Military Ships and Naval Vessels

Military Technology

commentary
Creating the Uncrewed-Centric Navy of the Mid–21st Century
The emergence of uncrewed technologies in all domains can enable the Navy to achieve greater capacity and operate in harm's way by avoiding over-concentration of combat power in too few assets. There is a need for relentlessly committed leadership that aims for an uncrewed-centric navy by mid-century, while integrating new and legacy assets to manage the long, gradual transition.
Read More »
Nov 30, 2023
Naval News
Scott Savitz

Emerging Technologies

commentary
AUKUS as Big Science?
AUKUS—the trilateral security pact between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—framed as a multinational quest for discovery rather than a security pact made sensible by deterrence logics, could be a political boon, both diplomatically and domestically.
Read More »
Oct 24, 2023
Lowy Institute's Interpreter
Marigold Black
Unmanned Maritime Vessels

commentary
Revive the Ram
In the face of aggressive maneuvers by Chinese vessels, the U.S. Navy can brandish ramming unmanned surface vessels as a capability to inhibit threats while limiting the risk of escalation. These relatively simple, inexpensive vehicles could be used alongside a variety of nonlethal weapons to manage confrontations, giving commanders more options.
Read More »
Jun 22, 2023
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Taiwan

commentary
Waiting to Impale: Defending Taiwan with Artificial Reefs
Deterring a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is arguably the most important defense problem of the next few decades. Artificial reefs could help to deter China simply by waiting to impale any potential invasion force.
Read More »
May 10, 2023
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Military Technology

commentary
Coast Guard Leans Forward in New UxS Strategy but Faces Significant Challenges
The rise of unmanned systems creates a challenging landscape for the U.S. Coast Guard as it endeavors to conduct its diverse missions in the future. To address emerging technologies and prepare for forthcoming threats, the service recently released a strategic plan.
Read More »
May 3, 2023
The RAND Blog
Eric Cooper, Scott Savitz
Ukraine

commentary
Why Blockading Rather Than Retaking Crimea Might Be Kyiv's Best Option
Ukraine may lack the military capability to retake Crimea from Russia. But Kyiv might still achieve some of its key objectives by blockading the peninsula. New technology may ease this task.
Read More »
Apr 10, 2023
The Moscow Times
Scott Savitz, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Military Ships and Naval Vessels

commentary
How Big of a Fleet? A Look at the U.S. Navy's Size and Readiness Needs
Congress is trying to nudge the Navy to expand the size of the fleet. But without comparable levels of funding for personnel, maintenance, technology upgrades, logistics and other support functions, a larger fleet could come at the cost of readiness.
Read More »
Jan 11, 2023
Defense News
Bradley Martin, Scott Savitz
Unmanned Maritime Vessels

commentary
Could Taiwan Defend with Uncrewed Surface Vessels?
Ukraine has demonstrated the ability of explosive uncrewed surface vessels to target ships. These weapons could play a role in preventing Chinese forces from successfully invading Taiwan in potential future scenarios.
Read More »
Jan 9, 2023
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Naval Warfare

commentary
The Drifting Menace
The drifting mine threat is not going away: they are simple, effective weapons that are easily made and deployed even by actors with limited naval capabilities. A holistic approach to tactics, enforcement, and technology development could help counter the threat and maintain future freedom of the seas.
Read More »
Nov 16, 2022
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Unmanned Maritime Vessels

commentary
The Age of Uncrewed Surface Vessels
A new age of naval warfare has been inaugurated in the Black Sea, defined by an emerging weapon. Uncrewed surface vessels could become a centerpiece of naval warfare in the coming decades, one that navies may ignore at their peril.
Read More »
Nov 15, 2022
The RAND Blog
Scott Savitz
Military Strategy

commentary
Beware the Explosive Vessels
The initial explosion that damaged the Kerch Strait Bridge may have come from an uncrewed surface vehicle (USV). If it was indeed caused by a USV, it could be a portent of future warfare. Military and homeland security authorities may need to anticipate the potential use of USVs by adversaries or terrorists.
Read More »
Oct 20, 2022
RealClearDefense
Scott Savitz
Military Budgets and Defense Spending

