Submarine & Other Matters

In response to some offline requests for another poem, here is:

THOSE COVID DAYS OLD FRIEND

First is the standard, pre-COVID version, sung by Bonnie Tyler http://youtu.be/gnjusvjK5Qk

and here is my version:

Yesterday I wiled away the hours
Dreams of young fresh lazy days with you
Once we had our sunny lives in Dapto
Then red smoky days left us feeling blue

These lonely days my friend
I hope they quickly end
No song and dance
Forever and a day
Can't live the life we choose
Survive on chips and booze
These lonely days, oh squalid COVID days

La la la la la la ...

Then the dizzy years went rushing by us
We lost our toned bodies on the way
And when at last I see you at the Bowlo
You technicolour yawn and run away

These lonely days my friend
I hope they quickly end
No song and dance
Forever and a day
So tragicly like yobs
Dentures in our gobs
These lonely days, oh misspent COVID days

La la la la la la

Just tonight I stood before the mirror
Nothing fits the way it used to be
In the glass I saw my fat reflection
The product of too much Easter choclatee

These lonely days my friend
I hope they quickly end
No song and dance
Forever and a day
Can't live the life we choose
Orthotics in our shoes
Those lonely days, oh bl--dy COVID days

La la la la la la

To the door I hobbled in my slippers
I heard your voice familiar through the years
Through the grill I smell the reek of kippers
And now I see you Botoxed to the ears

These lonely days my friend
I hope they quickly end
No song and dance
Forever and a day
Can't live the life we choose
Survive on chips and booze
These lonely days, oh effing COVID days

Cry cry cry cry cry cry

Pete

(Some words courtesy http://www.amiright.com/parody/60s/maryhopkins3.shtml )

Here's a very relevant article from Israel Defense, April 9, 2020, https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/42537

"Australia Says it is Striking Back Against Foreign Cyber Adversaries

The country is reported to have just begun an offensive cyber campaign targeting hackers who are attempting to take advantage of the CORONAVIRUS outbreak.

Defense Minister Reynolds says that the criminals are not beyond reach of the authorities.

Australia's Department of Defense announced April 7 that the country is engaged in an cyber operation against criminals attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press release, Defense Minister Linda Reynolds was quoted as saying the country's cyber intelligence agency is using its offensive capabilities to disrupt foreign criminals who have carried out a range of malicious activities against citizens and businesses during the coronavirus crisis.

"Cyber criminals that are using the cover of cyberspace and international borders to target Australians are not beyond our reach," the minister said. "We are hitting back through the Australian Signals Directorate, who have already successfully disrupted activities from foreign criminals by disabling their infrastructure and blocking their access to stolen information."

"Some of these cybercriminals have even posed as health officials in an attempt to exploit vulnerable Australians, by infecting their computers with malware and stealing their private information," she added.

The directorate's Australian Cyber Security Centre is working with the country's telecommunications providers to block access to malicious websites, and is working with Microsoft and Google to have those sites flagged as malicious, according to the defense department.

Rachel Noble, director-general of the directorate, said "Close cooperation with telecommunications and IT companies is vital in providing increased protective barriers for Australians from these heartless cyber criminals."

"Our offensive cyber campaign has only just begun and we will continue to strike back at these cyber criminals operating offshore as they attempt to steal money and data from Australians," Noble said."

Further to "Australia Striking Back Against COVID Exploiting Cyber Adversaries"

of April 12, 2020.

I looked at India's NSA the NTRO's website https://ntro.gov.in/ntroWeb/loadPublicationsHome.do

and came upon its information security April 2020 newsletter
https://nciipc.gov.in/documents/NCIIPC_Newsletter_Apr20.pdf which, on page 3 usefully advises:

"Dear Readers,

The world is witnessing an unprecedented situation caused by COVID-19 pandemic. While its Economic, Social and Health impacts are being extensively reported, its impact on Critical Information Infrastructure is equally challenging.

A notable increase in the number of domains created using the words ‘Corona’ or ‘Covid-19’ have been detected. A vast majority of these are malicious aimed at stealing credentials. Readers who have visited such domains are advised to ‘Reset’ their passwords immediately.

Another modus operandi being used by the Threat Actors is to send out legitimate looking Corona related advisories impersonating as officials from government/health organizations, through malicious e-mail attachments.

In view of the lockdown, several critical sector entities have relaxed their geo-fencing restrictions to allow their personnel to log-in and work from home. This has increased the attack surface available to Threat Actors."

Pete Comment

China's NSA (combining MSS and PLA Third Department elements) is headquartered in northwest Beijing. China's international sigint reach now can include most satellite and soon any undersea cable links. eg. Chinese submarines and surface vessels (increasingly using deeper diving Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles (ROVs) can splice fibre-optic cables making landfall in India (see below).

Cable Landing Stations in India (Map courtesy: Telegeography via Submarine Cable Networks)

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Bigger picture of submarine cable connections, eg. India and Australia

(Map courtesy Australia's ABC)

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Also interception can be made between the landfall in India (or Australia, etc) and main telephone or internet exchanges or in a telephone or internet exchange (especially exchange worker inside jobs, for money, blackmail or false flag).

