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MS Daily Brief-en

The Maritime Security Forum is pleased to provide you with a product, in the form of a daily newsletter, through which we present the most relevant events and information on naval issues, especially those related to maritime security and other related areas. It aims to present a clear and concise assessment of the most recent and relevant news in this area, with references to sources of information. We hope that this newsletter will prove to be a useful resource for you, providing a comprehensive insight into the complicated context of the field for both specialists and anyone interested in the dynamics of events in the field of maritime security.

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Daily appearance Monday-Saturday 10 AM (GMT +2)

Some information is presented when possible from several sources

Contents

Breaking news: Intel suggests Israel is preparing a MASSIVE attack on Iran; Iran rejects nuclear negotiations | TBN Israel 1

News from Ukraine | Wonderful! Ukraine strikes hard against Russian forces | EU strengthens its army. Trump hates Zelenskyy. 1

Two Israeli embassy employees shot dead near Jewish museum in Washington DC – Secretary of Homeland Security. 1

Israeli troops fire ‘warning shots’ at 25 diplomats visiting the occupied West Bank. 2

Finland “preparing for the worst” as Russian military presence near border expands  5

Update on the war in Ukraine: Drones destroy Russian chip factory for missiles and fighter jets. 6

Russia accused of trying to hack border security cameras to disrupt aid to Ukraine. 7

Trump takes South African president by surprise with video and false accusations of racism against whites. 9

Trump news in brief: Ramaphosa keeps his cool in Trump’s ‘show for the cameras’ 11

Kim Jong-un furious after North Korean warship partially “destroyed” in failed launch  14

European unity against Putin in danger if Trump decides to ease sanctions. 15

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has courage. Pope Francis had it too. Why are so many cowards?  17

Report: Oil tanker “hijacked” near the Strait of Hormuz. 18

Chinese JY-27V radar targets F-22 and F-35 stealth fighter jets – 21 May 2025. 19

Cyberattack risks aboard ships are on the rise, warns US Coast Guard – 20 May 2025  22

BOEM plans to sell deep-sea mining lease off American Samoa. 24

Japan orders seventh Mogami-class frigate ‘Niyodo’ – 21 May 2025. 25

Exail to supply more robotic systems for Singapore Navy’s MCMs – 21 May 2025. 26

Can unmanned MUSVs and NOMARS replace the FFG-62 frigate programme?. 28

French Navy intelligence ship Dupuy de Lôme begins first operation in the Baltic Sea to track Russian fleet – 21 May 2025. 30

German Navy considers Tomahawk cruise missile for deep strike operations at sea – 21 May 2025. 31

Singapore improves security in the Strait of Malacca with the Pathmaster autonomous mine countermeasure system – 21 May 2025. 33

Poland sends Heweliusz to monitor Russia’s shadow fleet – 21 May 2025. 34

Japan has adopted a seventh Mogami-class frigate into its fleet – 21 May 2025. 35

Breaking news: Intel suggests Israel is preparing a MASSIVE attack on Iran; Iran rejects nuclear negotiations | TBN Israel

News from Ukraine | Wonderful! Ukraine strikes hard against Russian forces | EU strengthens its army. Trump hates Zelenskyy

Two Israeli embassy employees shot dead near Jewish museum in Washington DC – Secretary of Homeland Security

The shooting took place in front of the Jewish Museum in Washington DC, Kristi Noem said

Associated Press

Thursday, 22 May 2025, 05:46 CEST

Two employees of the Israeli embassy in Washington were shot dead on Wednesday evening near a Jewish museum, said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

Noem announced the deaths in a post on X after the shooting outside the Capital Jewish Museum, located a few blocks from the FBI office in the nation’s capital.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said she was at the scene with former judge Jeanine Pirro, who serves as federal prosecutor in Washington.

Israeli Embassy spokesman Tal Naim Cohen said staff members were shot at close range while attending a Jewish event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C.

‘We have full confidence in law enforcement authorities, both local and federal, that they will apprehend the shooter and protect Israel’s representatives and Jewish communities across the United States,’ she said.

FBI Director Kash Patel said he and his team had been briefed on the shooting.

‘As we work with the [Metropolitan Police Department] to respond and learn more, please pray for the victims and their families,’ he wrote on Twitter.

Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations, called the shooting ‘a depraved act of anti-Semitic terrorism.’

Police did not provide details late Wednesday evening on a possible motive for the shooting. A press conference was expected later Wednesday.

‘We are confident that the American authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act,’ Danon said in a post on X. ‘Israel will continue to act firmly to protect its citizens and representatives — anywhere in the world.’

,,,, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/22/two-israeli-embassy-staff-shot-dead-near-washington-dc-jewish-museum-homeland-security-secretary

Israeli troops fire ‘warning shots’ at 25 diplomats visiting the occupied West Bank

Gunfire forces delegation representing 31 countries, including Italy, Canada, Egypt and the United Kingdom, to take cover

Jason Burke and Emma Graham-Harrison in Jerusalem

Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 20:36 CEST

Israeli troops fired ‘warning shots’ at a group of 25 diplomats visiting Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Wednesday, sparking outrage and calls for an investigation from world leaders and ministers.

Video footage shows several diplomats giving interviews to the press when rapid gunfire was heard nearby, forcing them to run for cover. The delegation consisted of ambassadors and diplomats representing 31 countries, including Italy, Canada, Egypt, Jordan, the United Kingdom, China and Russia.

The group was on an official mission organised by the Palestinian Authority to observe the humanitarian situation in the area. The Israeli army said the visit had been approved but that the delegation had ‘deviated from the approved route’ and that Israeli soldiers had fired warning shots to drive them away from the area.

Canadian, British, French and other European ministers summoned Israeli ambassadors to their respective capitals to explain the ‘unacceptable’ incident, which will fuel already growing international anger and concern as Israel continues its offensive in Gaza and accelerates the expansion of settlements in the West Bank, which are illegal under international law.

Germany, a long-standing ally of Israel, condemned what it called ‘unprovoked fire’, while Canada, Turkey and the EU called for an investigation.

“We expect an immediate explanation of what happened. It is totally unacceptable,‘ Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said at a press conference. Four Canadian diplomats were part of the group.

A spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres also urged Israel to conduct a ’thorough investigation.”

‘It is clear that diplomats doing their job should never be shot at, attacked in any way, and that their safety and inviolability must be respected at all times,’ said spokesman Stéphane Dujarric.

Egypt said the incident ‘violates all diplomatic norms.’

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of ‘deliberately targeting’ the diplomatic delegation with gunfire.

The IDF said it regretted the ‘inconvenience caused’ and that senior officials would contact the diplomats to inform them of the results of the internal investigation into the incident.

The diplomatic delegation is visiting the Jenin refugee camp and conducting inspections in the West Bank. Photo: Anadolu/Getty

Jenin was the target of a major Israeli assault in January that forced tens of thousands of Palestinians to flee their homes, one of the largest displacements in the West Bank in recent years.

A new wave of air strikes and artillery shelling killed at least 82 people in Gaza on Wednesday, including several women and a week-old baby, the Gaza health ministry and hospital officials said.

In Khan Younis, where Israel recently ordered new evacuations ahead of a major attack on the southern town, 24 people were killed, including 14 from the same family, Palestinian officials reported.

On Wednesday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that ‘the entire Gaza Strip will be under Israeli army control’ by the end of the intensified offensive. Amid growing international pressure on Israel to allow food to reach starving Palestinians, he said: ‘We must avoid a humanitarian crisis in order to preserve our freedom of operational action.’

About 100 aid trucks have entered Gaza since Monday, when Netanyahu’s government agreed to lift an 11-week blockade that had brought the territory to the brink of ‘critical starvation.’ On Wednesday, several dozen passed through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint, but their cargo had not yet been distributed by late Wednesday.

Abdel-Nasser al-Ajramy, head of the Gaza bakers’ association, said that at least 25 bakeries that had been told they would receive flour from the World Food Programme had received nothing and that there had been no relief for people waiting for food.

Much of Gaza’s 2.3 million people depend on free bakeries and community canteens for survival. Almost all of these have been closed.

Aid trucks struggle to reach Gaza as air strikes continue – video report

‘We have no flour, no food, no water,’ said Sabah Warsh Agha, a 67-year-old woman from the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya. ‘We used to get water from the pump, but now the pump is not working. We have no diesel or gas.’

Complex logistics, ongoing fighting, Israel’s requirement to reload goods onto new trucks after they enter Gaza, limited fuel availability and poor road conditions are slowing down the distribution of aid, humanitarian officials said.

The Guardian understands that further delays occurred when the Israeli military instructed aid agencies to send convoys carrying hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of flour on routes along Gaza’s southern border with Egypt and along the coast, both considered prone to looting.

The new offensive in Gaza followed a two-month ceasefire and sparked strong condemnation from countries that had so far avoided openly criticising Israel. Even the US, the country’s most important ally, has shown signs of losing patience with Netanyahu.

On Tuesday, Britain announced the suspension of negotiations with Israel on a free trade agreement and, together with France and Canada, threatened ‘concrete measures’ if Israel continues its offensive and restrictions on the free movement of aid.

Separately, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc was reviewing its agreement with Israel on trade relations, given how it was conducting the war in Gaza. The pact specifies that all signatories must demonstrate ‘respect for human rights and democratic principles’.

The EU review could be completed relatively quickly, as officials could draw on a 34-page report compiled late last year detailing multiple allegations of systematic violations of international law during the conflict by both Israel and Hamas.

The report, seen by the Guardian, includes UN statistics on the number of casualties and concludes that 44% of those killed in the first months of the Israeli offensive were children. The report also lists Israeli attacks on hospitals and stresses that, under international humanitarian law, states have a ‘negative obligation’ not to provide aid or assistance to parties involved in a conflict in violation of international humanitarian law.

In Jerusalem, MP Ayman Odeh, a Palestinian citizen of Israel, was removed from the Knesset podium by security forces after accusing the government of killing 19,000 children in Gaza and waging war against civilians and the innocent.

Earlier this week, Yair Golan, a leader of the left-wing opposition, sparked a furious reaction from the government and its supporters when he said that ‘a healthy country does not kill children as a hobby’ and that Israel risks becoming a ‘pariah state among nations.’

Golan, a former deputy commander of the Israeli army, is the leader of one of the largest minority parties in the Israeli parliament. His words — and similar comments made by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in an interview with the BBC — represented a rare acknowledgement of Palestinian suffering by senior Israeli politicians. Most domestic criticism of the war has focused on the fate of hostages held in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the criticism as ‘shocking.’

‘While IDF soldiers are fighting Hamas, there are those who are reinforcing false propaganda against the State of Israel,’ said Netanyahu, who leads the most right-wing government in Israel’s history.

Indirect negotiations for a ceasefire in the Qatari capital, Doha, have failed. Israel recalled most of its negotiating team on Tuesday, saying it would leave lower-ranking officials in place. Qatari leaders, who are mediating the talks, said there was a big gap between the two sides that they had been unable to bridge.

The war in Gaza began when militants led by Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and kidnapping another 251. The militants still hold 58 prisoners, about a third of whom are believed to be alive, after most of the others were released under ceasefire agreements or other arrangements.

The ensuing Israeli offensive, which destroyed large parts of Gaza, killed over 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.

…. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/israeli-troops-fire-warning-shots-25-diplomats-visiting-occupied-west-bank

Finland “preparing for the worst” as Russian military presence near border expands

The head of Finnish defence strategy says they are monitoring Moscow’s manoeuvres ‘very closely’.

