and power plant ships to obtain decisive strategic advantages. Advantages range from shortened supply lines to specialized and customized resupply of both land and sea forces. The consideration of factory ships should not be framed as specialized vessels versus generalized ones. Factory ships should be viewed foremost as factories that happen to float and move like ships, and not primarily as ships.
Though such vessels will need to be specifically designed one day, the present threat represented by the PRC can be addressed by refitting unwanted, but functional, vessels into sea-going factory ships. This article strongly urges a study to be performed to decide the feasibility of the pure concept and its rapid implementation through retrofitting existing vessels.
Mass Drones to Save Missiles: A High-Low Mix For the Pacific
CIMSEC – A future war in the Western Pacific will not be decided by which side fields the most exquisite platforms on the opening day of combat, but by which side can afford to keep firing on day one hundred. The U.S. is currently organized around a force-and-munitions paradigm that assumes short, decisive campaigns that do not exist in reality. Against a peer with a large, industrialized economy and an asymmetric approach designed to circumvent U.S. short-range precision strike, the result is likely paralysis if not outright defeat.
Royal Navy authorised to step up action against Russian shadow fleet in UK waters
Navy Lookout – British forces have been ordered to intercept and board suspected Russian shadow fleet vessels in UK waters, as the government moves to tighten enforcement of sanctions. The announcement signals a more assertive maritime posture, with the RN expected to play a central role alongside northern European allies.
Tanker Carrying Russian Oil Hit By Drone Attack in Black Sea
Maritime Executive – A tanker carrying Russian oil has been hit by drones near the northern entrance to the Bosporus, according to Turkish officials.
Ukrainian drone wrecks FSB’s new Arctic vessel
Barents Observer – A high-profile Russian security service vessel, designed for Arctic operations, has been struck by a Ukrainian drone while docked at the Vyborg shipyard near St. Petersburg.
The United States Cannot Deter China Without Allied Shipyards
CIMSEC – A stronger homegrown U.S. shipbuilding and maritime industry remains essential. But domestic revitalization and allied integration are not alternatives; they are mutually reinforcing. A revitalized U.S. industrial base working closely with selected, capable, and willing maritime allies is indispensable to a strategy of deterrence along the First Island Chain. Understood in this light, allied shipbuilding is not optional. It is imperative.
China’s Own Seawolf-class Submarine: The Type 095
Naval News – In the high-stakes world of submarine acquisition, true performance-first designs are exceedingly rare. The immense cost involved almost always forces trade-offs, shaping vessels around budget, strategy, and industrial constraints as much as pure capability. Until now the U.S. Navy’s Seawolf-class stood as the benchmark of an uncompromising approach to undersea warfare. Now, it appears that China’s latest nuclear-powered attack submarine, the Type 095 (also known as Type 09V), is built with a similarly ambitious philosophy.
Canadian Navy reveals latest modifications to River-Class Destroyer
Navy Lookout – The latest model of the future River-class Destroyer (RCD), based on the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigate design, was displayed to the public by the Royal Canadian Navy yesterday. Here we look briefly at the discernible changes since the last version in 2024.
China maps ocean floor as it prepares for submarine warfare with US
Defense News – China is conducting a vast undersea mapping and monitoring operation across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans, building detailed knowledge of marine conditions that naval experts say would be crucial for waging submarine warfare against the United States and its allies.
CMSI Translations #28: Uphold the Idea of a Maritime Community with a Shared Destiny and Forge a New Chapter in Maritime Military Security Cooperation
China Maritime Studies Institute – The concept of a maritime community with a shared destiny proposed by Chairman Xi is China’s wisdom and approach for maintaining global maritime peace, promoting ocean development, enhancing global maritime governance, and advancing maritime security cooperation. This should guide efforts to tailor security cooperation relationships based on different targets. We need to broaden our thinking and innovate mechanisms for maritime security cooperation, take proactive steps to provide maritime public security goods, strengthen coordinated implementation of external maritime military assistance, and promote the creation of a new landscape in maritime military security cooperation.
