By Dmitry Filipoff
This month the CIMSEC Warfighting Flotilla will continue the conversation on especially controversial naval force development topics as well as certain offensive concepts for Pacific conflict.
Down below is a look at the invites for our upcoming June discussions. The Flotilla will be holding discussions on Force Design 2030 and Marine stand-in forces, the challenges and opportunities of introducing unmanned systems to naval aviation, and the utility of offensive mine warfare against China. If you haven’t already, sign up through the form below to become a Flotilla member and receive the invites to our upcoming off-the-record June sessions.
Last month the Flotilla held discussions on naval combat in the Russia-Ukraine War, the viability of lightning carrier platforms and concepts of operation, and the usefulness of wargaming as a unit-level combat training method. These conversations helped shed light on ongoing combat operations abroad and force development initiatives under consideration.
Feel free to visit the Flotilla homepage to learn more about this community, its activities, and what drives it.
Upcoming June Sessions
USMC Transformation and Stand-In Forces vs. A2/AD
Debates continue apace about the merits of Force Design 2030 and whether it can effectively meet modern high-end threats. Can Marine stand-in forces effectively hold their own against A2/AD systems and enable the joint force? What may it take to effectively transition Marine units into combat credible stand-in forces? Join us to discuss these questions and more as we continue the conversation on Force Design 2030.
Read Ahead: “Stand-In Forces: Disrupting Anti-Access Systems,” by Joseph Mozzi
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Naval Aviation and Fielding Unmanned Systems
Highly capable unmanned aviation is on the horizon and threatens to disrupt traditional concepts of naval aviation. What are the merits of carrier-based unmanned aviation and what will it take to field these systems? What sorts of obstacles exist to their introduction, including tactical, political, and cultural? Join us to discuss the disruptive potential of unmanned naval aviation and more.
Read Ahead: “Winged Luddites: Aviators are the Biggest Threat to Carrier Aviation,” by Noah Spataro, Trevor Phillips-Levine, and Andrew Tenbusch
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Offensive Mine Warfare Against China
Mine warfare is a traditionally underappreciated element of naval capability for the U.S. Navy, but could reap significant dividends in a contingency against China. How could offensive mine warfare be employed in western Pacific contingencies, and what capability gaps deserve closer scrutiny? Join us to discuss mine warfare in the Pacific and what opportunities or shortfalls may exist.
Read Ahead: “Disputing Chinese Sea Control Through Offensive Sea Mining,” by Victor Duenow
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Completed May Sessions
Russia-Ukraine War at Sea
The Russia-Ukraine war has featured significant naval combat, even as the conflict has predominantly taken place over land. From the sinking of the Moskva and the Orsk, to amphibious landings and submarine-launched missile strikes, the maritime domain remains active and contested. How do we make sense of the maritime domain and its role thus far in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and what are the lessons learned for force development and force employment? Join us to discuss these questions and more as we consider the maritime dimensions of this ongoing conflict.
Read ahead: “The Russo-Ukraine War at Sea: Retrospect and Prospect,” by B.J. Armstrong
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The Viability and Roles of Lightning Carriers
Flattops ranging from LHDs to allied platform such as the Izumo are offering carrier air wing capabilities, although at smaller proportions. How could these “Lightning” carriers help in conflict and steady-state competition? Are they a viable compliment to modern naval force structure, or do they divert resources from larger-scale carrier capabilities that are much more effective? Join us to debate the effectiveness of lightning carriers and their potential roles.
Read aheads: “Marines Load Record 16 F-35Bs Aboard USS Tripoli Test of ‘Lightning Carrier’ Concept,” by Gidget Fuentes
“Whither the Lightning Carrier in an Asia-Pacific War?” by Ben Ho
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Bringing Wargaming to Wardrooms
Wargaming is a versatile teaching tool, but what value can it have as a training device at the unit-level? Can wargaming be broadly adopted in wardrooms and ready rooms across the fleet to enhance readiness and warfighter understanding? Join us to discuss these questions and more as we consider the merits of wargaming as a training method at the unit level.
Read ahead: “Introduce Wargaming to Wardrooms,” by Commander Thomas T. Dixon
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Dmitry Filipoff is CIMSEC’s Director of Online Content and Community Manager of the Warfighting Flotilla. Contact him at Content@cimsec.org.