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☆ Weak shipbuilding could be the US Navy's Achilles' heel in a war with China
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +14 min

The US Navy faces critical shipbuilding problems that could hobble it in a war with China. China's commercial and military shipbuilding capacity overshadows the rest of the world. China has pursued shipbuilding dominance over the past few years, building a massive naval fleet. Long-term investments and solutions are needed to fix the US Navy's shipbuilding problems. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Erwinjacob Miciano/ReleasedThe US Navy's shipbuilding woes aren't new, and there simply isn't a quick fix.

Persons: Shelby Oakley, Oakley, Paula Zorensky, Gerald R, Petty, Alex Smedegard, Bryan Clark, who's, Mackenzie Eaglen, Seaman Wesley J, Bryan McGrath, Matthew Funaiole, McGrath, Seaman Erwinjacob Miciano, Lisa Franchetti, Franchetti, John Harris, Campbell Organizations: US Navy, US, Getty Images China, Newport News Daily Press, TNS, Navy, Huntington Ingalls Industries, General Dynamics, Marinette Marine Corporation, of, Pentagon, USS Enterprise, Getty Images Navy, Shipbuilders, GAO, Shelby, Norfolk Naval Shipyard Shipbuilders, Shipbuilders Council of America, Ford, Columbia, Hudson Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Communication, Jiangnan Shipyard, Shipyards, China State Shipbuilding Corporation, China Power, Center for Strategic, International Studies, People's Liberation Army, of Naval Intelligence, Technological, Department of Defense, Pacific . US Locations: China, US Navy, Virginia, Columbia, Shelby West, Jiangnan, Dalian, Huangpu Wenchong, Hong Kong, Hudong, Shanghai, Beijing, Taiwan, Pacific, Japan, South Korea

☆ Elon Musk is looking for trillions in government waste, and defense is a massive potential target
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Elon Musk to help spearhead cuts to government spending, and the defense sector could be a prime target. But Musk's past comments hint at one area he could target: defense contracts. Musk built SpaceX's business model around fixed-price contracts. Musk's new initiative could recommend exactly this: a move away from cost-plus contracts toward fixed-price contracts. An aerial view of the Pentagon AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, FileMusk's new initiative may target other areas of Pentagon spending, as well.

Persons: Donald Trump, Elon, Elon Musk, It's, Trump, Musk, Julia Demaree Nikhinson, Clayton Swope, Walter Isaacson's, Swope, John Raoux Overspending, Gerald R, Mike Gallagher, Gallagher, Ford, Steve Helber, Bryan McGrath, Todd Harrison, —, Harrison, Michael Bohnert, they've, Archer Macy, Patrick Semansky, John Harvey Jr, Mississippi Sen, Roger Wicker Organizations: Defense, Pentagon, Department of Government, SpaceX, NASA, AP, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Services, International Space, Kennedy Space Center, Littoral, Ford, DoD, Republican, Palantir Technologies, Newport News Shipbuilding, American Enterprise Institute, Shipbuilding, BAE Systems, RAND Corporation, CSIS, US Air Force, Navy, Senate Armed Services Committee Locations: Pennsylvania, Columbia, China, Wisconsin, Virginia, Mississippi

☆ US Navy warships fought off a 'complex' missile and drone attack in the Red Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-27 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

US Navy ships operating in the Red Sea shot down a number of Houthi missiles and drones on Friday. AdvertisementUS Navy warships shot down a barrage of Houthi missiles and drones in the Red Sea on Friday in what a Pentagon spokesperson described as a "complex attack." The Houthis said earlier that they targeted three Navy warships with nearly two dozen ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. The increased Red Sea presence comes amid heightened fears of an all-out conflict between Israel and the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, another militant group backed by Iran. US forces said they destroyed one missile system in Yemen and two drones over the Red Sea during this time period.

Persons: —, Sabrina Singh, Singh, they're, Michael Murphy, Houthi, Frank E, Petersen, USS Spruance, USS Stockdale, Spruance, Stockdale Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Navy, US Navy Locations: Iran, Indianapolis, Red, Israel, Lebanon, Gulf, Aden, Yemen

☆ AI is unlocking new uses for military drones, boosting demand for these companies
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-18 | by ( Pia Singh | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

We're approaching a new era of defense, one that will use AI-enabled military drones that can run without a human operator. According to BTIG, the DoD requested $5.3 billion in fiscal year 2025 for unmanned systems, most of which is directed at procurement programs. The firm forecasts the DoD's entire unmanned funding requests to grow at a 9.5% compound annual growth rate through fiscal year 2029. General Dynamics is another of Madrid's buy-rated stock in the unmanned systems arena. Strong demand of its defense products, including ammo and ground vehicles, also indicate earnings growth potential, the analyst added.