Miranda Bryant Northern correspondent

Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 20:00 CEST

Finland has said it expects Russia to strengthen its troops along their shared border after the war in Ukraine ends, following reports that Moscow has reinforced its military bases near the NATO border.

Major General Sami Nurmi, head of Finnish defence force strategy, said the army was monitoring Moscow’s manoeuvres ‘very closely’ and that it was their duty as members of the NATO alliance to ‘prepare for the worst’.

The Finnish border guard announced on Wednesday that it had completed the first 35 km (22 miles) of a planned 200 km fence on its eastern border with Russia, which has been closed for more than a year after Helsinki accused Moscow of directing asylum seekers to Finland in a ‘hybrid operation.’ The fence also uses cameras and sensors to distinguish between people and animals crossing.

Satellite images, published in the New York Times, appear to show an expansion of military infrastructure near the Finnish border, including rows of tents, military vehicles, renovations of fighter jet shelters and construction on a previously unused helicopter base.

Nurmi said: ‘They are changing structures and we are seeing moderate preparations in terms of infrastructure construction near our borders, which means that once the war in Ukraine is over, we hope, they will start to repatriate the forces that have been fighting in Ukraine, especially the ground forces.’

Although this was not unexpected, given that Finland joined NATO in 2023 at record speed after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Nurmi said they were monitoring the preparations ‘very closely.’

“They are doing it in stages. I would say it is still moderate numbers. It’s not about large construction projects, but about building new infrastructure and preparations, bringing new equipment to certain places,‘ he said.

’You also have to assess whether they are preparing to send more troops to Ukraine or whether they are preparing to strengthen their forces near our border. But I think they are doing both.”

Responding to Russia’s changes in activity, Donald Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he was ‘not at all concerned,’ adding that Finland and Norway ‘will be safe.’

Echoing the president’s sentiment, Nurmi said that ‘there is no immediate military threat to Finland or NATO from this direction.’

He added: ‘Immediately after the Ukrainian attack, we submitted our application to join NATO, and when we were accepted, Russia announced that it would begin to change its military position on the border.’

Finnish citizens have become accustomed to the imminent threat from their eastern neighbour, but hundreds of people are still signing up for emergency preparedness courses.

The National Association of Finnish Women’s Emergency Preparedness (known as Nasta) said interest in its training courses has remained high since it first surged in 2022, with more than 800 women signing up for the spring course,

with most courses filling up within three to four minutes.

But Suvi Aksela, communications and organisation manager at Nasta, said that border reinforcement is not a major topic of discussion in Helsinki. ‘It’s not very alarming for us,’ she said.

‘We are used to hearing such things from Russia, such as all these threats, and we know that once we joined NATO, they said they would strengthen their presence at the border, and they will probably do so, just because it is Russia.’

,,,,, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/finland-expects-russia-to-build-up-troops-at-border-after-ukraine-war-ends

Update on the war in Ukraine: Drones destroy Russian chip factory for missiles and fighter jets

Six Ukrainian soldiers killed in Russian missile strike on training ground; Polish navy chases away ship from ‘ghost fleet’ near submarine cable. What we know on day 1,184

Warren Murray, with Guardian journalists and news agencies

Thursday, 22 May 2025, 02:32 CEST

  • The Ukrainian army said that 10 of its drones struck the Bolkhovsky semiconductor factory, a supplier in the Oryol region for Russian fighter jet and missile manufacturers. Online videos and satellite fire monitoring by NASA confirmed this claim. ‘This is one of the leading enterprises in the Russian Federation in the field of development and production of semiconductor devices and components,’ the Ukrainian army said, adding that parts from the factory were used in Iskander and Kinzhal missiles.
  • A Russian attack on a military training ground in north-eastern Ukraine killed six soldiers and wounded at least 10 others, the Ukrainian National Guard said on Wednesday. The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed a ballistic missile strike on a Ukrainian special forces ‘training camp’. The Ukrainian National Guard said: ‘An internal investigation into the incident is ongoing. The commander of the military unit has been suspended and the necessary information has been forwarded to the law enforcement agencies.’ Commanders on both sides have been punished during the war after presiding over military gatherings for training, parades and presentations that were attacked by the enemy, resulting in casualties.
  • Russia said that more than 370 Ukrainian drones attacked across the border on Wednesday, 27 of which targeted the capital Moscow, where airports had to be temporarily closed.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening video address that the most intense fighting on the front line was taking place around the town of Pokrovsk, while Ukrainian forces remained active in two Russian regions along the border: Kursk and Belgorod. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kursk region on Tuesday. The Russian Defence Ministry said its forces were advancing at key points along the front, and pro-Russian bloggers claimed that Russia had broken through Ukrainian lines between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

Information from the battlefield could not be independently verified. Zelenskyy discussed the need to put pressure on Russia with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Wednesday: “It is important that all decisions are coordinated. Then sanctions will work. Without pressure on Moscow, there can be no just peace.

  • Everyone understands this.”
  • Russian military intelligence (GRU) is targeting organisations providing assistance to Ukraine by hacking surveillance cameras at border crossings and train stations and near military installations, as well as through tactics such as phishing emails and password theft, according to British and allied intelligence services. Daniel Boffey writes that the unit involved – GRU Unit 26165, also known as APT 28 or Fancy Bear – has been conducting a malicious cyber campaign against public and private organisations in NATO countries since 2022. In an advisory note, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – part of GCHQ – urged private companies involved in providing assistance to ‘take immediate steps to protect themselves’.
  • The Polish navy tracked a ‘ghost ship’ moving away from a submarine power cable linking Poland and Sweden. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Wednesday that the ship was engaged in ‘suspicious activities’ and that ‘following a successful intervention by our military, the ship left for one of the Russian ports.’ Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said that an emergency meeting of the Polish Maritime Operations Command would be held on Thursday.
  • Finland said it expects Russia to continue building up troops along the shared border after the war in Ukraine ends, writes Miranda Bryant, after reports emerged that Moscow had reinforced its military bases near the NATO border. Major General Sami Nurmi of the Finnish Defence Forces said the army was ‘very closely monitoring’ Moscow’s manoeuvres to ‘prepare for the worst’. The Finnish Border Guard announced on Wednesday that it had completed the first 35 km of a planned 200 km fence on its eastern border with Russia, which has been closed for more than a year after Helsinki accused Moscow of directing asylum seekers to Finland in a ‘hybrid operation.’The fence also uses cameras and sensors to distinguish between people and animals passing through. The fence also uses cameras and sensors to distinguish between people and animals crossing.

,,,, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/22/ukraine-war-briefing-drones-blast-russian-plant-for-missile-and-fighter-jet-chips

Russia accused of trying to hack border security cameras to disrupt aid to Ukraine

The UK claims that a GRU unit accessed surveillance cameras near border crossings, military installations and train stations in key locations across Europe.

Daniel Boffey Chief Reporter

Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 18:37 CEST

Russia has attempted to hack border security cameras to spy on and disrupt the flow of Western aid entering Ukraine, British intelligence services and their allies have claimed.

A Russian military intelligence unit is accused of using a range of methods to target organisations providing ‘foreign assistance’, hacking cameras at border crossings and railway stations and near military installations.

The GRU 26165 unit is also accused of sending phishing emails containing pornographic material and false professional information and of obtaining stolen account passwords to gain access to systems.

The unit – also known as APT 28 and Fancy Bear – is said to have been running a malicious cyber campaign against public and private organisations in NATO countries since 2022.

In its advisory note, the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) – part of GCHQ – urged private companies involved in providing assistance to ‘take immediate steps to protect themselves’.

‘In addition to targeting logistics entities, actors from Unit 26165 have likely used access to private cameras located in key locations, such as near border crossings, military installations and train stations, to track the movement of materials in Ukraine,’ the advisory said. ‘The actors also used legitimate municipal services, such as traffic cameras.’

It is said that approximately 10,000 cameras were accessed near ‘military installations and railway stations to track the movement of materials to Ukraine,’ of which 80% were in Ukraine and 10% in Romania.

It is claimed that 4% of the targeted cameras were located in Poland, 2.8% in Hungary and 1.7% in Slovakia. The locations of the other targeted cameras were not provided. The hacking is said to have allowed access to a ‘snapshot’ of the camera images.

It is alleged that other attempts were made to gather sensitive information about transport, such as train schedules and transport manifests. ‘In at least one case, the actors attempted to use voice phishing to gain access to privileged accounts by posing as IT personnel,’ according to the notice issued by 10 countries, including the US, France and Germany.

It adds: ‘The subjects of the spearphishing emails were diverse and ranged from professional topics to adult themes. The phishing emails were frequently sent through compromised accounts or free email accounts. The emails were usually written in the target’s native language and sent to a single targeted recipient.’

Paul Chichester, the NCSC’s chief operational officer, said: “This malicious campaign by Russia’s military intelligence service poses a serious risk to the organisations targeted, including those involved in providing assistance to Ukraine.

‘The UK and its partners are committed to raising public awareness of the tactics used. We strongly encourage organisations to familiarise themselves with the threats and mitigation recommendations included in the advisory to protect their networks.’

Suggested measures include increased monitoring, the use of strong multi-factor authentication, such as access keys, and ensuring that security updates are applied promptly to address vulnerabilities.

The advisory was developed in collaboration with agencies in the US, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, France, and the Netherlands.

The Russian unit has previously been accused of leaking information from the World Anti-Doping Agency database and played a key role in the 2016 cyberattack on the US Democratic National Committee.

,,,, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/russia-accused-trying-disrupt-aid-ukraine-hacking-border-crossings

Trump takes South African president by surprise with video and false accusations of racism against whites

Cyril Ramaphosa responds to the intimidating manoeuvre from the Oval Office and serious accusations of genocide against white people, suggesting calm

David Smith in Washington

Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 21:28 CEST

Donald Trump set a trap for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa by showing him a video that he falsely presented as evidence of genocide against white people in the ‘opposite of apartheid.’

This intimidating gesture on Wednesday created the most tense meeting in the Oval Office since Trump’s intimidation of Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February. But Ramaphosa — who had previously said he came to Washington to ‘reset’ relations between the two countries — refused to take the bait and suggested ‘discussing this very calmly.’

Trump has long claimed that Afrikaners, a minority descended mainly from Dutch settlers who ruled South Africa during the decades of racial apartheid, are being persecuted. South Africa rejects this accusation. Crime rates are high in the country, and the overwhelming majority of victims are black.

What began as a cordial meeting at the White House, with light jokes about golf, took a sharp turn when Ramaphosa told Trump that there was no genocide against Afrikaners.

Trump said, ‘We have thousands of stories that speak to that,’ then ordered his staff, ‘Turn off the lights and put that on.’

Sitting next to Trump in front of the fireplace, Ramaphosa forced a smile and turned to look at a large television screen, while Trump’s billionaire ally, South African-born Elon Musk, JD Vance, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth, and diplomats and journalists from both countries looked on.

The video included footage of former South African President Jacob Zuma and opposition politician Julius Malema singing an apartheid-era battle song called ‘Kill the Boer,’ which means farmer or Afrikaner, while supporters danced.

Ramaphosa calmly but firmly rejected the video, stressing that the views expressed in it did not represent government policy.

Trump and Ramaphosa had a tense discussion at the White House over false allegations of genocide against whites – video report

Images were also shown that Trump claimed showed the graves of over a thousand white farmers marked with white crosses. Ramaphosa, who remained largely impassive, occasionally turning his head to look, said he had not seen those images and would like to know where they were filmed.

Trump then presented a series of newspaper articles that he said were from recent days and reported on killings in South Africa. He read a few headlines and commented, ‘Death, death, death, horrible death.’

