Naval Warfare

Commentary

Somali Piracy All About Economics

The average Somali lives on less than $2 a day. Even fishermen, who are comparatively well off by national standards, face difficulties making a living due to the chronic depletion of sea stocks from years of poaching and illegal dumping of toxic waste. Under such circumstances, the allure of piracy is clear.

Commentary

U.S., China and an Unthinkable War

Although the China-U.S. agenda is jammed with pressing issues, time must be found to improve procedures and channels to defuse crises and avert military miscalculation. Political leaders should not wait for a crisis before scrutinizing war-fighting plans and insisting on ones that strengthen, not weaken, stability.

Commentary

How to Avert a Sea Catastrophe with China

The United States should propose and pursue an East Asian maritime partnership, inviting to join all states that share its interest in assured access and passage, writes David Gompert.

Report

Assessing Aegis Program Transition to an Open-Architecture Model

To reduce costs and take advantage of commercial technology, the U.S. Navy is pursuing open-architecture software and other improvements to its Aegis combat system. This report examines the potential benefits and challenges of this new approach.

Research Brief

The Future of Sea Power in the Western Pacific

Explores the future relationship between U.S. and Chinese sea power in the context of historical sea-power rivalries and recent technological developments, and discusses the potential of pursuing maritime security cooperation in the Western Pacific.

Report

China's Growing Sea Power Can Be Countered by Technology, Maritime Cooperation

The United States should respond to China's increasing sea power in the Western Pacific region by exploiting technology to make its naval forces less vulnerable, while also pursuing regional maritime security cooperation that includes China.

Commercial Book

Fighting for MacArthur: The Navy and Marine Corps' Desperate Defense of the Philippines

The only single-volume work offering a full account of the Navy and Marine Corps actions in the Philippines during World War II, providing never-before-published details about the fighting based on American and newly discovered Japanese sources.

Announcement

John Gordon Receives Arthur Goodzeit Book Award for 'Fighting for MacArthur'

John Gordon won the 2011 Arthur Goodzeit Book Award for Fighting for MacArthur: The Navy and Marine Corps' Desperate Defense of the Philippines, a World War II history. The award was presented by the New York Military Affairs Symposium.

Report

Characterizing and Exploring the Implications of Maritime Irregular Warfare

Although irregular warfare includes a range of activities in which naval forces have played an integral role, there has been little examination of the characteristics or potential of such operations in maritime environments. Current notions of irregular warfare would benefit from increased recognition of potential maritime contributions.

Report

A Survey of Missions for Unmanned Undersea Vehicles

RAND identifies seven military missions for unmanned undersea vehicles (UUVs) that appear most promising to pursue in terms of military need, operational and technical risks, non-UUV alternatives, and cost.

Report

The New Face of Naval Strike Warfare

The combat leverage of U.S. carrier strike groups has improved qualitatively since Sept. 11, 2001, with carrier-based fighters conducting coordinated missions in areas of Afghanistan and Iraq well beyond coastal reaches. Future plans hold promise for further advancements.

Research Brief

The New Face of Naval Strike Warfare

Report

Roles and Missions for Conventionally Armed Heavy Bombers: An Historical Perspective

In light of changes in the world situation and in available funds, the Air Force is assessing the roles and effectiveness of existing and planned aircraft.

Report

Combined operations in modern naval warfare: maritime strategy and interservice cooperation

This paper explores the prospects for improving cooperation among the branches of the U.S. military. The author focuses his discussion on the Department of the Navy and its interactions with the rest of the military system and on interservice possib...

Content

Michael Bohnert

Associate Engineer
Education B.S. in mechanical engineering, University of Notre Dame; M.E. in systems engineering, The Pennsylvania State University

Content

M. Scott Bond

Technical Analyst
Education M.A. in security policy studies, George Washington University; B.A. in International Affairs (China), The Ohio State University; B.A. in mandarin, The Ohio State University

Content

David R. Frelinger

Senior Policy Researcher
Education M.A. in political science, University of California, Los Angeles; B.A. in political science, University of California, San Diego

Content

Kristen Gunness

Senior Policy Researcher
Education B.A. in international relations, Tufts University; MA Certificate in Chinese Studies, Johns Hopkins SAIS/Nanjing; M.A. in security studies, Georgetown University

Content

Sale Lilly

Senior Policy Analyst; Professor, Pardee RAND Graduate School
Education M.A. in Modern Chinese Studies, Oxford University; M.A. in economic & social history, Oxford University; B.S. in economics, U.S. Naval Academy

Content

Brendan Toland

Associate Director, Navy and Marine Forces Center; Senior Operations Researcher
Education M.S. in systems engineering, Johns Hopkins University; B.S. in mathematics, Allegheny College