Pentagon Sounds Alarm Over Sub-Hunting Tech Shortage, Hypersonic Funding

Pentagon Sounds Alarm Over Sub-Hunting Tech Shortage, Hypersonic Funding
Pentagon Sounds Alarm Over Sub-Hunting Tech Shortage, Hypersonic Funding

WASHINGTON The Navy says it is running short of critical submarine-detecting sonobuoys, thanks to stepped-up submarine activity by Russia in the Mediterranean and around Europe. As a result, the service has asked Congress to reprogram $20 million to buy more of the detection devices in an Omnibus funding package the Pentagon sent to Congress earlier…

Sea Dragon II: Streamline Marine Logistics For Future War

Sea Dragon II: Streamline Marine Logistics For Future War
Sea Dragon II: Streamline Marine Logistics For Future War

The concepts the Warfighting Lab comes up with aren’t holy writ, but rather a baseline for young Marines to build on, “a point from which to deviate,” said Maj. J.B. Persons, a special projects officer at MCWL. “Give Marines new tools or toys, and they’ll surprise you every time.”

Navy’s New EW Jammer to be Ready in 2022

Navy’s New EW Jammer to be Ready in 2022
Navy’s New EW Jammer to be Ready in 2022

FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW The U.S. Navy hopes to start flying its Next Generation Jammer some time next year, though the system won’t reach operational capability until 2022, said Navy Capt. Michael Orr, program manager for the service’s electronic attack systems. As it stands now the Navy’s principal airborne electronic attack systems relies on technology developed…

Inside America’s Aging Nuclear Missile Submarines

Inside America’s Aging Nuclear Missile Submarines
Inside America’s Aging Nuclear Missile Submarines

America’s nuclear deterrent is aging, with a half-dozen replacement programs on the horizon. But the young men and women who serve, Gen. John Hyten said, are better than ever: “They love this country. They want to defend this country. They go to work every day. They’re amazing — they’re smarter than we were, by far. They get motivated differently so you have to lead them differently, but their passion is just the same.”

Transforming The RAF: F-35B, Carriers, Typhoon TyTAN, & More

Transforming The RAF: F-35B, Carriers, Typhoon TyTAN, & More
Transforming The RAF: F-35B, Carriers, Typhoon TyTAN, & More

The future of the RAF is on display at the Farnborough Air Show. With the F-35, the RAF is part of the multi-domain airpower transformation and will work closely with European allies, notably in reshaping Northern Tier Defense. With the Typhoon, the RAF is seeking a modernized aircraft reworked to compliment the F-35 but with a yet undetermined relationship with its European partners. And the A330MRTT and A400M aircraft, as well as MBDA missiles, are part of a broader context of resolving Brexit.

Destroyers Maxed Out, Navy Looks To New Hulls: Power For Radars & Lasers

Destroyers Maxed Out, Navy Looks To New Hulls: Power For Radars & Lasers
Destroyers Maxed Out, Navy Looks To New Hulls: Power For Radars & Lasers

ARLINGTON: The Navy has crammed as much electronics as it can into its new DDG-51 Flight III destroyers now beginning construction, Rear Adm. William Galinis said this morning. That drives the service towards a new Large Surface Combatant that can comfortably accommodate the same high-powered radars, as well as future weapons such as lasers, on…

The Next Pacific War: Lessons From Wake Island For The PLA

The Next Pacific War: Lessons From Wake Island For The PLA
The Next Pacific War: Lessons From Wake Island For The PLA

China’s increasingly aggressive rise puts the Pacific theater in play in a way it hasn’t been since 1945. In this essay, Singaporean scholar Ben Ho Wan Beng and retired US Marine Gary Lehmann look at what a critical but overlooked World War II battle has to tell us about the potential strengths — and weaknesses — of the Marine Corps’s new concept for waging the next Pacific war. — the editors

Eyeing China, Australia Busily Buys Up Frigates, Drones, and Sub-Hunting Planes

Eyeing China, Australia Busily Buys Up Frigates, Drones, and Sub-Hunting Planes
Eyeing China, Australia Busily Buys Up Frigates, Drones, and Sub-Hunting Planes

Australia looking to protect its home waters, while sending a signal to Washington that it is one of the allies that is trying to pull its weight in defending itself.

Navy’s Troubled Ford Carrier Makes Modest Progress

Navy’s Troubled Ford Carrier Makes Modest Progress
Navy’s Troubled Ford Carrier Makes Modest Progress

General Atomics says it is launching new, heavier planes from its EMALS carrier launcher. The launches are taking place on land, and won’t be attempted on board the $13 billion Ford for some time, however.

Navy Needs Plan To Update Old Ships’ Weapons: Hill Staff

Navy Needs Plan To Update Old Ships’ Weapons: Hill Staff
Navy Needs Plan To Update Old Ships’ Weapons: Hill Staff

“What’s missing at this point is what the Navy’s modernization strategy is,” the staffer said. The ships in question have enough margin for growth that they could accommodate upgrades, but how much does it cost to keep upgrading old ships? How does the cost:benefit ratio of such upgrades compare to spending the same amount on new vessels? The Navy’s plan is appealing “philosophically,” the staffer said, “but the devil’s in the details.”

Pentagon Pushes Counterintel For Industry As China Hacks Away

Pentagon Pushes Counterintel For Industry As China Hacks Away
Pentagon Pushes Counterintel For Industry As China Hacks Away

Pentagon kicking off new program to work with the defense industry on counter-intelligence to stop Chinese hackers. But lawmakers aren’t convinced.

Keep Ships Longer To Boost Fleet Size: 355 Ships By 2035

Keep Ships Longer To Boost Fleet Size: 355 Ships By 2035
Keep Ships Longer To Boost Fleet Size: 355 Ships By 2035

Instead of growing from 284 ships now to 355 in 2052-2055, the timeframe officials cited in the past, the Navy could reach its goal in 2032-2035, said Vice Adm. Thomas Moore, chief of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA).

BAE Beats Upstart SAIC To Build Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicle

BAE Beats Upstart SAIC To Build Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicle
BAE Beats Upstart SAIC To Build Marine Amphibious Combat Vehicle

The initial contract announced today was just $198 million for the first 30 vehicles, to be delivered by next fall, but Marines want to replace approximately 870 existing AAVs with better-protected, more mobile ACVs “as rapidly as we can,” which will take into “the mid to late ’20s.”

Russia, China Are Outmaneuvering US: Generals Recommend New Authorities, Doctrine

Russia, China Are Outmaneuvering US: Generals Recommend New Authorities, Doctrine
Russia, China Are Outmaneuvering US: Generals Recommend New Authorities, Doctrine

  China and Russia are outmaneuvering the US, using aggressive actions that fall short of war, a group of generals and admirals have concluded. To counter them, the US needs new ways to use its military without shooting, concludes a newly released report on the Quantico conclave. The US military will need new legal authorities…