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Alex Luck

@alxluck.bsky.social

9.5K followers 580 following 2.3K posts

Chinese Military. Bundeswehr/NATO. MA Pol Sci/History. Cats, dogs, motorcycles. Überbringer schlechter Nachrichten. Analysis@ NavalNews.com. Contributor@ hartpunkt.de. Previous articles at FPRI.org.

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 15d

I have typed up some thoughts and observations for @navalnews.com on the PLAN footage of aircraft carrier Fujian undertaking flight operations. Includes some ruminations on dating the footage, details I find interesting & operational implications.

www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Chinese Navy Shows Carrier Fujian Conducting Flight Operations

Chinese official media has released footage showing the new catapult-equipped supercarrier Fujian conducting fixed wing flight operations.

www.navalnews.com

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 5h

One interesting aspect of the German purchase is intent to also use the Lockheed Martin Canada-developed CMS 330 to integrate various non-American systems. Remains to be seen, to what extent this happens.

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 5h

The decision aligns the German Navy with the development path for USN hulls. Notably, it will also set the service apart from other recent international customers for AEGIS/SPY, with Spain and Japan using Lockheed Martin's SPY-7 on current efforts. www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...

Germany selects Raytheon's SPY-6(V)1 for its F127 frigates - Naval News

Raytheon has been selected by the German government to provide the Raytheon-built SPY-6(V)1 radar for installation on eight of its F127 frigates

www.navalnews.com

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 2d

Neat illustration how naval uncrewed systems remain very much an R&D effort, instead of the "ready to buy in bulk"-notion regularly thrown around for all sorts of applications. Niche-adaption non-withstanding.

www.navalnews.com/event-news/d...

Sweden Seeks Ship to Accelerate Uncrewed System Experimentation

Sweden is looking for a ship to enable and support development of and experimentation with maritime uncrewed systems.

www.navalnews.com

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 4d

Comparison IMO shows once again how PLAN strongly prefers evolutionary development over radical changes, keeping risk under control. The next carrier design will probably depart more strongly from Kuznetsov design genes, as suggested also by the land-based mockup in Wuhan.

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 4d

Nice quality side by side of Fujian with Shandong at Sanya. Illustrates well marginal waterline length increase but providing a considerably wider hull significanly improving deck traffic. Forward elevator position remains somewhat compromised vs starboard launch position. Image "Rational314159"/X.

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 5d

The problem I am having here is that because of the framing in translating material such as this we associate certain stereotypes pretending to be wisdom with the entity we try to understand better.

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 5d

This piece is a good example how the effort to translate writing associated with PLA, while laudable, needs to be far more selective to produce relevant insights. The original text tells us nothing about PLAN's view on Virginia. It's Wikipedia level info.
digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cmsi-transla...

CMSI Translations #23: The Elusive "Deep-Sea Beast": Analysis of the Performance of the Main Equipment of the U.S. Navy Virginia-Class Nuclear Attack Submarine

In the vast expanse of the blue ocean, the U.S. Navy's Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine, with its exceptional performance and advanced technology, has become the backbone of the U.S. Navy's und...

digital-commons.usnwc.edu

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 5d

This suggestion doesnt make much sense to me. A notional "co-development", whatever that means, of a future SSK between Japan & Australia is neither an alternative or useful complementary capability to AUKUS Pillar 1, on grounds of timeframe & resources.

www.aspistrategist.org.au/japans-new-l...

Japan’s new leader could provide Australia’s submarine lifeline | The Strategist

Whoever wins this weekend’s contest to lead Japan’s ruling party could throw Australia the lifeline it desperately needs to secure the future of AUKUS Pillar One amid doubts about the program’s viabil...

www.aspistrategist.org.au

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 6d

Am Ende des Tages ist die Deutsche Marine nach Jahrzehnten der Misswirtschaft, Unterfinanzierung u weiterhaft zweifelhaften Beschaffungsstrukturen so sehr auf Kante genaeht, dass es nun zunehmend zu offenkundigen Faehigkeits- u Verfuegbarkeitsluecken kommt.

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 6d

Was dieser Artikel illustriert, wenn auch vielleicht indirekt oder ungewollt, ist, dass es keine Uebergangsoptionen gibt. Weder MEKO A200 noch ein drittes Los K130 in ASW Konfiguration waeren 2028 verfuegbar.

www.iiss.org/online-analy...

