Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr., chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. DoD Photo
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, B-52 bombers and sophisticated air defense systems were rushed to the Middle East in early May because intelligence suggested an Iranian-led “campaign plan” taking shape to disrupt the region, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff said Wednesday.
President Donald J. Trump joined by the Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe arrive aboard the JS Kaga Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in Yokosuka, Japan. White House Photo
When President Donald Trump visited Japan this month, he was taken on board JS Kaga, one of a pair of new Izumo-class helicopter carriers built for the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) set to be retrofitted to fly the F-35B Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter. The carriers represent a new approach to maritime security that is shifting to a more forward defense posture. Read More
Service members render honors during a ceremony at the Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery on July 7, 2015. Service members from the U.S., Australia, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Japan and civilians from non-governmental organizations assigned to the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) visited the cemetery to lay wreaths and pay respects to those fallen during the World War II battles and other conflicts in the region. US Navy photo.
Political volatility in Australia does not appear to threaten the country’s military and economic relationship with the United States, a panel agreed, partly because of concerns about Chinese economic and military ambitions in Oceania and Asia. Read More
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, right, and Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, met in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 7, 2019. Iceland Embassy photo.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s recent visit to Iceland and last year’s Trident Juncture joint military exercise in the High North send a “clear signal” to the Kremlin that “we stick together,” Iceland’s foreign minister told a Washington think tank audience Thursday. Read More
A U.S. Navy Sailor marshals the last F-35C Lightning II to leave Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, May 23, 2019. Consolidation of F-35C resources to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, enables the U.S. Navy to support Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) production, operational fleet transitions for both Navy and Marine Corps squadrons, testing and other requirements. US Air Force photo.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – The Navy deactivated one of its two F-35C Joint Strike Fighter training squadrons today and will consolidate all its fifth-generation fighter activities at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. Read More
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) conducts a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with the fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE-8) on April 12, 2019
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Navy is struggling to find support to buy new logistics ships, even as a new study finds the Navy’s current plans to recapitalize that logistics fleet are insufficient to support distributed operations in a high-end fight against China or Russia. Read More
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Shoup (DDG-86) pulls into the Port of Suva, Fiji during a port visit Oct. 14, 2018. Navy photo.
Despite a shared history of fighting in World War II, the 16 Pacific Island nations think high ranking U.S. government policymakers suffer from “collective amnesia” when considering differing definitions of security, Fiji’s ambassador said Wednesday.
Chinese sailors watch a People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) warship pull into Djibouti. Xinhua Photo
Due to an editing error, a previous version of this post stated the incorrect size of the People’s Liberation Army Navy, according to James Fanell. The Chinese are on pace to reach 450 surface ships and 110 submarines by 2030, according to Fanell’s data. Those totals are not the current fleet size.
China’s rise as a naval power goes well beyond its growing number of ships and submarines but the People’s Liberation Army Navy growing capability to operate jointly with the Chinese air force and rocket corps, a maritime intelligence expert said Tuesday. Read More
U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG-110), transits through international waters with the Indian Navy destroyer INS Kolkata (D 63) and tanker INS Shakti (A-57), Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter-carrier JS Izumo (DDH-183) and destroyer JS Murasame (DD-101), and Republic of Philippine Navy patrol ship BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17) through the South China Sea. Photo courtesy of Japan Maritime Self Defense Force
During the past week, three U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers were active in the South China Sea in two separate operations intended to support unfettered access to the region’s shipping lanes. Read More
Undated photo of DSCV Van Gogh. A Navy salvage team is embarked on the ship that left Okinawa, Japan on April 24, 2019.
The U.S. Navy has ended its support to find a missing Japanese F-35A Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter that crashed last month, U.S. 7th Fleet announced late Wednesday. Read More