Retired Patriot Battalion Commander On The Challenges Of Defeating Iran’s Barrages
The War Zone – David Shank, former commandant of the Army’s Air Defense Artillery School, offers a frank assessment of how air defenses are performing against Iran.
Land-Based Marine Corps F-35Cs Are Now Moving Towards The Middle East
The War Zone – The F-35Cs, operating from land bases, look set to join a Marine combat capability that is about to balloon in size in the Middle East.
U.S.-made naval drone found off Turkish coast
Defence Blog – A U.S.-made AEGIR-W unmanned surface vessel was found off the coast of Ordu, Turkey and is set to be inspected and destroyed by authorities. The vessel’s recovery highlights the spread of military unmanned maritime systems linked to the Ukraine war beyond their intended area of operation
(Thanks to Alain)
The ‘simple maneuver’ of opening Hormuz strait carries great risks, analysts say
Defense News – U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday called NATO allies “cowards” for their unwillingness to help secure maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which he said would be a “simple military maneuver” with little risk. Analysts studying military matters and geopolitics disagree.
Russia “Cages” Navy Vessel In Black Sea—What Is It Trying To Hide From Ukrainian Drones?
United 24 – Russia has modified one of its Ministry of Defense research vessels with visible anti-drone protections in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, highlighting growing concerns over Ukrainian unmanned attacks at sea.
(Thanks to Alain)
French Navy Intercepts Suspected Russian Tanker in Western Mediterranean
USNI News – The French Navy intercepted and seized a sanctioned Russian tanker suspected of flying a false flag Friday in the Western Mediterranean.
Confirmation that next generation Royal Navy SSNs to have vertical launch tubes
Navy Lookout – A newly approved US support package for the SSN-AUKUS programme has effectively confirmed that the RN and Royal Australian Navy’s next-generation attack submarines will be equipped with vertical launch cells.
Taiwan Receives First U.S. MQ-9 SkyGuardian Drones
USNI News – Taiwan received the first batch of an advanced drone order from the U.S. last week that is set to bolster Taipei’s over-the-horizon targeting capabilities.
Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Arrives in Souda Bay for Repairs After Laundry Room Fire
USNI News – Ford, the flagship of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, is in port for maintenance and repairs following a March 12 fire in the aft laundry room.
JMSDF Launches ‘Fleet Surface Force’, Scrapping Decades-Old ‘Escort Fleet’
Naval News – On March 23, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) formally disbanded its long-standing “Fleet Escort Force” (護衛艦隊) and established a new “Fleet Surface Force” (水上艦隊), marking its most sweeping organizational overhaul since 1954.
Putin’s favorite submarine returns to service, fueling Arctic nuclear buildup
The Barents Observer – Karelia is the submarine on which Vladimir Putin – then acting president – spent a night at a depth of 50 metres in the Barents Sea in April 2000. Now upgraded, the vessel is preparing for deterrence patrols and is expected to remain in service until 2038.
Statement for the Record—U.S.-China Economic & Security Review Commission Hearing—“Part of Your World: U.S.-China Competition Under the Sea”
Andrew Erickson – Andrew S. Erickson, Statement for the Record for Hearing on “Part of Your World: U.S.-China Competition Under the Sea,” U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, Washington, DC, 2 March 2026.
Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron supports French seizure of Russian shadow fleet tanker
Navy Lookout – HMS Cutlass of the Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron has assisted French forces in the boarding of a suspect tanker in the western Mediterranean. The operation highlights growing coordination between European navies in enforcing sanctions at sea.
Defence funding chaos puts Royal Navy future fleet programmes at risk
Navy Lookout – The Times reports that the Type 83 destroyer programme could be delayed due to the large funding gap in the MoD’s Equipment Plan. Here, we consider how the RN is likely to face very difficult trade-offs between programmes due to funding constraints.
NOSI - Naval Open Source Intelligence™ 
You must be logged in to post a comment.