Naval and Defense News

[Nikel]

Huge number of U.S refuelling aircraft crosses the Atlantic.

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/huge-nu ... -atlantic/









Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Sailing to Middle East

https://news.usni.org/2025/06/16/aircra ... of-malacca

[Nikel]

US Navy CSGs and ARGs situation according to Ian Ellis.





Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR MO) published footage from recent drone strikes on Russian S-400 ADs in Crimea.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... mXwWS5.mp4






MT Aderson pic and comments on Diego Garcia.

Diego Garcia: Post-Ceasefire Snapshot Reveals Sustained Readiness

New satellite imagery from NSF Diego Garcia on June 26, 2025, provides a fascinating glimpse into the ongoing strategic importance of this remote base. Despite the recent ceasefire, activity remains robust.

What we're observing:

Strategic Bombers: A notable presence of four B-52 strategic bombers – two on the north apron, two on the south. These long-range assets are key for power projection and deterrence.

Tactical Airpower: At least four F-15 fighter jets are visible, indicating continued air superiority and strike capabilities.

Air Refueling Backbone: 8x KC-135 tankers underscore the capacity for sustained, long-range air operations, ensuring aircraft can operate far from base.

Logistical Giant: 1x C-5M Galaxy transport aircraft highlights the capability for rapid, heavy airlift – essential for moving personnel and equipment.

Naval Presence: Adding to the layered defense, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer (likely USS Ralph Johnson DDG-114) is visible alongside. Her presence suggests ongoing naval support or enhanced air defense for the base.

Why this matters:
The continued high tempo of operations and asset concentration at Diego Garcia, even amidst a ceasefire, speaks volumes about its role as a persistent forward operating location. It suggests:

Sustained Deterrence Posture: Maintaining a strong, visible presence as a deterrent against potential resurgence of tensions.

Strategic Flexibility: The capacity to quickly respond to unforeseen developments across a vast operational area, from the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific.

Readiness for Any Scenario: Even if direct conflict has paused, the readiness of key air and naval assets ensures agility and responsiveness to a range of evolving threats or humanitarian needs.

This level of activity reinforces Diego Garcia's critical position in global strategic planning and its role in projecting influence across vital regions.

Van Lokeren, Russian Navy - Weekly Situation Report - Week 25/2025.

https://russianfleetanalysis.blogspot.c ... eport.html






HI Sutton, Updated overview Of Maritime Drones (USVs) Of The Russo-Ukrainian War.


http://www.hisutton.com/Russia-Ukraine-USVs-2024.html

[Nikel]

Large-scale military exercises in the Indo-Pacific in July, according to Ian Ellis.





UK Forces tracker, situation of the Royal Navy.









China Builds New Large Jet-Powered Ekranoplan, by H I Sutton.


https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... kranoplan/






The never ending news of retiring the A-10 Thunderbolt II, that in any case should go to somewhere in East Europe, not to a desert.


https://defence-blog.com/pentagon-pushe ... hog-fleet/





TWZ piece. I think the db is missing this air-to-air role for the rockets loadout in the AC-10.


https://www.twz.com/air/about-to-be-ret ... own-drones

[Nikel]

B-2 flyover at the White House. Escorted by a pair of F-35s and F-22s.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... WzpC4T.mp4

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... tPJxZe.mp4


Pics by Dustin Smith.








Van Lokeren. Russian Naval Operations - Weekly Situation Report - Week 26/2025


https://russianfleetanalysis.blogspot.c ... eekly.html






‘Crimson Tide’ Sequel In The Works Says, Jerry Bruckheimer.

https://deadline.com/2025/07/crimson-ti ... 236448453/

[Nikel]

Work on the repair and modernization of the heavy aircraft carrying cruiser "Admiral Kuznetsov" was suspended some time ago.
In the near future, a decision will be made as to whether it is advisable to continue these works and return it to the fleet.

https://www.twz.com/air/russia-may-fina ... ft-carrier

Ukrainian Air Force shows footage of the combat work of a modern, German-made Skynex 35mm autocannon against Russian Shahed/Geran-type long-range OWA-UAVs.

https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... kyiYw6.mp4


UK and France pledge coordinated nuclear deterrent.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... deterrent/

https://www.twz.com/nuclear/uk-and-fran ... deterrence



Supply season to Pankovo reactor-weapons test site has started.