Persons: Andre Madrid, BTIG, spender, They've, Stocks, Northrop, Lockheed Martin, Morgan Stanley, Kristine Liwag, Liwag, Northrop Grumman, Madrid, Northrop's, It's, Atomics, You've, they've, Kratos, Morgan Stanley's Liwag Organizations: U.S . Department of Defense, DoD, Aircraft, Air, U.S . Navy, U.S . Air Force, Pentagon, CCA, Department of Defense, Dynamics, Kratos Defense, Security Solutions, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed, Air Force, Raider, Defense, Northrop, Boeing, FactSet, General Dynamics, U.S . Army Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Ukraine, Madrid, France

☆ RIMPAC: US Air Force B-2 bomber used in exercise to sink surface ship with low-cost bomb
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-27 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Earlier this month, the US and allies practiced taking out a large surface ship with long-range weapons, including, for the first time, a US Air Force B-2 bomber. It showed the US military can use one of its most survivable weapons platforms, the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, to sink a major surface ship with a low-cost guided bomb. The Air Force says its stealthy characteristics allow it to penetrate heavily defended areas and also fly with a small chance of being detected by radar at high altitudes. Mating it up with relatively cheap and demonstrably effective precision-guided bombs with warheads of up to 2,000 pounds could give the Air Force bombers the “anti-ship lethality” of a submarine-launched torpedo without the liabilities of a submarine, according to a US Air Force website. The Air Force first tested QUICKSINK in 2022, when an F-15 fighter jet released a GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) that destroyed a full-scale surface target in the Gulf of Mexico, according to an Air Force statement.

Persons: ”, Seleena Muhammad, QUICKSINK, Carl Schuster, ” Schuster, Jon Husman, Alessio Patalano, Mark Hammond, Australia’s, “, LSIS Daniel Goodman, USS Fitzgerald, John Wade, RIMPAC, John Bradford, ” Bradford, Zhongping Organizations: South Korea CNN, US Air Force, US, Air Force, Munitions, Royal Air Force, U.S . Air Force, Navy, Air Force Research, Liberation Army Navy, PLAN, US Pacific Command Joint Intelligence Center, U.S . Navy, King’s College, US Navy, Ship, 3rd Fleet, Royal Australian Navy, Naval, Australia, Royal Australian, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, US Navy destroyer, US Marine Corps, Task Force, Foreign Relations International Affairs, Times, PLA Navy, Global Times, ” Global Times Locations: Seoul, South Korea, Kauai, China, Tarawa, England, U.S, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific, Taiwan, Philippines, Japan, London, Oahu, Hawaii, Norwegian, USS Dubuque, ‘, Malaysia, Netherlands, China China, Asia, Taiwan Strait, South China

☆ US and Philippine Marines train in seizing and defending key terrain near Taiwan's south coast in a show of force against China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Drew F. Lawrence | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

They were operating in Northern Luzon and the Batanes Islands, Philippine territory north of the mainland — key terrain for a potential conflict with China. The mission, known as maritime key terrain security operations, or MKTSO, was practice for that conflict, but had real-world implications. It was a show of force headed by elements of the Marine Corps ' newest Pacific-oriented unit: the Marine littoral regiment, or MLR. AdvertisementUS Marines prepare to load onto a UH-60 Black Hawk for the maritime key terrain security operations event at Paredes Air Station, Philippines. Malia SparksThose units were joined by a rifle company, also a joint-nation element, with the ability to seize and defend key terrain in the event of conflict.