Ramaphosa acknowledged that there is crime in South Africa and said that most of the victims are black. Trump interrupted him and said, ‘Farmers are not black.’

The white genocide conspiracy theory has long been a staple of the racist far right and has been amplified in recent years by Musk and right-wing media personality Tucker Carlson.

Trump returned to the subject repeatedly during Wednesday’s televised meeting. He said: “Now I’m going to say, apartheid: terrible. That was the biggest threat. It was reported all the time. It’s kind of the opposite of apartheid.

‘What’s happening now is never reported. Nobody knows about it. All we know is that we’re being invaded by people, white farmers in South Africa, and it’s a big problem.’

He added: “They’re white farmers and they’re fleeing South Africa, and it’s very sad to see that.

But I hope we will have an explanation for this, because I know you don’t want this.‘

Ramaphosa, however, maintained a calm tone, noting: ’Nelson Mandela taught us that whenever problems arise, people must sit down and discuss them. And that is exactly what we would like to discuss.”

The meeting took place a few days after about 50 Afrikaners arrived in the US to accept Trump’s offer of ‘asylum’. Trump made the offer despite the fact that the US has stopped asylum seekers from most other countries from entering the country as part of restrictive immigration measures.

Relations between the two countries are at their lowest level since the end of apartheid in 1994. The US condemned South Africa’s accusations of genocide against Israel before the International Court of Justice, cut financial aid, announced tariffs of 31% and expelled South Africa’s ambassador for criticising Trump’s ‘Make America Great Again’ (Maga) movement.

But the biggest bone of contention was a South African land expropriation law signed in January that aims to redress historical inequalities of white minority rule. Ramaphosa denied that the law would be used to arbitrarily confiscate land owned by whites, insisting that all South Africans are protected by the constitution.

Trump, however, falsely claimed: ‘You allow them to take land — and when they take it, they kill the white farmers, and when they kill them, nothing happens to them…

You take people’s land, and these people are, in many cases, executed. They are executed, and they happen to be white.’

NAACP President Derrick Johnson said of the meeting: ‘There are no limits to how far Donald Trump will go to divide people based on race. It is truly disgusting to hear the president of the United States — in the Oval Office — promoting lies and propaganda. It is shameful and appalling.’

Ramaphosa arrived at the White House accompanied by his agriculture minister, John Steenhuisen, who is white, two of South Africa’s best golfers, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, and the richest person in the country, Johann Rupert, in an attempt to win over the golf-loving president.

All spoke during the meeting in the Oval Office and appeared to be well received by Trump. Rupert said South Africa needs technological help to stop the deaths in the country, which he said affect not only white farmers but the entire population. “We have too many deaths…

It’s not just white farmers, it’s a widespread problem and we need technological help. We need Starlink in every police station. We need drones,” he said.

South Africa will offer Musk, who was born in the country, an agreement to operate his Starlink satellite internet network in the country.

The Tesla and SpaceX boss accused Pretoria of ‘openly racist’ laws, referring to post-apartheid black empowerment policies, which he said were an obstacle to granting Starlink a licence. South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world.

Whites make up 7% of the country’s population but own at least half of South Africa’s land. They are also better off economically in almost every respect.

Away from the cameras, Trump and Ramaphosa held further talks and had lunch in the presence of Musk.

Later, at a press conference at a hotel in Washington, Ramaphosa said the visit was a success for trade and investment and rejected Trump’s comparison to the apartheid era. ‘There is no genocide in South Africa, and of course it’s a matter of perspective,’ he said.

‘As they say, sometimes the shape of a mountain depends on the angle from which you look at it. In this case, we cannot compare what is alleged to be genocide with what we experienced during the struggle, because people were killed because of the oppression that was taking place in our country.’

Ramaphosa suggested, however, that Trump remains open to persuasion, telling reporters: “When one of you — and thank God one of you asked — asked him if he was convinced that genocide had taken place, he said he was not yet convinced. No matter how much he broadcast the video and all those press articles, in the end I think there are doubts and mistrust in his mind about all of this.”

,,, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/21/trump-south-africa-president-meeting

Trump news in brief: Ramaphosa keeps his cool in Trump’s ‘show for the cameras’

The South African president insists that the meeting went ‘very well,’ despite Trump publicly rebuking him. Important political news from the US on Wednesday, 21 May 2025

The Guardian team

Thursday, 22 May 2025, 03:53 CEST

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa refused to take the bait when Donald Trump falsely accused his nation of genocide against white people, in a move his spokesman described as ‘a show for the cameras’.

Ramaphosa remained calm and suggested that the two leaders ‘discuss this very calmly,’ while Trump took him by surprise with a video in which he made false allegations that white Afrikaners in South Africa were victims of genocide.

‘President Ramaphosa did not come here for a television show, he came here to discuss with President Trump seriously how we can reset the strategic relationship between South Africa and the US,’ Ramaphosa’s spokesman Vincent Magwenya told South African television station Newzroom Afrika.

Ramaphosa appeared more cordial after the meeting, insisting that ‘it went very well.’ He added that he expects Trump to attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg in November, as the US is set to take over the group’s presidency in 2026.

‘I want to hand over the G20 presidency to President Trump in November and I told him he has to be there,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to hand over the G20 presidency to an empty chair.’

Trump describes treatment of Afrikaners as ‘the opposite of apartheid’

At the White House meeting, Trump said the treatment of white people in the country was ‘the opposite of apartheid.’ Trump has long claimed that Afrikaners, a minority descended mainly from Dutch settlers who ruled South Africa during the decades of racial apartheid, are persecuted. South Africa rejects this accusation. Crime rates are high in the country, and the overwhelming majority of victims are black.

Read the full article

Trump accepts plane from Qatar

The Trump administration has accepted a controversial gift of a Boeing 747 plane from the Qatari government and ordered the Air Force to assess how quickly the plane can be upgraded for use as a new Air Force One. The offer of the plane sparked a storm of bipartisan criticism of Trump, especially after the president’s visit to the country last week to conclude trade agreements with the US.

Read the full article

Trump says he is ‘seriously considering’ listing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on the stock market

Trump said he would soon make a decision on listing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on the stock market. The companies are the backbone of the US housing market and together back about 70% of US mortgages. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said: ‘Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are doing very well, making a lot of MONEY, and the timing seems right. Stay tuned!’

Read the full article

White House violated order by attempting to deport migrants to South Sudan

A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Homeland Security’s attempt to deport migrants to South Sudan was ‘clearly a violation’ of an order he had previously issued.

Judge Brian E Murphy made the remark during an emergency hearing he ordered in Boston after the Trump administration apparently deported eight people to South Sudan.

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Mahmoud Khalil was prevented from holding his son for the first time by ICE, lawyers say

Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist in detention, was not allowed to hold his newborn son after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials refused to allow a contact visit between him and his family, his lawyers said on Wednesday. Instead, Khalil was forced to see his one-month-old child for the first time through the window of a Louisiana detention centre, where he has been held since March.

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George Washington University student expelled after pro-Palestinian graduation speech

A student has been expelled from the George Washington University campus after using her graduation speech to criticise the university’s ties to Israel and express her support for the Palestinians. The graduate, Cecilia Culver, delivered her speech in front of nearly 750 students.

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Justice Department moves to cancel police reform agreements

The Justice Department decided on Wednesday to cancel an agreement with Minneapolis that provided for police reform after the killing of George Floyd, as well as a similar agreement with Louisville, Kentucky, after the death of Breonna Taylor, saying it did not want to continue investigating the cases.

The decision comes amid pressure to re-try Floyd’s killing, undermine efforts to promote diversity, and define liberal-led cities such as Minneapolis as crime-ridden.

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What else happened today:

…. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/22/trump-administration-news-updates-today

Kim Jong-un furious after North Korean warship partially “destroyed” in failed launch

South Korea said the destroyer was listing to one side in the water after the launch ceremony for the new 5,000-tonne ship.

Agence France-Presse

Thursday, 22 May 2025, 05:02 CEST

A major accident damaged part of a new naval destroyer during its launch ceremony in North Korea, state media reported, angering leader Kim Jong-un, who called the accident a ‘criminal act’ that caused the ‘collapse’ of the nation’s dignity.

A ‘serious accident’ occurred during the launch ceremony of the new 5,000-tonne destroyer in the eastern port city of Chongjin on Wednesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

Blaming ‘inexperienced command and operational negligence’ during the launch, which Kim attended, KCNA said the incident left ‘some sections of the warship’s bottom crushed.’

The agency said the accident had ‘destroyed the balance of the warship.’ The South Korean military said the warship was in the water, lying on its side.

Kim watched the entire incident and said the accident ‘led to the collapse of our state’s dignity and self-respect,’ adding that the immediate restoration of the destroyer ‘is not just a practical matter, but a political matter directly related to the authority of the state.’

He said that the ‘irresponsible mistakes’ of the officials responsible would be ‘addressed at the plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Party, which will be convened next month.’

Pyongyang unveiled another 5,000-tonne destroyer-class ship, named Choe Hyon, last month. At the time, state media released images of Kim attending a ceremony alongside his daughter Ju Ae, considered by many experts to be his likely successor.

This photo, taken on 25 April 2025 and published by the official North Korean news agency Korean Central News Agency, shows the launch ceremony for a newly built destroyer. Photo: KCNA VIA KNS/AFP/Getty Images

North Korea said the ship is equipped with ‘the most powerful weapons’ and ‘will enter service early next year.’

Some analysts have said the ship could be equipped with short-range tactical nuclear missiles, although North Korea has not proven it has the ability to miniaturise nuclear weapons.

The South Korean military said that Choe Hyon may have been developed with Russian help, probably in exchange for Pyongyang sending thousands of soldiers to help Moscow in its fight against Kiev.

Chongjin, the North Korean city where the launch ceremony took place, is located near the Russian port of Vladivostok.

In a report published last week on preparations for the launch of the damaged ship, the American organisation 38 North stated that it appears the ship will be launched sideways from the quay, a method that has not been observed before in North Korea.

‘The use of this launch method may be a necessity, as the quay where the ship is being built has no slope,’ the 38 North report said. Satellite images of the shipyard on the day before the launch showed the destroyer positioned on the quay with support vessels nearby.

With Reuters

,,, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/22/north-korea-kim-jong-un-warship-destroyer-accident

European unity against Putin in danger if Trump decides to ease sanctions

Jennifer Rankinin Brussels

EU hopes that the US will exert greater pressure on the Kremlin have been dashed, and Hungary could further exacerbate the situation

Wednesday, 21 May 2025, 16:37 CEST

European leaders – who promised to impose ‘massive’ new sanctions against Russia after Vladimir Putin rejected a ceasefire in Ukraine – face the prospect of having to introduce further economic restrictions on Russia’s war economy without US support.

European hopes that Donald Trump might step up pressure on the Kremlin were dashed after a two-hour phone call with no results between the US president and Putin on Monday. Trump did not follow through on previous threats to impose ‘large-scale’ sanctions against Russia if no ceasefire was reached, but instead praised the prospect of resuming trade with Moscow.

‘Russia wants to do massive trade with the United States once this catastrophic “bloodshed” is over, and I agree,’ Trump wrote on social media. Ukraine, he added, ‘can benefit greatly from trade as it rebuilds its country.’

For Europe, the question is: what next? This week, the EU approved the 17th round of sanctions against Russia, which had already been in preparation weeks before the latest ultimatums to Putin. These were a series of more incremental measures than previous rounds, as the EU finds it more difficult to agree on new targets, with each sanction requiring unanimity and many important measures requiring consensus already agreed.

