#joint maritime exercises

[firstoccupier]

Scarborough Shoal: Latest Developments and Reactions

WPS News Staff Reporters Baybay City | January 22, 2025 West Philippine Sea Events: Tensions in the West Philippine Sea are currently heightened as Chinese air and naval forces have been engaged in conducting “combat readiness patrols” around Scarborough Shoal. The Philippine government has lodged formal protests against China’s “escalatory actions” in these contested waters, reaffirming the…

[narrative-theory]

Saudi Arabia ditching the United States?

My latest video upload is another short video on Saudi Arabia’s foreign relations:

"Saudi Arabia Ditches U.S. for Regional Allies?!"

[usafphantom2]

B-2 Stealth Bomber Demoes QUICKSINK Low Cost Maritime Strike Capability During RIMPAC 2024

The U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit carried out a QUICKSINK demonstration during the second SINKEX (Sinking Exercise) of RIMPAC 2024. This marks the very first time a B-2 Spirit has been publicly reported to test this anti-ship capability.

David Cenciotti

B-2 QUICKSINK

File photo of a B-2 Spirit (Image credit: Howard German / The Aviationist)

RIMPAC 2024, the 29th in the series since 1971, sees the involvement of 29 nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel. During the drills, two long-planned live-fire sinking exercises (SINKEXs) led to the sinking of two decommissioned ships: USS Dubuque (LPD 8), sunk on July 11, 2024; and the USS Tarawa (LHA 1), sunk on July 19. Both were sunk in waters 15,000 feet deep, located over 50 nautical miles off the northern coast of Kauai, Hawaii.

SINKEXs are training exercises in which decommissioned naval vessels are used as targets. These exercises allow participating forces to practice and demonstrate their capabilities in live-fire scenarios providing a unique and realistic training environment that cannot be replicated through simulations or other training methods.

RIMPAC 2024’s SINKEXs allowed units from Australia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, South Korea, and various U.S. military branches, including the Air Force, Army, and Navy, to enhance their skills and tactics as well as validate targeting, and live firing capabilities against surface ships at sea. They also helped improve the ability of partner nations to plan, communicate, and execute complex maritime operations, including precision and long-range strikes.

LRASM

During the sinking of the ex-Tarawa, a U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet deployed a Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). This advanced, stealthy cruise missile offers multi-service, multi-platform, and multi-mission capabilities for offensive anti-surface warfare and is currently deployed from U.S. Navy F/A-18 and U.S. Air Force B-1B aircraft.

The AGM-158C LRASM, based on the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile – Extended Range (JASSM-ER), is the new low-observable anti-ship cruise missile developed by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. NAVAIR describes the weapon as a defined near-term solution for the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) air-launch capability gap that will provide flexible, long-range, advanced, anti-surface capability against high-threat maritime targets.

QUICKSINK

Remarkably, in a collaborative effort with the U.S. Navy, a U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bomber also took part in the second SINKEX, demonstrating a low-cost, air-delivered method for neutralizing surface vessels using the QUICKSINK. Funded by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, the QUICKSINK experiment aims to provide cost-effective solutions to quickly neutralize maritime threats over vast ocean areas, showcasing the flexibility of the joint force.

The Quicksink initiative, in collaboration with the U.S. Navy, is designed to offer innovative solutions for swiftly neutralizing stationary or moving maritime targets at a low cost, showcasing the adaptability of joint military operations for future combat scenarios. “Quicksink is distinctive as it brings new capabilities to both current and future Department of Defense weapon systems, offering combatant commanders and national leaders fresh methods to counter maritime threats,” explained Kirk Herzog, the program manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

Traditionally, enemy ships are targeted using submarine-launched heavyweight torpedoes, which, while effective, come with high costs and limited deployment capabilities among naval assets. “Heavyweight torpedoes are efficient at sinking large ships but are expensive and deployed by a limited number of naval platforms,” stated Maj. Andrew Swanson, division chief of Advanced Programs at the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron. “Quicksink provides a cost-effective and agile alternative that could be used by a majority of Air Force combat aircraft, thereby expanding the options available to combatant commanders and warfighters.”

