Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Naval Power

Inside the U.S. Navy's Radical Plan for ‘Moore’s Law’ Warships ( Source- The National Interest / Author- Dave Majumdar)

USS Leity Gulf , CG-55 ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / United States Navy) Source- The National Interest Author- Dave Majumdar The U.S. Navy’s next generation surface combatants will be developed with information technologies baked into the core of their designs. While the Navy’s current generation of warships like the Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers use digital information technology, they were designed in a different era when technology did not evolve as rapidly as today. The next generation replacement for those vessels will have to incorporate digital-information technologies from the outset—and will have to keep pace with rapid technical advancements. “That’s going to be a key part of the next generation of warships,” Adm. John Richardson, U.S. Navy’s chief of naval operations, told an audience at the American Enterprise Institute on February 12. “It will also be digitally native—or information native.” The Navy’s cu

Asia's Lethal Naval Arms Race (Source- The National Interest / Author- Sheryn Lee)

USS Leyte Gulf on petrol ( Source- Wikimedia Commons / Credits- Author) Source- The National Interest Author- Sheryn Lee Claims that a destabilizing ‘arms race’ is underway in the Asia–Pacific have become commonplace and are supported by reports that regional defense spending has surpassed Europe for the third consecutive year. As my ASPI report released today shows, the corollary of this situation is intensifying naval competition in the region. The implications for Australia and the Australian Defense Force (ADF) are significant. Decisions on arms acquisitions in the Asia–Pacific continue to be driven by a multitude of strategic rationales and domestic factors. The significant changes underway since 2008 raise questions regarding the primary motivation behind regional naval acquisitions, including their supporting air capabilities. Maritime disputes between China and its neighbors have increased tensions and affected countries’ military modernization programs. T

Watch Out, China: Asia's Dangerous Submarine Race Heats Up ( Source- The National Interest/ Author- Zachary Keck)

USS Virginia ( Image source- Wikimedia Commons / Source- General Dynamics Electric Boat shipyard) Source- The National Interest Author- Zachary Keck Thailand is the latest country in maritime Asia seeking to build up its submarine force. According to local media reports, the Thai Royal Navy has formally submitted a proposal to the cabinet asking it to fund a submarine program. Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich, the commander of the Thai Navy, explained the rationale behind his service’s desire to acquire submarines. "Neighboring countries like Vietnam, Malaydsia, Indonesia, and Singapore have had submarines in their arsenals for many years,” Kraisorn said, according to Khaosad, a local Thai newspaper. "Now that I am here, I think it is a part of the strategy to improve our armed forces. It's my duty to submit the request to the government for consideration. Whether the government will approve it or not is up to them." In the proposal, Krais

Surface Warfare Assets Have a Bright Future Indeed ( Source- The Diplomat, Author- Himanil Rana)

INS Delhi ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Author- Brian Burnell) Source- The Diplomat Author- Himanil Rana Where are debates on the future of fleet composition and naval force development headed? So far, discourse has been dominated by carrier battle groups. It’s not going to stay that way for long. The utility of sea control has always been measured by its capability to influence events on the shore. Aircraft carriers are naturally attractive to the United States and China as they can help attain sea control visibly and directly. Deriving their offensive power from their air wings, aircraft carriers can strike deep into the enemy’s homeland. Unlike submarines, carriers offer unmatched flexibility and lethality coupled with the ability to be as intrusive or as subtle as desired. The carrier’s ability to rapidly adapt its air wing to almost any expected threat is a tremendous advantage. Carrier groups can also be used as a diplomatic tool as well, influencing enem

Thailand Eyes Submarine Fleet ( Source- The Diplomat, Author- Prashanth Parameswaran)

South Korea Navy Submarine ROKS Lee Sunsin ( Image credits- Wikimedia Commons / Author- United States Navy ) Source- The Diplomat Author- Prashanth Parameswaran Thailand may look to procure two or three submarines as part of an increased 2016 defense budget, finally giving the country a capability it has lacked for more than sixty years, The Bangkok Post reported Friday. According to a source from Thailand’s defense ministry, the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is expected to propose the procurement of two to three submarines in the 2016 budget, with the country’s defense minister Prawit Wongsuwon already backing the plan in principle pending cost considerations. The navy has been considering submarines from various sources, but the South Korean Chang Bogo Class submarine is reportedly the least expensive at around $330 million each. To the seasoned observer, Thailand’s plan to acquire submarines is neither new nor surprising. Lacking a submarine capability since 1951,