On Tuesday, the EU added dozens of Russian businesspeople and companies to the sanctions list, bringing the total number of individuals and entities subject to asset freezes and travel bans to over 2,400. It also said it had imposed the largest ever package of sanctions against Putin’s ghost fleet of poorly maintained oil tankers flying flags of convenience and allowing Russia to sell oil to countries such as India in defiance of Western restrictions.

After the G7 and the EU banned companies in their territories from selling or supporting the sale of Russian oil at a price higher than $60 per barrel, European shipping companies sold dozens of old ships that could be re-registered abroad in countries such as India, Hong Kong, Vietnam and the Seychelles, which are not participating in the economic sanctions against Moscow. These ships allow Russia to sell its oil at a price higher than the cap.

Another 189 ships have been banned from accessing EU ports and services such as insurance in an effort to stop trade, bringing the total number of sanctioned ships to 342.

However, for several EU countries, the measures are insufficient, especially as the ghost fleet continues to grow. An EU diplomat estimated that Russia has around 800 ships in its ghost fleet, compared to just 100 two years ago.

Even before these measures were finalised, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU was preparing ‘tough sanctions’ against Russian energy and banks, including measures against the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines. Nord Stream 1 was taken out of service after a series of underwater explosions for which no one has claimed responsibility; Nord Stream II never received a licence. However, Russia has expressed interest in reviving gas projects linking Russia to Germany. ‘The idea [of sanctions] is to discourage any interest, especially from investors, in carrying out any activity within Nord Stream in the future,’ said von der Leyen’s spokesperson.

In addition to financial sanctions and restrictions on the ghost fleet, the European Commission is also considering lowering the $60 cap on oil prices.

The plans fall short of the expectations of Ukraine and its strongest allies in the EU. EU countries, such as those in the Nordic and Baltic regions, would like the bloc to take urgent measures to stop purchasing Russian gas – earlier this month, the Commission proposed phasing out all Russian gas by the end of 2027.

For now, the EU remains Russia’s largest buyer of liquefied natural gas, with much of the energy ultimately ending up in Germany via Belgian ports. Ukraine is calling for sanctions against foreign countries that buy Russian oil, according to documents leaked from Kiev and seen by Reuters, which were published on Wednesday.

Such secondary sanctions, which could affect major importers such as China and India, would be a significant step. So far, the EU has limited itself to imposing sanctions on a few relatively small companies in China and other countries that have supplied military technology to Russia. Ukraine would also like to see the oil price cap reduced to $30 per barrel.

Questions are increasingly being raised about what the EU can do without the US – the price cap was agreed by the G7, which includes Washington. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, described the oil price cap as the ‘most important’ measure in the 18th package, given the role fossil fuels play in keeping the Russian economy afloat. She cited reports on the state of the Russian economy, which she said was ‘not in a good place.’

If the US decides to relax sanctions against Russia, sources within the EU fear that European unity could be fractured. Hungary, which has repeatedly threatened to block the sanctions, could veto the bloc’s sanctions against the Russian economy when they are renewed in July, an explosive move that could end restrictions on €210 billion of Russian central bank assets frozen in the EU.

Some EU countries, including several Baltic states, could reimpose sanctions at the national level, but many countries do not have the necessary legal framework. Officials are looking for other ways to ‘protect sanctions against Hungary,’ such as imposing capital controls and high tariffs on Russian economic sectors instead of sanctions. EU trade policy works on the basis of qualified majority voting, while sanctions require unanimity. However, everyone still hopes to avoid this plan B.

,,,,, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/21/european-unity-against-putin-will-be-in-peril-if-trump-moves-to-ease-sanctions

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has courage. Pope Francis had it too. Why are so many cowards?

Alexander Hurst

Corruption and greed have eroded morality in public life. Powerful people who do what is right are few and far between.

Thursday, 22 May 2025, 06:00 CEST

Protesters in Tbilisi, Georgia, demand fair and legitimate elections. Photo: Ilya Vaga/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock

‘Courage is seeking the truth and telling it,’ said Jean Jaurès, French philosopher and leader of the Socialist Party, to a group of high school students in 1903. ‘It does not mean submitting to the law of triumphant lies as they pass by and not repeating, with your soul, your mouth and your hands, the meaningless applause and fanatical boos.’

When the First World War showed its ugly and pointless face, Jaurès refused to give in to blind fanaticism and tried to coordinate a Franco-German general strike to stop the rush to war. In 1914, he paid for these efforts with his life when a 29-year-old French nationalist shot him twice in the back.

The courage of ordinary people is not lacking. Doctors and humanitarian workers rushing to war zones and refugee camps to care for those in need. Rümeysa Öztürk, a PhD student arrested in the US for expressing her opinion against the relentless bombing of Gaza. Israeli conscientious objectors and a growing number of other refuseniks. Protesters in Tbilisi, Belgrade and Istanbul, who have repeatedly faced attempts at repression by their governments.

Examples of political courage on the part of those in power? These seem fewer and farther between. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has demonstrated it endlessly. So have French judges, when they defended the rule of law – which in normal times would have meant simply doing their duty, but in our times has meant facing death threats. Pope Francis has promoted reforms of the Catholic Church to make it more compassionate and inclusive, and he has not deviated from them. He did not ‘change strategy’ when the number of believers did not increase, because he did not have a strategy – he simply did what was right.

On the other hand, in recent months we have seen so many examples of political cowardice at the highest levels that I can only speak about them in general terms. The judges of the United States Supreme Court who, last summer, tried their hardest to create a monarchical presidency, with impunity to break the law as they pleased. Law firms that offered hundreds of millions of dollars in pro bono services to an administration busy dismantling the rule of law.

CEOs and companies that opened the money tap and trampled over each other to roll back inclusion initiatives to please a president who is driving down their share prices. A level of fraud, alleged corruption and insider trading that is almost comically obvious. Republicans in Congress who sold out their country’s constitutional principles to avoid primary elections — or perhaps, as Senator Lisa Murkowski said, because ‘we are all afraid… because the reprisals are real.’

What is right? Who is acting honourably? With courage? When did we stop considering it normal to ask such questions – and to demand these things from those who lead us? To demand that they, well, lead?

With virtually no other option, Harvard University has finally decided to oppose the Trump administration’s scandalous demands. That is not to minimise the moral courage of this decision; other universities could have and did make different choices when faced with the same situation. As a result of Harvard’s stance, hundreds of college and university presidents have decided that it is better to stand together than to fall one by one.

But perhaps at this moment, Harvard and other similar elite schools could take the opportunity to reflect on the virtues they have instilled in their students. For years, nearly half of Harvard graduates have gone straight from campus to jobs at consulting firms and investment banks. It is discouraging, but perhaps not surprising, given that, according to its newspaper, the Crimson, over the past four decades, far more first-year students have been concerned with ‘being financially well off’ than with ‘developing a meaningful philosophy of life.’

When the main criterion of measurement becomes ‘success’ in the accumulation of goods – money, followers, territory, votes – society loses its moral centre. As Pankaj Mishra wrote in his 2017 book, Age of Anger, part of the current crisis is that commercial society has liberated individuals who are rootless from each other or from a broader social structure.

It may seem strange, almost conservative, to denounce a breakdown in society’s commitment to morality in public life. But I reject this idea. Without the ability to think and speak in a real moral language, we end up in a place where there is no shame in hypocrisy, no dishonour in rapacious greed; where truth or falsehood matters less than the number of people who believe in them. We arrive at a place where the richest man in the world has overseen a series of devastating cuts to aid that will indirectly kill hundreds of thousands of children and condemn millions more to death from disease. There is a descriptive word for this: the word is evil.

Much of the media — certainly the media in the United States — has a lot to answer for in how it has framed the public conversation. Far too often, it has treated politics primarily as a horse race. What does this mean for a candidate’s electoral chances? How will it play in the polls? Who is rising, who is falling? Who agrees, who disagrees, and what does each party say about the other? What the media does not like to do, because it is much more difficult and much riskier, is to discuss whether the policies proposed and the decisions taken are morally commendable, fair, honourable, courageous.

The emphasis on truth, as Jaurès praised it, opens many other doors. Among them, the ability to move from a political question – what do we want? – to a more courageous one: is this what we should want?

,,,, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/22/volodymyr-zelenskyy-pope-francis-public-life-powerful-people

Report: Oil tanker “hijacked” near the Strait of Hormuz

Iranian forces have intercepted a foreign-flagged oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz, according to British maritime security consultancy Ambrey.

In a notice published on Tuesday, Ambrey said that a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker reported a ‘hijacking’ at a position approximately 50 nautical miles northwest of Bandar-e Jask, on the Gulf of Oman side of the Strait of Hormuz.

After the emergency call, the ship did not respond to further VHF calls, and its AIS transmissions became irregular about an hour after the initial call. At that time, the ship was en route and heading towards the Strait of Hormuz.

Ambrey did not name the vessel, but said the tanker has links to the United Arab Emirates and is believed to be part of the ‘shadow fleet’ oriented towards Iran. A sister ship was blacklisted by the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for violating US sanctions against Iran.

The circumstances of the ‘hijacking’ report were not immediately clear, but there are many precedents for sudden and unannounced interdictions near Iranian waters. The most common explanation is local law enforcement action. Iran regularly intercepts coastal vessels for fuel trafficking, which is a significant problem for the Iranian economy. Iran’s subsidies for petrol and diesel are among the highest in the world, and informal traders take advantage of low public prices to buy cheaply in Iran and sell at high prices in neighbouring countries. Most of the trafficking crosses Iran’s land borders, but some goes by sea.

Source: here

Chinese JY-27V radar targets F-22 and F-35 stealth fighter jets – 21 May 2025

On 20 May 2025, China revealed a new military radar system, the JY-27V, which its state media claims can detect American fifth-generation stealth fighters like the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.

Unveiled at a radar exhibition in Hefei, Anhui province, the truck-mounted system developed by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation [CETC] is said to use very high frequency [VHF] radio waves to identify and track stealth aircraft, potentially guiding air defence systems for precision strikes.

This development, reported by the South China Morning Post, signals China’s ongoing effort to counter US air superiority in contested regions such as the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, raising questions about the future of stealth technology in modern warfare.

The JY-27V, an evolution of the previous JY-27A, represents a significant step forward in China’s efforts to challenge the dominance of stealth platforms. Its unveiling at the World Radio Detection and Ranging Expo, which ran from Saturday to Monday in Hefei, drew attention to its ability to pierce the low-observable characteristics of aircraft designed to avoid traditional radar systems.

According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the radar’s active antenna can deploy and begin operating within minutes, providing rapid deployment and evacuation capabilities essential for survival on the battlefield. CETC scientist Xu Haizhou described the antenna’s folding mechanism as smooth and quiet, highlighting its mobility and operational efficiency.

The system’s design prioritises flexibility, with a large antenna array that allows it to detect ‘highly concealed targets’ at significant distances. However, specific performance indicators remain unverified by independent sources.

Stealth technology has long been a cornerstone of American air power, with the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II embodying decades of investment in low-observable aircraft. The F-22, developed by Lockheed Martin, is an air superiority fighter optimised to penetrate contested airspace.

Its angular design, radar-absorbing materials and internal weapon bays reduce its radar cross-section to approximately 0.0001 square metres, equivalent to the size of a marble, making it nearly invisible to most conventional radars operating in the X band [8-12 GHz].

The F-35, a multi-role fighter jet, incorporates similar stealth features, with an estimated RCS of 0.001 square metres, and integrates advanced sensors and network-centric warfare capabilities. These aircraft are designed to operate undetected, delivering precision strikes or ensuring air superiority against adversaries equipped with sophisticated air defence systems.

