The United States faces a naval shipbuilding dilemma. On the one hand, China now has the world’s largest number of battle force ships, with over 370 platforms compared to 291 for the United States. China’s fleet is expected to grow to 435 ships by the end of this decade while the U.S. fleet will not change in size. China enjoys an asymmetric military advantage in the Western Pacific where most of its ships are concentrated, while the U.S. Navy is overstretched defending all of the world’s oceans.

The first of five Dutch navy landing craft utility (LCU) Mk IX vessels to undergo its MLU,
L 9525
, is launched at De Haas Shipyards in Rotterdam on 9 January.
(Dutch MoD)
The first modernised Royal Netherlands Navy (RNLN) landing craft utility (LCU) Mk IX vessel was launched at De Haas Shipyards in Rotterdam on 9 January.
De Haas Shipyards is carrying out the LCU mid-life upgrade (MLU) programme for the RNLN’s five LCUs under a contract awarded in 2022, with work to be completed by 2025.

In a strategic move to counter Houthi aggression, the US and its allies executed a forceful missile attack on January 11, marking a pivotal moment in the Red Sea region. Here’s a breakdown of the events surrounding this critical decision:
Ignored Warnings and Escalating Tensions
The attack came after the Houthis blatantly disregarded an ultimatum from the US and its allies to cease their assaults on cargo ships navigating the Red Sea, a vital route representing 12% of global trade. The armed group’s continuous missile and drone attacks posed a severe threat to international commerce.

Britain announced that it would provide 2.5 billion pounds (nearly 3.2 billion USD) in aid to Ukraine in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, an increase of 200 million pounds compared to the past two years.

According to the British government’s January 12 announcement, at least 200 million pounds ($255 million) in the aid package will be used to purchase thousands of unmanned equipment for Ukraine, including drones ( reconnaissance UAVs, long-range attack UAVs and unmanned boats, most of which will be produced in the UK.

NatDefMag
The defense industrial base is facing a number of significant challenges, and the release of the Defense Department’s National Defense Industrial Strategy signals the government is…

L. Thompson, Forbes
Polls indicate that Donald Trump is favored by most Republican voters as their party’s nominee in the 2024 presidential election.

Colin Demarest, DNews
Experts interviewed by C4ISRNET said the militant group based in Yemen, from where Red Sea and Gulf of Aden bombardments have sprung, is using Iranian technology and…

Lara Seligman & Lauren Egan, Politico
The administration had been under pressure to respond to the Iran-backed attacks.

Schwartz, et al., FT
Joe Biden authorises military action against Iran-backed militia attacking ships in the Red Sea.

A Hermes 900 in maritime configuration. The Indian Navy will induct two Hermes 900 Starliner UAVs by the end of February. (Elbit Systems)
The Indian Navy will induct two Hermes 900 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the end of February, a spokesperson for the Indian Navy told Janes on 10 January.
Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 Starliner is manufactured in India by Adani Defence and Aerospace under the name ‘Drishti 10′ for Indian customers. Drishti 10 was unveiled on 10 January in the presence of India’s Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral R Hari Kumar.

The UK locks-in a new and improved bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, the first of the G7 nations to do so.

The threats of unexploded ordnance left over from legacy or current conflicts will remain for years to come.

The first four G2000 Mk II fast interceptor crafts that were received by the Royal Malaysian Navy on 12 January 2024. (Royal Malaysian Navy)
The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) has taken delivery of its first locally built G2000 Mk II fast interceptor craft (FIC).
The vessels were handed over by local shipbuilder Gading Marine on 12 January, the service disclosed on the same day.
Gading Marine received a contract for 13 G2000 Mk II FICs from the Malaysian government in 2022. The contract is a repeat order following the delivery of six older G2000 Mk I vessels in April 2021.

US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro wants a review of shipbuilding issues with programmes like the Constellation-class frigate. (US Navy)
US Navy (USN) Secretary Carlos Del Toro has told Nickolas Guertin, assistant secretary of the Navy for Research, Development, & Acquisition (ASN RD&A) and Vice Admiral James Downey, commander Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the navy shipbuilding portfolio, the USN confirmed on 11 January.
Guertin and Vice Adm Downey are to provide an interim progress review to Del Toro within 45 days, the USN confirmed.

