The following is the Sept. 14, 2021 Congressional Research Service report, Navy Columbia (SSBN-826) Class Ballistic Missile Submarine Program: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
Friday, September 17, 2021
Australia Needs Nuclear Sub for ‘Regional Superiority’ Defense Minister Says; More U.S. Forces Will Operate in Australia in the Future
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Leaves Middle East After Almost 3 Months; Essex ARG, 11th MEU Enters the Persian Gulf
Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Australia to Pursue Nuclear Attack Subs in New Agreement with U.S., U.K.
MQ-25A Refuels F-35C Joint Strike Fighter Over Illinois
An MQ-25 test asset, known as T1, conducts its first aerial refueling test flight with an F-35C Lightning II Sept. 13, 2021 near MidAmerica St. Louis Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois. Boeing Photo
The Boeing prototype MQ-25A T1 unmanned carrier tanker refueled an F-35C Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter as part of early testing for the program, Naval Air Systems Command announced on Tuesday. Read More
Hyten: China’s ‘Unprecedented Nuclear Modernization’ Chief Concern
Chinese DF-5B Nuclear Weapons. People’s Liberation Army Photo
The speed of China’s “unprecedented nuclear modernization” and its “build-out of a modernized triad” is the biggest concern for the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as he nears the end of his tenure. Read More
Report to Congress on Chinese Naval Modernization
The following is the Sept. 9, 2021, Congressional Research Service Report, China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
Essex Amphibious Ready Group Now in Middle East, Iwo Jima ARG Heading Home
Sailors render honors to the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) from the flight deck of the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS-1) on April 12, 2021. US Navy Photo
The Essex Amphibious Ready Group entered the U.S. 5th Fleet after quietly deploying from California last month, Navy officials confirmed to USNI News on Monday. Read More
Japanese Military Spots Chinese Sub Near Southern Islands
Song-class submarines of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN).
KUALA LUMPUR – The Japanese Ministry of Defense detected a Chinese submarine operating in the contiguous zone of Japan’s southern islands, they announced in a Sept. 12 press release, and the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) air and naval units are maintaining surveillance on the submarine. Read More
USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: Sept. 13, 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 Sept. 13, 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
U.K. Royal Marines Want to Acquire Autonomous Hybrid Surface, Subsurface Stealth Vessel
Concept illustration for a shipping container-sized underwater H I Sutton Illustration
Britain’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has issued a pre-procurement notice for a unique type of vessel to help the Royal Marine Commandos. The document outlines an ‘uncrewed surface and subsurface vessel’ (USSV). The vessel must be multi-payload, have a low signature, and long endurance, according to the notice. Read More
Iranian Navy Flotilla Wraps up Four-Month Atlantic Deployment, Pledges More International Operations
- Iranian Navy Rear Admiral Shahram Irani and the crew of IRINS Makran. Tasnim News Photo
The two-ship Iranian Navy group that stalked the West Coast of Africa and the Baltic Sea this summer has returned home, as leaders in Tehran pledge more international naval operations. Read More
Report on U.S.-China Competition in East, South China Sea
The following is the Sept. 8, 2021, Congressional Research Service report U.S.-China Strategic Competition in South and East China Seas: Background and Issues for Congress. Read More