The Pentagon has invested heavily in these programmes, with the F-35 project costing over $428 billion, underscoring the strategic importance of stealth in American military doctrine.

China’s JY-27V operates in the VHF band, which uses longer wavelengths [1-10 metres] compared to the shorter frequencies in the X band targeted by stealth models. These longer waves interact differently with stealth coatings, which are optimised to absorb or scatter higher frequency signals.

VHF radars can detect larger structural components of stealth aircraft, such as wings or tails, producing stronger echo signals that can reveal their presence. CETC claims that the JY-27V’s high power aperture and intelligent signal processing algorithms improve its ability to locate and track low-RCS targets, potentially integrating with systems such as the HQ-9B surface-to-air missile to deliver precision strikes.

The radar’s mobility, enabled by its truck-mounted platform, allows it to be quickly repositioned, reducing its vulnerability to suppression by enemy forces. This combination of VHF technology and rapid deployment marks a notable advance over previous systems such as the JY-27A, which has been deployed in regions such as eastern Ladakh, near the border between India and China.

The significance of the JY-27V lies not only in its technical specifications, but also in its role within China’s broader anti-access/area denial [A2/AD] strategy. This approach aims to restrict the ability of US and allied forces to operate freely in regions such as the Indo-Pacific, where tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea remain high.

China has deployed similar radar systems, such as the YLC-8E and SLC-7, at recent exhibitions, showcasing a growing portfolio of anti-stealth technologies. The JY-27V’s ability to integrate with other sensors and air defence networks could improve China’s situational awareness, forcing US forces to adapt their tactics.

For example, stealth aircraft may need to rely more on electronic warfare, low-altitude flight profiles, or long-range weapons to avoid detection, each of which introduces operational trade-offs such as increased fuel consumption or reduced mission flexibility.

Historically, claims about anti-stealth radar capabilities are not new. In 2016, China claimed that its JY-26 radar tracked F-22s over South Korea, a claim met with scepticism due to the lack of independent verification.

Similarly, Russia has developed VHF systems such as the 55Zh6U Nebo-U, which claims to detect stealth aircraft but struggles with low resolution, making it difficult to provide quality weapon tracks. The JY-27V appears to address some of these limitations with its AESA antenna, which offers improved accuracy and jamming resistance compared to older mechanically scanned arrays.

However, experts caution that detecting a stealth aircraft is only part of the challenge; guiding a missile to hit a fast-moving, low-observable target requires precise coordination between the radar and fire control systems, a capability that remains unproven in real-world scenarios.

China’s development of the JY-27V reflects a broader global race to counter stealth technology. Russia, for example, has invested in systems such as the Nebo-M, which combines VHF, UHF and higher-frequency radars to create a layered detection network.

These systems seek to exploit inherent weaknesses in stealth design, which is less effective against longer-wavelength radars. In response, the US has pursued countermeasures, including advanced electronic warfare systems such as the Next Generation Jammer on the EA-18G Growler, designed to disrupt enemy radar signals.

The US Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) programme also aims to integrate new materials and technologies to maintain stealth advantages, suggesting that the technological competition remains dynamic.

The unveiling of the JY-27V comes amid heightened regional tensions. In recent years, China has expanded its military presence in the South China Sea, deploying assets on militarised islands such as Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef. These outposts often house advanced radars and missile systems, forming part of an integrated defence network.

The potential export of the radar to allies such as Pakistan, which has used Chinese-supplied weapons such as the PL-15 air-to-air missile in tensions with India, could reshape regional power dynamics.

For example, during the 2019 India-Pakistan skirmish following the Balakot airstrike, Indian Air Force aircraft encountered Chinese-made air defence systems operated by Pakistan, highlighting the growing influence of Chinese military technology in regional conflicts.

The operational history of similar systems provides context for assessing the potential impact of the JY-27V. In 2019, an Israeli F-35 reportedly destroyed a Chinese-made JY-27 radar in Syria, exploiting its vulnerability to low-altitude attacks and gaps in Syria’s integrated air defence system (IADS).

This incident highlights the limitations of stand-alone radar systems, even those designed for anti-stealth roles. Effective air defence requires a robust network of sensors, command and control systems, and interceptors, areas where China has made significant strides but still lags behind the US in terms of integration and operational experience.

The JY-27V’s ability to fold and move in ten minutes, as reported by the Global Times, improves its survivability, but it remains a high-value target for US and allied forces equipped with anti-radiation missiles such as the AGM-88 HARM.

China’s focus on anti-stealth radars aligns with its broader military modernisation efforts. In March 2025, China announced a 7.2% increase in its defence budget, prioritising advanced technologies to close the gap with the US.

This investment has led to systems such as the J-20 stealth fighter jet, which, although less advanced than the F-22 or F-35, incorporates features such as infrared search and track (IRST) systems to detect the thermal signatures of stealth aircraft. The combination of such sensors with radars such as the JY-27V could create a multi-layered detection capability, challenging US forces operating in contested environments.

However, the effectiveness of these systems depends on factors such as operator training, system integration and resilience against electronic countermeasures, areas where independent data is scarce.

The capabilities of the JY-27V, while impressive on paper, face practical challenges. VHF radars, despite their ability to detect stealth aircraft, suffer from lower resolution compared to X-band systems, making it difficult to provide accurate targeting data.

This limitation requires integration with other sensors, such as infrared or higher-frequency radars, to achieve a quality weapon trajectory. In addition, stealth aircraft such as the F-35 use advanced electronic countermeasures, including radar jamming pods and towed decoys, which can degrade the performance of even sophisticated systems.

The US has also developed tactics to exploit terrain masking and low-altitude flight to minimise detection, as demonstrated in operations against adversaries with advanced air defences.

The global implications of the JY-27V extend beyond the competition between the US and China. If exported to countries such as Pakistan or Iran, the radar could complicate the air operations of US allies such as India or Israel, which rely on stealth or conventional aircraft. In the Indo-Pacific, Japan and Australia, both operators of the F-35, may need to adjust their operational planning to account for China’s growing anti-stealth capabilities.

The radar’s mobility and rapid setup time make it a versatile asset for dynamic battlefields, allowing China or its allies to maintain situational awareness in contested areas. However, the lack of open-source data on the JY-27V’s real-world performance leaves questions about its ability to deliver on CETC’s claims.

The unveiling of the JY-27V marks a significant moment in the ongoing technological race between stealth and anti-stealth systems. While China’s advances call into question the perceived invulnerability of American stealth fighter jets, the effectiveness of these radars depends on their integration into a broader defence network and their ability to withstand countermeasures.

The US has faced similar claims before, from both China and Russia, and has responded with innovations in materials, tactics and electronic warfare. The introduction of the JY-27V underscores the dynamic nature of modern air warfare, in which no single system guarantees dominance.

As both nations continue to invest in cutting-edge technologies, the balance of power remains in flux, raising the question: Will China’s latest radar reshape the battlefield or merely spur the next round of American countermeasures?

Source: here

Cyberattack risks aboard ships are on the rise, warns US Coast Guard – 20 May 2025

The US Coast Guard’s cyber security report for the US maritime industry is now available for 2024, and the service is pleased to report that the sector’s security posture is better than it was in 2023. The risks have not gone away, but US stakeholders are taking steps to address the threat.

‘The widespread adoption of multi-factor authentication and technical improvements against phishing have helped drive this change, but there is still much more to be done,’ said the Coast Guard Cyber Command.

Cyberattack risks for maritime stakeholders remain severe. The Coast Guard responded to 36 reported cyber incidents in 2024, with an average cost per breach for victims reaching approximately $4.9 million. Seventy percent of incidents resulted in significant or very significant disruption to the targeted organisation.

Phishing remains the most common vulnerability for hackers’ initial point of entry, and financial gain — using coercive techniques such as ransomware — remains a primary motive for attackers.

The risks of an attack spreading from shore-based IT networks to shipboard IT systems are increasing, the service warned. In previous years, ships were isolated, but with the advent of inexpensive satellite broadband and cloud computing, this is changing rapidly. ‘Cyber attacks affecting a company’s enterprise network are now much more likely to affect IT systems on board ships and disrupt ship operations,’ the service warned.

The agency paid particular attention to the risks associated with ZPMC’s ship-to-shore cranes. These Chinese-built cranes dominate the global STS equipment market but run on digital systems that are riddled with security flaws, the Coast Guard warned — including operating systems and communications protocols that are outdated and known to be vulnerable.

The most worrying elements are the cellular modems built into certain crane models and remote access clauses in contracts, which could allow unwanted remote monitoring or control. (ZPMC is owned by the Chinese state and is subject to Chinese information gathering laws.) No such unauthorised activity has been detected, but the service has not focused its efforts on detecting it; to date, it has allocated staff time to identifying vulnerabilities rather than counterintelligence, the centre said.

The Coast Guard believes that any malicious activity on ZPMC cranes (if any) would be well hidden in the network’s daily traffic, and operators will first need to implement best cybersecurity practices before they can remove any unknown intruders. In all cases, the service recommends minimising remote access authorisation for ZPMC or any other third party.

“Review contract language requiring remote access, installation of cellular modems or other third-party maintenance procedures. Conduct routine physical audits to verify compliance with contractual agreements,‘ the Coast Guard advised terminal operators. ’Partners with the best crane security posts have been aggressive in challenging these access requirements through the contracting process.”

Criminal hackers are becoming increasingly commercial

On Tuesday, leading managed satellite communications service provider Marlink released its own report for the second half of 2024 and reported worrying results. Marlink’s security centres are now seeing cybercriminals using more advanced and effective tactics and more AI automation to accelerate their attacks.

Marlink’s security centres handled 50 major incidents across a global fleet of 2,000 ships in the second half of the year, along with nearly 11,000 malware incidents and billions of smaller events. AI is fuelling the evolutionary process of cyber threat actors, accelerating phishing campaigns and helping to write new hacking tools. Meanwhile, professional ‘access brokers’ have created a growing market, selling illegal access to corporate networks for other criminals to exploit.

‘S2 2024 saw a significant evolution in cyber threats as malicious actors adopted increasingly effective, structured and business-like approaches to cybercrime, putting additional pressure on the maritime industry,’ warned Nicolas Furgé, president, Marlink Cyber.

Source: here

BOEM plans to sell deep-sea mining lease off American Samoa

Following a request from US deep-sea mining start-up Impossible Minerals and a new executive order from President Donald Trump, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has launched the process to organise a mineral lease sale for the collection of polymetallic nodules off the coast of American Samoa. If approved, it would be the first commercial licence for deep-sea mineral collection to be granted in a generation and could provide a test case for a sovereign licensing process that would avoid oversight by the UN’s International Seabed Authority (ISA).

‘Critical minerals are fundamental to strengthening our nation’s resilience and protecting our national interests,’ said Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. ‘By providing opportunities for responsible access to deep-sea mineral resources, we are supporting both American economic growth and national security.’

The president’s recent executive order — drafted with input from Canadian firm The Metals Company — drew attention to the proposal for US permits for work outside US waters. The order directed the Department of Commerce to come up with a US leasing mechanism for areas outside sovereign jurisdiction. For legal backing, the order uses the Deep Sea Hard Mineral Resources Act, an obscure law from the 1980s. This Cold War-era law provides a path to unilateral recovery of resources on the high seas, bypassing the ISA, which has jurisdiction under UNCLOS. (The United States has not ratified UNCLOS.)

This plan has drawn criticism from environmental NGOs and the ISA, which has argued in favour of a UN-mandated licensing system for areas of ‘common heritage of mankind.’

