Show Links

• Navy’s Plan for Unmanned Systems
• Department of Crazy Ideas: How about a cheap inshore fleet? Mark Tempest, 2009.
• Buy Fords, Not Ferraris, Jerry Hendrix, 2008
• Droning on About Drones, CDR Salamander, 2013
• Building the Navy’s Hybrid Fleet, Lieutenant Commander Jack Rowley, Proceedings, July 2025.
• The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert A. Heinlein
• The Mote in God’s Eye, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
• Benjamin Kohlmann, Nominated for Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs
• John Lewis-class replenishment oiler
• Cleo Paskal on X
• A Death in the Pacific, CDR Salamander, July 2025
• Rods From God
• Austria Ponders NATO

Summary

In this episode of Midrats, the hosts discuss the current state of the U.S. Navy, starting with the new Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) and the challenges he faces in balancing operational needs with budget constraints. They explore the importance of shipbuilding and naval readiness, innovations in technology such as modular attack surface craft, and the role of autonomous systems in enhancing operational capabilities. The conversation also touches on economic considerations in naval strategy, the potential for space-based systems, and the significance of recruitment and training for future naval forces. Additionally, the hosts discuss the role of the Naval Reserve, political dynamics in naval appointments, logistical challenges, and geopolitical considerations in the Pacific, concluding with thoughts on NATO's future and the potential inclusion of Austria.

Chapters

00:00: Introduction
02:05: New CNO and Navy Leadership Challenges
04:57: Shipbuilding and Naval Readiness
09:43: Modular Attack Surface Craft, Drones, and Innovation
16:15: Autonomous Systems and Experimentation
19:23: Risk Management via Distributed Risk
21:32: Economic Considerations in Naval Strategy
22:55: Rods from God: Now More Than Ever
30:18: The Role of the Naval Reserve
33:50: Political Appointments and Their Impact
36:22: More Oilers, Faster
47:28: Saipan, and Geopolitical Considerations in the Pacific
52:52: Austria’s future of NATO?
01:01:46: Conclusion and Recommendations