• WOULD SSN DRONE HELP OR HINDER?
• QUEST TO SOLVE MYSTERY OF JETLINER MH370
• ARE INDEPENDENT AIR FORCES OBSOLETE?
• HALF A CENTURY FOR VETERAN CRUISERS
• NUSHIP MAKES A HISTORIC VOYAGE
• FIGHTING SEA CRIMINALITY
• A LAST LAMENT ON THE SOLENT

WOULD SSN DRONE HELP OR HINDER?

We report on how future submariners may be adding wings to their dolphins. Submarine-launched drones show the potential to at long last give hunter-killer submarines eyes beyond the horizon and provide a force multiplier, or do they?

Photo: US Navy.

QUEST TO SOLVE MYSTERY OF JETLINER MH370

The story of how the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 (MH370) drew in multiple navies from Asia-Pacific and beyond in a bid to clear up the mystery. Our correspondent suggests the answer will ultimately only be provided via the efforts of maritime forces.

Photo: Royal Australian Navy.

ARE INDEPENDENT AIR FORCES OBSOLETE?

A debate is gaining momentum on both sides of the Atlantic about the relevance, or otherwise, of independent air forces in an era of economic austerity and rising threats. Our commentary compares and contrasts the operational record and current day capabilities of the Royal Air Force with the UK’s other air forces, belonging to the Navy and the Army.

Photo: USMC.

HALF A CENTURY FOR VETERAN CRUISERS

Already long-serving major surface warships of the US Navy are to have their lives extended into the 2040s, meaning that some of them will clock up more than half a century since their construction.

Photo: US Navy.

NUSHIP MAKES A HISTORIC VOYAGE

History was made when the largest ever vessel constructed for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) sailed into Sydney for a visit to Fleet Base East. NUSHIP Canberra, a 28,000 tonnes Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD), is currently going through the first phase of sea trials ahead of being commissioned into the RAN later this year.

Photo: Royal Australian Navy.

FIGHTING SEA CRIMINALITY

While great progress has been made in suppressing hijackings at sea off east Africa, on the continent’s other coast the problem still proliferates. Our correspondent reports that Western powers are becoming increasingly involved off west Africa due to the growing importance of the region’s oil and gas production.

Photo: US Navy.

A LAST LAMENT ON THE SOLENT

It was recently announced that warship construction is to end at Portsmouth, which is England’s last such yard, with BAE Systems deciding it will concentrate on Scottish facilities for future projects. We begin a history of Solent shipbuilding in order to gain a perspective of the loss to Britain represented by the discarding of centuries old skills.

Photo: Jonathan Eastland