Pete

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/these-new-armed-wingman-drones-could-well-decide-future-war-143652

In response to GhalibKabir's views of April 13, 2020.

1. Its interesting to compare economic growth prospects in 2020 of China versus countries it is in strategic competition with.

Looking at the graph "OECD downgrades growth forecasts" above, from a BBC News, April 3, 2020 article:

- China's growth will be about 4.8%

- Average for World 2.3%

- US 1.8%

- Japan 0.3%

- India?

PETE COMMENT

So even though COVID-19 started in China - by this OECD estimate China will come out less impacted than countries China competes with in strategic terms.

Put another way, China's ability to maintain or increase its defense budget for 2020-2021 will be less effected than its strategic competitors' abilities.

Also as a heavy importer of NOW cheaper oil China benefits compared to oil/gas exporting US and Russia (whose oil/gas revenues have dropped).

2. Pakistan may spend excessive amounts on weapons as it has always been a military dominated country and it is in constant military confrontation with a more powerful neighbour (India). Also the US and China give Pakistan much tied military aid.

3. On "semitic religions" (ie. those that follow one God) I think most outside of India and Pakistan aren't that religious. The US and Russia are both notionally Christian, but that doesn't inhibit their nationalistic mutual antagonism.

Also, I think, India's major enemy, China, is not that religious, more an odd conglomeration of capitalism, communism and Confucianism.

Pete

It should not be forgot that one of the most sensitive roles of submarines is to get close enough to enemy shores to permit special forces, variously called SEALS or clearance divers to swim to shore, carry out reconnaissance and swim back.

In that vein during the 1999 East Timor CrisisAustralian Collins-class submarine, HMAS Waller reportedly expedited a clearance diver reconnaissance for the International Force for East Timor (INTERFET). INTERFET liberated East Timor from harsh Indonesian occupation.

Compared to nuclear submarines Australia’s conventional, diesel-electric, Collins-class submarines are relatively small and quiet – making them better suited to close, inshore, SEAL/clearance diver reconnaissance operations.

HMAS Waller had overtly docked in Darwin during the INTERFET naval buildup in September 1999. This was shortly before the mainly Australian Army, RAN and US Navy INTERFET Force sailed to East Timor.^[19][20]

Map shows Oecussi/Ambeno Enclave (main town Pante Makasar) on left

(Map courtesy Encyclopedia Britannica. Inc)

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On 21 October 1999 Australian Navy clearance divers from HMAS Waller infiltrated into East Timor's Oecussi/Ambeno Enclave, then occupied by Indonesian forces, to conduct a covert beach reconnaissance...^[21]

This was partly in preparation for a 11 November 1999 landing by 600+ Australian troops from 3RAR (Third Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment) deployed to liberate East Timor’s Oecusse/Ambeno enclave. [see last paragraph of Oecusse History subsection].

Further Details

More details about Clearance Diving Team Four (AUSCDT4) that conducted the Oecussi/Ambeno Operation. AUSCDT4 is assigned to the west of Australia and based at HMAS Stirling, Western Australia (source (from original source http://www.navy.gov.au/1_fleet/pstory35.htm)):

"In addition they have conducted two clandestine operations at night in Aidabeleten, East Timor and in the Oecussi[/Ambeno] enclave located within West Timor."

"Prior to the dive in the Oecussi enclave INTERFET had received unconfirmed reports of people being killed in the area. As we approached the beach we could hear shots being fired in the distance so there was a lot of tension, especially when a vehicle drove up the beach and stopped only a half a kilometre short of where we were in the water."

[Probably in recognition of the Oecussi/Ambeno Operation]“March 25th 2000: [Able Seaman Clearance Diver] “ABCD Brown receives his Commendation for Gallantry from the Queen. "The Queen has presented a Commendation for Gallantry to a RAN diver who swam to an East Timor beach to reconnoitre the area for a subsequent INTERFET landing. ABCD Justin Brown stayed put and provided support for his submerged teammates despite hearing shots and explosions nearby and seeing a two-vehicle patrol sweep the beach with powerful lights."

As a very secret unit, the bravery and operations of Australia's clearance divers don't get much media appreciation.

Pete

Introduced by Trump's only foreign friend (The Youtube https://youtu.be/i05gKtHWjGY was created by Maestro Ziikos)

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Pete

I expected major spending on COVID-19 by the Australian Government will cause major payment delays in some naval defense projects, eg. submarines (see my April 7, 2020 comment.)

Commentators are beginning predict reductions in US defense spending. Meanwhile South Korea has actually announced a cut to its 2020 defence budget.

See RAND Corporation, https://www.rand.org/blog/2020/04/defense-budget-implications-of-the-covid-19-pandemic.html April 7/8, 2020:

"We anticipate that [US Govenment spending on COVID-19] could have significant medium-term implications for the defense budget and that there will be a need for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to find efficiencies that are of at least the same magnitude as the recent sequestration."

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Also South Korean cuts - see Janes https://www.janes.com/article/95556/covid-19-south-korea-cuts-defence-budget-in-response-to-pandemic April 16, 2020 :

"South Korea has announced a cut to its 2020 defence budget in response to Covid-19. The move means the country is one of the first in the world to officially reduce military spending due to the impact of the pandemic.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF) in Seoul said in a statement on 16 April that the 2020 defence budget will be cut by KRW904.7 billion (USD738 million).