Regarding weapon guidance, the QUICKSINK kit combines a GBU-31/B Joint Direct Attack Munition’s existing GPS-assisted inertial navigation system (INS) guidance in the tail with a new radar seeker installed on the nose combined with an IIR (Imaging Infra-Red) camera mounted in a fairing on the side. When released, the bomb uses the standard JDAM kit to glide to the target area and the seeker/camera to lock on the ship. Once lock on is achieved, the guidance system directs the bomb to detonate near the hull below the waterline.

Previous QUICKSINK demonstrations in 2021 and 2022 featured F-15E Strike Eagles deploying modified 2,000-pound GBU-31 JDAMs. This marks the very first time a B-2 Spirit has been publicly reported to test this anti-ship capability. Considering a B-2 can carry up to 16 GBU-31 JDAMs, this highlights the significant anti-surface firepower a single stealth bomber can bring to a maritime conflict scenario.

Quicksink

F-15E Strike Eagle at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. with modified 2,000-pound GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munitions as part of the second test in the QUICKSINK Joint Capability Technology Demonstration on April 28, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo / 1st Lt Lindsey Heflin)

SINKEXs

“Sinking exercises allow us to hone our skills, learn from one another, and gain real-world experience,” stated U.S. Navy Vice Adm. John Wade, the RIMPAC 2024 Combined Task Force Commander in a public statement. “These drills demonstrate our commitment to maintaining a safe and open Indo-Pacific region.”

Ships used in SINKEXs, known as hulks, are prepared in strict compliance with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations under a general permit the Navy holds pursuant to the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act. Each SINKEX requires the hulk to sink in water at least 6,000 feet deep and more than 50 nautical miles from land.

In line with EPA guidelines, before a SINKEX, the Navy thoroughly cleans the hulk, removing all materials that could harm the marine environment, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), petroleum, trash, and other hazardous materials. The cleaning process is documented and reported to the EPA before and after the SINKEX.

Royal Netherlands Navy De Zeven Provinciën-class frigate HNLMS Tromp (F803) fires a Harpoon missile during a long-planned live fire sinking exercise as part of Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024. (Royal Netherlands Navy photo by Cristian Schrik)

SINKEXs are conducted only after the area is surveyed to ensure no people, marine vessels, aircraft, or marine species are present. These exercises comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and are executed following permits and authorizations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, and Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act.

The ex-Dubuque, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock, was commissioned on September 1, 1967, and served in Vietnam, Operation Desert Shield, and other missions before being decommissioned in June 2011. The ex-Tarawa, the lead amphibious assault ship of its class, was commissioned on May 29, 1976, participated in numerous operations including Desert Shield and Iraqi Freedom, and was decommissioned in March 2009.

This year marks the second time a Tarawa-class ship has been used for a SINKEX, following the sinking of the ex-USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3) during RIMPAC 2006.

H/T Ryan Chan for the heads up!

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

@TheAviationist.com

[judgemark45]

EAST CHINA SEA (Dec. 7, 2010) The guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem (DDG 63) is underway in the East China Sea. Stethem is participating in Keen Sword 2010, a joint exercise with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Ryan Smith/Released)

[ginandoldlace]

Strange place for a bench

One of the ship's company of HMS Queen Elizabeth looking out at the UK Carrier Strike Group, which includes ships from the UK, US, Netherlands, Japan and New Zealand.

Carrier Strike Group 21 (CSG21) is due to visit India for joint maritime exercises and other engagements before heading to the Gulf.

[pannaginip]

Philstar: Foreign military 'intervention' warned in upcoming West Philippine Sea naval drill

A progressive fisherfolk group warned that the upcoming Philippines-Japan-Australia-US joint naval drills could increase tensions in the West Philippine Sea at the "further expense" of Filipino fisherfolk.

"It is the Filipino fisherfolk all over again who will bear the brunt of China’s retaliation against these provocative naval drills with other countries," said PAMALAKAYA national chairperson Fernando Hicap on Saturday.

"It has been proven that foreign military exercises did not dispel Chinese Coast Guard vessels from our territorial waters. On the contrary, Chinese forces have increased rapidly in response to the successive joint maritime exercises conducted by the Philippines and the US," he added.

"So why does the Marcos Jr. administration keep on joining military exercises with other countries in our seas?"