The most commercially compelling and easily exploitable resource base for deep-sea mining lies in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, halfway between Central America and Hawaii, where polymetallic nodules can be found in high densities. This area is far from any exclusive economic zone and is at the centre of the public debate on deep-sea mining – and is the main focus of the ISA’s international regulatory work.

The most controversial section of the White House order concerned international resource areas such as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone, but the same order also instructed the Department of the Interior to come up with a licensing process for resources in the US exclusive economic zone, using the Interior’s separate authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). This is the authority that BOEM relied on for Tuesday’s announcement of a lease planning area off American Samoa.

In a statement, BOEM said its planning process will follow all the normal conventions of an OCSLA lease sale, just like an offshore oil or wind lease contract. BOEM intends to conduct a review of the National Environmental Policy Act, Federal Register notices, and opportunities for input from indigenous stakeholders, ocean users, industry, government, and members of the public. The process will be closely watched at home and abroad, as other nations have an interest in making similar moves.

Source: here

Japan orders seventh Mogami-class frigate ‘Niyodo’ – 21 May 2025

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) today held a delivery ceremony and ‘flag-raising ceremony for the self-defence ship’ for the Niyodo (によど).

The event marks the official commissioning of the ship, the seventh FFM in the Mogami class, with the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF).

JS Niyodo has been assigned to the 12th Escort Division, based at the Kure Naval Base in Hiroshima Prefecture. This is the first deployment of a Mogami-class frigate in Kure.

Notably, Niyodo has become the first Mogami-class frigate equipped with the Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS). The first six ships of the class are scheduled to be equipped with VLS at a later date.

In the supplementary budget for fiscal year 2021, the Ministry of Defence in Tokyo allocated 8.4 billion yen ($58 million) for the purchase of its first two VLSs to be equipped with the JS Niyodo and JS Yubetsu, the eighth ship of the Mogami class.

The Ministry of Defence also secured 78.7 billion yen ($544 million) for the purchase of Mk 41 VLS and other equipment for the remaining 10 Mogami-class ships in its budget for fiscal year 2023. Of these 10 VLSs, three are scheduled to be delivered to the Ministry of Defence in fiscal year 2025, four in fiscal year 2027 and three in fiscal year 2028, according to a Ministry of Defence document obtained by Naval News.

A JMSDF spokesperson confirmed to Naval News that all FFMs after the seventh and eighth ships in the class will be introduced into service with the weapon system already installed.

Niyodo (によど), named after the Niyodo River (仁淀川, Niyodo-gawa) located in the Shikoku region of southwestern Japan, was launched by MHI in Nagasaki on 26 September 2023.

It was originally scheduled to be commissioned in fiscal year 2024, which ended on 31 March 2025. However, the JMSDF spokesperson stated that the commissioning of the Niyodo had been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and delays in the delivery of semiconductors.

The FFM (also known as 30FFM and formerly known as 30DX) is a state-of-the-art multi-mission frigate designed for the JMSDF. A total of 12 frigates are expected to be procured for the JMSDF.

The two shipyards responsible for building the class are MHI in Nagasaki and its subsidiary Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Maritime Systems Co.

Equipped with its compact and concealed hull form, the JS Niyodo was built for approximately 47.4 billion yen ($327 million) under a contract awarded in March 2022, according to the JMSDF and MHI. Like the other ships in the class, the 3,900-tonne vessel will have a crew of approximately 90, a width of 16.3 metres and a draught of 9 metres.

Powered by a combined diesel and gas propulsion system (CODAG) with two MAN 12V28/33D STC diesel engines and a Rolls-Royce MT30 gas turbine, the Mogami class is capable of reaching a maximum speed of over 30 knots. The Mogami class marks the first instalment of a CODAG system on any JMSDF vessel.

The FFM will be equipped with a wide variety of weapons and systems, as follows:

1. BAE Systems 5-inch (127 mm) calibre 62 Mk 45 Mod 4 ×1 naval gun system

2. Japan Steel Works 12.7 mm remote weapon system ×2

3. Mk.41 VLS (16 cells)

4. Raytheon SeaRAM ×1

5. MHI Type 17 4-tube launcher × 2

6. Mitsubishi Electric OPY-2 multifunction radar

7. Mitsubishi Electric OAX-3EO/IR sensors

8. Hitachi OQQ-11 anti-mine sonar

9. NEC OQQ-25 anti-submarine sonar (VDS/TASS)

10. UUV (MHI OZZ-5) and USV (JMU Defense Systems) for mine countermeasures

11. Naval mines for offensive mine warfare

New FFM programme

The JMSDF plans to procure a new class of 12 FFMs from 2024 to 2028. The first of these new FFMs is scheduled to enter service in fiscal year 2028, and if construction proceeds smoothly, all 12 ships will be in service by the end of fiscal year 2032.

The new frigates will essentially be improved Mogami-class ships, to be built to a design proposed by MHI. Naval News previously reported on the ‘New FFM’ at this link.

In a landmark move, the Australian government has selected Japan’s MHI and Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) over Spanish and South Korean competitors to build the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) future general-purpose frigates. MHI is launching the New FFM, or the modernised Mogami-class frigate, to the Albanian government, while TKMS has offered its MEKO A-200 design.

In addition, last November, Japan and India signed a memorandum of implementation (MOI) for Tokyo’s planned export to New Delhi of an advanced integrated stealth antenna system currently used on the Mogami class.

Source: here

Exail to supply more robotic systems for Singapore Navy’s MCMs – 21 May 2025

K-STER drone integrated into the Singapore Navy’s USV (Exail photo)

As part of the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) ambitious programme to modernise its mine countermeasure capabilities, Exail has been selected through multiple contracts to provide a significant portion of the deliverables for this drone-based solution.

The Singapore Navy has been a long-standing and regular partner of the company for several decades. Exail has notably equipped first-generation minehunters with its robotic mine countermeasure solutions and has been supplying expendable underwater drones for several years. This collaboration continues today with the supply of state-of-the-art systems.

As part of this programme, the Singapore Navy is equipping itself with its own surface drones (USVs), the SWIFT 18 model supplied by local company ST Engineering, Exail’s partner in this programme. These USVs will integrate various critical systems supplied by Exail:

1. High-performance inertial navigation systems;

2. Underwater acoustic positioning systems;

3. Future-oriented sonars (FLS), an innovative sonar model developed by Exail. The mother ships are also equipped with navigation systems supplied by Exail.

To carry out their mine clearance mission, the USVs will also be equipped with Exail’s MIDS (Mine Identification and Disposal Systems), consisting of several dozen robotic systems in total (see press release published on 1 April 2025 – link), including:

1. SEASCAN underwater drones for identification missions;

2. K-STER underwater drones that are destroyed during mine neutralisation;

3. UMISOFT control and command software for MIDS system drones;

4. LARS (Launch and Recovery System) for launching and recovering drones from the USV. As part of its mine clearance missions, the surface drone also has the ability to tow a sonar supplied by a leading French company, which will integrate with the Exail navigation and positioning systems integrated into the USV.

By providing proven and combat-ready solutions, Exail supports the RSN’s mission to secure vital maritime routes while protecting personnel from danger. With these state-of-the-art systems, the Republic of Singapore Navy will have high-level mine clearance operational capabilities. Exail is thus strengthening its partnership with this innovative customer and contributing to its progressive approach to mine countermeasures.

Sea Scan underwater drone (photo: Exail)

Several drone systems of these models have already been ordered by other customers, with volumes in the hundreds. They will be mass-produced at the drone assembly facility in Ostend, Belgium, benefiting from industrial volume effects.

Beyond the Republic of Singapore Navy, other commercial processes are underway in the Asia-Pacific region for robotic mine countermeasure systems. Negotiations are progressing and could lead to notifications in the short term.

Source: here

Can unmanned MUSVs and NOMARS replace the FFG-62 frigate programme?

The Nomad unmanned surface vessel transits the Pacific Ocean to participate in the 2022 Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise. [MUSV may look similar to Nomad]. (US Navy photo by Mass Communications Specialist 1st Class Tyler R. Fraser)

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With a price tag of nearly $1.1 billion to $1.2 billion each for the USS Constellation (FFG-62) frigate, Naval News asked RAND and CSIS whether the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) and NARPA No Manning Required Ship (NOMARS) could replace the FFG-62 frigate programme.

The US Navy’s FFG-62 USS Constellation frigate programme is experiencing ballooning costs and programme delays, and no new guided missile frigates have been delivered to the US Navy as of May 2025. The US Navy wants 20 such frigates. However, the lead ship, the USS Constellation, has a 36-month (three-year) delivery delay due to design instability that took a European FREMM frigate and made major structural changes, such as removing the bow sonar. In fact, the changes to the FFG 62 design have led to a reduction in commonality between the USS Constellation and FREMM frigate designs from 85% to 15%.

The US Navy’s Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) can be optionally equipped, while the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) unmanned vessel (NOMARS) USX-1 is autonomous. Therefore, can MUSVs and NOMARS replace FFG-62 frigates in terms of missions, roles, weapon coverage and functionalities?

The war in Ukraine has highlighted the importance and significance of using small unmanned surface vessels (USVs) with Ukrainian USVs damaging, destroying and sinking Russian warships with crews many times larger than themselves. Would it make sense for the US Navy’s unmanned surface vessels to replace the manned frigate before shipbuilders construct 20 FFG-62s?

While the US Navy, Congress and the Department of Defense debate whether to continue the FFG-62 programme with reductions and cuts in government costs, Naval News asked the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the RAND Corporation for analysis and commentary on the possibility of MUSVs and NOMARS replacing the FFG-62 programme.

Mark Cancian, a retired US Marine Corps colonel and senior advisor to the CSIS Department of Defence and Security, responded to this question in an email to Naval News in March 2025. Cancian wrote: “Yes, the [FFG-62] Constellation programme is a disaster, and the Navy is reviewing it, along with other troubled shipbuilding programmes. I’m sure they will consider unmanned options, such as the USX-1. Trump administration technocrats, such as Musk, will likely push for unmanned options. However, there are some significant issues with moving to an unmanned frigate programme. The first is the mission. The FFG programme is intended to take over missions that do not require a state-of-the-art DDG [AEGIS destroyer]. These would include peacetime exercises working with allies and partners and wartime missions such as convoy escort. An unmanned ship would have difficulty with these. They work better as remote sensors and gunners connected to the fleet.

“There is also the issue of vulnerability. These are very large ships that need to be completely unmanned. In peacetime, international law considers unmanned ships to be abandoned and subject to rescue. In wartime, it would be difficult to repair or recover such a ship with a mechanical failure. So I expect a push for smaller, unmanned ships, but not for something of this size. – Mark Cancian, senior advisor at CSIS

“The T-AST Navajo class would be the natural choice to deal with any malfunctions of a large unmanned surface vessel. Towing and rescue are its mission.

‘NOMARS is too large a vessel to be considered “expendable,”’ Cancian said. ‘However, it is designed to be “riskable” because its loss would be less damaging than a manned vessel and it will enter environments that could be considered too dangerous for manned vessels.’

DARPA NOMARS USV on the SERCO stand at Sea Air Space 2024. [Author’s note: In front of the sensor mast is an adaptive launcher with two Mark 41 cells (grey triangle). Behind the mast is a grey container that may be for cargo storage or may house four Mark 41 VLS cells (referred to as the Mark 70 Payload module), giving this NOMARS USV six VLS cells for launching a range of anti-submarine torpedo missiles and land attack missiles, anti-surface and air defence missiles].