A Temsah-3 on display at the SOFEX show held in Jordan in November 2022. (Janes/Jeremy Binnie)
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval of two Egyptian requests on 10 January: one covering chassis and engines for light tactical vehicles and the other for additional 28 m coastal patrol craft.
It said the REV1-B Rolling Chassis, which is used for the Humvee series, and 205 hp turbocharged engines will be supplied by AM General. It did not say how many Egypt has requested but estimated the proposed sale to be worth USD200 million.

With older F-16s (pictured) already in service, Jordan is now to receive the latest Block 70 aircraft. (Janes/Patrick Allen)

Jordan has signed for new F-16 Fighting Falcon combat aircraft, with Lockheed Martin telling
Janes
that the previous letter of acceptance (LOA) has now been firmed up into a contract.

How many patents did Thales submit related to cybersecurity last quarter, and how many were granted? Discover the latest information here.

How many patents did Rohde & Schwarz submit related to artificial intelligence last quarter, and how many were granted? Discover the latest information here.

The US Navy combined a CUSV with a UAV for a recent live-fire targeting demonstration. (Textron Systems)

The US Navy (USN) recently combined different types of unmanned platforms for

a successful live-fire demonstration, Captain Matthew Lehmann, programme manager for Littoral Combat Ship Mission Modules (LCS MM), noted on 10 January during a briefing at the Surface Navy Association (SNA) National Symposium 2024.

I. Introduction
As tensions escalate in the Indo-Pacific region, China and India are intensifying their efforts to bolster their naval capabilities, with both nations on the brink of commissioning their third aircraft carriers.
II. The Rise of Fujian
Fujian, China’s third aircraft carrier, is equipped with electromagnetic catapults.
A. Unveiling the New Aircraft Carrier
The latest images of China’s Fujian, showcased by state broadcaster CCTV, reveal intriguing details, including three catapult tracks on its deck. These catapults could mark a significant advancement in launch technology.

It is a well-known fact the Gaza War was engineered. There is no way Israel was surprised. We’ve run down the evidence list before, but here it is again.
Once the attack started on Oct 7, the IDF did not respond for 7-8 hours, reserve soldiers with personal weapons, in personal vehicles, arrived on the scene hours before the Israeli military, to help defend Israelis on the Gaza border. Former IDF soldiers flooded social media saying it was impossible to surprise the heavily surveilled, guarded border with Gaza.

File photo of TLAM launch. USN
The U.S. and U.K., with support from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and Bahrain conducted strikes against Houthi facilities in Yemen in retaliation for attacks on Red Sea shipping, a U.S. defense official tells The War Zone. The strikes occurred from air, surface and subsurface platforms, the official said.
The actions targeted Houthi radar systems, drone, ballistic and cruise missile storage and launch sites, said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Arleigh Burke (DDG 51) launches tomahawk missiles in 2014 in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts. (Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Carlos M. Vazquez II/U.S. Navy).
U.S. and British forces conducted airstrikes on Thursday against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, which have launched 27 attacks on international shipping since Nov.

(Photo by Kostya Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images)
The Ukrainian military’s plans to field more soldiers have been dealt a blow after the parliament today refused to debate a new bill extending mobilization. The bill had been intended to address shortfalls in the ranks, now felt especially keenly as the Ukrainian counteroffensive, launched in the summer, has made only limited gains.
The bill was already controversial among lawmakers and the public.

The  US Air Force will intensify its efforts in 2024 to integrate unmanned aircraft into piloted fighter operations.

Collaborative fighter fleet planning and expansion
The US Air Force aims to accelerate the deployment of its fleet of unmanned aircraft, called collaborative combat aircraft ( CCA ). These drones are designed to operate in conjunction with the F-35 and future Next Generation Air Dominance platforms.
The missions contemplated include attacking enemy targets, surveillance, signal jamming and acting as decoys.

@SanDiegoWebCam via @WarshipCam
The U.S. Navy has named the first four Arleigh Burke class destroyers that will receive a slate of major upgrades, including new radars and advanced electronic warfare suites. One of these ships, the USS Pinckney, has already gotten its new electronic warfare system, which has completely transformed its outward appearance. This is all part of the Navy’s broader modernization plans for its destroyer fleets, which also includes a program to develop and acquire an entirely new design currently known as DDG(X).
U.S. Navy Capt.