An interesting scenario setting?

https://www.thebarentsobserver.com/secu ... ted/432909

P.png (666.81 KiB) Viewed 1713 times

Intelschizo updated graphic after the attack on Eternity C, the deadliest attack by the Houthi on civilian merchant ships.






Avivector, strategic aviation at Russia's key airbases, 13 July.

Bundeswehr will procure an undisclosed number of Typhon fire units from the United States.

[Nikel]

Ian Ellis updated map on US Navy CSGs and ARGs situation.

The George Washington Carrier Strike Group participated in dual carrier ops with U.K. Prince of Wales CSG in the Timor Sea as part of ongoing exercise Talisman Sabre.

More pics in this link.

https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/ ... us-carrier

USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier eastbound in the Strait of Gibraltar. - July 19, 2025

Production of russian drones Geran-2, Tatarstan. 100s of them launched to attack Ukraine every single day.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... J5yOV-.mp4

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... EocBSU.mp4



Janes' graphic on Chinese Rainbow UAVs.





Raising the flag ceremony in Severodvinsk, joining the russian navy, for the new Borey-A class SSBN K-555 “Knyaz Pozharskiy”. Putin himself assisted.




Some pics and video.

https://t.co/XqWpOnsnwr


HI Sutton graphic of this sub class.

BOREI-II_3d.jpg (577.8 KiB) Viewed 1492 times

[Nikel]

Ongoing russian navy exercise, «Iyulskiy shtorm»(July Storm). All the fleets participating, except the Black Sea that is hiding somewhere. Some videos.


Project 1232.2 ZUBR-class LCAC Mordoviya and Yevgeny Kocheshkov. Baltic Sea. Laying mines, manually? This loadout is not available in the db.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... 5Gaw7P.mp4


Project 949A Antey/Oscar II-class SSGN K-266 «Orel». Barents Sea. Surprised to see all is analog. But the crew must be happy to be there and not in a trench.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... Gkt3HC.mp4


Project 1155 Udaloy-class destroyer Admiral Levchenko. AK-100, AK-630M, 3K95 "Kinzhal".

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... 2xjfVX.mp4


Slava-class cruiser «Marshal Ustinov», the Udaloy-class destroyer «Admiral Levchenko», the Grisha-class corvettes «Snezhnogorsk» and «Yunga». Barents Sea.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... xoufJ7.mp4

[Nikel]

Footages of a Spanish Air Force EF-18 Hornet nearly crashing during a demonstration at Gijón Air Festival yesterday

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... BijJh_.mp4

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... Rgm2Ma.mp4

[Nikel]

Ian Ellis map, after recent rhetoric.






PLA Navy’s fourth Type 075 amphibious assault ship, Hubei.


https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202508/1339859.shtml






Royal Navy Fleet Tracker.





Upgraded Mogami selected for the Australian Navy.

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... lian-navy/






Red Tide. A Novel of the Next Pacific War. By M.P. Woodward.


https://www.usni.org/press/books/red-tide

[Nikel]

Chinese vessels collide while pursuing Philippine boat in South China Sea

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/ ... china-sea/


Video.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... rtljkB.mp4


Avivector, text and pics.

Russia Is Most Likely Planning to Test a Nuclear-Powered Missile at Its Arctic Test Site

There are multiple signs indicating that Russia is preparing to conduct a test of the nuclear-powered cruise missile “Burevestnik” (SSC-X-9 Skyfall) in the near future at the Pankovo test site on Novaya Zemlya Island.

On August 8 at 09:06 UTC, an image of the Pankovo Test Site, where Russia previously tested the missile, shows a movable shelter above the launch rail. It protects the launcher and missile from Arctic weather and is rolled back before launch.

As of today, August 9 at 08:52 UTC, two Il-976 SKIP airborne measurement complex aircraft operated by the State Atomic Energy Corporation are present at Rogachevo Airbase, along with an additional Il-76MD (Candid) and An-72 (Coaler) that have arrived.

On August 4 at 08:47 UTC, Rogachevo Airfield housed 1 A-50U (Mainstay), 1 Il-976 SKIP (Candid), 1 An-72 (Coaler), 1 An-26 (Curl), 2 Su-35S (Flanker-E), 1 Mi-26 (Halo), 4 Mi-8 (Hip), 2 Ka-27/29 (Helix), and 1 Ka-32 (Helix).

