Alex Luck

Several aspects on the Iranian frigate sinking for other, future conduct of operations to wonder about.

The Iranian Navy, which for years paraded warships in dog & pony shows seeking prestige & respect, finally meeting someone taking them at their word shouldnt be among them.

US Forces Sink Iran's Jamaran-Class Corvette, CENTCOM Confirms - Naval News US Central Command announced on March 1, 2026, that American forces struck and sank an Iranian Navy Jamaran-class corvette at a pier in Chah Bahar on the Gulf.

Probably safe to guess this wont be the only combatant loss for the Iranian Navy (no, the "carrier" doesnt count).
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Anyway, these are just random thoughts off the top of my head. Undoubtedly over the next few years we will get some significant additional insights into PLAN submarine development and posture. Some of which will IMO dramatically impact assessments for other navies. /end

There are of course some interesting UUV-developments China appears to be actively evaluating. Unfortunately, the most interesting ones rarely appear in imagery of reasonable quality. China likely developed the largest UUV designs worldwide. But future posture remains tbc.

I am unsurprised at the relative paucity in UUV revelations. The comments generally support my impression that while PLAN undoubtedly pursues UUVs like everyone else, it is not a priority compared to spending on "legacy" designs such as SSN, SSGN and other crewed innovations.

The Zhou-type remains a big mystery for now, but the comments for intended production of at least three Zhous over the next few years is notable. It would explain why Type 039C production appears to have slowed or stopped, while Wuchang completes the Pakistan-contract.

This is because the curious new "trimaran submersible" appears to have originated at Huangpu, suggesting some level of submarine production expertise. Note that Huangpu is a historical producer of submarines as well, having participated in Type 033 production.

More recently JN appears to have halted submarine production, but notably producing at least one experimental design (the "sailless submarine"), which remains at the yard.

Does this report indicate resumption of production? Perhaps. The other candidate could be Huangpu.

As for questions on what the three yards are: Wuchang and Bohai are obvious. The third yard historically for submarine production has been Jiangnan, which has contributed output from the earliest days (Type 033, 035, Type 039, and some of the Type 039A/B).

Interesting testimony on PLAN submarine development. Note comments on expansion of submarine production at three yards. Also on the mysterious Zhou-type produced by Wuchang in 2024, and of course PLAN rebalancing towards a significant nuclear powered submarine force.
www.uscc.gov/sites/defaul...

I think both the Type 903 and Type 901 are quite good looking oilers, yes.

Chinese Navy Inducts More Type 903 Fleet Replenishment Ships The Chinese Navy has commissioned the first two new Type 903 series replenishment ships, out of renewed production of at least five vessels.

The Chinese Navy has taken into service two additional Type 903-series fleet replenishment oilers 🇨🇳
By @alxluck.bsky.social
www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Chinese Navy Inducts More Type 903 Fleet Replenishment Ships The Chinese Navy has commissioned the first two new Type 903 series replenishment ships, out of renewed production of at least five vessels.

I've written a short piece on recent PLAN inductions of two new Type 903-series replenishment oilers, for @navalnews.com. Auxiliaries remain a somewhat underappreciated, but critical naval capability. Any changes in this respect are always consequential.

www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Mixed weather with some solid downpour in between. Still managed to tick three mountains for this Sunday's ride.

How much it will cost Jakarta to generate a useful capability with this vessel is anyone's guess, considering the carrier is 40 yrs old and end of life by original service requirements. I think its safe to say the ship wont operate as an aircraft carrier, though.

Italy moves to transfer Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia, looking to new programmes - Naval News The Italian Government has formalized a plan to transfer the decommissioned Garibaldi aircraft carrier to Indonesia

Tidy reporting on the free transfer of ex Italian Navy carrier Garibaldi to Indonesia under cooperation agreement. Total cost covered by Italy is €54.02 million, which ensures basic functionality of ship for transfer. Scrapping would have cost >€18 mln.

www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

EPC, more recently called MMPC, was a poster child for European multinational cooperation in the naval industrial space. How the French withdrawal impacts the program, beyond pledges and promises, remains to be seen.

