FORWARD.one’s Post

EDA hosts third international PESCO 4E (Essential Elements of European Escorts) workshop At the workshop, 25 defence companies from Spain, Italy, Portugal, Sweden, Greece, Germany, and the Netherlands presented their perspectives on the systems to be developed under #PESCO 4E and showcased the state of the art of their own capabilities. Ministry of Defence officials from participating and observing Member States provided the latest information on their national status regarding the project, discussed the next steps of the PESCO 4E timeline, and officially kicked off the drafting of the High-Level Requirements. PESCO 4E is designed to collaboratively develop the essential systems for the next generation of #European naval vessels, to be built from 2030 to 2045. This workshop aimed to further specify the project scope and the naval capabilities of interest to the participating Member States. The fourth international PESCO 4E workshop is expected to take place at the beginning of 2025. Read more here - https://lnkd.in/ecUwBZFV #EUdefence #defence #EU #europeanunion #navy

NAVAL GROUP has been selected by The Netherlands Ministry of Defence (Ministerie van Defensie) for the Replacement Netherlands Submarine Capability project, based on the Barracuda family expeditionary submarines. This award decision concludes a stringent selection process and opens a period of exclusive discussions leading to the signature of a contract. The Group is eager to engage in the execution of this important project with its Dutch and European partners. This decision commits the Naval Group to implement a full-scale strategic partnership with the Netherlands aimed at supporting the Royal Netherlands Navy (Koninklijke Marine) submarine service and at intensifying cooperation with the Netherlands’ MOD, industry and R&D partners, Naval Group said in a press release. “We are extremely honored to have been selected by the Netherlands following a hard competition and to be involved in this project of strategic importance. The Barracuda family submarine will provide the Royal Netherlands Navy with extended leadingedge capabilities satisfying the requirements set by the Netherlands Ministry of Defence. We look forward to start working closely with our Dutch partners to successfully execute this major program which contributes to the strategic autonomy of the Netherlands,” said Pierre Éric Pommellet, Chairman and CEO of Naval Group. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/dHbbq9DJ #NavalGroup #Barracuda #submarine #Netherlands #navy #defence #military #industry #technology #naval #shipbuilding #Europe

🛢️🚀 Transforming Oil Rigs into Defence Platforms: US Navy's Innovative Strategy Against China! - 🌏 Strategic Shift: The US Navy plans to convert surplus oil rigs in the western Pacific into mobile military bases, targeting the increasing tensions with China. - 🛠️ Innovative Engineering: Concept developed by naval engineering firm Gibbs & Cox, termed the Mobile Defense/Depot Platform (MODEP), showcased at the Sea Air Space Expo. - 🚀 Enhanced Capability: These floating bases could hold up to 512 vertical launch system cells or 100 large missile launchers—five times the firepower of a US Navy destroyer! - 🎯 Counter Strategy: Aimed at complicating Chinese targeting, the platforms are designed to mitigate risks from Chinese ballistic missiles during conflicts. - 🗺️ Expanding Presence: The US is increasing its military footprint in the Philippines and Pacific island nations, creating more potential targets and strategic challenges for China. - 📈 Military Insight: General Kenneth Wilsbach highlights the dispersal strategy to maximize difficulties for Chinese targeting efforts in the region. 👀 Stay Informed: Follow for more updates on how geopolitical strategies are reshaping global military tactics. #MilitaryInnovation #USNavy #GeopoliticalStrategy

#China's newest aircraft carrier, the #Fujian, has begun its sea trials in the East China Sea, marking a major step in enhancing the capabilities of the world’s largest navy. Launched in 2022, the 80,000-ton Fujian features an advanced electromagnetic catapult system, comparable to the #USNavy's USS Gerald R Ford. These trials are crucial for testing the carrier's propulsion and electrical systems. Despite its advancements, the Fujian, powered by conventional fuel, trails behind US nuclear-powered carriers in size and endurance. The US maintains a fleet size advantage, with larger carriers that can carry more aircraft and stay at sea indefinitely. China's naval expansion continues with plans to introduce a fourth carrier, potentially nuclear-powered, as it builds towards a projected fleet of over 340 warships. The #PLAN aims to enhance its "blue-water" capabilities to project power globally. #Military #GlobalSecurity #NavalPower

'Of course, how the United States manages its own submarine forces will also factor into the military balance in the Pacific. If there is a problem with exploiting the U.S. comparative advantage in undersea warfare, it is that the Navy may simply lack sufficient numbers. The total U.S. submarine force is currently 68 platforms.16 But this number includes 14 Ohio-class SSBNs, which have no conventional combat role, as well as four Ohio-class SSGNs, converted SSBNs that have been retrofitted to carry conventional missiles and support special operations forces. And the SSGN missile packages are optimized for land attack, not an antiship role.' https://lnkd.in/ep9665Pq

