Defense
Articles

From
Reuters
via
gCaptain
Taiwan Navy Shows Off Its Steel With Simulated Attack Exercise
Taiwan's navy simulated on Thursday an effort to see off enemy ships as it wrapped up three days of New Year drills, sending two of its newest and most advanced warships to lead a flotilla into the Taiwan Strait.

From
Mike Schuler
via
gCaptain
Royal Fleet Auxiliary Officers Accept Historic Pay Deal
Trade union Nautilus International has announced that Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) officers in the UK have voted to accept an above-inflation pay offer for 2024/25, marking a significant step towards...

From
Mike Schuler
via
gCaptain
CBO Warns Navy’s Ambitious 2025 Shipbuilding Plan Faces Major Hurdles
The U.S. Navy’s 2025 shipbuilding plan aims to expand its fleet to 390 battle force ships by 2054, but achieving this vision comes with a hefty price tag, according to...

From
Mike Schuler
via
gCaptain
Anchor Suspected of Causing Estlink2 Cable Damage Recovered from Baltic Sea
Finnish authorities have recovered an anchor from the Gulf of Finland that they suspect belongs to the Russian tanker Eagle S, which is suspected of damaging the Estlink2 undersea cable...

From
Mike Schuler
via
gCaptain
UK Launches AI-Powered Maritime Surveillance System to Counter Russian Shadow Fleet in Baltic
In response to recent damage to critical undersea infrastructure, the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has activated an advanced AI-powered surveillance system to monitor potential maritime threats and track Russia’s...

From
Malte Humpert
via
gCaptain
Icebreaker ‘Storis’ Officially Joins U.S. Coast Guard Fleet
The Biden administration plans to impose more sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, taking aim at its oil revenues with action against tankers carrying Russian crude, three sources with knowledge of the matter said.
From
Mike Schuler
via
gCaptain
USCGC Polar Star Departs Sydney on Antarctic Resupply Mission
The U.S. Coast Guard’s only heavy icebreaker, USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10), has departed Sydney to begin its Antarctic mission supporting Operation Deep Freeze 2025. The departure marks the vessel’s...

From
Malte Humpert
via
gCaptain
U.S. Department of Defense Sounds Alarm Bells About China’s Growing Presence in Arctic
By Malte Humpert (gCaptain) – China’s Arctic activities feature prominently in a new DoD report to Congress about the country’s military and security developments. In the decade since gaining observer status...

From
Mike Schuler
via
gCaptain
U.S. Forces Strike Houthi Weapons Facilities and Radar Sites in Yemen Amid Red Sea Tensions
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted precision strikes against Iran-backed Houthi targets in Yemen on December 30 and 31, targeting key military infrastructure and weapons facilities. The strikes, carried out by...

From
Malte Humpert
via
gCaptain
Russian Navy Launches Second Arctic ‘Combat Icebreaker’
The Admiralty Shipyards in Saint Petersburg launched the second armed Arctic icebreaker for Russia’s Navy.

From
Mike Schuler
via
gCaptain
Coast Guard Begins Construction of First Heavy Polar Icebreaker in Five Decades
The U.S. Coast Guard has received approval to commence construction of its first heavy polar icebreaker in more than 50 years. The milestone announcement comes as the service also reveals...

From
Bloomberg
via
gCaptain
Iran Oil Tycoon ‘Hector’ Plays Key Role in Arms Sales to Russia
An Iranian oil tycoon who’s managed to quietly embed himself in the heart of the Western financial system is among a cadre of businessmen handling weapons deliveries across the Caspian Sea to Russia, helping Moscow in its war in Ukraine.