While PAMALAKAYA understands that the Philippines needs support from the international community to pressure China to leave Manila's territorial waters, Hicap said that the country needs to be wary of other superpowers that take advantage of the dispute in advancing their economic and geopolitical interests.

Beijing continues to maintain its presence within the West Philippine Sea even after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 invalidated the former's claim to almost the entire South China Sea.

The group said that they would continue to assert that the Philippines should stand on its own feet at fight for its national sovereignty peacefully and diplomatically using international laws that recognizes its EEZ.

2024 Apr. 6

[stele3]

[seaoceaninfo]

Navigating Troubled Waters: The Unprecedented Collision of Chinese Nuclear Submarines

In a shocking turn of events, two Chinese nuclear submarines collided, sending ripples of concern throughout the international community. The incident, unprecedented in modern naval history, raises questions about the capabilities and protocols of one of the world's most powerful navies. In this article, we delve into the details of the collision, its potential ramifications, and what it means for the global geopolitical landscape.

Body:

The Collision:

On [Date], reports emerged of a collision between two Chinese nuclear submarines in [Location]. The exact circumstances leading to the incident remain shrouded in secrecy, with both the Chinese government and military officials tight-lipped about the details. However, leaks and speculations have started to surface, hinting at possible technical malfunctions, communication errors, or misjudgments during a joint naval exercise.

Implications for National Security:

The collision of nuclear submarines inevitably raises concerns about the safety and security of China's naval operations. Nuclear-powered submarines are a cornerstone of modern naval capabilities, and any incident involving them prompts a reevaluation of safety protocols and training procedures. The question of how such a collision occurred in the first place is likely to become a focal point for internal investigations within China.

Environmental Concerns:

Beyond the immediate military and security implications, there are environmental concerns associated with nuclear submarines. The collision may have resulted in damage to the submarines' reactors, potentially leading to the release of radioactive material into the ocean. This not only poses a threat to marine life but also raises questions about transparency and environmental responsibility.

Geopolitical Fallout:

The incident is sure to have repercussions on the global stage. China's naval capabilities have been a source of growing concern among neighboring countries and traditional geopolitical rivals. The collision may be exploited by other nations to challenge China's maritime prowess or to demand greater transparency in its military operations.

The Path Forward:

As the world awaits more information on the incident, it is crucial to consider the potential consequences and the steps China will take to address the situation. Will there be a reassessment of naval protocols, increased cooperation with international maritime organizations, or a shift in China's approach to military transparency?

Conclusion: The collision of Chinese nuclear submarines marks a significant event in contemporary naval history, with wide-ranging implications for national security, the environment, and global geopolitics. As the details continue to unfold, the world watches with bated breath, pondering the potential ramifications and hoping for a transparent and responsible resolution from the involved parties.

[safeguardsfety]

Fire Safety Training for Oil and Gas Industry Workers in Nigeria

In the bustling landscape of Nigeria's oil and gas industry, ensuring robust fire safety measures is paramount. The high-risk nature of these operations necessitates rigorous training for workers to effectively prevent, manage, and respond to fire incidents. This article delves into the importance of fire safety training in nigeria for oil and gas industry workers in Nigeria, emphasising key practices, certifications, and regulatory compliance.

Understanding the Risks

The oil and gas sector in Nigeria is inherently susceptible to fire hazards due to the presence of flammable substances, high-pressure equipment, and complex industrial processes. Fire incidents can lead to catastrophic consequences, including injuries, environmental damage, and production downtime. Comprehensive fire safety training equips workers with the knowledge and skills to identify risks, mitigate hazards, and respond swiftly in emergencies.

Regulatory Requirements and Standards

Nigeria has established stringent regulations and standards for fire safety in the oil and gas industry. Compliance with these guidelines is mandatory to ensure workplace safety and environmental protection. Fire safety training programs adhere to national and international standards, such as NFPA, OSHA, and ISO, to provide industry-specific insights and best practices.

Importance of Fire Safety Training

Effective fire training in nigeria goes beyond theoretical knowledge; it involves practical exercises, simulations, and hands-on experience to instil confidence and competence among workers. Training modules cover various aspects, including fire prevention, extinguishing techniques, emergency evacuation procedures, use of firefighting equipment, hazard communication, and first aid response.

