News Story: Chinese naval fleet returns home after drill with Russia & China, Russia conclude joint naval drills

Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo)

Chinese naval fleet returns home after drill with Russia

SANYA, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval flotilla Monday returned to a military port in the city of Sanya in southern China's Hainan Province after a military exercise with the Russian navy in the Baltic Sea.

The formation, comprising missile destroyer "Hefei," missile frigate "Yuncheng" and supply vessel "Luomahu," was the first Chinese fleet to ever sail in the region for a military exercise.

The joint drill, held in July, was the first phase of "Joint Sea 2017," which had similar exercises in the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk this year.

Read the full story at Xinhua

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China, Russia conclude joint naval drills

MOSCOW, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- The last batch of scheduled exercises in the second phase of the 2017 China-Russia Joint Sea Drills was completed in the Okhotsk Sea near Russia's Far East Federal District on Monday.

Starting in the morning, Chinese and Russian commanders simulated joint rescues of ships hijacked by pirates and ships in distress, and later in the afternoon, fleets of the two sides held a farewell ceremony after the completion of both exercises.

During the entire week-long drills, major Chinese and Russian fleets conducted a string of highly challenging joint operations, including air defense, anti-submarine and anti-fleet actions as well as maritime search and rescue.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Japanese gov't reluctant to reveal details of SDF cooperation with US forces

The Japanese government is reluctant to disclose the details of Self-Defense Force (SDF) operations to cooperate with U.S. forces in peacetime, which have been expanding under the security legislation enacted two years ago.

How to fulfill accountability for SDP cooperation with U.S. forces is posing a challenge to the government.

Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera underscored the significance of the security-related laws at a news conference on Sept. 15. "The Japan-U.S. alliance has further strengthened, and U.S. and other concerned countries' confidence in Japan has increased," he said.

Following repeated missile launches by North Korea, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force carried out a mission to guard U.S. Navy vessels in peacetime for the first time in May this year. Moreover, SDF supply vessels have been engaged in a mission to refuel U.S. Aegis destroyers, which are on alert against missile launches, once or twice a month since April.

Read the full story at The Mainichi

News Story: China, Russia start joint naval drills

VLADIVOSTOK, Russia, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Russia started the second stage of their "Joint Sea-2017" military exercises on Monday with the arrival of a Chinese naval fleet in the Russian port city of Vladivostok.

The exercises are scheduled to take place in the Sea of Japan and the Okhotsk Sea, after the first stage was held on July 22-27 in the Baltic Sea.

It is the first time that the venue of the drills has extended to the Okhotsk Sea. Naval forces from both sides will, also for the first time, conduct joint submarine rescue exercises and joint anti-submarine exercises.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Japan refuels US missile defense ships under new security laws

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- The Maritime Self-Defense Force has refueled U.S. ships patrolling to counter North Korean missile launches under new security laws that took effect last year, a Japanese government source said Thursday.

The refueling missions to U.S. Aegis ships sailing in the Sea of Japan were conducted multiple times since April, making them the second instance in which Japanese Self-Defense Forces were known to have performed their expanded roles under the security legislation.

The legislation has loosened the constraints of Japan's war-renouncing postwar Constitution imposed on the activities of the defense forces, setting the stage for U.S. and Japanese troops to work more closely than ever.

Top government spokesman Yoshihide Suga said the SDF personnel are engaging in activities to provide supplies to the U.S. military based on the legislation, but refrained from acknowledging specific operations.

"I cannot comment on the issue because it will unveil the details of the operations of the SDF and the U.S. military," the chief Cabinet secretary said at a regular press conference.

In May, the MSDF engaged in a mission to protect a U.S. Navy vessel off Japan for the first time under the legislation, although Tokyo has also not officially confirmed that operation to avoid impacting U.S. military activities and bilateral relations.

Read the full story at The Mainichi

News Story: Chinese naval fleet departs for joint drill in Russia

Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo)

QINGDAO, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval fleet sailed from a port in Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province Wednesday for Russia's Vladivostok to take part in a scheduled joint military exercise with the Russian navy.

The fleet consists of missile destroyer "Shijiazhuang," missile frigate "Daqing," comprehensive supply ship "Dongpinghu," and submarine rescue ship "Changdao." The fleet is carrying ship-borne helicopters and deep submersible rescue vehicles.

The upcoming drill, which will be held in the Sea of Japan and Okhotsk, is the second phase of an annual joint naval drill between the two countries.