The MOEF added that defence budget reduction removes KRW192.7 billion from operating expenses, with the remaining KRW712 billion sourced from military modernisation, which includes procurement and research and development (R&D).

...In comments reported by the Yonhap news agency, Kim Il-dong, the director general of the MND's Military Force Policy Bureau, said, "Regarding new business, the contract schedules - including those for overseas tests and evaluations - have already been postponed due to the coronavirus situation, so we cut the budget taking into consideration such delays."...”

This is just the beginning of defense budget cut announcements from major Indo-Pacific countries. Large contractors should not be surprised.

Pete

The next Indo-Pacific country to cut its naval defense budget due to COVID-19 spending is Thailand. The Thaiger reports, April 19, 2020:

"All ministries in the Thai government have been instructed to contribute 10% of their 2020 budgets to the fight against Covid-19. Last week the Royal Thai Army announced it would also delay most of its purchases of new military hardware until the situation improves.

A spokesman says that The Royal Thai Navy has gone further and will cut 33%, or 4.1 billion baht, of its unspent budget so the money can be reallocated “to fight the virus and on rehabilitation”. The spending, which includes payments for the country’s second and third submarines from China, will be deferred to the fiscal year 2021. The first submarine was scheduled to reach Thailand in 2023.

Last month the government asked state agencies to cut their 2020 budgets by at least 10% of their outstanding amounts as of March 31 so the savings could be added to the central or contingency fund used in fighting the virus situation plus Thailand’s worst drought in 40 years.

A meeting of top brass chaired by the navy’s chief of staff agreed to the 33% cut, far more than what the government asked for.

Other projects to be sandbagged are the construction of a submarine port and the maintenance project for the subs; the anti-submarine warfare helicopter maintenance and upgrade project; the network-centric warfare system development project; the naval warfare training simulator and the secondary weapon system, among others. A project to build accommodation for 64 Navy families has also been shelved.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post "

There has been no word about Australian submarine funding cuts due to COVID-19 spending (yet).

Publicity about such funding cuts may only be generated in Senate Estimates hearings in the Australian Federal Parliament in October 2020.

"October 2020" because Australia's 2020-21 Federal Budget has been delayed from the usual month (May 2020) to October 6, 2020 due to unprecedented COVID-19 spending and the social distancing restrictions on convening Parliament.

The precise Senate Estimates Committee would be "Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade" and the most likely Senator to question the submarine budget is former submariner Senator for South Australia, Rex Patrick. See broader details here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Patrick

Pete

From China’s official Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) website: Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference, April 20, 2020 https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/xwfw_665399/s2510_665401/2511_665403/t1771576.shtml

[Question] Reuters [journalist asks]: Vietnam has said China's claim to have established administrative units on islands in the South China Sea seriously violates Vietnam's sovereignty. What's your comment on this?

[Answer from] Geng Shuang: Following the approval of the State Council, Sansha City of Hainan Province has established two districts, Xisha District [Paracel Islands] and Nansha District [Spratly Islands]. This is China making administrative division adjustment within the scope of its sovereignty. It is conducive to improving and enhancing Sansha City's administrative management and promoting the coordinated development of the city's economic growth and environment protection.

China has sovereignty over the Xisha and Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, and sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the relevant waters and the seabed and subsoil thereof. In accordance with domestic laws and regulations, the Chinese government has selected and published the names of some islands and reefs of the Xisha and Nansha Islands as well as the seabed of waters under its jurisdiction. This is what we do regularly in accordance with law to improve marine management, which also accords with international law and international practices.

China firmly opposes Vietnam's words and actions that undermine China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea, and will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard China's sovereignty and rights and interests.

The Sansha City capital, on Woody Island, is marked, as well as the Spratlys and Paracels - all claimed by China and US supported Taiwan.
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Nine-Dash Line illustrated by red line covering most of the South China Sea, is claimed by China and Taiwan. But only China has the strategic power, allied with infrastructue capability, to enforce the claim. (Map courtesy Voice of America, 2012)
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THE TERM NINE-DASH LINE - ORIGINATED WITH US SUPPORTED ROC/TAIWAN

The term nine-dash line - at various times also referred to as the ten-dash line and the eleven-dash line – was used initially by the Republic of China (ROC, 1912–1949) and subsequently by Taiwan and China, for their claims of the major part of the South China Sea.

Taiwan has continued its claims, and the nine-dash line remains as the rationale for Taiwan's claims to the Spratly and Paracel Islands.

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SANSHA CITY

Sansha is a prefecture-level city of China’s Hainan province. Sansha City capital is located on Woody Island and administers (actually or nominally) several island groups and undersea atolls in the South China Sea including the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands, Macclesfield Bank, Scarborough Shoal, and a number of other ungrouped maritime features.

In November 2016, the Hainan government started to allow large companies to register themselves in Sansha, by providing extensive tax benefits to them. This resulted in 157 large national and multinational companies registering themselves in Sansha.

In 2016, a government school and a public library were opened in the island, primarily for children of the islanders. In the same year, a desalinating plant was established to provide drinking water to the island's residents.

