Naval Warfare magazine: Frigates, US power projection, Asia-Pacific focus and more
Read the latest edition of Naval Warfare for free in our app or on your desktop. Register below to be sent the download link and receive future editions direct to your inbox.
What's inside this edition:
Comment
In the same week that the US military stood up its Space Force, concerns elsewhere were firmly concentrated on naval capabilities, threats and opportunities that will have to be faced in the near future.
Features include:
Peer Pressure
USN fleet planning must adapt to face the realities of capable adversaries such as China and Russia. Shephard examines how the service is approaching the challenges ahead.
Strategic balance
The role of the frigate is changing in modern navies, with new threats and missions influencing requirements for this class of warship.
Scratching the surface
While much has been written on the USN’s surface fleet strategy in terms of hull numbers, the service’s willingness to shift towards using unmanned, autonomous surface combatants is equally significant.
Other features include:
Planning ahead
Beijing’s naval ambitions in the South China Sea and further afield have been a cause of concern for some years. Shephard analyses the responses of other regional actors and powers.
New lease of life
Extending the life of surface combatants is often an appealing alternative to procuring new hulls, but changes in budgets and missions, plus delays to upgrade and successor programmes, can disrupt the best intentions.
Coastal command
The doctrinal shift towards preparing for conflicts in contested environments against highly capable adversaries is exemplified by the field of littoral operations.
On the sly
Relied upon to clandestinely insert special reconnaissance teams into an area of operation undetected by enemy forces and indigenous populations, swimmer delivery vehicles remain a mission-critical asset for maritime SOF units around the world.
Taking aim
Navies are on the cusp of a revolution as a first generation of shipborne high-energy laser weapon systems approaches introduction to service. But platform integration challenges remain.
More from Naval Warfare
-
US Coast Guard enhances Arctic protection with a new Fast Response Cutter
After commissioning, FRC Frederick Mann will operate in Alaska and perform multiple missions.
-
US Coast Guard announces measures to further implement Force Design 2028 strategy
The US Coast Guard (USCG) created new units, including five Programme Executive Offices (PEOs), to facilitate and speed up the procurement of new capabilities.
-
Future of the US Navy’s Arleigh Burke programme remains unclear
The US Navy does not have a precise date for the award of the procurement contract for the third Arleigh Burke-class destroyer despite having the funds to advance with the programme in FY2025.
-
US Navy may look to foreign suppliers to accelerate shipbuilding programmes
The US Navy (USN) is currently reassessing its acquisition efforts and seeking ways to reduce the multiple delays across the shipbuilding initiatives.
-
Italy orders two ships as work begins on others along with deliveries and updates
The Italian Navy is being refreshed with two new ships ordered, while in the past six months steel was cut for a new frigate, an enhanced frigate was delivered and Horizon-class frigates passed a design review.