Persons: —, Army Chinooks, Cpl, Malia Sparks, Maj, Robert Patterson, Military.com, Mark Lenzi, Lenzi, Patterson, Marine corporals Organizations: Service, Marine Corps, Business, Philippine Marines, Army, UH, Paredes Air, US Marine Corps, Philippine Marine, US Army UH, 3rd, Combat, Marines, Enhanced, US Army CH, Marine, United Locations: Taiwan, Northern Luzon, Philippine, China, Philippines, Itbayat, United States

They call it an encirclement of their nation and say the United States is trying to constrain its main economic and military rival. The United States also has a new security agreement with Papua New Guinea. On Wednesday, Mr. Biden signed a $95-billion supplemental military aid and spending bill that Congress had just passed and that includes $8.1 billion to counter China in the region. In addition, the United States continues to send weapons and Green Beret trainers to Taiwan, a de facto independent island and the biggest flashpoint between the United States and China. A swarm of Chinese militia and Coast Guard vessels chased a Philippine Coast Guard ship in the South China Sea last year.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Biden, Antony J, Blinken, Yuri Gripas, ” Ely Ratner, Xi, ” Kurt Campbell, Joseph Wu, ”, “, Samuel J, Paparo Jr, Mr, Paparo, Carl Vinson, Richard A, Brooks, Trump, Lloyd J, Austin III, Chen Jining, Jes Aznar, David H, Berger, Obama, Tony Mcdonough, United States —, Admiral Paparo, China’s “ revanchist, we’re Organizations: Australian, U.S, Marines, United, Pentagon, Corps, Mr, White House, White, The New York Times, American, Marine, Green, China’s, Liberation Army, Seoul SOUTH, Pacific Command, People’s Liberation Army, Agence France, Nuclear Forces Treaty, Defense, Communist Party, Tokyo Okinawa, U.S . Navy, Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Army, Philippines Luzon Partner, Australia Darwin Potential, NATO, Tomahawk Locations: Beijing, United States, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Japan, Okinawa, Taiwan, Asia, Pacific, U.S, China, Shanghai, South China, South Korea, Guam, Washington, Manila, Taipei, People’s Republic of China, Palau, West Papua, Seoul, Tokyo JAPAN CHINA Taipei TAIWAN Hong Kong, GUAM philippines MALAYSIA INDONESIA JAPAN CHINA TAIWAN, philippines GUAM, INDONESIA Seoul, GUAM philippines, MALAYSIA INDONESIA, Philippine, Moscow, Tokyo, Ryukyu Islands, South, Philippines Luzon, Luzon, Spratly, Australia, Canberra, Singapore, Darwin, Australia’s, . North Carolina, Virginia, Perth, United Kingdom, Navy’s, America

☆ After years of building up its navy, Saudi Arabia is testing its new warships with real-world missions
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in its navy in recent years, buying a number of new warships. AdvertisementThe first of the Spanish-built corvettes, Al Jubail, arrived at the Saudi naval base in Jeddah in August 2022. Patrol boats for Saudi Arabia at a German shipyard in April 2019. During that decade, Saudi Arabia initiated the first Saudi Naval Enhancement Program, which equipped its navy with modern American, French, and British warships. The current buildup, called Saudi Naval Enhancement Program II, or SNEP II, is the most significant one since then.

Persons: —, Leonardo Jacopo Maria Mazzucco, MCS3 Louis Thompson Staats, Mazzucco, Al Jubail, Juan Carlos Toro, Lockheed Martin, Stefan Sauer, Nixon, Shah, HMS Badr, Paul Iddon Organizations: Service, Saudi, Royal Saudi Naval Forces, Combined Maritime Forces, International, Analytics, Stimson Center, US Navy, Royal Saudi Naval Force, Getty, RIM, Saudi Western Fleet, Saudi Eastern Fleet, Lockheed, Fleet, Saudi Naval Enhancement, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC Navy, SNEP Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, Persian, Saudi, Iran, Yemen, Washington, Al, Madinah, Navantia's, Cádiz, Spain, Jeddah, East Africa, Iraq, Gulf

Ferdinand Marcos Jr. President of the Philippines speaks at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in San Francisco, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. This week's three-day joint air and maritime exercise was a "significant initiative" to boost interoperability between the two, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said. It will end in the West Philippine Sea, the name Manila uses for waters in the South China Sea that fall within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The joint patrol with the United States showed the Manila was making a stand over the South China Sea, said Jay Batongbacal, director of the Institute for Maritime Affairs and Law of the Sea in Manila, the capital. "It shows that the Philippines is really firming up its posture on West Philippine Sea issues," Batongbacal said.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Carlos Barria, Eugene Cabusao, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, Xi Jinping, Jay Batongbacal, Batongbacal, Mikhail Flores, Karen Lema, Martin Petty, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, United States, South China, Washington, Institute for Maritime Affairs, Law, Philippine, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Asia, San Francisco , California, U.S, Philippine, Taiwan US, Manila, China, MANILA, Taiwan, Mavulis, Luzon, West Philippine, South, United, Hawaii, United States, China's, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Beijing, South China