Airports are built on several islands in Sansha City, including Yongxing Island (Woody Island), Meiji Island (Mischief Reef, Spratlys), Yongshu Island (Fiery Cross Reef, Spratlys) and Zhubi Island (Subi Reef, Spratlys), all of which are theoretically capable of landing Boeing 777s as diversion airports. In practice, only Woody Island has scheduled commercial services, with a Boeing 737 operated by Hainan Airlines.

Sansha City capital, Woody Island above (with critical installations above - courtesy Digital Globe) and clear overhead photo of Woody Island, with later land reclamation work for civilian/naval harbours (below).

Pete

Tucked into a single room on an air base in the Middle East sit rows of computer servers and data storage equipment providing combatant commands and warfighters with rapid access to the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency [NGA's] catalog of imagery and information.

That OCONUS Data Center offers NGA’s most current geospatial intelligence and services for the daily, tactical and strategic missions of the U.S. Central Command and other combatant commands.

By pre-positioning and updating imagery and data in the Southwest Asian theater of operations, NGA helps partners to more securely and quickly get information in the formats they need. Whether they are finding helicopter landing zones, conducting surveillance, locating targets, assessing damage or something else, users count on web-based access to the ODC to help them get the job done.

Combating ‘tyranny’ of distance and time

“The importance of ODC can’t be overstated,’’ said Joseph A. Smith, deputy director of the NGA Office of the Chief Information Officer and Information Technology Services' Warfighter Support Office.

The center provides network access, stability and speed for warfighters and analysts in need of imagery and other data to view or download by overcoming “the tyranny of distance and the tyranny of time’’ required if they must connect back to the United States , Smith said.

“Sometimes, if you have to wait 30 minutes or an hour to get the information, then you can’t do the mission,’’ he said.

Rick Cowans, South Eastern Regional Manager and Technical Executive on the NGA Support Team at CENTCOM , and his team keep watch on the data center 24/7 from CENTCOM’s main headquarters at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla. In addition, field representatives are on-site with CENTCOM personnel in the Middle East and travel through the Southwest Asia region.

“Analysts in theater can go to the OCONUS Data Center and get the same catalog you can get at [NGA Campus East or West,]’’ Cowans said.

Among the data center’s GEOINT offerings:

— GXP Xplorer: a web-based application used to spatially and temporally discover, stream and retrieve imagery, foundation and vector data. It catalogs maps, satellite images, airborne tactical images, charts, vectors, terrain, features of interest, PowerPoint presentations and text documents.

— iSpy: a web-based, image-viewing application that provides tools for imagery analysis and exploitation. It was added in June.

— Map of the World: NGA’s online geospatial environment that provides shared and trusted GEOINT-related and multi-source content.

— HiPER LOOK: a data-access solution used to catalog, organize and share large volumes of non-conventional geospatial data and imagery into web-compliant services. It also was added in June.

— GVS: GEOINT Visualization Services’ mission is to provide visualization services that facilitate access to GEOINT data and products in an online, on-demand environment. It is commonly used for base map utilization in various GIS tools such as ArcMap and GoogleEarth.

The ODC’s services also are buoyed by a variety of valuable content uploaded from warfighters and others in the region for use by those in-theater and by analysts back in the United States.

“Most NGA people think about data from satellites and maybe some airborne assets, but there are even more sensors near ground or on ground than there are in space,’’ Smith said.

Another benefit of the data center is as a backup to facilities in the United States and elsewhere to assure continuity of operations in an emergency.

ODC’s historical and future role

The origins of the OCONUS Data Center date to 2011, when NGA set up the Southwest Asian Strategic Node for CENTCOM’s area of responsibility in the Middle East. The data center moved into better-protected facilities in late 2016 and was renamed the OCONUS Data Center.

With its forward –placed positioning, regional approach and uniform user experience, the ODC was ahead of its time, Smith said. He said he believes the ODC will continue to play a key role in NGA’s future as the agency moves more of its services to the cloud.

“When you talk about a hybrid cloud strategy, nodes like ODC are a critical part of extending that cloud fabric in all domains,’’ Smith said.

NGA is currently in the process of upgrading equipment for ODC that should further increase analytic capabilities in theater.

Brought to you by the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), March 2, 2020, at
https://www.nga.mil/MediaRoom/News/Pages/NGA-brings-products-closer-to-action-in-the-Middle-East-.aspx

Photo at top is "National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency NewsClips2" from

https://www.nga.mil/MediaRoom/PhotoGallery/Pages/default.aspx

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Note the NGA is pushing more work to the unclassified level so its employees can avoid COVID-19 by working from home.

COMMENT

Only in America would an intelligence agency make such a depth of detail public, especially "Among the data center’s GEOINT offerings:..."

Pete

Anzacs (or 'diggers') at Gallipoli in a rare quiet moment in 1915.

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Australia and New Zealand commemorates ANZAC Day on April 25th each year. It is our secular "holiest" day. The day commemorates the sacrifice of troops of the combined Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) in World War One and of Australians and New Zealanders who fought in all later wars (including some being waged right now).

The following are songs and photos I've put together to remember them.

This great song And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda by Eric Bogle is about the life of a digger wounded at Gallipoli.

