Webtagr - Technology News Summarizer

Life on a Submarine: From NUB to Submariner

2025-08-11

This article details the life of sailors aboard a US Navy submarine, focusing on the experiences of new recruits. New crew members, dubbed "Non-Useful Bodies" (NUBs), undergo a rigorous four-phase training program to become qualified submariners. This training covers all submarine systems and emergency procedures. Upon completion, they earn their "dolphins" and are categorized into "Nukes" (nuclear powerplant crew) and "Coners" (the rest of the crew), each with unique roles and personalities. The author vividly portrays the diverse characters and responsibilities of various crew positions, highlighting the challenging yet cohesive nature of submarine life.

(www.twz.com)

Misc Submarine

Lockheed Martin's QuadStar Missile: A Stinger Successor?

2025-05-30

Lockheed Martin is developing the QuadStar surface-to-air missile as a replacement for the aging Stinger. Leveraging technology from its Miniature Hit-to-Kill (MHTK) interceptor, particularly advanced seeker technology, QuadStar boasts a more aerodynamically efficient design. Aiming to maintain the same form factor as the Stinger while offering increased range and lethality, it's designed to effectively engage various drones and manned aircraft. QuadStar features a modular, open-architecture design for easy integration of new capabilities and utilizes AI and machine learning for improved target recognition and tracking. Its new Command Launch Assembly (CLA) significantly enhances targeting capabilities. While competing against Raytheon, QuadStar's low cost, high performance, and ease of manufacturing position it as a strong contender to become the US Army's next-generation short-range interceptor in the coming years.

(www.twz.com)

Tech

Yemeni Houthis' Sophisticated Air Defenses: A Growing Threat to US Drones and Aircraft

2025-04-27

The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have demonstrated a surprisingly effective air defense capability, evidenced by the increasing number of downed US MQ-9 Reaper drones. While the exact scope of their arsenal remains unclear, it includes Iranian-supplied surface-to-air missiles like the enigmatic "358" loitering munition, the Barq-1/2, and repurposed Soviet air-to-air missiles such as the Thaqib series. The US response involves increased air strikes using B-2 stealth bombers, highlighting the seriousness of the threat. The significant loss of MQ-9s raises questions about the drone's vulnerability in future conflicts and the need for improved self-defense systems. The Houthis' innovative adaptation of existing technology presents a significant challenge to US military operations.

(www.twz.com)

Tech Yemen Conflict Houthi Rebels Air Defense

Carrier Battles the Internet: Connectivity Upgrade, Combat Power Multiplied

2025-02-02

During its Red Sea deployment, the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) used commercial satellite networks like Starlink and OneWeb to achieve unprecedented internet connectivity onboard. This significantly boosted F-35 fighter jet capabilities by enabling rapid intelligence data updates and design improvements, enhancing survivability and lethality. Beyond combat, it improved sailor quality of life, training efficiency, maintenance speed, and boosted morale. The initiative, Sailor Edge Afloat and Ashore (SEA2), is now a funded Navy program of record called Flank Speed Wireless, aiming to deliver high-speed, reliable global connectivity across the fleet.

(www.twz.com)

Tech Navy

NATO Responds to Baltic Sea Cable Cuts with Increased Naval Presence and AI Monitoring

2025-01-18

Following the suspected severing of undersea cables linking Finland and Estonia on Christmas Day, allegedly by a Russian-linked oil tanker, NATO is bolstering its response. Nearly a dozen warships will patrol the Baltic Sea to protect undersea infrastructure. Concurrently, a UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) has reactivated an AI-powered system to track suspicious vessels. Finnish authorities have detained the implicated ship and its crew. This incident underscores rising tensions in the region, prompting a sustained increase in NATO's military presence to deter further sabotage.

(www.twz.com)

Tech NATO

Greenland: A Newly Crucial Arctic Strategic Location

2025-01-11

The Trump administration's growing interest in Greenland is no coincidence. The island's strategic importance has placed it at the center of a great power competition in the Arctic between the US, Russia, and China. The US maintains Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, a crucial military presence offering missile detection and space surveillance capabilities. However, climate change is melting Arctic ice, opening new shipping routes and resources, further increasing Greenland's strategic value and intensifying competition. The article reviews the history of US military presence in Greenland, including Cold War bases and nuclear accidents, and analyzes Greenland's role in future military strategy and its importance in Arctic shipping and resource contention.

(www.twz.com)

Tech Arctic strategy Greenland Military base

Navy's New Year's Day Poetry Tradition: A Verse on the Bridge

2025-01-05

The U.S. Navy has a nearly century-old tradition: on the first day of the new year, during the early morning watch, the officer of the deck can record the ship's activities in poetic form in the deck log. This article recounts this tradition and showcases New Year's poems from various Navy ships throughout history, from WWII destroyers to modern ones, highlighting the diversity of naval life and culture. While declining with the rise of electronic devices, this unique tradition remains a cherished memory.

(www.twz.com)

Misc Naval tradition Deck log Poetry