Marine recruits Parris Island are using the MantisX Blackbeard system for marksmanship training. (Pfc. Ayden Cassano/U.S. Marine Corps).
Recruits at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, are using off-the-shelf technology for marksmanship training to better prepare them for the more advanced rifle test they must pass when they join the fleet, Marine Corps officials said.
Officials at Parris Island initiated a pilot program for which they purchased about 700 MantisX Blackbeard systems for simulated rifle training as part of a test pilot program, Corps officials said.

USN
There are growing indications that the U.S. and U.K. are about to launch strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in retaliation for more than two dozen attacks against commercial shipping since Nov. 19, including one earlier this morning.
“UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been holding a conference call with his cabinet about the likelihood of British and US military strikes against the Houthis in Yemen,” the BBC is reporting.

PM Rishi Sunak briefing cabinet tonight as UK and US weigh military strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen
Follow live https://t.

KYIV – In this interview today in Riga, Latvia, President Zelenskiy allowed himself to talk more than normally allowed by his secret patrons from Washington D.C. and London. More specifically, Mr. Zelensky said:
1) There is no money to pay pensions for 12 mln pensioners (editor’s note: 18.5 mln pensioners in Ukraine).
2) 70% of the financing sent to Ukraine on paper was left in the USA and paid to US military contractors and various agencies.
3) Any military supplies sent to Ukraine were based on grants but based on credits. Thus, the debts of the country have increased.

A Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General report released Thursday found that the Pentagon has not thoroughly monitored the transfer of some of the U.S.’s most advanced weapons and devices sent to Ukraine. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cydney Lee).
The Pentagon has not thoroughly monitored the transfer of some of the U.S.’s most advanced weapons and devices sent to Ukraine, an Inspector General report released Thursday found.
Pentagon Inspector General Robert P.

The Navy’s experimentations with robotic systems in Central and South America have revealed capability gaps in the service’s ability to manage drone operations at command centers and work with large swaths of data, according to a top officer.
In 2023, the service’s 4th Fleet — assigned to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility — kicked off a series of experimentations aimed at integrating unmanned aerial vehicles, surface ships and subsurface vessels with manned platforms.
Less than a year into the effort, 4th Fleet Commander Rear Adm.

Welcome to Rewind & Reconnoiter. Each week, we’ll ask one of our authors to look back at an article they’ve written for War on the Rocks in light of a current news event. Did their argument hold up? Read more below to find out.

IAF
As the war in Gaza continues, Israel has released a carefully selected stream of photos and videos showing some of its most capable assets in action. One interesting recently published photo provides a very rare view inside the cockpit of an F-15A ‘Baz’ fighter, shedding some light on the extent of the upgrades that these aircraft have been put through by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).
Before we discuss the photo, it’s important to note that Israel’s aging F-15A-to-D fleet is still seen as a prized resource by the IAF.

Italy looks to be leveraging a forecasted increase in defence spending to modernise its military capabilities, including the FH70 artillery.

A photograph released on 10 January 2024 shows a Rafael SPYDER All in One air-defence system launching a Python missile in a test. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)
Rafael and the Israel Ministry of Defense’s (MoD’s) Directorate for Defense Research and Development have completed a successful test of the All in One (AiO) variant of the company’s SPYDER air-defence system, it was announced on 10 January.

In 1922, when 25 Army officers met in San Antonio and decided to insure each other’s vehicles, they couldn’t have imagined that their tiny company would one day serve millions of members and become a fully-integrated financial services organization. In the 100 years since, USAA has remained at the forefront of military community support, from banking to loans to insurance and beyond.

The military, for the most part, has told you what to do and has provided you with the training. Now that you are transitioning out, whether separating or retiring, the world is your oyster. If you are not sure what it is you want to do career-wise after the military, here are 5 places to go to assist.
1. CareerOneStop
(CareerOneStop)
This website is sponsored by the Department of Labor, so you know it will be loaded with great information. Here, you can take a skills assessment where, once finished, occupations will populate based on how you evaluated your skillset.