Tailored Training Programs

Recognizing the diverse roles and responsibilities within the oil and gas sector, fire safety training programs are tailored to address specific job functions. For example, offshore workers undergo specialised training focusing on maritime firefighting, helicopter evacuation protocols, and offshore platform safety. Onshore personnel receive training tailored to refinery operations, storage facilities, and pipeline infrastructure.

Practical Fire Drills and Simulations

Simulating real-life scenarios through fire drills and simulations is a crucial component of fire safety training. Workers participate in mock drills to practice fire response tactics, evacuation routes, communication protocols, and teamwork under pressure. These simulations enhance preparedness, decision-making skills, and coordination during emergencies.

Certification and Accreditation

Obtaining fire safety certification is essential for oil and gas industry workers in Nigeria. Accredited training providers offer certified courses, such as Fire Prevention and Firefighting (FPFF), Basic Offshore Safety Induction and Emergency Training (BOSIET), Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET), and Industrial Firefighting Training. These certifications validate competence and compliance with industry standards.

Continuous Learning and Updates

Fire safety training is not a one-time event but an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and updates. Industry advancements, technological innovations, regulatory changes, and lessons learned from past incidents necessitate regular refresher courses, competency assessments, and knowledge reinforcement among workers.

Collaboration with Emergency Response Teams

Effective fire safety training involves collaboration with internal emergency response teams (ERTs) and external fire fighting agencies. Workers undergo joint training exercises, drills, and tabletop simulations with ERTs to enhance coordination, communication, and mutual support during emergencies. This collaborative approach ensures a cohesive response and minimises response time in critical situations.

Safety Culture and Behavioral Awareness

Beyond technical skills, fostering a safety culture and promoting behavioural awareness is integral to fire safety training. Workers are educated on risk perception, hazard recognition, situational awareness, safety protocols, and personal protective equipment (PPE) usage. Encouraging a proactive approach to safety empowers workers to identify potential hazards and take preventive measures proactively.

Continuous Improvement and Incident Analysis

Post-training evaluations, incident analysis, and lessons learned sessions contribute to continuous improvement in fire safety practices. Feedback mechanisms, safety audits, and corrective actions help identify gaps, address challenges, and implement preventive measures to mitigate fire risks effectively.

In conclusion, 

fire certification in nigeria for oil and gas industry workers in Nigeria is a cornerstone of workplace safety, operational resilience, and regulatory compliance. By investing in comprehensive training programs, certifications, practical simulations, and collaborative initiatives, companies can safeguard their workforce, assets, and reputation while fostering a culture of safety excellence in the dynamic energy sector.

[dertaglichedan]

CARACAS, Venezuela – The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) conducted joint military flight drill operations with Guyana on Thursday, the first such operations since socialist Venezuela declared it would annex most of Guyana.

The joint operations with Guyana occurred less than a week after the Maduro regime held a sham referendum to annex the disputed Essequibo region, which represents about two-thirds of the current territory of Guyana. Socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro announced a list of actions on Tuesday that his regime will allegedly carry out to annex the territory and create a new state for Venezuela.

“This exercise builds upon routine engagement and operations to enhance security partnership between the United States and Guyana, and to strengthen regional cooperation,” the U.S. Embassy in Georgetown announced on Thursday. “In addition to this exercise, USSOUTHCOM will continue its collaboration with the GDF in the areas of disaster preparedness, aerial and maritime security, and countering transnational criminal organizations.”

“The U.S. will continue its commitment as Guyana’s trusted security partner and promoting regional cooperation and interoperability,” the statement concluded.

*** Who had, ‘Guyana’ for 2024??

[mariacallous]

For more than a century and a half, an organization that has been referred to as “the most important agency you’ve never heard of” has been making technology global.

In its latest iteration, as the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), its global regulations now underpin most technologies we use in our daily lives, setting technical standards that enable televisions, satellites, cellphones, and internet connections to operate seamlessly from Japan to Brazil.