commentary
Why It Makes Sense to Keep Mine-Hunting Dolphins on the Navy's Payroll
Mine-hunting dolphins—none of whom have ever been harmed by a mine—make the seas safer for naval ships and other vessels. Yet budget cuts could spell the end of the program that trains them.
Read More »
Jul 22, 2022
Los Angeles Times
Scott Savitz
Trade Barriers

commentary
Unblocking the Black Sea for Ukrainian Grain
As Russia has been blockading ports around Odesa, Ukrainian grain exports in May were more than 60 percent lower than a year ago. Global hunger has hit a new high while 22 million tons of grain in Ukraine could rot if not exported soon.
Read More »
Jun 15, 2022
The Hill
Bradley Martin, William Courtney @courtneywmh
Security Cooperation

commentary
Making AUKUS Work
In September 2021, President Biden announced the creation of AUKUS, a trilateral, experimental arrangement among the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom focused on defense technology. The barriers to success are numerous but the partnership could offer significant opportunities.
Read More »
Mar 22, 2022
The RAND Blog
Jennifer D. P. Moroney @jdpmoroney, Alan Tidwell
Warfare and Military Operations

commentary
Ready for Take-Off? The Next Generation of UK Maritime Air Power
The recent deployment of a Carrier Strike Group represents a marked shift in the United Kingdom's ambitions and capabilities for power projection in both the maritime and air domains. The United Kingdom is hoping to work closely with NATO Allies to enhance the Alliance's collective ability to deploy maritime airpower as part of a flexible posture that can deter and respond to threats both close to home and far afield.
Read More »
Dec 10, 2021
LUFTLED
James Black
Military Strategy

commentary
The Suez Grounding Was an Accident. The Next Blocked Chokepoint Might Not Be
The recent spectacle of a hulking container ship wedged into the Suez Canal is a reminder of how vulnerable maritime transportation is to blocked chokepoints. The fragility of maritime lifelines may encourage the use of this tactic in future conflict.
Read More »
Mar 30, 2021
Defense One
Scott Savitz

Page 1 of 7

Quoted

The COP decisionmaking process reflects its members' consensus views. And therein lies the problem. The Paris Agreement should have achieved the socially better outcomes of binding emissions control to finance and binding each country to its target of emissions and finance.…That it did not do so was because the coalitions' views prevailed rather than the social good.

Rafiq Dossani

Director, RAND Center for Asia Pacific Policy

Source: United Press International

Women have fought in wars for as long as humans have waged them. Yet that long history has been either lost or purposefully hidden, complicating efforts to expand women's military roles even as we have steadily gained greater equality in other fields.

Kayla M. Williams

Senior Policy Researcher

Source: Association of the U.S. Army

What Climate-Related Conflict Could Mean for U.S. Central Command

National Identity and the Origins of the War in Ukraine

Can NATO Supercharge Military Greening?

Book Review: 'Forgotten Warriors: The Long History of Women in Combat' by Sarah Percy

Preventing Domestic Violent Extremism: Insights from RAND Research

The Policy Currents Podcast

Developing Strategies for Summer Learning

Improving Psychological Wellbeing and Work Outcomes in the UK

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Military Ships and Naval Vessels

Creating the Uncrewed-Centric Navy of the Mid–21st Century

AUKUS as Big Science?

Revive the Ram

Waiting to Impale: Defending Taiwan with Artificial Reefs

Coast Guard Leans Forward in New UxS Strategy but Faces Significant Challenges

Why Blockading Rather Than Retaking Crimea Might Be Kyiv's Best Option

How Big of a Fleet? A Look at the U.S. Navy's Size and Readiness Needs

Could Taiwan Defend with Uncrewed Surface Vessels?

The Drifting Menace

The Age of Uncrewed Surface Vessels

Beware the Explosive Vessels

Why It Makes Sense to Keep Mine-Hunting Dolphins on the Navy's Payroll

Unblocking the Black Sea for Ukrainian Grain

Making AUKUS Work

Ready for Take-Off? The Next Generation of UK Maritime Air Power

The Suez Grounding Was an Accident. The Next Blocked Chokepoint Might Not Be

Connect

Contact Us

I am interested in

Follow

Stay Informed

Resources

Site Information