The strike has shut down 13 locks between Lake Erie and Montreal, bottling up ships in the Great Lakes and preventing more ships from coming in. It’s the first time that a strike has shut down the vital shipping artery since 1968. A U.S. Navy warship, the littoral combat ship USS Marinette, was supposed to leave Cleveland on Lake Erie on Monday, but remains stuck. Shipments within the four Great Lakes from Superior to Erie such as iron ore and coal can still go through. MarineTraffic.com showed that it was headed into Lake Erie, but it can go no farther without a resolution.

Persons: ”, Jason Card, “, Unifor, It's, MarineTraffic.com, —, John Jamian, ” Jamian, Isadora, There’s, Jason Hron, ” Hron Organizations: Lawrence Seaway, Lawrence Seaway Management Corp, Ships, “ lakers, Canadian, Seaway, binational Chamber of Marine Commerce, Officials, Management, seaway, — salties, lakers, U.S . Navy, Port, Duluth Seaway Port Authority Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, St, Lawrence, Canada, United States, Ontario, Quebec, Unifor, Lake Erie, Montreal, Great, The St, Lake Superior, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ottawa, Welland, U.S, Marinette, Cleveland, Thunder Bay , Ontario, Superior, Detroit, Lakes Huron, Erie, Port of Detroit, Europe, She’s, Twin Ports, Duluth , Minnesota, Superior , Wisconsin, Cyprus, Algeria, Duluth Seaway, Lakes

☆ A first-of-its-kind drone landing shows how the British navy plans to keep its new aircraft carriers in action for longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

During a test in September, a drone flew on and off a British aircraft carrier for the first time. A difficult operationRoyal Navy airman secure a W Autonomous Systems drone aboard HMS Prince of Wales in early September. In 2021, the Royal Navy tested a drone system meant to help crews train to defend against incoming jets and missiles. AdvertisementAdvertisementTurkey's navy will soon add TCG Anadolu, the world's first aircraft carrier designed for a drone air wing. The US Air Force's Next Aircraft Dominance Program is developing a sixth-generation family of aircraft, drone wingmen designed to fly alongside piloted planes.

Persons: —, Wales, Richard Hewitt, HMS Prince, LPhot Finn Stainer, Hutchins, Hewitt, Merlin, Ash Loftus, Prince, Burak, NavyMCS2 Colby, Alex Hollings, Hollings, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, MCS3 Brandon Roberson, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Royal Navy, Autonomous Systems, Royal Navy Carrier Strike Groups, Wildcat, Fleet, Royal Navy Air Test, Anadolu, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, US Air Force, Navy, US, Force's, Air Force, US Navy, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: British, Prince, Wales, Dardanelles, Tulsa, Vietnam, George H.W .

☆ The $362 million warship the US Navy just decommissioned wasn't even in service 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US Navy officially decommissioned USS Sioux City this week. The $362 million Littoral Combat Ship has been in service roughly four years and nine months. USS Sioux City, a Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, was commissioned into service with the Navy on November 17, 2018. In September last year, the Navy decommissioned the Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado after just eight years of service. USS Sioux City conducts a passing exercise with an Egyptian Navy frigate in the Red Sea in July 2022.

Persons: Brandon J, Vinson, Capt, Daniel Reiher, Nicholas S, Tenorio, Nicholas A, Bob Scott, Scott, Seaman Juel Foster, James Stavridis, Stavridis Organizations: US Navy, Navy, Service, USS, Naval, Brandon, Sioux, Coast Guard, Mayport, Littoral Combat Ship Training, Combat, Combat Ships, USS Sioux City, Egyptian Navy, Russell, Russell Sioux City, Iowa Public, Littoral Combat, USS Navy, Communication, Ships Locations: Sioux City, Wall, Silicon, USS Sioux City, Florida, Iowa, Coronado, Littoral, Souda Bay, Greece, USS Sioux, Egyptian, Red, Russell Sioux, China