The next big technology may present the organization with its greatest challenge yet. Artificial intelligence systems are being deployed at a dizzying pace around the world, with implications for virtually every industry from education and health care to law enforcement and defense. Governments around the world are scrambling to balance benefits and bogeys, attempting to set guardrails without missing the boat on technological transformation. The ITU, with 193 member states as well as hundreds of companies and organizations, is trying to get a handle on that rowdy conversation.

“Despite the fact that we’re 158 years old, I think that the mission and mandate of the ITU has never been as important as it is today,” said Doreen Bogdan-Martin, the agency’s secretary-general, in a recent interview.

Founded in 1865 in Paris as the International Telegraph Union and tasked with creating a universal standard for telegraph messages to be transmitted between countries without having to be hard-coded into each country’s system at the border, the ITU would subsequently go on to play a similar role in future technologies including telephones and radio. In 1932, the agency adopted its current name to reflect its ever-expanding remit — folding in the radio governance framework that established maritime distress signals such as S.O.S. — and was brought under the aegis of the United Nations in 1947.

Bogdan-Martin, who took office in January, is the first woman to lead the ITU, and only the second American. Getting there followed months of campaigning to defeat her opponent, a former Russian telecommunications official who also worked as an executive at the Chinese technology firm Huawei, in an election that was widely billed as a battle for the future of the internet, not to mention a key bulwark for the West in the face of an increasingly assertive China and Russia within the U.N. (Bogdan-Martin also took over the ITU leadership from China’s Zhao Houlin, who had served for eight years after running unopposed twice.)

“It was intense,” Bogdan-Martin acknowledged. Ultimately, she won with 139 out of 172 votes cast.

Russia and China have been at the forefront of a competing vision for the internet, in which countries have greater control over what their citizens can see online. Both countries already exercise that control at home, and Russia has used the war in Ukraine to further restrict internet access and create a digital iron curtain that inches closer to China’s far more advanced censorship apparatus, the Great Firewall. In a joint statement last February, the two countries said they “believe that any attempts to limit their sovereign right to regulate national segments of the internet and ensure their security are unacceptable,” calling on “greater participation” from the ITU to address global internet governance issues.

“I firmly support a free and open, democratic internet,” Bogdan-Martin said. Those values are key to her biggest priority for the ITU—bringing the internet to the 2.7 billion people worldwide who still haven’t experienced it. “Safe, affordable, trusted, responsible, meaningful connectivity is a global imperative,” she said. 

Getting that level of global consensus on how to regulate artificial intelligence may not be as straightforward. Governments around the world have taken a variety of approaches—and not always compatible. The European Union’s AI Act, set for final passage later this year, ranks AI applications by levels of risk and potential harm, while China’s regulations target specific AI applications and require developers to submit information about their algorithms to the government. The United States is further behind the curve when it comes to binding legislation but has so far focused on light-touch regulation and more voluntary frameworks aimed at allowing innovation to flourish.

In recent weeks, however, calls for a global AI regulator have grown louder, modeled after the nuclear nonproliferation framework governed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Proponents of that idea include U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose advanced chatbots have catalyzed much of the hand-wringing around the technology. But some experts argue that comparisons to nuclear weapons don’t quite capture the challenges of artificial intelligence.

“People forget what a harmony there was between the [five permanent members of the Security Council] in the United Nations over the IAEA,” said Robert Trager, international governance lead at the nonprofit Center for the Governance of AI. When it comes to AI regulation these days, those members “don’t have the same degree of harmony of interest, and so that is a challenge.”

Another difference is the far wider application of AI technologies and the potential to transform nearly every aspect of the global economy for better and for worse. “It’s going to change the nature of our interactions on every front. We can’t really approach it and say: ‘Oh, there’s this thing, AI, we’ve now got to figure out how to regulate it, just like we had to regulate automobiles or oil production or whatever,’” said Gillian Hadfield, a professor of law at the University of Toronto who researches AI regulation. “It’s really going to change the way everything works.”

The sheer pace of AI development doesn’t make things any easier for would-be regulators. It took less than six months after the launch of ChatGPT caused a seismic shift in the global AI landscape for its maker, OpenAI, to launch GPT-4, a new version of the software engine powering the chatbot that can incorporate images as well as text. “One of the things we’re seeing with the EU AI Act, for example, is it hasn’t even been passed yet and it’s already struggling to keep up with the state of the technology,” Hadfield said.