The Pentagon’s new National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) incorporates a number of actions that will drive the department to apply artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to monitor its vast supply chain of industrial assets — and strengthen internal and external cybersecurity pursuits to protect it.
Department officials released the highly anticipated, 60-page document on Thursday.

Raytheon: During extended exercises, the radar system demonstrates its capability in protecting air bases effectively.

In the aftermath of World War II, Berlin, Germany, was grappling with immense challenges when Operation Gold laid the foundation for espionage activities in the 1950s. The United States and the Soviet Union engaged in a high-stakes game of spy versus spy, turning Berlin—a city divided by the pressures of the Cold War—into the key battleground for this audacious CIA plan. The mission aimed to tap into the Soviets’ underground communication cables and eavesdrop on their secrets.

A Hermes 900 in maritime configuration. The Indian Navy will induct two Hermes 900 Starliner UAVs by the end of February. (Elbit Systems)

The Indian Navy will induct two Hermes 900 Starliner unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by the end of February, a spokesperson for the Indian Navy told
Janes
on 10 January.

Elbit Systems’ Hermes 900 Starliner is manufactured in India by Adani Defence and Aerospace under the name ‘Drishti 10′ for Indian customers.

Venable, TNI
The Air Force’s newest bomber, the B-21 “Raider,” is being built around the most sophisticated and easily maintained stealth technology ever developed.

Banco , et al., Politico
Hezbollah has more capability to strike inside the U.S. than other terrorist groups like ISIS, officials say.

The US State Department has approved a Foreign Military Sales agreement to the Government of Egypt for Light Tactical Vehicle chassis.

Tanzania has ordered two Leonardo C-27J Spartan transport aircraft that it will use primarily for civil support duties. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
Tanzania has ordered two Leonardo C-27J Spartan transport aircraft, the Italian government announced on 9 January.
Signed by the Tanzanian Minister of Defence and National Service, Stergomena Tax, and the Italian Ambassador to Tanzania, Marco Lombardi, the deal will see the Tanzanian Ministry of Defence (MoD) use the aircraft primarily for civil support duties.

The DART AE is a 3.5 m long single-use hypersonic vehicle powered by a SPARTAN scramjet engine that, according to developer Hypersonix Launch Systems, has a top speed of Mach 7 and a range of 1,000 km. (Hypersonix Launch Systems)
Australian firm Hypersonix Launch Systems is on track to deliver its DART AE (Additive Engineering) hypersonic flyer to the US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) for testing at the end of 2024.

A painting of Charles Jackson French’s swim is exhibited at the International Swimming Hall of Fame. A new Navy destroyer will be named for French. Image courtesy of the International Swimming Hall of Fame.
The Navy will name a new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer for one of World War II’s most remarkable — and most ignored — Naval heroes, Charles Jackson French.
A Black cook aboard a ship sunk at Guadalcanal, French pulled a makeshift raft full of wounded shipmates for eight hours through shark-infested waters by swimming with a tow rope tied around his waste.

Madison Marsh has a bright future ahead of her, with multiple paths still available for the 22-year-old. Marsh was named Miss Colorado in May 2023. She is pursuing a master’s degree at Harvard, is a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force, and has obtained a coveted place to train as a fighter pilot.

Next Sunday (January 14), Marsh will compete with other candidates to become Miss America at the Florida ceremony, with different phases of the pageant that include physical preparation stages, an evening dress and a public interview.

Ukraine’s President said the country shot down 70% of missiles and UAVs in recent Russian raids, but Kyiv needs more air defense systems.

“In recent days, Russia launched a total of 500 devices targeting Ukrainian territory. We destroyed 70% of them,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a joint press conference with his Lithuanian counterpart Gitanas Nauseda in Vilnius on January 10, during his visit to this country.
According to Mr.

Israel developed a new Spyder air defense system, putting all parts on one truck, to increase flexibility in dealing with UAVs.

“With the cooperation of the Ministry of Defense, the Rafael group successfully tested a new ‘one-piece’ configuration of the Spyder air defense system. The test included the interception of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with a direct, precise attack,” the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced on January 10.