The hymn Abide With Me is traditionally sung at ANZAC Day services. The singer is Hayley Westernra from Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Iconic Vietnam War photo by Michael Coleridge. Diggers of 5 Platoon, B Company, 7RAR, waiting for Iroquois helicopters to land and take them back to Nui Dat at the end of an operation.

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The song I Was Only 19 (by that under-appreciated Australian group Redgum) is in memory of Australians who fought, died and were injured in Vietnam (early 1960s to 1972).

I think Eric Bogle’s The Green Fields of France or No Man’s Land (above) is the best anti-war song ever written. As a haunting poem, march, song of love and injustice it is a fitting anthem to remember the men and women, living and dead, who are our Anzacs.

A Remembrance poppy.

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For more songs see "Rembrance Day Songs 2018" on this website.

Pete

See "Australia pursuing US ordered inquiry into Chinese origins of COVID-19” of April 2020
https://beijingspread.blogspot.com/2020/04/australia-pursuing-us-ordered-inquiry.html

at my new website:

Beijing Spread https://beijingspread.blogspot.com/

Pete

Submarine Matters article of April 8, 2020 “Captain Crozier COVID-19 Affair - Sacking Admirals?” https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2020/04/captain-crozier-covid-19-affair-sacking.htmlin naming a cast of potentially responsible Admirals (Gilday, Davidson, Baker, Merz, Aquilino) and General Milley,

has anticipated subsequent inquiry manoeuvres recorded in

US abc NEWS/Associated Press article, “New Navy carrier inquiry suggests tough scrutiny of admirals” of April 30, 2020 https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/navy-widen-carrier-probe-delaying-decision-commander-70404757. That abc article reports:

“WASHINGTON -- The Navy is launching a wider investigation of the coronavirus crisis aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, suggesting closer and deeper scrutiny of actions and decisions by senior admirals in the Pacific that led to the controversial firing of the ship's commander nearly a month ago.

...The new investigation was announced by James E. McPherson, the acting Navy secretary,

...McPherson and the top Navy officer, Adm. MikeGilday, presented to Defense Secretary Mark Esper their recommendation that Crozier be reinstated, based on the outcome of a preliminary inquiry by the Navy's No. 2 admiral.

...Army Gen. Mark Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, suggested a broader, more thorough investigation was needed.

The expanded investigation is expected to examine communication and leadership actions in the Navy chain of command in the Pacific,to include events before the initial virus outbreak in late March, officials said. This likely includes the decision to make a port visit to Da Nang, Vietnam, which has been cited as a possible source of the infection aboard the Roosevelt. That decision was made by Adm. Phil Davidson, who as commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command is in charge of all forces in that region.

...In his statement, McPherson did not reveal what questions he thinks the initial inquiry left unanswered.

“I am directing Adm. Gilday to conduct a follow-on command investigation,” McPherson said.

The Gilday review probably will address Crozier's concerns that his superiors were not acting fact enough to protect the crew from the spreading virus. Those leaders would include Rear Adm. Stuart Baker, commander of the carrier strike group, who was aboard the Roosevelt with Crozier; the 7th Fleet commander, Vice Adm. William R. Merz; and the Pacific Fleet commander, Adm. John C. Aquilino, as well asDavidson, head of Indo-Pacific Command.”

Pete

Minnie Chan at the South China Morning Post reported April 29, 2020 https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3082195/chinese-navy-puts-two-new-nuclear-submarines-servicealong the lines:

That it is probable China has either re-commissioned its 3^rdand 4^th Type 94 “Jin” class SSBNs or they are, newly commissioned 5^thand 6^th Type 94s.

In any case the 2 Type 94s have “upgrades to technology such as radar, sonar and torpedoes,”

Minnie Chan further reports:

“The vessels are revamped versions of the Type 094, or Jin-class, nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBN) and will bolster the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s underwater combat strength, two military sources told the South China Morning Post.

...China planned to build six Type 094 subs, and four were on show in a parade in Qingdao, Shandong province, in April last year to mark the 70th anniversary of the PLA Navy.

Another source close to the navy said two more Type 094s had probably been handed over to the navy since then.

...The Type 094 is designed to carry 16 [?] JL-2 ballistic missiles, which have a range of about 7,000km (4,350 miles).

But the Type 096 [next generation of SSBN, under development] will be able to carry 24[?] JL-3s, which have an estimated range of more than 10,000km (6,200 miles), putting the United States, Europe, India and Russia within range, according to the most recent Pentagon report on China’s military.

The Post reported earlier that the PLA Navy had tested the JL-3 missile

In its “2019 China Military Power Report”, the Pentagon said that construction of the Type 096 would probably begin in the early 2020s.

See the rest of Minnie Chan’s article where she refers to: the Shandong, the first Chinese-built aircraft carrier; the J-15 mass-produced carrier-based fighter jet; Type 055 destroyer; and the new Gaoxin-9 anti-submarine patrol aircraft (based on China’s Y-8 and Y-9 cargo planes).

Western intelligence agencies are supporting some militia (and maybe Kurdish) groups in Syria not only as a counter to Syrian government atrocities but also as a means of obtaining captured Russian weapons. US, UK, French, German and Israeli intelligence agencies are asking some (non-ISIS) militia groups to capture the latest Russian weapons being used in Syria and then hand them on to those agencies.