But Bogdan-Martin is looking to get the ball rolling. The ITU hosted its sixth annual AI for Good Global Summit last week, which brought together policymakers, experts, industry executives, and robots for a two-day discussion of ways in which AI could help and harm humanity—with a focus on guardrails that mitigate the latter. Proposed solutions from the summit included a global registry for AI applications and a global AI observatory.

“Things are just moving so fast,” Bogdan-Martin said. “Every day, every week we hear new things,” she said. “But we can’t be complacent. We have to be proactive, and we do have to find ways to tackle the challenges.”

And although total consensus may be hard to achieve, there are some fundamental risks of AI that experts say countries will be keen to mitigate regardless of their ideology—such as protection of children—that can form something of a baseline.

“No jurisdictions, no states, have an interest in civilian entities doing things that are dangerous to society,” Trager said. “There is this common interest in developing the regime, in figuring out what the best standards are, and so I think there’s a lot of opportunity for collaboration.”

[firstoccupier]

China's Maritime Actions Intensify in West Philippine Sea

The West Philippine Sea has witnessed a surge in maritime confrontations involving Chinese vessels, raising concerns over regional stability and international maritime law compliance.​ On April 15, 2025, the Philippine Coast Guard reported that a Chinese Coast Guard vessel obstructed a Philippine ship 36 nautical miles from Scarborough Shoal. This action was deemed a violation of international…

[rainytimetravelfart]

10 Essential Navy Current Affairs for 2025 Every Maritime Enthusiast Must Know

In 2025, global naval forces are undergoing a profound transformation—both technologically and strategically. As maritime challenges intensify and naval ambitions grow, it becomes imperative for defense observers and aspirants to stay informed. The following are the 10 Essential Navy Current Affairs for 2025, curated to reflect global dynamics, key policy shifts, and groundbreaking technological developments shaping naval operations today.

1. India Commissions Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant-II

India proudly expanded its naval capabilities with the commissioning of INS Vikrant-II, its second indigenously built aircraft carrier. Equipped with advanced radar systems, electromagnetic aircraft launch systems (EMALS), and a carrier air wing with Tejas-N and MiG-29K jets, the vessel boosts India’s blue-water dominance in the Indo-Pacific. This move aligns with India's "Atmanirbhar Bharat" (Self-reliant India) initiative.

2. AUKUS Pact Advances Undersea Capabilities

The AUKUS alliance (Australia, UK, and US) made significant progress by initiating the joint construction of next-gen nuclear-powered submarines under the SSN-AUKUS project. With stealthier propulsion and AI-enhanced sonar capabilities, the pact aims to deter assertive maritime behavior in the South China Sea and strengthen Western maritime deterrence.

3. Indian Navy’s Deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)

2025 marks the operational deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles in Indian naval surveillance and reconnaissance missions. These AI-driven drones are equipped with high-resolution sonar, enabling long-duration surveillance without risking human lives. The strategic deployment near key choke points like the Strait of Malacca underlines their importance in modern naval warfare.

4. US Navy's Fleet-wide Energy Transition to Green Fuel

The U.S. Navy took a bold step towards sustainability by initiating a fleet-wide transition to biofuel-blended energy systems. This effort not only reduces carbon emissions but also improves fleet endurance and operational reach. The move reflects the growing emphasis on environmental responsibility within military strategies.

5. India Launches Multi-Domain Naval Command in Andaman

With the strategic significance of the Andaman & Nicobar islands increasing, the Indian Navy launched a Multi-Domain Naval Command (MDNC) based on real-time data fusion, cyber defense, and satellite-enabled maritime awareness. This command strengthens India’s position in the Bay of Bengal and enhances its ability to monitor Chinese naval movements.

6. Global Naval Exercises: MILAN 2025 Sets New Participation Record

MILAN 2025, hosted by India, saw record participation from over 45 countries, including major powers like France, Japan, and Brazil. The exercises focused on interoperability, humanitarian assistance, anti-submarine warfare, and cyber defense. This reflects the increasing global collaboration for maritime peace and security.

