Anthony Rhoda, EI’s Post

Philippines To Restore Subic Bay Airfield For South China Sea Ops The Philippines is looking to create a new base on the site of a former American naval air station at Subic Bay to increase its aerial surveillance and power projection capabilities in the South China Sea. A new forward operating base that can support reconnaissance and attack aircraft will be established at Subic Bay International Airport according to Philippine Air Force bidding documents and development plans. While plans to fully develop the former American naval base were announced almost a decade ago, it was only this year that the service invited companies to bid for the project. Previously the site of the U.S. Naval Air Station Cubi Point, Subic Bay International Airport was established following the broader American military withdrawal from the Philippines in the 1990s. Since then, both Philippine and American military forces have been returning to the area to facilitate resupply, refuel, and repair vessels. Subic’s port facilities also support the delivery of U.S. military equipment into the Philippines during bilateral exercises. However, amid increased tensions with China over territorial disputes and a realization of its lackluster defense capabilities, Manila has committed to the re-establishment of military infrastructure at Subic Bay. With its strategic location adjacent to the South China Sea, the Philippines established Naval Operating Base Subic in 2022. This 100-hectare section of the former Hanjin Heavy Industries & Construction shipyard, now owned by American firm Cerberus, became the Philippine Navy’s most important base. Since its founding, the base has been the only one in the Philippines that can support the service’s largest vessels.   Across the bay at Subic Bay International Airport, a similar story unfolded as the Philippines examined what facilities could be useful in their new military plans. Philippine Air Force documents on the project directly cited the proximity of the airfield to Scarborough Shoal and the South China Sea as the reason for the construction of the forward operating base. Joshua Bernard Espeña, vice president at the Manila-based think tank International Development and Security Cooperation, told Naval News that this new base at Subic Bay is a “significant leap” in the Philippine military’s efforts to develop joint operations. “It also tells about the operationalization of the Philippines’ Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept (CADC) with the logic of filling the gaps of defending a vast archipelago; the key is a rapid and coordinated response, hence Subic being the classic location for the FOB,” said Espeña. 

Six large and "optionally crewed" naval vessels heavily armed with missiles will be added to Australia's surface fleet under a dramatic $11 billion reshaping of the navy that will also see the acquisition of 11 new general-purpose frigates to be partly built overseas. Labor has unveiled its long-awaited "Enhanced Lethality Surface Combatant Fleet", which will include six Hunter-class frigates, reduced from an original plan of nine, as well as upgraded versions of the existing Hobart-class destroyers fitted with Tomahawk cruise missiles. Under the sweeping overhaul, Australia's current fleet of combat-ready warships would rise from 11 to 26, consisting of nine "Tier 1" frigates and destroyers and 11 smaller general-purpose frigates, as well as six optionally crewed vessels which will form a "Tier 2" force. Defence Minister Richard Marles said that, while the optionally crewed vessels "have the capacity to operate in an uncrewed fashion," Australia's intention was to use crews. Australia's oldest currently serving warship, HMAS Anzac, will be immediately retired ahead of the gradual replacement of the aging Anzac-class fleet with new frigates which will first be built in either Germany, Korea, Japan or Spain. The planned number of Offshore Patrol Vessels being built in Western Australia will be halved to six and will eventually form part of a planned fleet of 25 minor war vessels dominated by Evolved Cape Class patrol boats. The government will consider the eventual replacement for the Hobart-class destroyers "in the context of the 2026 National Defence Strategy" to align with a continuous naval shipbuilding strategy at Adelaide's Osborne Naval shipyard. Releasing the plan at Sydney's Garden Island Naval base, Mr Marles insisted the plan was "fully funded" and would inject an additional $1.7 billion over the forward estimates and $11.1 billion over the next decade into defence. "The enhanced lethality surface combatant fleet will ensure the navy is optimised for operations in our current and future environment, underpinned by the meticulous assessment conducted by the Independent Analysis Team," Mr Marles said. "This significant advancement in navy capability that will be delivered under this plan requires a strong, sovereign defence industry," Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy added. The Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, called it "a serious investment and a serious challenge for our Navy to step up and deliver". "This is a real shot in the arm in terms of understanding the important role that the Australian Navy sailors play across the Indo-Pacific," he said. "This will be the largest surface combatant force we've operated in generations. It will also be, in time, the most lethal."

