A Forecast International blog about the arms trade, geopolitics, defense and security, and military spending.
U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks’ May 6th Replicator announcement signals that the Navy’s effort to fast-track small uncrewed surface vessel (sUSV) acquisitions and fleet integration is well underway. The …
Tomorrow’s Seascape: DoD’s Replicator sUSV Element Begins to Take Shape 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. Navy’s Ship Self-Defense System (SSDS) program will see steady annual funding through the decade of around $150 million to help carry out the vital mission of countering current …
Growing Anti-Ship Cruise Missile Threat Spurs U.S. Navy $1.5 Billion R&D Program Read More
As the war in Ukraine nears the two-year mark, the frontlines have been defined by increasing stagnancy as the Ukrainian counteroffensive collides with Russia’s fortified defensive lines. With progress reduced …
More With Less: Ukrainian Strategy in the Battle of the Black Sea Read More
The U.S. Navy’s Surface Ship Torpedo Defense (SSTD) program provides a detect-to-engage layered torpedo defense capability. The four major systems that comprise the U.S. SSTD are the SLQ-25 NIXIE system, …
Only Thing Sailors Seem to Hate More Than Sharks is Torpedoes Read More
Imagery of Near-Complete Chinese Military Naval Station in Cambodia. Image – Black Sky On July 24, BlackSky Technology, Herndon, Virginia, published a series of satellite images showing the rapid development …
China Extends Its Grasp Read More
The program to develop the Expeditionary Fast Transport (T-EPF) Spearhead class (previously known as the Joint High Speed Vessel, or JHSV) is popular with the U.S. Congress due to the …
T-EPF Spearhead Expeditionary Fast Transport Read More