7. Rise of Hypersonic Naval Weapons

Hypersonic missile systems like Russia’s Zircon, India’s BrahMos-II, and China’s DF-21D are reshaping naval doctrines. In 2025, several navies began actively integrating these into their strategic arsenals. These high-speed missiles challenge traditional ship defense systems and underscore the urgency of next-gen missile defense innovations.

8. Cybersecurity in Naval Operations Becomes Critical

In 2025, multiple navies reported cyber intrusion attempts targeting command and control systems. As a result, countries like India, the US, and Israel have developed Naval Cyber Defense Divisions, which now play a pivotal role in protecting mission-critical infrastructure. This highlights cybersecurity as a new maritime frontier.

9. South China Sea Tensions Resurface

The South China Sea remains a flashpoint in 2025. China's continued construction of artificial islands and militarization of maritime zones has drawn stern responses from the ASEAN Naval Coalition, including the Philippines and Vietnam. The U.S. Navy continues Freedom of Navigation Operations (FONOPs) to challenge Chinese maritime claims.

10. Women in Navy: Breaking New Grounds

Several navies, including India, opened combat and submarine roles for female officers in 2025. Commander Neha Sharma of India made headlines as the first woman to command a guided missile destroyer, symbolizing a broader push for gender inclusion in maritime forces. The Navy’s future is now more inclusive than ever.

Conclusion: A Fluid Seascape of Change

The naval developments of 2025 mark a confluence of technological innovation, geopolitical realignment, and social transformation. From advanced platforms like autonomous vessels and hypersonic missiles to the rise of female leadership and climate-conscious operations, these 10 Essential Navy Current Affairs for 2025 provide a panoramic view of a navy in flux.

As the world watches the oceans with renewed focus, staying informed of such developments isn’t just important for defense professionals or enthusiasts—it’s essential for understanding the future of global security.

[usafphantom2]

A-10 Warthogs Escort Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Wyoming

For the second time in the last few months, A-10C jets escorted an Ohio-class nuclear submarine and also took part in a life fire exercise.

Stefano D'Urso

A-10 submarine

An A-10C Thunderbolt II maneuvers over the ballistic missile submarine USS Wyoming. (Image credit: U.S. Navy)

A formation of A-10C Thunderbolt II close-air support aircraft were employed once again to escort an Ohio-class ballistic missile submarine, the USS Wyoming (SSBN 742). The images, shared on social media by Submarine Group Ten, depict Wyoming and its escorts navigating in an undisclosed location in the United States, with six A-10Cs flying overhead.

The aircraft, assigned to Moody Air Force Base, escorted the submarine and were also involved in a live fire exercise with their GAU-8 30 mm gun and 70 mm rockets. The U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Force Protection Unit Kings Bay, USNS Black Powder (T-AGSE-1), and USNS Westwind (T-AGSE-2) also participated in the escort of the submarine.

The rare sighting is not unprecedented, as earlier this year the USS Nebraska was also escorted by a quartet of A-10 Warthogs while navigating the Strait of San Juan de Fuca. In that occasion, however, the A-10s did not take part in any life fire activity and flew without carrying external ordnance.

“Joint operations, such as this one which involved the Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy, ensure the U.S. military is ready to meet its security commitments at home and abroad,” mentioned the statements on both occasions. The services did not further elaborate on the extend of the joint operations.

The A-10C and the maritime domain

While no other details were released, it appears the Warthogs practiced overwatch of the extremely high-value strategic asset during one of the most vulnerable phases of its navigation. The live fire exercise might have also been used to simulate the defense of the USS Wyoming from surface threats.

A-10s have been used to target swarms of boats and to strike small naval vessels in previous training exercises, demonstrating the attention that these types of asymmetric threats attracted following recent real word events, such the attacks in the Red Sea or the Black Sea.

Four A-10Cs fly over the USS Wyoming, while two other jets can be seen in the background. (Image credit: U.S. Navy)

The A-10, which was born as a pure Close Air Support and anti-tank platform, has never been employed to large extent in the maritime domain, seeing only limited use. One of the most notable episodes was in 2011 during Operation Unified Protector, when an A-10 and a P-3C Orion engaged together a patrol boat and several small attack craft in the port of Misrata, Libya.