A NOTAM with the name WOZ200 has been issued restricting civil aircraft flights over the west of the island from August 7, 2025, 00:00 UTC to August 12, 2025, 23:59 UTC. The restriction covers altitudes from ground level to 18,500 meters above mean sea level.

On August 5, a U.S. Air Force Boeing WC-135R Constant Phoenix (64-14829), an atmospheric sampling aircraft based at Mildenhall, conducted a 14-hour reconnaissance flight over the Barents Sea, approaching very close to the Russian Novaya Zemlya island.

If the test does occur, it will be the first trial since 2019, when an accident claimed the lives of five employees. This is happening amid heightened nuclear tensions between the United States and Russia.

[thewood1]

Russian Navy is not over its struggles.

https://en.defence-ua.com/news/russian_ ... 15431.html

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/ne ... s?from=mdr

[Nikel]

HI Sutton.

Taiwan’s New Naval Drones Could Strike Any Chinese Invasion

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... -invasion/





MT anderson.

Carrier Strike Group 12

Spotted on Sentinel 2 today (13 Aug 2025), CSG 12 including 3x Arleigh Burkes (likely) and USNS Supply have transited STROG westbound heading for the Atlantic

British jet lands on Japanese warship for the first time

https://www.navylookout.com/historic-f- ... nse-force/

Australia controls UK submarine from 10,000 miles away

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/austral ... iles-away/

The Project 11442M Kirov-class heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov is at the stage of preparation for going to sea for sea trials,
which is scheduled for August-September, a source in the defense-industrial complex told RIA Novosti

https://ria.ru/20250813/nahimov-2034914789.html





Ian Ellis map.

[Nikel]

Mark Krutov updated his map on the ADs installed in Putin's Valdai bunker.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 55556&z=12





MT Anderson

A rare look at the Northern Fleet's bases from August 9, 2025. Here's a "who's in port" analysis across four key locations:

Severomorsk: A packed house of surface combatants, including the Kirov-class battlecruiser Pyotr Velikiy and the Slava-class cruiser Marshal Ustinov, alongside frigates, destroyers, and more.

Gadzhiyevo: The nuclear submarine hub is a hive of activity! We see a significant presence of 4x Delta IV-class SSBNs (1 additional decommed) and a Borei-class SSBN, plus 2x Akula-class subs.

Polyarny: A busy port with 4x Kilo-class subs, 4x Grisha-class vessels, and another sub identified as possibly a Lada-class (unsure).

Olenya Guba: Home to the unique Project 22010 intelligence ship Yantar, and 1 of 2 Modified Delta-class submarines is in port

More pics:


https://x.com/MT_Anderson/status/195609 ... 78/photo/2



Brady Africk.

Russia is launching so many one-way attack drones at Ukraine that they have built dedicated launch sites for them.

Here's a closer look at one located at Primorsko-Akhtarsk air base in southwestern Russia.

Footage showing the fly-over of a U.S. Air Force B-2A “Spirit” Long-Range Strategic Stealth Bomber escorted by 4 F-35 Lightning IIs as President Donald J. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... YlahK9.mp4

Kremlin said F-22 (F-35) fighter jets escorted Putin's plane on the way from Alaska to Russia.

https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... 1I54kv.mp4

[Nikel]

China’s Extra-Large Underwater Drones

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/20 ... er-drones/








Ian ellis updated map.

- Iwo Jima ARG deploying to SOUTHCOM
- Ford CSG enters North Sea
- Washington CSG pulls into Guam
- Nimitz CSG operating in Gulf of Oman
- America ARG completes 3-month patrol
- Lincoln participating in Ex Northern Edge 25
- Vinson returns home after 9-month deployment
- Roosevelt & H.W. Bush are active and working up

Project 11442M Kirov-class heavy nuclear-powered missile cruiser Admiral Nakhimov after repair and modernization went to sea for factory sea trials.

https://paluba.media/news/198961


https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... H7Btbb.mp4

New Ukrainian Cruise Missile

https://www.twz.com/news-features/new-u ... eaks-cover


HI Sutton graphic.

[Nikel]

Ian Ellis text and map.

