The following is the Jan. 15, 2020 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
Category Archives: Submarine Forces
Chinese Survey Ship Caught ‘Running Dark’ Give Clues to Underwater Drone Operations
HI Sutton Image
A Chinese government survey ship was intercepted “running dark” without broadcasting its position via AIS (Automated Information System by Indonesian officials. The incident is latest twist in an ongoing maritime saga which has also seen Chinese uncrewed underwater vehicles (UUVs) found in Indonesia’s territorial waters. Read More
Wolfe: Modernized Trident Missiles Require Rigorous Testing As Navy Builds Columbia-Class
An unarmed Trident II D5 missile launches from the Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine USS Nebraska (SSBN-739) off the coast of California. US Navy Phot
The senior admiral directing the strategic systems program placed a strong emphasis on the rigorous testing of modernized Trident missiles to ensure their accuracy and reliability, as the Navy transitions from the Ohio-class to the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarines. Read More
U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific
The following is the recently released and declassified U.S. Strategic Framework for the Indo-Pacific and a statement from National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien. Read More
GAO: Design Delays on Columbia Sub Program Leading to Construction Delays, Cost Increases
Artist’s rendering of the Columbia-class SSBN submarine. US Navy Image
The Government Accountability Office released a new report that warns Columbia-class ballistic-missile submarine cost and schedule plans are at risk due to problems with a new digital design tool and cascading effects stemming from the design challenges. Read More
UPDATED: Adm. Grady: Redesignation to Atlantic Fleet May Have Implications for Homeland Defense Mission
USS Roosevelt (DDG-80) fires an SM-3 missile during exercise Formidable Shield 2019. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated to include clarification and additional information from U.S. Fleet Forces Command about the redesignation to Atlantic Fleet, and to include the memo authorizing the redesignation.
U.S. Fleet Forces Command is moving forward with its redesignation to U.S. Atlantic Fleet, as Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite announced last month. But while in some ways it’s just a name change, it has raised questions about how homeland defense is carried out, Fleet Forces Commander Adm. Chris Grady said today. Read More
2021 Chief of Naval Operations NAVPLAN
The following is the Chief of Naval Operations 2021 NAVPLAN, published on Jan. 11, 2021. Read More
Summary of Low-Yield Nuclear Warhead Debate
The following is the Jan. 5, 2021 Congressional Research Service In Focus report, A Low-Yield, Submarine-Launched Nuclear Warhead: Overview of the Expert Debate. Read More
New Arctic Strategy Calls for Regular Presence as a Way to Compete With Russia, China
U.S. Marines with Marine Rotational Force-Europe 21.1, Marine Forces Europe and Africa, conduct a safety of use memorandum (SOUM) on an assault amphibious vehicle in preparation for Exercise Reindeer II, Reindeer I, and Joint Viking in Setermoen, Norway, Nov. 19, 2020. US Marine Corps Photo
The Navy and Marine Corps released a new Arctic strategy today, calling to extend their new focus on day-to-day competition with Russia and China into the Arctic as it becomes more navigable and therefore more congested in the coming decades. Read More
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Jan. 4, 2021
USNI News Graphic
These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of Jan. 4, 2021, based on Navy and public data. In cases where a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship. Read More