Either way, I guess its not always Germany who walks away. 😉

Le retrait de la France du projet de corvette européenne se précise après l’alliance entre Fincantieri et Navantia - Zone Militaire Lancé à l’initiative de l’Italie dans le cadre de la Coopération structurée permanente , le projet de corvette européenne de patrouille était censé

France pulls out of the European Patrol Corvette project (EPC), originally intended to provide replacements for Marine Nationale Floreal-class corvettes by ca 2030. EPC was set up as a PESCO-funded collaboration primarily between France, Italy and Spain.
www.opex360.com/2026/02/26/l...

Two PLAN Type 054AG of the most recent production batch conducting live fire exercises using their new 100 mm H/PJ-87 mod main gun. Via 撒手锏_/Wb.

Nice image of Type 004 under construction at Dalian in the article. Compare with Fujian (second image) at roughly comparable state of assembly back in the day at Jiangnan.
www.newsweek.com/chinas-first...

Insight: How China is masking drone flights in potential Taiwan rehearsal A large Chinese military drone has conducted regular flights over the South China Sea in recent months while transmitting false transponder signals that made it appear to be other aircraft, including ...

"...while the masking is unlikely to fully deceive air traffic controllers or military-grade radars, it could sow time-wasting confusion in a conflict, conceal sensitive surveillance activity or be used for propaganda or misinformation..."
www.reuters.com/world/china/...

I dare say what these much touted efforts mostly achieve is "grow local (cottage) industry", while observable performance and capability for defence remain very much in doubt.
www.beehive.govt.nz/release/kiwi...

Quoting @rupprechtdeino.bsky.social here. No series production is known to have occurred.

Marine hat ersten BlueWhale übernommen Der Inspekteur der Marine, Vizeadmiral Jan Christian Kaack, hat heute in Eckernförde das erste unbemannte Unterwasserfahrzeug des Typs BlueWhale übernommen.

German Navy announces official handover of first IAI BlueWhale UUV and the establishment of its "hybrid" (crewed/uncrewed) fleet concept. No further details on how many additional UUV will be acquired over what timeframe.

www.hartpunkt.de/marine-hat-e...

Chinese Navy Progresses Development Of New Large Calibre Gun New imagery shows installation of a previously unidentified large calibre naval gun onboard a PLAN test ship in Liaonan, Lianoning Province.

My observations on a new Chinese large naval gun revealed in imagery last week. Via @navalnews.com:

www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Australian government announces spending of A$ 310 mln on the purchase of long lead items for the future "AUKUS" SSN fleet. In particular this money will purchase reactor components for the first two Australian SSN to be build in cooperation with the UK.
www.minister.defence.gov.au/media-releas...

Ask the German Navy how they intend to crew all these fictional frigates "Kurs Marine" wants to buy. Or Luftwaffe & Heer, how the units serving various suddenly en vogue again air defence roles are to be stood up.

You'll get lots of long faces and something about Pflichtdienst.

This paragraph is very funny though if you know a thing or two about the history of the French Foreign Legion. 😉

Only an army — and true integration — will solve Europe’s defence problem Atlanticists fear this would hasten America’s departure from the continent, but what is the alternative?

I think this outline, like most pieces digesting repercussions from renewed European defence spending, misses the forest for the trees.

Regardless of cash not a single European country found a solution to severe readiness issues caused by a dramatic recruitment crisis.
www.ft.com/content/2445...

Bundeswehr hat die ersten fünf Patria-Radpanzer erhalten Der Geschäftsführer von Patria Deutschland, Antii Huuskonen, hat bereits Anfang der Woche die ersten fünf Vorserienfahrzeuge des 6x6-Patria-Radpanzers an die

Bundeswehr received five Patria CAVS 6x6 APC in pre-production config earlier last week. Germany in 2025 ordered an initial 349 vehicles, with plans for 876 CAVS based on contracts signed. CAVS will be produced in Germany once entering series production.
www.hartpunkt.de/bundeswehr-h...