Dr. Bradley Martin, retired US Navy captain and senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, told Naval News by email in March 2025 that

“Autonomous ships capable of extended operations can perform some of the FFG-62’s tasks, but not most. Unmanned operation allows for remote detection, presence and kinetic engagement. They may not allow for a managed response to provocative movements — such as the approach of another ship — presence in a manner that shows human commitment (exercises, port visits), operations such as visit, boarding, search and seizure, or operations where mutual support may be necessary, such as rescue and salvage. The FFG-62 fills a niche where human involvement is important.” – Dr. Bradley Martin, senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation

Dr. Martin continued: “Perspectives on the reasons for the FFG-62 delays vary, but the fundamental issue is that the FREMM hull that was selected for the ship could not be easily configured for the Navy’s combat systems and survivability requirements.

The prototype ship of the NOMARS programme, USX-1 Defiant, completed construction in February 2025. Photo from DARPA

‘NOMARS and MUSV can help provide extended sensor coverage, multiply the threat axes against which the PLA [People’s Liberation Army, China] would have to defend in a conflict, and act as decoys that force the PLA to expend effort to find and engage potential targets,’ wrote Dr. Martin. “How much autonomy they will have to release weapons will depend on circumstances and rules of engagement, but adversaries cannot ignore the fact that they can deliver munitions.

Regarding missions and roles, Dr. Martin said: “The FFG-62 will have a variety of combat force roles, some of which could be in independent operations, but which could also often be in a CSG or other formation. At those times when ships are conducting independent operations – such as for theatre security cooperation engagement – unmanned options may not be appropriate. Unmanned platforms will be useful for surveillance of large areas and to multiply threat axes, but these are not necessarily the best uses for the FFG-62.

“Unmanned ships are vulnerable to attack and seizure, so some kind of defence capability seems appropriate. Keep in mind that threat engagement often involves a significant amount of judgement, so the degree of fire/no-fire autonomy will depend on the situation. Providing unmanned ships with strike capability and, eventually, long-range air defence missile capability seems essential if we want to fully exploit the advantages of dispersion.”

Naval News asked Dr. Martin whether the US Navy should consider the US Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter (NSC) as a light frigate option. “The US Navy needs a frigate. The NSC would have been a good choice and could still be if the FFG-62 cannot be brought into production.

‘The need for a combatant smaller than a DDG-51 and available for a variety of security cooperation and other jobs is separate from the potential value of unmanned. Both have a place in the theatre architecture, but it’s not the same place.’

The US Coast Guard’s National Security Cutter (NSC, foreground) sails with a Fast Response Cutter (FRC, background). Some people suggest that the NSC should be modified, equipped with more sensors and combat weapon systems, and built as a light frigate for the US Navy, as the NSC’s performance specifications match those of a frigate. So far, no effort has been made by the US Navy to act on this suggestion. Photo: US Coast Guard

Source: here

French Navy intelligence ship Dupuy de Lôme begins first operation in the Baltic Sea to track Russian fleet – 21 May 2025

On 21 May 2025, according to information reported by several media outlets including NEXTA and regional defence observers, the French Navy deployed its intelligence ship Dupuy de Lôme (A759) to the Baltic Sea for the first time, launching a high-priority surveillance mission aimed at intercepting and analysing Russian maritime communications. Specially developed as an Electromagnetic Research Ship (Navire de recherches électro-magnétiques), Dupuy de Lôme is a key asset in France’s naval intelligence arsenal.

On 21 May 2025, according to information reported by several media outlets, including NEXTA and regional defence observers, the French Navy deployed its intelligence ship Dupuy de Lôme (A759) to the Baltic Sea for the first time, launching a high-priority surveillance mission aimed at intercepting and analysing Russian maritime communications. launching a high-priority surveillance mission aimed at intercepting and analysing Russian maritime communications. Developed specifically as an electromagnetic research vessel (Navire de recherches électro-magnétiques), Dupuy de Lôme is a key asset in France’s naval intelligence arsenal.

On 20 May 2025, the French Navy intelligence ship FS Dupuy de Lôme (A759) was photographed docked in Helsinki, Finland, prior to its first operational deployment in the Baltic Sea to monitor Russian maritime activities. (Image source: Toni Mikkola X account)

Operated by the French Military Intelligence Directorate (DRM), the ship is tasked with collecting and processing signals intelligence (SIGINT) in support of joint military operations. Launched in March 2004, commissioned in October 2005 and based in Brest since 1 July 2006, this deployment highlights France’s growing involvement in NATO’s maritime security initiatives and its commitment to countering Russian illicit operations in Northern Europe.

The mission of the French intelligence ship Dupuy de Lôme in the Baltic Sea is highly focused: to monitor the operations of Russia’s so-called ‘shadow fleet’, a network of old, covertly operated oil tankers used to circumvent international sanctions. These ships often operate under false flags, with opaque ownership structures and without proper insurance or identification, posing substantial threats to maritime security and the environment. With its sophisticated SIGINT capabilities, Dupuy de Lôme is tasked with identifying radio communications, radar signatures and other electromagnetic emissions that could expose these clandestine logistics operations.

The deployment was first reported by Belarusian media outlet NEXTA and visually confirmed by defence observer Toni Mikkola, who photographed the Dupuy de Lôme in Helsinki harbour on 20 May 2025. The move comes amid growing regional tensions. On the same day, the Kremlin declared its intention to defend Russian ships in the Baltic Sea ‘by all means’ following an Estonian attempt to capture a suspected shadow tanker. In retaliation, Russia temporarily detained a Greek-owned tanker that had left Estonia. Meanwhile, the Polish navy responded to suspicious manoeuvres by a sanctioned Russian vessel near a submarine power cable between Poland and Sweden by sending the ORP Heweliusz to investigate.

France’s deployment is a key element of NATO’s Baltic Sentry initiative, which focuses on protecting maritime infrastructure and enforcing sanctions through real-time intelligence and monitoring. In this context, Dupuy de Lôme functions as a floating surveillance centre, providing NATO with an advanced platform for strategic situational awareness in one of Europe’s most contested maritime areas.

From a technical standpoint, Dupuy de Lôme is a 101.75 m long vessel with a width of 15.85 m and a draught of 4.91 m. It displaces 3,100 tonnes under normal conditions and up to 3,600 tonnes at full capacity. The ship has a transit speed of 16 knots, a range of 3,400 nmi at this speed and can remain at sea for up to 30 days. Propulsion is provided by two MaK 9 M 25 diesel engines generating a combined power of 2,990 kW (4,065 hp), supported by two bow thrusters and a comprehensive auxiliary power system, including Caterpillar diesel alternators and shaft generators providing up to 2,720 kW in total.

The ship is equipped with two DRBN-38 radar systems and an ARBR-21 electronic countermeasures detector. Although lightly armed with two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns for self-defence, its main strength lies in its comprehensive electronic warfare and surveillance systems. Operated by a small naval crew of only 30, the ship also carries up to 80 specialised intelligence technicians. Onboard systems include an integrated command architecture and a computerised maintenance management system (CMMS), enabling efficient operations and rapid diagnostics.

With its deployment in the Baltic Sea, the French Navy’s Dupuy de Lôme intelligence ship significantly strengthens NATO’s surveillance capabilities at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions. The intelligence ship embodies France’s technological advantage and strategic commitment to protecting European maritime security. As shadow fleet operations and maritime challenges persist, Dupuy de Lôme’s mission reinforces the vital role of electromagnetic intelligence in defending international norms and ensuring the integrity of NATO’s maritime domain.

Source: here

German Navy considers Tomahawk cruise missile for deep strike operations at sea – 21 May 2025

On 14 May 2025, during the second edition of Navy Talks in Berlin, Vice Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, Inspector of the German Navy, confirmed that Germany is examining the integration of US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles on its naval platforms, as part of a broader strategic effort to develop a robust ‘inner strike’ capability. This potential acquisition marks a significant doctrinal evolution for the German Navy, which currently lacks the means to strike deep targets in enemy territory from the sea. In the context of growing regional threats and the ongoing war in Ukraine, the deployment of a long-range land-attack sea-based missile such as the Tomahawk would represent a shift toward power projection and deterrence from German waters, particularly in the Baltic Sea.

Germany’s acquisition of the Tomahawk cruise missile fills a long-standing gap in its ability to project power from sea to land, improves its strategic deterrence capabilities within NATO and strengthens its preparedness for next-generation conflict scenarios (Image source: US Navy)

The Tomahawk is a long-range, all-weather, subsonic cruise missile manufactured by Raytheon, designed to deliver precision strikes against strategic or high-value targets. Compatible with the Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS), the latest Block IV variant offers a range of up to 1,667 km (900 nautical miles) and is equipped with GPS and terrain-following guidance systems. It features in-flight re-targeting capability and a two-way data link, enabling real-time mission updates. The missile can be launched from a wide variety of platforms, including destroyers, submarines and, eventually, German Sachsen-class (F124) and Brandenburg-class (F123) frigates, provided they are upgraded with the Mk 41 VLS attack length variant.

First used in combat during the Gulf War in 1991, the Tomahawk has since become a cornerstone of the precision strike capabilities of the US and its allies. It has been used extensively in conflicts in Iraq, Syria, Libya and the Balkans. The Royal Navy also operates Tomahawks aboard its Astute-class submarines, underscoring its reliability and strategic value among NATO members. The missile’s sustained accuracy and operational flexibility make it one of the most tested and validated land attack weapons in service.

Compared to Germany’s current naval strike capability, which is primarily limited to the RBS 15 Mk3 missile deployed on K130 corvettes, the Tomahawk offers an exponential increase in operational range. The RBS 15, manufactured by Saab, has a maximum range of approximately 300 km and was originally designed as an anti-ship weapon with limited land attack capability. Although theoretically usable against coastal or near-inland targets, it lacks the strategic depth and targeting versatility required to neutralise enemy infrastructure or A2/AD systems in the interior. The Tomahawk, on the other hand, offers Germany a credible deterrence and strike capability well beyond the range of enemy radar, enhancing its contribution to NATO’s collective defence.

Strategically, the integration of Tomahawks would have allowed Germany to conduct deep precision strikes into enemy territory from secure positions in the Baltic or North Seas. This changes the calculus in a high-intensity conflict, allowing Germany to suppress enemy air defences, command nodes and sea-based missile batteries, thereby supporting joint force operations and mitigating threats to forward-deployed units. In the Baltic context, it directly counters Russia’s A2/AD posture in Kaliningrad and strengthens Germany’s role on NATO’s northern and eastern flanks. In addition, the move aligns with the broader ‘Kurs Marine’ doctrine presented by the German Navy, which emphasises cross-domain strike capabilities, the integration of modular weapons and the use of unmanned and covert platforms such as submarines and autonomous underwater vehicles.

In terms of procurement and budgeting, no official contract has yet been announced for Germany’s acquisition of the Tomahawk missile. However, the US State Department recently approved the sale of up to 175 Tomahawk missiles to the Netherlands in a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement, setting a precedent in Europe for allies seeking to improve their maritime strike capabilities. The cost of the system depends on the configuration and support packages, but typically ranges from $1.5 to $2 million per missile, with total acquisition and integration costs potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on launch system upgrades and logistical support. Given the German Navy’s intention to modernise existing platforms such as the F124 and F123 classes, investments would also be required to adapt these ships for Tomahawk-compatible VLS modules.

