Transforming ‘Distributed Lethality’ Strategy into Action

Transforming ‘Distributed Lethality’ Strategy into Action
Transforming ‘Distributed Lethality’ Strategy into Action

The concept of “distributed lethality”—what Navy leadership has described as “holding more adversaries at risk across a wider geography”—was a recurring theme at the recent Surface Navy Association Symposium on surface warfare strategy. But the Navy needs to make clearer what it means and how will it be implemented. At the symposium, Vice Adm. Thomas Rowden said distributed…

Invisible Bullets: The Navy’s Big Problem In Future War

Invisible Bullets: The Navy’s Big Problem In Future War
Invisible Bullets: The Navy’s Big Problem In Future War

WASHINGTON: In the brutal naval battles of the future, the first clash of arms will be a clash of electrons. If you don’t win the invisible battle of the airwaves, you can’t win the visible battle of missiles. Before warships can concentrate their fire on the enemy, they first must communicate with each other. Before they…

LCS Can Too Fight Russia, China: Navy Leaders

LCS Can Too Fight Russia, China: Navy Leaders
LCS Can Too Fight Russia, China: Navy Leaders

WASHINGTON: Is the Littoral Combat Ship a real warship? That question has bedeviled the small, sleek, lightly armed ships for years. Now it’s taken on new urgency as the Defense Department and the Navy both refocus on high-intensity, high-tech warfighting against “great powers” — i.e. China and Russia. Defense Secretary Ash Carter wants to cut…

Navy’s Dilemma: What Kind Of Presence?

Navy’s Dilemma: What Kind Of Presence?
Navy’s Dilemma: What Kind Of Presence?

WASHINGTON: “I guess I’m going to have to attack your question on almost every aspect,” Adm. John Richardson told me. As an analyst, it’s unnerving to have the Navy’s top admiral tell you to your face, albeit politely, that you’re just plain wrong. (I’d politely disagree, though I did miss some important nuances in an earlier story). I had asked…

Carter’s LCS Cut: Second Thoughts At OSD

Carter’s LCS Cut: Second Thoughts At OSD
Carter’s LCS Cut: Second Thoughts At OSD

WASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s decision to curtail the controversial Littoral Combat Ship program may not be the last word, according to several well informed sources. Those sources independently told Breaking Defense that the Office of the Secretary of Defense is divided over the decision cut LCS from 52 ships to 40. So is the Navy, which has had pro-…

Coast Guard Acts On Icebreakers; Releases Requirements

Coast Guard Acts On Icebreakers; Releases Requirements
Coast Guard Acts On Icebreakers; Releases Requirements

[UPDATED with Adm. Papp comments] SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION: In an important step to filling the increasing gap between American’s Arctic strategy and our capabilities, the Coast Guard has released its “notional program schedule [and] notional Polar Icebreaker requirements” for two new heavy icebreakers today. “This will be available to industry at noon today and I’m sure…

Excalibur Goes To Sea: Raytheon Smart Artillery Shoots Back

Excalibur Goes To Sea: Raytheon Smart Artillery Shoots Back
Excalibur Goes To Sea: Raytheon Smart Artillery Shoots Back

SURFACE NAVY ASSOCIATION: Paul Daniels of Raytheon is a bit miffed. Yesterday, prominent defense commentator Loren Thompson wrote an article in Forbes extolling the technology Daniels works on, precision-guided cannon shells — particularly the products of BAE Systems. But Daniels doesn’t work for BAE. He works on Raytheon’s Excalibur smart round, fired 800 times in anger in…