Interesting essay for the unintended irony: "In contrast, if the PLAN was able to deploy super-quiet SSNs on par with the best U.S. and Russian boats, that would represent a major strategic change—not only for its ability to defend on the open ocean but also in terms of China’s capacity to threaten U.S. naval forces well outside the first island chain. Such a capability would give China transoceanic reach with single platforms, absent the extensive logistical support or need for the overseas bases a carrier strike group requires." Oh yeah... Russia is now aware that NATO would like to destroy it. #AUKUS has given China an excellent reason to advance Anti-Submarine Warfare and submarine quieting. There is a country called Russia, to the north, that is reasonably competent. Meanwhile, the USA, and its allies, have decided that it is a really smart idea to tool up and down the South China Sea 24x7 to give the Chinese every possible opportunity to build their signature database. What we have, at this time, is the very dumbest imperial project in history. Presume that China actually wants to rule the waves, and then go give them the perfect motivation to do exactly that, plus 24x7 daily instruction on whether they can make a contact and hold it for targeting purposes. The West deserves to lose these conflicts. We are phenomenally stupid.

The Brazilian Navy officially commissioned its second Riachuelo-class conventional submarine, named Humaitá (S41), on January 12th at the Madeira Island Submarine Base. This marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing Submarine Development Program (PROSUB), a strategic initiative aimed at fortifying Brazil’s naval strength and technological prowess. Developed as part of a collaborative effort with France, the Riachuelo-class submarines are a testament to the success of international partnerships in fostering defense capabilities. Humaitá is the fifth boat and the third submarine of the Brazilian Navy to receive this name, in honor of a military operation, which took place in 1868, in the Paraguayan War. The Humaitá, powered by diesel-electric propulsion, underwent rigorous Acceptance Tests both in port and at sea, demonstrating its readiness to commence operational duties in the Brazilian Fleet. The incorporation of the Humaitá into the Submarine Force is anticipated to significantly enhance Brazil’s combat power in naval defense, playing a pivotal role in “denying the use of the sea.” Furthermore, the submarine will contribute to the nation’s deterrence power and serve as a vital instrument in supporting Brazil’s foreign policy objectives. The ceremony also marked the signing of the Submarine Armament Agreement, formalizing the incorporation of the Humaitá into the Navy and its transfer to the Operational Sector of the Navy. This agreement further solidifies the collaborative efforts between the Brazilian Navy, the Ministry of Defense, and the private sector represented by Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN). https://lnkd.in/gSdwHeNN

The New Age of Naval Power | Excellent account by Alessio Patalano on why naval power matters now perhaps more than ever. “Naval power matters today more than ever because of how modern societies’ relationship with the sea has evolved. Today we live in a maritime century, one in which the very foundations of the prosperity that underwrites open economies rests upon maritime physical and digital connectivity. Sea-lanes feed us, keep us warm, and deliver the furniture of daily life. Some 97% of the internet, and a major portion of international energy use, relies on an undersea spaghetti bowl of cables and pipelines that closely mirror commercial shipping routes. This multilayered network of physical and digital connectivity is safe and reliable only until it is not”. #maritime #navalpower https://lnkd.in/dX65Tjdj

'China has expanded its global intelligence-gathering capabilities to Cuba, Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), indicated in its July 1 report, Secret Signals. By analyzing satellite imagery and open sources, CSIS was able to identify four sites on the island that could facilitate espionage activities. One of the newest facilities is located at El Salao, near the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. The facility, for which construction began in 2021, appears to consists of antennas arranged in a configuration known as circularly disposed antenna array (CDAA) capable of intercepting signals over long distances, making it an ideal outpost for monitoring military activities in the Caribbean. “Once operational, this CDAA will serve as a powerful tool for enhancing air and maritime domain awareness in the region, where the U.S. military and its international partners operate regularly,” the CSIS report indicates.' https://lnkd.in/gstXnDDt

https://lnkd.in/g9we2hmv Portuguese Diesel-Electric AIP Submarine Just Patrolled Under The Arctic Ice A conventionally powered Portuguese attack submarine has completed a rare voyage under the Arctic ice. As well as being a first-of-its-kind mission for the Portuguese Navy, the deployment underlines the importance of the Arctic theater to NATO’s submarine fleet, although it’s nuclear-powered boats that traditionally dominate in this challenging area of.......