The first stage was held from July 22 to 27 in the Baltic Sea.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Task Group deployment to strengthen regional military cooperation

An Australian Defence Force (ADF) Joint Task Group, Indo-Pacific Endeavour 2017, departed Sydney today to participate in a series of key military exercises throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Running from 4 September to 26 November, Indo-Pacific Endeavour will focus on enhancing military cooperation with some of Australia’s key regional partners including Brunei, Cambodia, the Federated States of Micronesia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, and Timor-Leste.

More than 1200 ADF personnel will participate in the deployment, which is being led by Canberra-class amphibious assault ship HMAS Adelaide.

HMAS Adelaide will be accompanied at various stages of the deployment by HMAS Melbourne, HMAS Darwin, HMAS Toowoomba, HMAS Parramatta, and HMAS Sirius, making this the biggest coordinated task group deployment since the early 1980s.

Minister Payne said the Indo-Pacific Endeavour deployment, which has been in planning for over 12 months, was part of ongoing efforts to enhance and develop strong positive relations with regional militaries through both dialogue and practical activities.

USA: US, Singapore navies enhance maritime partnership with training in Guam

From Lt. Clyde Shavers, CTF 73-DESRON 7 Public Affairs

USS Benfold (DDG 65) and RSS Endurance (LST 207) steam in formation during exercise Pacific Griffin 2017, Aug. 28. (U.S. Navy/MC1 Benjamin A. Lewis) >>

GUAM - The U.S. Navy and Republic of Singapore navies concluded Exercise Pacific Griffin 2017 at U.S. Naval Base Guam, Sept 2.

Pacific Griffin 17 served as this year’s U.S.-Singapore annual maritime exercise and ran from Aug. 19 through Sept. 2 in waters near Guam. The exercise was coordinated months in advance by planners from both navies.

Pacific Griffin highlights the longstanding maritime partnership between the U.S. and the Republic of Singapore navies through 23 years of annual bilateral exercises.

“The U.S. Navy deeply values our close partnership with the Republic of Singapore Navy,” said Capt. Lex Walker, commander of Destroyer Squadron 7. “Pacific Griffin 2017 provided a unique opportunity for both navies to interact and engage in a broader and more complex range of maritime scenarios and operations.”

News Story: Chinese naval fleet stages live-fire drill in Indian Ocean

Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo)

ABOARD CHANGCHUN, Aug. 25 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval formation consisting of the destroyer Changchun, guided-missile frigate Jingzhou and supply vessel Chaohu conducted a live-fire drill in the waters of the western Indian Ocean, military sources said Friday.

The fleet carried out strikes against "enemy" surface ships and completed transverse replenishment of fuel and drinking water during an exercise that lasted for several days.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Guam - Small But Important Piece of US Territory in Pacific

North Korea's threat against Guam spotlights a western Pacific U.S. territory that looms large as a military asset, despite being smaller than Singapore.

A former Spanish colony, Guam has been in American hands since the end of the nineteenth century. It is one of 17 non-self-governing territories of the United States.

Guam serves as a major military base for the United States, with U.S. Air Force and Navy installations occupying some 29 percent of the island's total land area. It is also a major hub for submarine communications cables between the western United States, Hawaii, Australia, and Asia.

Guam, with an area of only 544 square kilometers, hosts a military presence of nearly 7,000 military personnel and it is expected to house thousands more in the near future, as the United States moves military assets and personnel currently housed on the Japanese island of Okinawa.

News Report: China’s First Home-Grown Aircraft Carrier May Deploy Ahead of Schedule

Chinese military analysts say that advances and progress with the power generators for its Type 001A aircraft carrier place the massive ship ahead of schedule prior to its first deployment.

Type 001A could join the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLA-N) by the end of 2018 or perhaps 2019, according to the South China Morning Post’s report on Monday. The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies previously estimated the carrier wouldn’t join the rest of the navy until 2020.

Before the Type 001A joins the active duty fleet, "we also need to a do a variety of systematic tests [at sea], including matching tests of carrier-based aircraft, weapons systems, and others," the Type 001A’s project manager told SCMP.

The carrier will rely primarily on steam generators to power it over long distances. Construction on the carrier was finished in April, when it made its first launch into the open sea, and took just five years and three months to complete. Rebuilding the Soviet-made Liaoning (originally the Kuznetsov-class carrier Varyag), PLA-N’s only other carrier, is believed to have given the Chinese important lessons in building the massive ships, which are vital for long-range maritime expeditionary capabilities.

News Report: China Adds Monster Supply Ship to Burgeoning Fleet

The fast-growing Chinese Navy commissioned its largest resupply vessel in history into service this week.