Australia’s Navy is set to become much larger and more lethal in response to “strategic circumstances”, but concerns raised over training of skilled local workforce and recruitment of Defence personnel, writes Chief Editor Nicholas Dynon. “This plan ensures Navy’s future fleet can meet our strategic circumstances by delivering a larger and more lethal fleet sooner and secures the future of naval shipbuilding in Australia, supporting 3,700 direct jobs over the next decade and thousands of indirect jobs for decades to come,” said Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy. Although it has welcomed the announcement, Australian Industry & Defence Network (AIDN National) has raised concerns over the government’s plan for initial shipbuilding to occur overseas, and it has called for a focus on the training of skilled workers needed in South Australia and Western Australia. RSL Australia has similarly welcomed the announcement but has “questioned the commitment to wider Defence readiness and is concerned that the Army has been neglected in the overall strategic upgrade.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g227XZJ4 #defence #defenceindustry #navy #governmentprocurement #shipbuilding #westernaustralia #southaustralia

Rethinking the Philippines’ submarine program I thought this old article of mine may be relevant, given the recent news that Manila is planning to acquire submarines in the latest defence modernisation program. In summary, Philippines' defence planners have to consider the type of threats most likely the AFP will face, and what system could deal with those threats effectively at a cost Manila can afford. Purchasing new system is important, but maintaining them is far more critical. "In its current state, the Philippine Navy does not have the ability to maintain a persistent naval presence throughout the contested maritime domain due to insufficient surface platforms. Diverting limited resources to acquire submarines, instead of building up adequate and capable surface platforms, may run contrary to the Philippines’ maritime security interests. A lack of experience with submarines means it will be several years before they will be operationally ready. Given the urgency of threats to its maritime interests and financial constraints in the immediate and medium-term, the Philippine Navy should first seek to strengthen its surface fleet, both in terms of numbers and capabilities." https://lnkd.in/gM3YuyfG

Could the German Defence Minister’s proposal for Canada to join Germany and Norway in a strategic maritime partnership influence Canada’s selection of its next submarine? Germany and Norway have agreed to jointly develop, procure, operate and maintain thyssenkrupp Marine Systems’ Type 212 Common Design (CD) submarines, and it appears Canada is being courted to join them. TKMS will likely offer an expeditionary variant of the Type 212CD to the Royal Canadian Navy | Marine royale canadienne as its solution for the Canadian Patrol Submarine, which would open up that possibility. There are many factors that Canada will have to consider in the selection of its next submarine and we are still early in the process, but could deepening (pun intended) relationships with key allies, and the prospect of being part of a submarine user group that includes multiple NATO navies, tilt the balance? https://lnkd.in/eqBj5Zqd #submarines #ONSAF #CPSP #NATO

The USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, recently suffered a significant mechanical failure, necessitating its return to Naval Station Norfolk. This incident marks at least the third mechanical issue for the Navy’s amphibious fleet this year. The breakdown occurred while the Iwo Jima was engaged in training exercises intended to prepare it for deployment. According to Lt. Cmdr. David Carter, the ship experienced a "non-propulsion-related materiel casualty," which could involve various systems such as hydraulics or power generators. This incident raises serious concerns about the condition and readiness of the US Navy's aging fleet, which is vital for supporting United States Marine Corps operations. The USS Boxer and USS Wasp have faced similar issues earlier this year, with the Boxer returning from deployment due to rudder problems and the Wasp experiencing issues with its propeller shaft. These repeated mechanical failures not only delay deployment schedules but also strain the operational capabilities of Marine Expeditionary Units (MEUs), leading to increased tensions between the Navy and Marine Corps regarding the reliability of amphibious transport. The recurring mechanical challenges faced by these ships highlight an urgent need for modernization and enhanced resource allocation within the Navy. Ensuring that amphibious ships are fully operational is critical for the Navy to reliably support Marine Corps missions and respond effectively to global crises. Addressing these issues will be essential for maintaining national security and readiness in an increasingly complex geopolitical landscape. #Navy #USS_Iwo_Jima #MilitaryReadiness #AmphibiousAssaultShip #MarineCorps #Defense #OperationalChallenges #FleetModernization #MilitaryNews #NationalSecurity #Readiness #MilitaryOperations #MaritimeStrategy

