Special Operations Forces
U.K. Royal Marines Want to Acquire Autonomous Hybrid Surface, Subsurface Stealth Vessel
Concept illustration for a shipping container-sized underwater H I Sutton Illustration
Britain’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) has issued a pre-procurement notice for a unique type of vessel to help the Royal Marine Commandos. The document outlines an ‘uncrewed surface and subsurface vessel’ (USSV). The vessel must be multi-payload, have a low signature, and long endurance, according to the notice.
The basic concept has the characteristics of an uncrewed submersible boat, one that can operate on the...
Petraeus Questions U.S. Ability to Counter Terrorism After Afghanistan’s Fall
A Chinook helicopter transports equipment around Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. US Army photo by Sgt. James Dansie.
The “harsh reality” of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban raises question on how closely Washington can keep an eye on Islamic extremism, David Petraeus, a former top commander in the Middle East and a former CIA director, said on Monday.
“You seldom can go wrong by preparing for the worst,” the retired Army general said Monday. “It’s going to take a fleet of aerial tankers to...
Limited Coordination Between U.S., NATO Allies in Getting Afghanistan Evacuees to Airport
Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) search luggage during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan on Aug. 18, 2021. US Marine Corps Photo
Troops from NATO member states, including the U.S., U.K. and France, are all working in Kabul to remove citizens and Afghans eligible for resettlement out of the country. But there isn’t a coordinated effort between the allies to communicate with the Taliban or ensure people get to the Hamid Karzai...
Trailblazing Admiral, Hall of Fame Female Diver Retires After Conquering ‘Fear of the Sea’
Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar and MCPON Russell Smith take a selfie following Bolivar’s retirement ceremony. US Navy Photo
NAVAL BASE CORONADO, Calif., — One of the first female divers in the Navy and one of the first Filipino-Americans to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy retired this weekend after more than 30 years in the service.
For most of her 36-year career, Rear Adm. Bette Bolivar has been a rarity in the Navy: A seasoned, female diver whose path into the Navy followed her father’s but which...
First Female Navy Special Operations Sailor Graduates from Training
U.S. Navy Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen (SWCC) approach the HS Kanaris during Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) training in Souda Bay, Greece in early 2021. US Navy Photo
The first female member of the Navy’s special operations forces graduated from training on Thursday, the service said.
Included in the 17 graduates of Crewman Qualification Training (CQT) Class 115 is the first female Special Warfare Combatant-craft Crewmen (SWCC), according to Naval Special Warfare Command.
Less...
https://news.usni.org/2021/07/15/first-female-navy-special-operations-sailor-graduates-from-training
French Defense Minister: France Stepping Up Security Spending, Expanding Operations Abroad
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosts a meeting with French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly to the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., July 9, 2021. DoD Photo
France’s message to Europe on how to deter aggressive behavior from great powers and counter terrorists requires investment in security and operating abroad, the French defense minister said on Friday.
“Europeans are doing more” to pay for their own security. Canada and the Europeans have “raised defense budgets by 24 percent since...
AFRICOM: U.S. Forces ‘Commuting to Work’ to Curb Rising Terror Threat in Somalia After Pullout
U.S. forces host a range day with the Danab Brigade in Somalia, May 9, 2021. US Air Force Photo
After leaving Somalia in December, U.S. forces are “commuting to work” from other parts of Africa and Europe to combat the rising terrorist threat in Somalia and across the region.
Army Gen. Stephen Townsend added, “there’s really no denying” that the Trump administration’s sudden decision in December to pull most U.S. forces out of Somalia raised the level of risk across the Horn of Africa. Al Shabab,...
Naval Special Warfare in a ‘Race for Relevancy’ as Mission Shifts to High-end Conflict
SEAL candidates participate in “surf immersion” during Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training at Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Center in Coronado, Calif., May 4, 2020. US Navy Photo
The integration of Navy SEALs and special boat teams into carrier strike group and amphibious ready group training exercises reflects naval special warfare’s renewed commitment to support the fleet and joint force and reinforce its own roots as naval commandos, said the top Navy SEAL on Tuesday.
The change in...
Iranian Warship Thought to be Headed to Venezuela Left Port with 7 High-Speed Missile Boats Aboard
USNI News Photo Illustration. Satellite image ©2021 Maxar Technologies used with permission
An Iranian Navy ship thought to be bound for Venezuela left its port in late April with seven high-speed missile-attack craft strapped to its deck, USNI News has learned.
According to imagery provided to USNI News by Maxar, the Iranian Navy’s new forward-basing ship, IRINS Makran, was seen on April 28 after leaving its homeport with seven attack boats aboard.
Last week, citing three U.S. officials, Politico