Observers noted the vessel in Zhanjiang on Monday wearing the call number 965 — evidence that it has entered service, the South China Morning Post reports. It is twice as large as previous supply vessel variants.

Larger ships like the Type 901 comprise a "core" factor in carrier strike groups, Rear Admiral Yin Zhuo told SCMP. Type 901 will carry oil, weapons and basic living necessities to support other ships in the People’s Liberation Army Navy. IHS Jane’s notes that hoses on the ship’s sides could be used to refuel aircraft carriers.

China’s Liaoning aircraft carrier finally came online last year and the Type 001, a Chinese-made aircraft carrier, was completed in April of this year. Plans are being drafted for a domestically-produced next-generation carrier as well. 

USA: USNS Montford Point concludes skin-to-skin operations in Saipan

By MC1 Micah Blechner, CTF 73 Public Affairs

USNS Red Cloud (T-AKR 313), left, and USNS Montford Point (ESD 1) conduct “skin-to-skin” operations, July 11. (U.S. Navy photo) >>

SAIPAN - The expeditionary transfer dock USNS Montford Point (T-ESD 1) wrapped up a series of “skin-to-skin” operations in the vicinity of Saipan, July 22.

The operations took place over the course of 17 days and included complex maneuvering and positioning drills with ships from Maritime Prepositioning Squadron (MPSRON) 3.

“Skin-to-skin operations are game-changers when it comes to supporting the Marine Corps and other expeditionary forces with greater flexibility at sea,” said Mr. Paul Grgas, deputy director of operations for the Military Sealift Command Far East. “Expeditionary transfer docks like Montford Point can operate off shore and augment ship to shore movements during amphibious operations.”

News Story: China, Russia conduct simulation exercise for joint naval drills

Chinese Warships underway (File Photo)

KALININGRAD, Russia, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and Russian commanders conducted a simulation exercise here on Sunday for the ongoing joint military drills code-named "Joint Sea 2017" in the Baltic Sea.

In the hours-long exercise, two tactical assault groups, consisting of mixed warships from the Chinese and Russian fleets, simulated details of the drills on a map, including ship-to-sea firing by secondary cannons, air defense, joint landing and inspection, maritime search and rescue, underway replenishment and other subjects.

"The simulation exercise was conducted for two purposes, namely, making commanders at all levels more familiar with the procedures and subjects of the drills, as well as enhancing coordination and tacit understanding between commanders of the two countries," said Wang Xiaoyong, deputy captain of a destroyer detachment of the Chinese Navy.

During the drills, the participating air forces and sea forces will be deployed through unified guidance by a joint directing center, a joint headquarter and a tactical command post, which are formed by commanders from both countries.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Story: Chinese naval fleet arrives in Russia for joint drill

Chinese Navy Warships (File Photo)

KALININGRAD, Russia, July 21 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese naval fleet reached Russia's Baltic city of Kaliningrad Friday, ready for a joint drill with Russia scheduled in the Baltic Sea in late July.

The Chinese fleet consists of one destroyer, one frigate, one supply ship, ship-borne helicopters and marines. The Russian side includes one frigate, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and marines.

The two sides plan to conduct air-defense, maritime search and rescue, underway replenishment and other exercises.

Read the full story at Xinhua

News Report: Malabar Drills - Who's Trying to Pit India Against China, 'Add Fuel to the Fire'?

US Navy Cmdr. Rear Adm. William Byrne has said that the ongoing war games between the navies of the US, Japan and India, known as Malabar 2017, are intended as a "strategic message to China." Commenting on the announcement, Russian military analyst Alexei Leonkov told Sputnik Radio that this interpretation is an attempt to pit India against China.

On July 10, the US, India and Japan started trilateral two-phase war games, known as Malabar 2017, hosted by the Indian Navy.

The exercises are being held in Chennai and the waters of the Bay of Bengal.

According to the Indian media, the US Navy is fielding USS Nimitz, the world’s largest aircraft carrier. The Indian Navy’s solitary aircraft carrier, the INS Vikramaditya, and Japan’s Izumo-class helicopter carrier are also among the 20-odd warships taking part in the exercise.

A US guided-missile cruiser, the USS Princeton, is also participating, as well as the guided-missile destroyers USS Howard, USS Shoup, and USS Kidd. The US arsenal includes a P-8A Poseidon submarine hunter plane and a Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine; and the Japanese destroyer JS Sazanami will take part.