https://lnkd.in/eUiF_TJC Ugh ... "One of the Navy's amphibious warships suffered a major mechanical failure earlier this week that forced it to return to port -- at least the third such incident this year. Lt. Cmdr. David Carter, a spokesman for Naval Surface Force Atlantic, confirmed that the USS Iwo Jima suffered "a non-propulsion-related materiel casualty in the engineering department" that forced the ship to return to Naval Station Norfolk on Thursday. These delays and breakdowns are set to reignite a point of friction between the Navy and Marine Corps over whether the sea service can reliably transport Marines to sea so that they can fulfill their obligation of being a ready response force. Last year, then-Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger expressed serious regrets over the fact that he wasn't able to have Marines ready to go in the Mediterranean Sea amid two crises. More recently, in January 2024, a Marine Corps three-star general also said that not only are the Navy's amphibious ships not ready to deploy Marines around the world on time, the problem also has no short-term fix. Since then, both Franchetti and the current leader of the Marine Corps, Gen. Eric Smith, have tried to present a more unified front on the issue. But just last month, Smith released his annual planning document that both codified his intent to constantly have a MEU on deployment and also noted that the Navy needs to do more to help the Marine Corps meet that goal. "My intent is for the Marine Corps to provide Geographic Combatant Commanders with a continuous 3.0 MEU presence," Smith said in the planning document, before noting that "the term 3.0 refers to heel-to-toe deployments of one MEU from the East Coast, one MEU from the West Coast, and the 31st MEU originating from Forward Deployed Naval Forces (FDNF) in Japan." The document went on to emphasize that his ability to make good on that goal relies heavily on the Navy having enough amphibious ships to support the Marines, and he added that, "in the meantime, [Marines] must find creative solutions in lieu of perfect remedies." Smith said he would continue to advocate for five ships based in Japan and noted that, in order "to meet the material and personnel readiness goals associated with a 3.0 MEU requirement, the United States Navy will likely require increased resources" for years to come.

Today in Asia Times, I wrote about Taiwan's strategic dilemma in bolstering its naval defenses against potential Chinese aggression. Taiwan is constructing a next-generation anti-submarine frigate and intensifying tests on its indigenous submarine, Hai Kun. Once stalled due to budget and technical issues, the frigate project has been reoriented to build two 115-meter-long frigates equipped with advanced warfare systems. Meanwhile, the Hai Kun submarine is undergoing tests, with plans to produce a fleet of 10 attack submarines armed with MK-48 Mod 6 Advanced Technology torpedoes capable of launching various missiles. Taiwan's simultaneous development of frigates and submarines reveals a complex naval force design challenge. It faces competing needs to establish a highly visible traditional force posture to counter China's gray zone tactics and maintain a survivable asymmetric force capable of repelling a potential invasion. Taiwan's split focus between traditional and asymmetric warfare assets may leave it vulnerable in both areas. While its new frigates may help counter China's surface and underwater intrusions, submarines could become more critical in an asymmetric warfare strategy, particularly for island defense and preventing blockades. This strategic conundrum underscores Taiwan's difficult position in balancing its military capabilities in the face of China's overwhelming force advantage.

In a recent article published in Proceedings Magazine, Major Carl Forsling, a retired United States Marine Corps officer, addresses the issue of the amphibious shipping shortfall and proposes a solution. The Marine Corps currently lacks the necessary ships to support expeditionary advanced base operations (EABO), and the planned landing ship medium (LSM) program is still years away from delivering the required capacity. Additionally, the San Antonio-class amphibious transport docks (LPDs) are too expensive to acquire in sufficient quantities. Forsling suggests that the US Navy should focus on utilizing the already available expeditionary transfer dock (ESD) and expeditionary sea base (ESB) ships. These ships, which have expansive flight decks and significant cargo capacity, can deliver Marines, equipment, and supplies over transoceanic distances. The ESDs and ESBs are derivatives of commercial designs and offer advantages such as greater range, larger crew capacity, and the potential for adding defensive weapons and systems. By prioritizing the acquisition and deployment of ESDs and ESBs, the Navy can address the amphibious shipping shortfall more effectively and at a lower cost. These ships have the versatility to support EABO and contingency operations, providing a viable solution to the current challenges faced by the Marine Corps. #AmphibiousShipping #ExpeditionaryOperations #ESDs #ESBs #Navy #MarineCorps #EABO #MilitaryLogistics