☆ USS Canberra personnel parade in Australia capital amid joint war games
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, July 23 (Reuters) - United States Navy personnel from a newly commissioned U.S. combat ship paraded through Australia's capital on Sunday, as the two allies carry out war games amid China's military build-up in the region. "It's such an honour and a privilege to be able to do this," Captain of the USS Canberra Blue Crew, Will Ashley, told ABC television. "It's a culmination of not just the ship naming, of honouring the city, but the previous HMAS Canberra that was lost in World War Two." The Australian Capital Territory "Freedom of Entry" parade came after a commissioning ceremony for the USS Canberra on Saturday at an Australian naval base on Sydney Harbour. Under the AUKUS project announced in March, the United States and Britain have agreed to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Persons: Will Ashley, Sam McKeith, Stefica Nicol, William Mallard Organizations: SYDNEY, United States Navy, Independence, Royal Australian Navy, U.S, Marine, USS Canberra Blue, ABC, Australian Capital Territory, USS Canberra, Talisman Sabre, Australia, Stefica Nicol Bikes, Thomson Locations: U.S, Guadalcanal, Canberra, Sydney Harbour, Australia, China, United States, Britain, Sydney

☆ USS Canberra: US commissions first Navy warship in foreign port
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, July 22 (Reuters) - The United States commissioned a warship in Sydney, Australia, on Saturday, the first time a U.S. Navy vessel joined active service at a foreign port, as the two close allies step up their military ties in response to China's expanding regional reach. "Australians can be proud that this ship, designed in Western Australia by local industry and named after HMAS Canberra, is being commissioned here for the first time in the history of the United States Navy," Australian Defence Minister Marles said in a statement. The commissioning of the U.S. ship in Australian waters reflected "our shared commitment to upholding the rules-based order", he added. Under the AUKUS project announced in March, the United States and Britain have agreed to help Australia acquire a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines. Before that, in the early 2030s, the United States is supposed to sell Australia three U.S. Virginia class nuclear-powered submarines, with an option for Australia to buy two more.

Persons: Marles, Sam McKeith, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, United, U.S . Navy, Royal Australian Navy, U.S, Marine, Sydney Harbour, United States Navy, Australian Defence, Talisman Sabre, Australia, ., Thomson Locations: United States, Sydney, Australia, U.S, Western Australia, China, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Republic of Korea, Tonga, Britain, . Virginia

☆ These may be the world’s best warships. And they’re not American
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Brad Lendon | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

A challenger for China’s world-beating Type 055sThe Pentagon estimates China’s navy to have around 340 warships at present, while the US has fewer than 300. Take China’s Type 055, in many eyes the world’s premier destroyer. The three Sejongs, which cost about $925 million each, are the pride of the South Korean fleet. All these Japanese and South Korean vessels are designed to incorporate US technology, weapons, spy radars and the Aegis command and control system. But then if the US, Japanese and South Korean ships use similar technology and can operate together, why does the law prevent the US from building some of its ships in Japanese and South Korean shipyards?

Persons: South Korea CNN —, China’s, Lloyd Austin, Li Shangfu, ”, Blake Herzinger, Carl Schuster, –, Schuster, Herzinger, it’s, Arleigh Burke, ., Kim, Sejong, ” Kim, Alessio Patalano, Arleigh Burkes, ” Patalano, Japan’s, ” Schuster, It’s, Travis Callaghan, “, Nick Childs, There’s, Childs, ” Herzinger Organizations: South Korea CNN, United, US Navy, US, CNN, Beijing doesn’t, United States Studies Center, Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Center, South Korea’s Sejong, South Korean, South Korean Navy, country’s Defense Media Agency, South, Korea Association of Military Studies, King’s College, Arleigh, Aegis, Maritime Administration, US Coast Guard, Shipbuilding, USNI News, Navy Locations: Seoul, South Korea, China, South, Taiwan, Singapore, Austin, Washington, Beijing, Japan, Australia, Hawaii, Xianyang, South Korea’s, London, Asia, Washington’s, United States, America

☆ After a 35-year break, the US Navy is building frigates again, and it has a lot of catching up to do
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-07 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Fincantieri plans to lay the keel of that ship, USS Constellation, this August. It will be the US Navy's first frigate since the retirement of its last Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate in 2015. FrigatesUS Navy first-in-class frigate USS Oliver Hazard Perry in late 1977. Though not intended to operate alone against enemy capital ships, frigates are now primarily used to support destroyer squadrons and carrier battle groups by performing escort, anti-submarine, anti-air, and limited anti-surface missions. US Navy guided-missile frigate USS Curts in a dry dock at a shipyard in California in January 1982.

