A filtered and enhanced version of the Planet Labs image that has been circulating online showing USS Abraham Lincoln in the middle of USS Farragut, sailing in front, and USS Leyte Gulf, following behind. A commercial tanker is seen sailing at the top right. The multitude of small Iranian boats are also clearly visible all around. PHOTO © 2019 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Warzone/The Drive: Navy Confirms Boat Swarm Seen Alongside Carrier Group In This Satellite Image Was Iranian
The image shows 18 small craft sailing next to the USS Abraham Lincoln and her escorts in the Strait of Hormuz earlier this month.
The U.S. Navy has confirmed that "multiple" small Iranian boats running alongside the Nimitz class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and other ships from her strike group as she sailed through Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman earlier this month, as seen in commercial satellite imagery. The service has rejected reports that any of the Iranian craft harassed or otherwise acted provocatively toward the carrier, saying the activity was within "normal behavior patterns." Still, the image of 18 small boats in very close proximity to Lincoln and her escorts is eye-opening and a stark reminder of the inherent risks of each transit through the Strait.
Read more ....
Military And Intelligence News Reports -- December 30, 2019
This is how the US military is protecting the Strait of Hormuz. -- Military Times
Iran, Russia and China complete all stages of joint naval drills -- TASS
Iranian Admiral Reveals What Prompted Russia, China to Join Iran for Tripartite Drills -- Sputnik
Navy proposes construction cutbacks, ship retirements, curtailing fleet goal -- The Hill
355 or Bust? U.S. Navy Struggles to Grow With Flat Budget -- Robert Farley, Diplomat
Navy Buys Three MQ-4 Tritons, Pays For Growler Jamming Upgrade Development -- USNI News
Navy proposes cutting future production of Arleigh Burke-class destroyers by 40% -- Stars and Stripes/Portland Press Herald
New Submarines to Take Names of Pearl Harbor Battleships -- AP
New in 2020: Planks on the Marine PFT — and how the Corps will try to stay the most fit branch -- Marine Times
'The guy is freaking evil': Eddie Gallagher's platoon Navy SEALS describe him as 'toxic' and trigger-happy in previously unseen interviews with investigators before his trial for war crimes -- Daily Mail
National security adviser defends Trump’s handling of war crimes case -- Politico
Enlisted Medal of Honor Recipients, POWs Can Now Have Full-Honor Burials at Arlington -- Military.com
Are you getting enough sleep? The Air Force wants to know more about airmen’s sleep patterns -- Air Force Times
F-16 shoots down drone at Eglin AFB in cruise missile defense test -- UPI
Raytheon nabs $768.3M contract to provide AMRAAMs to foreign partners -- UPI
Boeing awarded $265.2M modification to GMD missile upgrade contract -- UPI
Inside Palantir’s support of the Army’s massive data problem -- FedScoop
WH national security adviser on North Korean 'Christmas gift': 'We'll have to wait and see' -- The Hill
House Armed Services Committee chairmen resolve to narrow defense bill in 2020 -- Defense News
Time and cost of relocation of U.S. base in Okinawa to double -- PBS
The Weakness of US Navy Intelligence and Surveillance in the South China Sea -- Bonnie Evans, Epoch Times
Pilot shortages could ground China’s plans to develop combat-ready carrier fleet -- SCMP
What planes will be on board China’s second aircraft carrier, the Shandong? -- SCMP
China's test of sub-launched missile a threat to peace, retired captain warns -- Washington Times
Indian Army Chief Bipin Rawat Becomes Country’s First Chief of Defence Staff -- Sputnik
Why Japan Chose The F-3 Over America's F-35 Stealth Fighter -- National Interest
Russian Defence Ministry to Get Modernised Su-34M Bombers Under New Contract - Producer -- Sputnik
Russia deploys hypersonic missile into 'combat duty,' state media claims -- CNN
Polish armed forces chief on walking the line with Russia -- Defense News
Sweden’s defense minister on relations with America, Russian threats and the European Union -- Defense News
Allies join Space Force for multinational collaboration -- UPI
Does the US Army have enough weapons to defend Europe? Exercise Defender 2020 will reveal all. -- Defense News