Russia is using actual combat zone conditions in Syria for Russian and Syrian forces to test not yet deployed new weapons and new versions of existing weapons types.

Items on the Western wish list include T-14 Armata tanks, the latest version T-90As, Su-57 stealth jets and the latest Su-35s, KH-101 air launched cruise missiles. Mi-28NM attack helicopters, BMPT-72 "Terminator-2" armoured fighting vehicles and unmanned ground combat vehicles.

Reasons why Western intelligence seeks example of the latest Russian tank technogy include: the need to better assess Russian tank division combat power; and to develop better anti-tank weapons (eg. whether Western tanks need to upgun to 130mm or higher).
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On T-14 Armata and T-90 tanks Beijing’s sina News Agency reports April 30, 2020:

Why not bring a T-14 Armata back? US orders Syrian rebels

[some parts have been retranslated into better English] Observers of Russian tank matters are surprised about Russian reports of the “actual deployment of Russian T-14 "Armata” tanks in Syria. The T-14 made its first public debut at the Moscow Victory Parade in 2015. For many years, Russia has hoped to deploy the T-14, but not yet for various reasons. Hence Russian forces are trialling the T-14 in Syria under semi-combat conditions. Russian sources said that Russia has not let loose the T-14 under full Syrian combat conditions because of the need for technological confidentiality.

Russians sources reported that only when the Syrian war situation has stabilized will Russia dare to put the T-14 on the Syrian battlefield. So instead Russia has been supplying [the T-90A] the most advanced T-90 tank to the Syrian government army. A large number of these T-90s have been captured intact by “Syrian militia”[including Syrian Democratic Forces, etc]. Some of these captured T-90s have been bought at high prices by the US and other NATO countries and delivered to them. At this moment, the fate [and location in the West] of the captured late model T-90s are unknown.

According to Russian sources the T-14 often fails technologically and it is impossible to predict the failure rate in actual combat. Due to secrecy only the Russian Ministry of Defense knows how the T-14 has performed. No T-14s have been seen in combat in Syria.

At present, only T-90s can be seen on the Syrian battlefield deployed in the most dangerous areas of the frontline, becoming part of the "fire brigade". Meanwhile the
T-14 might only be a tool for precise [self-propelled artillery-like] shooting and secret missions.

Russian sources reported that after the Russians began trialling T-14s in Syria, the US and NATO allies [mainly UK, Germany and France] ordered a large number of Syrian militia to seize T-14 at all costs. The US and NATO allies have offered US$millions in rewards! However, Russian sources said that that regular Russian troops do not know where the T-14s are kept so Syrian militia cannot find the T-14s.

According to data published by the “Russian Defense Industry Department”[could be this] during the Syrian campaign, the Russian military carried out at least 150 technical modifications to the T-14 tank. All decisions are made by local experts in the Syrian repair shop, or with the help of Russian engineers. Russian experts did not disclose details, but only pointed out that "any war will adjust the design, and the stability of the engine must be determined first."

It should be noted that in Russia, the "Armata" series, including T-14 tanks and heavy infantry fighting vehicles, has completed a complete development cycle. A large number of T-14s have been sent to serve in Russia's western military region, and some tanks were sent to Russia's southern military region. [The test batch of 100 is to be delivered and deployed to the 2nd Guards Tamanskaya Motor Rifle Division, near Moscow, with delivery expected in 2020 or later]. Russian sources stated that the T-14 is still at an early stage of development hence not deployed. So it has not encountered other tanks on the battlefield."
See more on Russian weapons in Syria at The Drive

T-14 Armata inside, with an unihabited turrent. Instead the crew of 3 are in an internal armoured capsule protecting them if the turrent is blown off by the enemy and/or their main-gun ammunition explodes/cooks off or diesel fuel burns. (Diagram courtesy Quora.com)
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Below is the T-14, Armata exterior at the Moscow Victory Parade, Red Square, 2015 parade (Photo courtesy sina News Agency).

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Pete

Defence correspondent Andrew Greene for Australian Government owned ABC News has written an excellent article of May 6, 2020 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-06/french-submarine-builders-get-taxpayer-bonuses-despite-delays/12217534

"Submarine builder Naval Group Australia hands out taxpayer-funded bonuses despite being behind schedule"

"The French-owned company building Australia's future submarine fleet has granted employees taxpayer-funded pay rises despite fears the project is already billions of dollars over budget and years behind schedule.

Key points:

* Naval Group Australia [website] has given staff early financial bonuses to "support them
during the unprecedented COVID-19 period"
* In January [2020 the Australian] the auditor-general concluded Naval Group's design was running
nine months behind schedule
* A senator says paying the bonuses at a time when other Australians are losing jobs is
offensive"

In 2016 Naval Group, then known as DCNS, won a lucrative international competition to design and build 12 new submarines to replace Australia's ageing Collins Class fleet.

The massive defence project, which is expected to cost at least $90 billion, has faced regular criticism including from the auditor-general who concluded in January the design was running nine months behind schedule.

In a statement, Naval Group Australia confirmed its recent cash windfall for staff was approved by the Defence Department and awarded on an "individual performance basis" while taking into account "external market remuneration conditions".

