A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
September and October have been experiencing a flurry of contract awards and contract modification increases for the United States Navy’s Virginia class submarine program. Below are two of the latest …
U.S. Virginia Class Submarine Program Sees Flurry of Contract Activity Read More
A common enough saying amongst sailors that still exists today is that undersea warfare essentially boils down to two things, the predator – submarines – and the prey – targets. …
Undersea Warfare – Predator and Prey Read More
In response to China’s growing aggression in the South Pacific – specifically the South China Sea – the U.S., in May 2023, approved future sales of its Surveillance Towed …
SURTASS & New T-AGOS Class Surveillance Ship Read More
China’s aircraft carrier program was already lagging due to an economic slowdown when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Technical issues with the design of the next group of carriers only exacerbated …
China’s Aircraft Carrier Program to Take Battle Beyond Its Shores Read More
The Project 022 Houbei class fast attack craft-missile (FAC-M) of China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is believed to have completed its known and projected production run with a total …
Chinese Missile Boats Operate on an Attack Swarm Principle Read More
The U.S. Navy’s selection of the Italian version of FREMM for its FFG 62 Constellation class frigate program can only be described as a stunning success for Fincantieri. This decision …
FFG 62 Constellation Class Frigate Program Running Late Out the Gate Read More
The standing of the Freedom class (LCS 1) in the naval world may best be summarized by saying that while it turned into a somewhat satisfactory class of ship, it …
U.S. Littoral Combat Ship Freedom Class Variant: Cheaper to Give Away Than Fix or Even Junk? Read More
The U.S. Department of Defense’s official nomenclature equipment identification system is formally known as the Joint Electronics Type Designation System (JETDS), although it is more commonly called the “AN” designation …
U.S. Military AN Nomenclature Made Easy Read More
The U.S. Navy submarine force structure calls for 66 SSN attack submarines (all classes) with a remote possibility of up to 72 SSNs. The projected Virginia class production run …
Can Virginia Class Submarine Procurement Demands Keep Up with Industry Infrastructure Capability Read More
On October 4, 2023, steel was first cut for Brazil’s future nuclear attack submarine Alvaro Alberto in a ceremony held by the Brazilian Navy and the Brazilian state-owned company Itaguai …
Construction Starts on Brazil’s First Nuclear Submarine Read More