COLUMN | A brave new world for aircraft carriers? [Naval Gazing]

The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford steams the Atlantic Ocean during a simulated straits transit with the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group (GRFCSG), October 9, 2022.

Many maritime pundits these days express the view that aircraft carriers are doomed. The ships are too large, too vulnerable, and increasingly irrelevant, they say. Others, however, opine that with their long range, sustainable high speed, endurance, hitting power, and surveillance and command and...

https://www.bairdmaritime.com/security/naval/naval-ships/column-a-brave-new-world-for-aircraft-carriers-naval-gazing/

Carrier USS Ronald Reagan Back in the South China Sea, Details of Talisman Sabre Exercise Emerge

Sailors assigned to the flight deck crash and salvage team observe flight operations on the flight deck of USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76), in the South China Sea on July 1, 2023. US Navy Photo

The Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group is back in the South China Sea after wrapping a port visit to Vietnam on Friday. Meanwhile, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force detailed their participation in the Australian-led multinational exercise Talisman Sabre 2023 held in...

https://news.usni.org/2023/07/04/carrier-uss-ronald-reagan-back-in-the-south-china-sea-details-of-talisman-sabre-exercise-emerge

Japan, Australia Drill Together in South China Sea for Trident Exercise

Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Anzac (FFH150) and Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) helicopter destroyer JS Izumo sail together in the South China Sea as part of the Trident 23 exercise. JMSDF Photo

Australian and Japanese forces conducted exercise Trident 2023 over the weekend in the South China Sea. 

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force participated in the exercise as part of its Indo-Pacific Deployment 2023. The exercise followed a port visit in Vietnam.

JMSDF helicopter destroyer...

Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group Now in East China Sea, PLA Drones Operating Near Japan

Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Philippine Sea. JSDF Photo

Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy Liaoning Carrier Strike Group (CSG) is operating in the East China Sea following two weeks in the Philippine Sea. The CSG is now likely heading home after its brief Western Pacific patrol. Meanwhile, Chinese Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been transiting the Miyako Strait from the East China Sea into the Pacific and returning the same way on Sunday and Monday, according to the Japanese...

https://news.usni.org/2023/01/02/chinese-liaoning-carrier-strike-group-now-in-east-china-sea-pla-drones-operating-near-japan

Russian, Chinese Naval Exercise Wraps in East China Sea

A People’s Liberation Army Navy helicopter takes off from Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning in the Philippine Sea. JSDF Photo

The Russian Navy and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) wrapped up their Joint Sea 2022 exercise in the East China Sea on Tuesday. The Russian surface action group transited northeast through the Tsushima Strait while the PLAN Liaoning Carrier Strike Group (CSG) continued its deployment to the Philippine Sea.

On Tuesday, a Russian cruiser, destroyer and two corvettes...

https://news.usni.org/2022/12/28/russian-chinese-naval-exercise-wraps-in-east-china-sea

Russian, Chinese Warships Hold Drill in East China Sea, Chinese Carrier Strike Group Steams in Philippine Sea

The Russian Navy and the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) are exercising in the East China Sea while the PLAN Liaoning Carrier Strike Group continues operating in the Philippine Sea.

On Wednesday, the Joint Staff Office of Japan’s Ministry of Defense said on a Russian Navy cruiser, destroyer and two corvettes were sighted Tuesday, sailing southwest in an area 50 miles northeast of Tsushima. The group included cruiser RFS Varyag (011), destroyer RFS Marshal Shaposhnikov (543) and corvettes...

https://news.usni.org/2022/12/23/russian-chinese-warships-hold-drill-in-east-china-sea-chinese-carrier-strike-group-steams-in-philippine-sea

Chinese Liaoning Carrier Strike Group Now Operating in the Philippine Sea

People’s Liberation Army Navy carrier Liaoning and its strike group are underway near the Philippine Sea. JSDF Photo

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Liaoning Carrier Strike Group is now operating in the Philippine Sea, according to Japan’s Ministry of Defense.

Meanwhile, a PLAN survey ship entered Japan’s territorial waters on Monday and two Chinese H-6 bombers flew in and out of the Pacific Ocean on Monday afternoon, according to news releases from the Joint Staff Office (JSO) in the...

https://news.usni.org/2022/12/19/chinese-liaoning-carrier-strike-group-now-operating-in-the-philippine-sea

Japanese Warships Return Home Following First Phase of Indo-Pacific Deployment

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Oyashio-class submarine with JMSDF destroyer JS Takanami (DD-110), U.S. Navy destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76), Royal Canadian Navy frigate HMCS Winnipeg (FFH338) and JMSDF destroyer helicopter carrier JS Izumo (DDH-183) sail in formation in the South China Sea during exercise Noble Raven 22-2. Japan Maritime Self Defense Force Photo

Japan Maritime Self Defense Force’s (JMSDF) first surface unit of its Indo-Pacific Deployment 2022 (IPD22) — helicopter carrier JS Izu...

https://news.usni.org/2022/10/06/japanese-warships-return-home-following-first-phase-of-indo-pacific-deployment

Japan, Canada Wrap Western Pacific Drills with U.S., USS Tripoli Underway in South China Sea

Noble Raven – JMSDF helicopter destroyer JS Izumo (DDH-183) and destroyer JS Takanami (DD-110), RCN frigate HMCS Vancouver (FFH331) destroyer USS Higgins (DDG-76) and replenishment ship USNS Rappahannock (T-AO-204) conduct a joint sail during exercise Noble Raven.

Japan, Canada and the United States wrapped up Noble Raven 22 this week, an exercise that took place in the waters from Guam to the South China Sea, according to a Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force news release.

The exercise, which...

https://news.usni.org/2022/09/09/japan-canada-wrap-western-pacific-drills-with-u-s-uss-tripoli-underway-in-south-china-sea

Japan’s New Defense Minister Looking to Improve Country’s Defense Posture Amid Chinese Aggression

Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter carrier JS Izumo (DDH 183) and U.S. Navy Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD-2) sail in formation during Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2022, July 28. US Navy Photo

As Japan’s new defense chief, Yasukazu Hamada plans to improve Japan’s defense posture and capabilities, he said Wednesday.

The Chinese military’s recent activities, combined with their lack of transparency regarding national defense policies and military capabilities, have...

https://news.usni.org/2022/08/12/japans-new-defense-minister-looking-to-improve-countrys-defense-posture-amid-chinese-aggression