☆ Shipbuilder Austal sinks on former U.S. executives' indictment for financial fraud
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

April 3 (Reuters) - Australian shipbuilder Austal Ltd (ASB.AX) sank as much as 8.4% to its lowest level in more than four years on Monday after the United States Department of Justice indicted three of its former U.S. employees on manipulating financial information. Austal, which builds ships for the U.S. Navy and is working on parts of the Virginia class submarines, plunged to its lowest level since October 25, 2018, and marked its worst intraday drop since January 17. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also filed civil charges against the three individuals, Austal said. Austal is down 17% so far this year, as of last close, compared with a 2.1% increase in the ASX All Ordinaries index (.AORD). Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia CheemaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ The US Navy's struggle to keep ships in fighting shape is leading sailors to 'cannibalize' more parts from other ships
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Shortages of spare parts is driving US sailors to take more and more parts from other ships. The spare parts shortage only exacerbates an already dismal Navy maintenance situation, with overburdened and understaffed shipyards unable to perform necessary overhauls on schedule. The study listed a cascade of causes for the shortage of spare parts: "Parts obsolescence, diminishing manufacturing sources, and material shortages are common issues." Likewise, militaries have long cannibalized equipment during operations when spare parts may not be available. Steaming hours have also declined for Navy ships, though by how much isn't clear, as the Department of Defense has classified the data.

☆ The US military is planning for a 'transformative' year in Asia as tensions with China continue to rise
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Amid rising tensions with China, the US military has sought to bolster its presence in Asia. US forces there may see the "most transformative year" in a generation in 2023, a US official said. Major changes to the US military presence in Asia face logistical and political hurdles, however. Other countries have sought more training with the US military or, in the case of Palau, to host US forces. There are opportunities for the US "to expand its access and deepen relationships" in both Northeast and Southeast Asia, said Thompson, a former US Defense Department official, but US leaders will have to reckon with the limits of those partnerships, especially in Southeast Asia.

Each new B-21 is pegged at roughly $729.25 million, and the U.S. Air Force expects to procure at least 100 of them. Factoring in inflation, it’s half the price of the exorbitantly expensive B-2 stealth bomber it’s meant to replace. Factoring in inflation, it’s half the price of the exorbitantly expensive B-2 stealth bomber it’s meant to replace. (China’s military grasps the benefit of long-range stealth bombers in the Pacific context and is developing its own Raider-like stealth bomber intended to expand its strike range.) That isn’t to say the Raider program should be written a blank check.

☆ Smart bombs were a game-changer for militaries. Smart bullets may be next.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Travis Pike | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Smart bullets aren't new, but they're still early in development, and they have some drawbacks. If DARPA, aka the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has its way, smart bullets will become a very real thing. Beyond offensive combative measures, guided smart bullets can be used to defeat future threats from swarming UAVs to incoming missiles. Smart bullets currently availableAs of this writing, smart bullets aren't being deployed. Regardless, smart bullets could provide a new surgical option for snipers, infantrymen, and naval personnel.

☆ The US military is getting a 2-for-1 replacement for its vaunted Hellfire missile
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-25 | by ( Alex Hollings | Sandboxx News | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

This results in one missile that can do the job of both Hellfire missiles currently in service. This results in one missile that can do the job of both Hellfire missiles currently in American and allied inventories. Living up to the legacy of the HellfireA YAH-64 Apache prototype armed with AGM-114A Hellfire missiles in March 1982. Today's primary family of Hellfire missiles includes the AGM-114R Hellfire II, commonly known as the Hellfire Romeo, and the AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire. An SH-60 helicopter armed with AGM-1148 Hellfire missiles aboard USS John F. Kennedy in March 2002.

☆ Despite Biden's assurances, Middle East militaries are buying their own weapons to take on Iran at sea and in the air
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been investing heavily in new military hardware in order to Iran. The Royal Saudi Air Force's core strength are its 232 F-15 Eagles, at least 84 of which are F-15SA variants designed specifically for Saudi Arabia. A Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 at King Faisal Air Base in Saudi Arabia in February 2021. US and Bahraini officials in front of unmanned naval vessels at at Naval Support Activity Bahrain in Manama in January. US Navy/MCS1 Mark Thomas MahmodIMX 2022 was also the first time Israel and Saudi Arabia, which don't have diplomatic relations, officially took part in an exercise together.

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