"Naval Group Australia recently completed its annual remuneration review in line with our remuneration policy," a company spokesperson told the ABC.

"Bonuses paid were linked to the 2019 performance year and were brought forward by three weeks to support our workforce during the unprecedented COVID-19 period."

"Our first priority during this period has always been the safety and wellbeing of our people, clients, suppliers and their families. Nothing is more important to us today and always," the spokesperson added.

It is not known what proportion of Naval Group's future submarine workforce received pay rises and bonuses, and the company has declined to reveal what the increases were worth.

Defence has refused to reveal who in the department approved the remuneration changes and referred all questions on Naval Group's employment conditions and pay to the company.

"The Strategic Partnering Agreement outlines that Naval Group Australia employee salaries and bonuses reimbursed by the Commonwealth in aggregate are appropriate and in line with market conditions and industry benchmarks," a Defence spokesperson said.

Senator calls for examination of 'offensive' bonuses

South Australian crossbench Senator Rex Patrick labelled the pay rises and bonuses granted during the coronavirus pandemic "offensive".

Australia's submarine requirements explained

With the winning bidder for Australia's next fleet of submarines announced, attention turns to how it will meet Australia's high-endurance requirements.

"Ultimately it is the Australian taxpayer that pays Naval Group's employees working on the Future Submarine project," the long-time critic of the French company told the ABC.

"In an environment where businesses are shutting their doors and people are signing up for unemployment benefits en masse, and even corporate executives are trimming their own salaries, some would consider this insensitive".

"Noting the auditor-general found that [Naval Goup Australia] have missed deliveries and critical milestones, I think it's offensive".

Senator Patrick stressed his criticism was directed at Naval Group management, not workers, and suggested the Defence Department should examine the recent pay increases.

"Defence have the ability to examine Naval Group's books and it might be worthwhile them taking a look to see whether or not this is appropriate," he said.

Former Defence official Andrew Davies, now a senior fellow at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the payment of bonuses on a troubled project during the COVID-19 economic downturn was questionable.

"Normally when you're managing a major project, bonuses in particular would typically be tied to increased productivity or meeting project milestones, so it's a bit surprising to see bonuses being given out at the moment," he said.”

Defense Correspondent Andrew Greene at Australian Government funded ABC News reports, on May 10, 2020 reports https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-10/outgoing-labor-mp-mike-kelly-takes-new-job-security-company/12229842

[non-ABC News links added and bolded by Pete. US spelling for "Defense" is used.]

"Data company that 'helped locate Osama Bin Laden' recruits former Labor MP Mike Kelly

A United States tech giant with close links to Western intelligence agencies has appointed former Federal Labor MP Mike Kelly to help drive its rapidly expanding operations in Australia.

...The ABC can reveal Dr Kelly has taken up a job with the Silicon Valley based tech giant Palantir Technologies, just days after retiring from Parliament on health grounds.

Founded in 2004, Palantir specialises in the shadowy practice of data mining, and in January its growing global business was privately valued at $US20 billion ($30.61 billion [Australian dollars]).

"I am not in a position to retire and have no desire to," Dr Kelly told the ABC when approached about his new role.

"I have been fortunate to be able to take up a job offer with Palantir Technologies Australia that will enable me to work within my physical limitations but still be in a position to make a difference in relation to the issues that matter to me."

On at least two occasions in recent years, the soldier-turned-politician has publicly praised the work of Palantir, including its reported role in helping track down terrorist Osama Bin Laden.

"Companies like Palantir for example effectively vectored Osama Bin Laden's location so these are companies and capabilities that we need to work with," the decorated Army veteran told Federal Parliament in 2018.

In the same year the Labor backbencher informed Parliament's powerful Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security that Palantir was "providing a massive $US12 billion international effort on security issues".

Late last month, the 60-year-old held back tears as he announced his resignation in a move that has forced a by-election in the marginal New South Wales seat of Eden-Monaro.

"I don't believe I can continue to do the job to the extent — and with the commitment and the physical demand — that I would want to," the former colonel said in April.

Over the past six months, Dr Kelly has undergone 10 medical procedures to address damage to his renal system, caused by severe dehydration during military tours in Iraq, Somalia and East Timor....

Kelly expected to grow Palantir's security and defense business in Australia

American spies are known to use Palantir software to link together the huge cache of data gathered by security agencies such as the...CIA and ...NSA.

Palantir software has been used by Australia's Defense Department since 2011, and the company has secured millions of dollars in contracts with security agencies such as the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).

[Scroll a third way down Palantir's Website to see that Palantir has offices in Canberra (Level 4/71 Northbourne Ave, Canberra), Sydney and Melbourne Australia. See Palantir's "Defense" and "Intelligence" solutions,]

Dr Kelly has described his new employer as "amazing organisation" saying it was "populated with some of the finest talent and quality personnel in the world".

"At the moment, for example, they are working in over 30 countries in the fight against COVID-19," Dr Kelly said."

There’s an ongoing discussion (here and here) at Submarine Matters about what forward bases, submarines numbers, sizes and support modes would best service Australia’s submarine needs.