Die F126 und Europa: Überbrückungsoptionen für die Fregattenfrage

Europa investiert massiv in Fregatten, doch Deutschland steht mit seiner F126 vor einem Dilemma. Die größten und teuersten Fregatten Europas sollen frühestens 2031 ausgeliefert werden. Es droht eine Lücke in der Einsatzfähigkeit der Marine. Nach aktuellen Medienberichten könnte noch in diesem Jahr eine Entscheidung über das weitere Vorgehen fallen. Eine Überbrückungslösung in Verbindung mit enger europäischer Kooperation könnten die Schlagkraft der Marine mittelfristig sichern und zugleich Deutschlands Position in der europäischen Fregattenlandschaft stärken.

www.iiss.org

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 6d

Es geht bei "buerokratischer Apparat der Bundeswehr" eben nicht nur ums BAAINBw.

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 6d

🤷‍♂️

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 6d

I referred to the article when and as published. I will note I did not write it, nor am I looking after the editorial process. No offense but this is a tweet and I have a day job that does not involve informing the online community of enthusiasts.

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 6d

BAAINBw mal angenehm ehrlich. Poseidon und Herkules werden halt so schnell geliefert, weil der buerokratische Apparat der Bundeswehr sich aus der Beschaffung effektiv raus haelt, und Berlin nur einen Vertrag unterschreibt und Geld ueberweist.

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 6d

Boeing handed over the first German P-8A for Marineflieger naval aviation to the Bundeswehr procurement office, at an event in Seattle. No information on when the aircraft will transfer to Germany, but presumably soon.

www.hartpunkt.de/boeing-liefe...

Boeing liefert ersten deutschen Seefernaufklärer P-8A aus

Der US-Flugzeughersteller Boeing hat das erste Seeaufklärungsflugzeug P-8A Poseidon im Rahmen einer feierlichen Zeremonie in Seattle im US-Bundesstaat

www.hartpunkt.de

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Reposted by Alex Luck

Ryan Chan 陳家翹 @kakiuchan.bsky.social · 9d

The United States continues to modernize its naval fleet by introducing new advanced destroyers to replace aging cruisers as its chief adversary, China, builds more warships.
www.newsweek.com/us-modernize...

U.S. modernizes naval fleet as China leads shipbuilding race

China is building Type 055 destroyers, which are larger than the U.S.’s Arleigh Burke-class destroyers and have greater firepower.

www.newsweek.com

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 9d

In news that should surprise absolutely no one, AUKUS Pillar 1 will proceed. Given the still reasonably remote deadline for actual decision-making speculation as to future changes will of course also proceed. Separate the noise from the facts!
asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/tr...

AUKUS survives Pentagon review, with US submarine sales to proceed

Washington to conclude evaluation ahead of Australian PM's visit on Oct. 20

asia.nikkei.com

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 10d

While some observers may opine how it is all just domestic politics as usual in Beijing, corruption IMO remains a significant problem endemic to the Chinese MIC. Addressing it is like cleaning the Augean stables. The needed flooding may never materialise.

www.reuters.com/world/china/...

Chinese aerospace executive expelled from Communist Party for graft

A former Chinese aerospace defence executive has been expelled from the ruling Communist Party for corruption, China's anti-graft watchdog said on Monday, part of a sweeping anti-corruption purge across China's military-industrial complex.

www.reuters.com

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 11d

I think any combat experience has value. But I guess it depends on how much the Russians varnish their record.

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 11d

The guy with shitty right wing tattoos got opinions on presentation standards.

www.usni.org/magazines/pr...

New Grooming Policy Will Undermine Recruiting, Retention, and Readiness

The policy will immediately distract from warfighting readiness.

www.usni.org

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 11d

I think the material aspect of this (if the report is accurate) is vastly overdone. China absorbs knowledge, they do not care about operating foreign equipment on any scale that matters.

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 11d

(If you intent a break in and enter in my house, be my guest)

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 11d

He's also wearing a "Nervous - give me space" bandana now after trying to tackle a big guy at the hardware store (he failed and no damage was done).

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Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 11d

I can see your point. I think they did sort of overpromise on some aspects they havent resolved.

Alex Luck @alxluck.bsky.social · 11d

This dog always looks at you like you owe him a fair bit of money.

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