Since the last two couple of years, the Warthog was part of multiple Maritime Surface Warfare exercises and conducted unit defense training. One of the exercises saw, in Sept. 2023, two A-10s engage simulated surface threats in the Gulf of Oman with the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Stethem.

The A-10’s maneuverability at low airspeeds and altitude, highly accurate weapons-delivery capabilities, and extended loiter time are all key attributes that make it highly effective at providing aerial support to American and coalition forces on land and at sea, mentioned the U.S. Air Force after one of these exercises last year.

Asymmetric threats to maritime assets

The events in the Black Sea and Red Sea highlighted once again how asymmetric threats cannot be underestimated. In the past, the U.S. Navy had experience countering small fast attack crafts, especially in the Persian Gulf where Iran regularly harassed U.S. ships in the area.

More recently, Ukraine and the Houthis demonstrated the effectiveness and the danger posed by Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs), used in kamikaze attacks against larger ships. The small, unmanned boats, filled with explosives, can exploit their limited dimensions and high maneuverability to avoid detection and interception, with devastating effects on their targets.

An A-10C Thunderbolt II engages a simulated target with its GAU-8 30 mm gun. (Image credit: U.S. Navy)

Highly defended targets could be overwhelmed by coordinated swarms of USVs, challenging the traditional naval strategies. The presence of multiple, fast approaching and maneuvering targets against a limited number of weapon systems on a naval asset could confuse the defenses, which would be forced to prioritize targets as to maximize the hit probability and avoid wasting precious ammo.

And here is where overhead protection from and asset like the A-10C could come in handy, as it provides to naval commanders a number of options both for surveillance and kinetic effects.

About Stefano D'Urso

@TheAviationist.com

Stefano D'Urso is a freelance journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he's also studying to achieve a Master Degree in Aerospace Engineering. Electronic Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT techniques applied to the world of military operations and current conflicts are among his areas of expertise.

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Power Smart Buildings Using Kunliwelding Wire Solutions

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Carrier Strike Group meets up with the Indian Navy in the western Arabian Sea Jonathan Moyniha – 12th June 2025 at 1:45pm There was also an Indian submarine involved in the drills and an Indian P8 maritime surveillance aircraft (Picture: Indian Navy X) Carrier Strike Group 25 has joined the Indian Navy in the western Arabian Sea to conduct an exercise on its way down towards Australia. It comes after RFA Tidespring carried out its first replenishment at sea of the week, as it refuelled New Zealand warship HMNZS Te Kaha in the Gulf of Oman. CSG25 completed a passing exercise, widely known as a passex, where the ships of the two navies sail together, conducting drills to work on their communications and interoperability. RFA Tidespring refuels New Zealand frigate during Carrier Strike Group deployment HMS Dauntless takes the lead on Carrier Strike Group 25 as sun sets over Red Sea Easy to understand, hard to master: F-35s make way for bucketball on the flight deck The Indian Navy posted images of the Talwar-class frigate INS Tabar in formation with HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Richmond. “UK CSG25 joined the Indian Navy for an exercise in the western Arabian Sea,” the UK Carrier Strike Group said in a social media post on X. “This marked the strike group’s first major engagement upon sailing into the Indo-Pacific.” There was also an Indian submarine involved in the drills and an Indian P8 maritime surveillance aircraft. The frigate HNoMS Roald Amundsen separated from CSG25 after the ships left the Red Sea and visited Sri Lanka on a port visit. The Norwegian vessel is operating well ahead of the wider group. “The multi-faceted naval exercise included unified control of integral helicopters, tactical manoeuvres, coordinated anti-submarine ops and professional exchange of officers,” the Indian Navy’s spokesperson wrote in a post on X. “The joint exercise underscores the deepening cooperation between the two navies and showcases shared commitment to maritime security and robust bilateral ties.” The Carrier Strike Group has passed through the Suez Canal.  The deployment, also known as Operation Highmast, involves around 4,500 British military personnel, including nearly 600 RAF and 900 soldiers alongside 2,500 Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines. For more reports about Carrier Strike Group 25, click here. Tags and categories: All other Navies and Military, All RNZN/NZDF News Past and Present, Royal Navy and British Military via WordPress https://ift.tt/lqHuv2b June 13, 2025 at 12:13PM