News Story: Chinese naval fleet returns from escort mission

Chinese Navy Warships underway (File Photo)

ZHANJIANG, Guangdong, July 13 (Xinhua) -- After a 208-day sail, covering nearly 120,000 nautical miles, a Chinese fleet wrapped up its escort mission Wednesday morning.

Anchoring at a military port in Zhanjiang, southern China's Guangdong Province, the 25th convey fleet was sent by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, the PLA Daily reported Thursday.

The fleet is composed of two missile frigates, a supply ship, two ship-borne helicopters, dozens of special combat soldiers and more than 700 seamen and officers.

Read the full story at Xinhua

India: Exercise Malabar Commences in Bay of Bengal - North Indian Ocean

Naval co-operation between India, US and Japan epitomises the strong and resilient relationship between the three democracies. The MALABAR series of exercises, initiated in 1992 between the Indian and US Navies, have steadily grown in scope, complexity and participation into a multifaceted exercise with the participation of Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). 

The 21st edition of the exercise, MALABAR-17 will be conducted in the Bay of Bengal from 10 to 17 July 2017. The primary aim of this exercise is to increase interoperability amongst the three navies as well as develop common understanding and procedures for maritime security operations. The scope of MALABAR-17 includes wide-ranging professional interactions during the Harbour Phase at Chennai from 10 to 13 July 2017 and a diverse range of operational activities at sea during the Sea Phase from 14 to 17 July 17. The thrust of exercises at sea this year would be on Aircraft Carrier operations, Air Defence, Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Surface Warfare, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), Search and Rescue, Joint Manoeuvres and Tactical procedures. In addition, officials from the three countries will be flown onboard the ships at sea on 15 July 2017.

News Story: China Will Join RIMPAC Exercises

China will participate in next year's Pacific Rim naval exercises (RIMPAC). State news agency Xinhua reports that President Xi Jinping made the announcement on Saturday following his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Hamburg.

The 26 nations that participated in RIMPAC 2016 were invited to return for 2018, including China, despite on-going tensions in the South China Sea. 

This will be the third time that China has participated in the exercises. Five PLA Navy ships participated in the 2016 exercises: a destroyer, a frigate, a submarine rescue ship, a supply ship and a hospital ship. 

Russia has not been invited back since RIMPAC 2012, although an intelligence ship and a destroyer shadowed RIMPAC participants in 2014 and 2016. 

Read the full story at MarEx

News Report: China Deploys Submarine, Spy Ship in Indian Ocean Ahead of Major Naval Exercise

A week before the trilateral naval exercise between India, the US and Japan begins in the Indian Ocean, China sent its Yuan class conventional diesel-electric submarine in the Indian Ocean with submarine support vessel Chongmingdao and intelligence-gathering ship Haiwingxing.

New Delhi (Sputnik) — Naval officials in Delhi downplay this deployment but 13 Chinese naval ships, tracked over the last two months by Indian naval satellite GSAT-7 and long-range maritime patrol aircraft like P-8I, must raise alarm bells for Indian authorities when both the nations have been engaged in a war of words and tensions on the eastern border. The India-US-Japan Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal is scheduled to begin next week.

"Usually, Chinese submarines have a three-month long deployment in the Indian Ocean. This is routine. The submarine's presence has nothing to do with the present situation and it has been present in the Indian Ocean for a while now," an Indian Navy official told IANS.

USA: USNS Sacagawea arrives in New Caledonia for Koa Moana 2017

By MC3 Madailein Abbott

USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) sits anchored off shore of Kiribati during the most recent Koa Moana, June 19. (U.S. Navy/MC3 Madailein Abbott) >>

NOUMEA, New Caledonia -Military Sealift Command’s (MSC) USNS Sacagawea (T-AKE 2) arrived in New Caledonia June 25 in support of Koa Moana 17 (Ocean Warrior).

The Koa Moana exercise series seeks to enhance senior military leader engagements between allied and partner nations with a collective interest in military-to-military relations and to discuss key aspects of military operations, capability development, and interoperability.

From June-September 2017 U.S. Marines from 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine regiment, 1st Marine Division, stationed in Twentynine Palms, Calif. and Marines from Combat Logistics Battalion 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, from Marine Corps Base Hawaii have embarked aboard the USNS Sacagawea to participate in Koa Moana 17 events in Kiribati, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Timor Leste, Tonga, and Vanuatu. Working alongside these partner nations, the Marines also work alongside the crew of the USNS Sacagawea, attending shipboard training, drills, and sharing workload duties during their time onboard.