At ASPI Strategist former submarine commander Denis Mole has written an excellent article
“The Royal Australian Navy needs a support ship, not a fixed base at Manus Island” of April 30, 2020 at https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/the-royal-australian-navy-needs-a-support-ship-not-a-fixed-base-at-manus-island/. (It was republished by the Australian Naval Institute on May 3, 2020). Parts of the article are:

"...In 2018, the US and Australian governments announced that that they would work with Papua New Guinea to redevelop the naval base on Manus Island to support Royal Australian Navy, US Navy and PNG Defence Force operations. However, little has emerged since then on what is being contemplated.

Manus Island has an excellent natural harbour and is strategically well located to provide forward support for RAN ships operating in the western Pacific, including the South China Sea. As a forward operating base, its weaknesses are that fixed infrastructure on Manus would be more vulnerable than fixed infrastructure at home bases and that access could be withheld if PNG assessed it was in its national interest to avoid being drawn into a conflict.

Both these weaknesses could be mitigated if all or most of the support the base provides was aboard a ship and mobile, rather than on land and fixed. A purpose-designed ship could provide fuel, storage and treatment for oily and brown-water discharge, stores and provisions, munitions, workshops and medical facilities. Ships and submarines would berth alongside such a vessel.

In the event of a direct threat to Manus Island, the ship could be relocated to other protected waters in PNG. If the PNG government no longer welcomed RAN ships, the support ship could relocate to another Pacific nation or to north Queensland, Broome or Darwin.

A large fleet support ship wouldn’t necessarily be expensive to buy or to run. It could be built to commercial standards and operated by a core civilian crew, similar to current navy support ships Sycamore, Besant and Stoker. RAN personnel and contractors could be embarked as ‘special personnel’, not crew, on a fly-in, fly-out basis. As a government-owned commercial vessel, it would fall outside the naval shipbuilding plan and could be built offshore like the new Australian Antarctic supply and research vessel, RSV Nuyina,which, despite being delayed, is nearing completion in Romania.

While such a ship could support destroyers, frigates and small vessels, it could be designed primarily to support the Attack-class submarines.

A support ship could enable these conventionally powered submarines to conduct back-to-back patrols without returning to home bases. It would have specialised berthing facilities, battery-charging capabilities, battery and mast workshops, an air supply for submarine escape systems, and the ability to embark and support Australia’s submarine rescue system.

....A submarine support ship could be located in Sydney at least until the long-term composition and disposition of the submarine force is clear. Once the future is clearer, the support ship could be relocated elsewhere on the east coast or deployed to Manus Island.

A submarine support ship would perform its role in port or anchored in sheltered waters, so performance at sea wouldn’t drive its design characteristics. Because it would rarely be at sea, the ship would be less vulnerable to attack than fixed infrastructure since it could be relocated from an emerging threat location to a lower risk operating position.

Darwin isn’t suitable [as a forward base] because it is too far from deep water. Although large submarines can operate in water as shallow as 40 metres, that’s only after they have submerged and their trim has been balanced. When a submarine has refuelled, or replenished its stores or weapons, a theoretical trim is calculated and applied in port. For their initial dive after leaving port, large submarines require a minimum depth of about 100 metres to allow for variation between estimated and actual trim.

The distance from Darwin to water 100 metres deep is approximately 250 nautical miles. A submarine departing Darwin would need to transit on the surface for more than 24 hours before diving, which would leave it vulnerable to attack by mines, torpedoes, missiles or aircraft.

Darwin and Broome are roughly equidistant from the South China Sea.

Broome [in northern Western Australia] might be suitable as a forward base as it’s about 84 nautical miles from water 100 metres deep, but the West Australian town has limited port facilities and, like Manus Island, would require a support ship."
AUTHOR

Denis Mole served in the Royal Australian Navy for more than 35 years, commanding submarines and attaining the rank of commodore. He has recently retired from the commercial marine and defence support sector.

Read Denis Mole's whole excellent essay HERE.

THOSE COVID DAYS OLD FRIEND by Pete

Australia Striking Back Against COVID Exploiting Cyber Adversaries

India's NSA (NTRO) Against Chinese COVID-19 Sigint/Cyber Hacking

Loyal wingman drone Boeing developing for Australia powered up for the first time.

China's Strategic Power a Net Beneficiary From COVID-19

Australian SEALS "Clearance Diver" Operation:1999 East Timor Crisis

Trump Sings Like Queen!

Likely US, certainly South Korean Defense budget cuts due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Thai Navy Cuts Budget by 33% - Delays Submarine Purchases

Word of Australian Submarine Funding Drops/Delays Likely October 2020

US Backed Taiwan Also Claims Most of South China Sea - So Why Not China?

US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Operations Middle East

ANZAC Day Songs and Photos - In Remembrance

Australia pursuing US ordered inquiry into Chinese origins of COVID-19

SubMatts anticipated scrutiny of Admirals - re sacked Captain Crozier affair

5th and 6th Chinese Type 94 SSBNs Possibly Commissioned

Western intelligence seeking latest Russian weapons in Syria

Naval Group awards Australian taxpayer-funded bonuses despite being behind schedule

Palantir (US Defense Intelligence Data Company) hires ex-politician from Australia - extra links

What forward bases and support modes might best service Australia’s submarine needs