Germany’s potential acquisition of the Tomahawk cruise missile marks a critical transformation in its naval doctrine and force posture. It closes a long-standing gap in its ability to project power from sea to land, improves its strategic deterrence capabilities within NATO, and strengthens its preparedness for next-generation conflict scenarios. By transitioning from short-range coastal systems such as the RBS 15 to deep strike capabilities, Germany would not only increase the lethality of its fleet, but also strengthen its role as a major maritime actor in the European security architecture. If the acquisition goes ahead, the German navy would be among the few select forces capable of launching strategic precision strikes from surface ships, redefining its operational reach in a volatile geopolitical landscape.

Source: here

Singapore improves security in the Strait of Malacca with the Pathmaster autonomous mine countermeasure system – 21 May 2025

Against a backdrop of growing maritime threats and the ongoing transformation of naval capabilities, the Republic of Singapore has chosen to acquire a state-of-the-art autonomous mine countermeasure system. On 19 May 2025, Thales announced that it had been selected, in partnership with local defence company ST Engineering, to deliver a fully robotic solution called Pathmaster to the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). This contract marks the first deployment of the Pathmaster system in Asia, following its adoption by the French and British navies as part of the MMCM (Maritime Mine Countermeasures) programme.

The Pathmaster system is a fully autonomous mine countermeasure solution designed to address modern underwater threats in increasingly congested and complex maritime environments (Image source: Thales)

The contract was officially awarded on 28 March 2025 through ST Engineering, the main contractor in Singapore, as part of a broader programme to modernise the RSN’s mine warfare capabilities. The objective is to gradually replace traditional minehunters with a suite of unmanned surface and underwater systems. Pathmaster is based on a modular architecture that integrates several key components: a towed synthetic aperture sonar (TSAS), the MiMap sonar data analysis tool and the M-Cube mission management system. These components will be mounted on unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) developed by ST Engineering. The system will be operated from a dedicated command and control centre and will be supported by a simulation solution to train personnel in complex and dynamic mine warfare scenarios.

Developed by Thales, the Pathmaster system is a fully autonomous mine countermeasure solution designed to address modern underwater threats in increasingly congested and complex maritime environments. Incorporating advances in artificial intelligence, high-resolution sonar (including TSAS) and collaborative data processing, the system enables real-time detection, classification and location of naval mines, including low-signature and technically sophisticated threats. Its modular approach is based on remotely operated or fully autonomous surface and underwater drones, coordinated through the M-Cube mission system and MiMap tool. This configuration allows small teams to efficiently manage entire unmanned fleets while reducing personnel exposure to risk.

Adapted to the evolving needs of modern navies, Pathmaster benefits from an open architecture that allows seamless integration with existing platforms or robotic fleets, as seen in deployments with the Royal Navy and French Navy. Although not equipped with conventional offensive weaponry, the system includes mine neutralisation capabilities using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and dedicated effectors. Its primary purpose is to protect critical maritime corridors, reduce the vulnerability of ships and ensure freedom of navigation in contested areas.

The solution also includes artificial intelligence-based tools for managing mine databases and libraries. These features improve real-time detection and identification while significantly reducing operator workload. Automatic analysis algorithms are designed to reduce false alarm rates and improve the accuracy of operational decisions in dense and challenging maritime environments. Pathmaster has already proven its effectiveness in sea trials and operational settings in Europe and with allied forces.

Technical support, maintenance and application development will be managed locally by the Thales Singapore Defence Hub, established in 2023 near the Singapore Armed Forces facilities. This infrastructure is designed to strengthen national defence industrial autonomy and ensure that the system remains aligned with the evolving requirements of the RSN. It also plays a key role in enabling the seamless integration of Pathmaster with existing naval command and control structures.

For Singapore, the strategic objective is clear: to secure the Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, through which approximately 95,000 ships transited in 2024, an increase of 5.5% over the previous year. Located at the intersection of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, the strait is vital to global trade and extremely vulnerable to threats from naval mines. Ensuring the security of these shipping lanes is a top priority for the Republic of Singapore, which also aims to address a 30% reduction in eligible military recruits by 2030 through investments in automation and unmanned systems.

The decision to adopt the Pathmaster system aligns with the RSN’s broader vision focused on autonomy, resilience and digital integration. This investment also highlights the growing convergence between France and Singapore in the naval field, strengthening Thales’ position as a key supplier of maritime technologies in the Asia-Pacific region. According to Sébastien Gueremy, Vice President for Submarine Systems at Thales, the contract demonstrates the RSN’s confidence in Thales’ technologies and represents a milestone in the company’s international development strategy.

The delivery of the Pathmaster system to Singapore is a significant step in the adoption of autonomous mine warfare technologies. The contract enhances the RSN’s operational capability to address growing maritime security challenges while meeting national sovereignty and personnel safety requirements. It also positions Singapore as a regional leader in the integration of autonomous naval systems in a geopolitical and economic context where freedom of navigation remains a critical concern.

Source: here

Poland sends Heweliusz to monitor Russia’s shadow fleet – 21 May 2025

Latvia has established the Škeda test site to conduct real-world testing of maritime drones, news outlet Delfi reported.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the site will allow the Latvian National Armed Forces and allied armies to evaluate new technologies under operational conditions.

Defence Minister Andris Spruds reported that the initiative represents an important step in strengthening Latvia’s defence capabilities amid evolving security threats.

‘By creating a new location for real-world testing of maritime drone innovations for national and allied forces, we are also encouraging innovation in the defence industry,’ Spruds noted.

Initial tests at the maritime range are scheduled for the second half of June and will be conducted on a regular basis.

Magura v5 and Magura v7 marine drones, May 2025. Photo credit: Militarnyi

Latvia’s efforts come as neighbouring Lithuania is considering launching domestic production of surface drones through a 1+1 model – one for Lithuania, one for Ukraine. The country has expressed interest in Magura naval drones, missile-equipped drones and other weapon systems.

‘In my opinion, Magura is an excellent military product,’ shared Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovilė Šakalienė.

Lithuania is exploring joint production agreements under which it would finance production and deliver half of the resulting systems to Ukraine.

The largest training ground in the Baltic region is under construction

In November 2024, Latvia began construction of what will be the largest military training ground in the Baltic region, located in the Selia district of the Aizkraukle municipality in Latvia.

The project will be built in three phases, with the first stage to be completed by the end of 2025. Full completion is scheduled for 2030.

Construction of the Selia training ground. Photo credits: Latvian public media

The initial phase includes a manoeuvre area, ammunition depot, a shooting range and temporary accommodation for soldiers. The facility is expected to be operational for training exercises starting in 2026.

Source: here

Japan has adopted a seventh Mogami-class frigate into its fleet – 21 May 2025

The Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force held an official flag-raising ceremony and welcomed the 7th Mogami-class frigate, Niyodo, into its fleet.

This was reported on the official website of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The flag-raising ceremony took place at the Mitsubishi shipyard in Nagasaki, where the ship was built.

After the ceremony, the ship left the Mitsubishi shipyard and headed for the Kure naval base, which will become its home port.

There, the ship will be officially incorporated into the 12th patrol group and will join two similar frigates, JS Agano and JS Yahagi, as well as two Ashigara-class ships and an Abukuma-class destroyer.

It should be noted that Niyodo was the first frigate of this type to be equipped with the Mk 41 vertical launch system. In total, the ship carries two blocks of 8 cells each, for a total of 16 cells.

In addition to the already known ESSM Block 2 missiles and Type 07 anti-ship missiles, the ship will be equipped with Japanese Type 23 anti-aircraft missiles, the financing of which was recently reported by Militarnyi.

Construction of the frigate began in a dry dock in Nagasaki on 30 June 2022. On 26 September 2023, the ship was launched.

The ship, with a displacement of 3,900 tonnes, was designed to improve the anti-submarine and anti-mine capabilities of the Japanese Navy amid heightened submarine activity by the People’s Republic of China. An OQS-11 sonar system for detecting underwater mines and submarines is installed on the lower part of the frigate’s hull.

An OQR-25 sonar is located at the stern to search for submarines. The ship is also equipped with an OZZ-5 unmanned mine clearance system.

Militarnyi previously reported that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ shipbuilding division in Nagasaki had launched the 10th frigate of the Mogami class.

The official naming and launch ceremony took place on 19 December 2024 at the Mitsubishi Nagasaki shipyard, where frigates of this type are being built.

Source: here

Estonia-Russia ship standoff portends a harsher tone on the Baltic Sea

By Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo

20 May 2025, 06:40 PM

A Skjold-class ship of the Norwegian Navy (Front) shoots live fire on 7 June 2022, as the vessel participates in the BALTOPS 22 Exercise in the Baltic Sea. (Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images)

MILAN — Russia’s detention of a Greek-owned ship that departed from Estonia — days after Estonian forces tried to intercept a Russia-bound tanker — signals Moscow’s willingness to deploy military power more overtly to protect its shadow fleet, a vital pillar of its war economy, experts say.

Russia temporarily stopped the oil tanker in its territorial waters on Sunday following the Estonian navy’s attempt last week to stop the unflagged and unresponsive Jaguar tanker in its exclusive economic zone.

The apparent retaliation was interpreted by analysts as a signal of Russia’s readiness to defend its clandestine maritime operations by force, if needed, to deter possible interference.

‘Russia is more overt in using military force to protect its shadow fleet — using a jet in what appears to be a case of reckless and unsafe flying is a clear indication that it wants no interference with the ships that are increasingly instrumental to its war economy,’ Sebastian Bruns, a senior researcher at the Kiel, Germany-based Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University (ISPK).

While it was the first time Russian officials held a ship in the region, experts say that the incident is part of a wider pattern of behaviour towards the Baltic state.

‘It doesn’t dramatically differ from the broader trends in Russian attitudes towards Estonia — it only reflects the multifaceted nature of Russian hybrid warfare combining military force, plausible deniability and information warfare,’ Ivan Klyszcz, a research fellow at the Estonia-based International Centre for Defence and Security said.

The episode began on 13 May, when the Jaguar transited through Estonian waters.

‘The Navy started calling out to identify the status of the ship and verify its flag — the intention was to direct it to anchorage to check it and the insurance,’ the chief of staff of the Estonian Defence Forces’ Headquarters, Maj. Gen. Vahur Karus, said during a national news programme, as quoted by Estonian broadcaster ERR.

The vessel, suspected of being part of Russia’s shadow fleet, had previously sailed under the Gabonese flag until this right was removed three days before it was sanctioned by the UK.

‘It was destined for the Russian Federation,’ Maj. Gen. Karus said.

According to the Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Margus Tsahkna, the Estonian navy made an initial, unsuccessful attempt to stop the tanker.

After the vessel refused to follow orders to alter its course, rather than heading towards Russian waters escorted by Estonian ships, a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 jet approached, flying in Estonian airspace for less than a minute.

The Russian warplane was sent as a protective measure to prevent the Jaguar from being seized, Margarita Simonyan, head of the Russian state-owned outlet RT said on X.

Such hectic situations in the Baltic Sea have intensified in recent months, with NATO launching its Baltic Sentry patrol mission in January after a series of sabotage incidents.

Boarding and inspecting suspicious vessels has proven to be an increasingly complex endeavour, largely because of the different laws governing national versus international waters.

Bruns noted that the 13 May incident presents wider strategic implications, as Europeans look for ways to strike a balance between maritime regulations while carrying out national and allied defence.

‘What do Western navies and coast guards do when in the future cargo ships of the shadow fleet will be “closely protected” by Russian warships? These are tough questions to ask,’ he said.

International law grants a country the right to board and inspect foreign vessels in their EEZ to verify compliance with its regulations.

‘I would caution Estonia to be cautious with the kind of “escalation” had they been more forceful – they too are walking a fine line,’ Bruns said.

Russia released the Greek tanker Green Admire on 20 May, which continued its voyage to Rotterdam, according to ERR.

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