U.S. Navy deployments to Southern Command

- 3 destroyers will reportedly arrive off the coast of Venezuela within 24 hours (USS Gravely + USS Jason Dunham left Mayport last week, USS Sampson is near the Panama Canal)
- Littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-St. Paul is already on station and in the vicinity of Curacao
- The Iwo Jima amphibious ready group (ARG) is back in Norfolk to wait out the hurricane

Iwo Jima ARG Back in Norfolk to Avoid Hurricane Erin

https://t.co/8N2cG7KoZD






One more of the countless examples of the "Drone wars", or how the drones have changed warfare. Text description by Status-6

Footage of Ukrainian strikes on a rare Russian 9A83 launcher from the S-300V surface-to-air missile system.

The vehicle was caught in the open on a road while being loaded onto a trailer. The attack resulted in fire and immensely spectacular ammunition detonation of the 9A83's powerful 9M83 SAM missiles.

After the job was finished, a Ukrainian drone operator simply landed on the trailer's cabin to watch the carnage.

Turn off sound if you do not enjoy Ukrainian drone operators musical tastes


https://video-s.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/ ... kXnZB_.mp4



MT Anderson text and pic.

Admiral Nakhimov is carrying out builder's sea trials in the Dvinsky Bay

Caveats apply given the low resolution SAR imagery but she appears to be operating ~50km NW of her berth in Severodvinsk

Video Shows Patriot Missile Exploding Midair During Defense Drill

https://www.newsweek.com/video-shows-ta ... ir-2116787

[Nikel]

The newest Yasen-class nuclear-powered submarine, the Perm, during sea trials.

ç



The Yasen-M class according to HI sutton.

Ru_Pr885M_cutaway.jpg (711.06 KiB) Viewed 344 times

MT anderson text and pic.

GITMO: Logistics Hub for counter narcotics ops

Satellite imagery from August 21, 2025, reveals a noteworthy trio at the piers in Guantanamo Bay: USS Gravely (DDG-107), USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS-21), and the USCGC Diligence (WMEC-616).

This concentration of a Destroyer, a Littoral Combat Ship, and a Coast Guard Cutter strongly indicates that the base is serving as a vital logistics hub for the recently announced counter-narcotics operation in the Southern Caribbean.

The consolidation of these different naval assets at Gitmo is a clear signal. What are your thoughts on the significance of this interoperability and the strategic value of the base for these operations?

Satellite images show Russia's got a new front-line drone launch site that cuts Ukraine's reaction time but puts the base at risk

https://www.businessinsider.com/satelli ... ine-2025-8







Ian Ellis.

A group of Chinese PLA-affiliated civil-military ferries deviated from regular routes in the Yellow Sea and arrived in the Taiwan Strait this week, likely prepositioning for upcoming amphibious exercises.

The Chinese ferries have continued their transit south, moving from Quanzhou to Shanwei. Notably, the ferries are now operating in the PLA Southern Theater Command area of responsibility, after making a few stops near ports in Eastern Theater Command (responsible for Taiwan) AOR.

China Maritime Report No. 35: "Beyond Chinese Ferry Tales: The Rise of Deck Cargo Ships in China's Military Activities" by Mike Dahm.

https://www.andrewerickson.com/wp-conte ... 202302.pdf

[Nikel]

Ian Ellis text and map.

Update on U.S. Navy deployments to SOUTHCOM:

- USNI identified the guided-missile cruiser assigned to the task force, USS Lake Erie (CG 70), now operating in U.S. 4th Fleet
- IWOARG is underway en route to SOUTHCOM: USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) + USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) left Norfolk yesterday; USS San Antonio (LPD 17) departed today
- USS Gravely (DDG 107), USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109), and USS Minneapolis-St. Paul (LCS 21) are on station in the Caribbean; USS Sampson (DDG 102) is still south of Panama
- The fast attack sub remains unidentified, but several have been active off the east coast in August

Reuters reports that Los Angeles-class fast attack sub USS Newport News (SSN 750) will arrive in the region next week.

Fighter pilots take directions from AI in Pentagon’s groundbreaking test

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fighte ... aking-test



Intercepted U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon spying on Russian forces in the Black Sea. Is equipped with the AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor.






TWZ piece

https://www.twz.com/air/navy-p-8-poseid ... cept-video



The Ukrainian air campaign vs russian refineries continues.




https://video-s.twimg.com/amplify_video ... hGDf86.mp4


Map of the refineries, though not updated regarding the attacks.


https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mi ... 462897&z=8



Another outdated map, but useful for the production of each refinery.