South Africa's Maritime Domain Awareness

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

South Africa's Maritime Domain Awareness South Africa’s maritime domain awareness A capability baseline assessment Timothy Walker and Denys Reva ISS RESEARCH REPORT | AUGUST 2020 South Africa’s maritime domain awareness A capability baseline assessment August 2020 Contents Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................................................3 Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................4 Key findings ......................................................................................................................................................5 Recommendations ...........................................................................................................................................6 Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................................................7 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................7 Objective of report .........................................................................................................................................7 Structure of report .........................................................................................................................................8 Chapter 2: Defining MDA .................................................................................................................................9 Definitions of MDA .........................................................................................................................................9 South Africa’s definitions of the maritime domain and MDA ......................................................................... 11 Securing South Africa’s maritime domain .................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 3: Context and background to South African MDA ....................................................................... 14 South Africa’s maritime nature ..................................................................................................................... 14 Notable incidents in the development of South African MDA capability ....................................................... 15 Chapter 4: Departmental roles and responsibilities ....................................................................................23 National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure ...................................................................................23 Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries ....................................................................................23 Department of Science and Innovation ........................................................................................................26 Department of Transport ............................................................................................................................. 27 Department of Defence ...............................................................................................................................28 Chapter 5: South Africa’s international agreements ....................................................................................35 Southern African Development Community .................................................................................................35 African Union ...............................................................................................................................................38 United Nations .............................................................................................................................................40 Indian Ocean Rim Association ..................................................................................................................... 42 Virtual Regional Maritime Traffic Centre and Trans-regional Maritime Network............................................. 42 INSTITUTE FOR SECURITY STUDIES | AUGUST 2020 1 Interpol ........................................................................................................................................................43 International initiatives ..................................................................................................................................43 Chapter 6: Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................44 Annex 1: Methodology ...................................................................................................................................45 Notes ............................................................................................................................................................... 47 2 SOUTH AFRICA’S MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS: A CAPABILITY BASELINE ASSESSMENT Acknowledgements This report was prepared by the Peace Operations and Peacebuilding Programme of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in Pretoria, South Africa. The ISS would like to acknowledge the support of South African government departments, organisations and international institutions for sharing information and knowledge with the report team. The ISS is grateful to all who generously gave their time to contribute to this research. These include respondents from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Department of Defence, Department of Transport, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, State Security Agency, South African Police Service, South African Revenue Service, South African Maritime Safety Authority, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute for Maritime Technology and the British High Commission. The ISS is also grateful to the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research for providing a live demonstration of the Oceans and Coastal Information Management System Integrated Vessel Tracking and to the South African Maritime Safety Authority for a visit to the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Centre for Sea Watch and Response. SOUTH AFRICA’S MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS: A CAPABILITY BASELINE ASSESSMENT INSTITUTE FOR SECURITY STUDIES | AUGUST 2020 3 Glossary 2050 AIMS 2050 Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy AIS Automatic Identification System ARMSCOR Armaments Corporation of South Africa AU African Union BMA Border Management Authority CSIR Council for Scientific and Industrial Research DCoC Djibouti Code of Conduct DCoC(J) Djibouti Code of Conduct, Jeddah Amendment EEZ Exclusive Economic Zone GDP Gross Domestic Product IMO International Maritime Organization ISS Institute for Security Studies MDA Maritime Domain Awareness MDAC Maritime Domain Awareness Centre NATJOINTS National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure OCIMS Oceans and Coastal Information Management System REC Regional Economic Community SAAF South African Air Force SADC Southern African Development Community SAMSA South African Maritime Safety Authority SANDF South African National Defence Force SAPS South African Police Service SMC Standing Maritime Committee UK United Kingdom US United States 4 SOUTH AFRICA’S MARITIME DOMAIN AWARENESS: A CAPABILITY BASELINE ASSESSMENT Key findings • Having actionable maritime domain awareness (MDA) enables South African decision makers to determine how best to deploy maritime security capabilities if a threat at sea (or on maritime-related infrastructure), a crime being committed or a situation with a high level of risk if left alone are identified. • South Africa’s maritime surveillance capability and maritime security vulnerabilities swiftly become high-profile public issues, especially regarding the prevention of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. • The challenge of funding to achieve the Defence Review milestones has further implications for MDA given its prominence in the second milestone. While elements of the second milestone are being achieved, further enhancement and consolidation of MDA technology and the fusion of acquired data is contingent on sustained funding. • The successful establishment of the Oceans and Coastal Information Management System (OCIMS), especially regarding its Integrated Vessel Tracking tool, significantly enhances South Africa’s MDA. With this, greater awareness of activity at sea allows for the efficient deployment of limited assets such as South African Navy or Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries vessels to investigate or intercept suspicious vessels. This complements existing systems such as the Vessel Monitoring System and VistaNet. • While OCIMS will provide information and decision support to key stakeholders for the day-to-day management of South Africa’s oceans and coasts, the establishment of a National Maritime Information Centre, as envisioned in the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment, could be beneficial. • Capability gaps in South African maritime surveillance and patrolling are acknowledged in the 2015 Defence Review. Coordinated enforcement operations have increased, but Department of Defence vessels could lose some of their main capabilities in 2023 due to inadequate funding. This would affect South Africa’s MDA capability and possibly restrict its operability to coastguard functions.
Recommended publications
  • South Africa's Defence Industry: a Template for Middle Powers?
    UNIVERSITYOFVIRGINIALIBRARY X006 128285 trategic & Defence Studies Centre WORKING PAPER NO. 358 South Africa's Defence Industry: A Template for Middle Powers? Greg Mills and Martin Edmonds AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY University of Virginia Libraries SDSC Working Papers Series Editor: Helen Hookey Published and distributed by: Strategic and Defence Studies Centre The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 Australia Tel: 02 62438555 Fax: 02 624808 16 WORKING PAPER NO. 358 South Africa's Defence Industry: A Template for Middle Powers? Greg Mills and Martin Edmonds National Library of Australia Cataloguirtg-in-Publication entry Mills, Greg. South Africa's defence industry : a template for middle powers? ISBN 0 7315 5409 4. 1. Weapons industry - South Africa. 2. South Africa - Defenses. I. Edmonds, Martin, 1939- . II. Australian National University. Strategic and Defence Studies Centre. III. Title. 338.4735580968 AL.D U W^7 no. 1$8 AUTHORS Dr Greg Mills and Dr Martin Edmonds are respectively the National Director of the South African Institute of Interna tional Affairs (SAIIA) based at Wits University, Johannesburg, South Africa, and Director: Centre for Defence and Interna tional Security Studies, Lancaster University in the UK. South Africa's Defence Industry: A Template for Middle Powers? 1 Greg Mills and Martin Edmonds Introduction The South African arms industry employs today around half of its peak of 120,000 in the 1980s. A number of major South African defence producers have been bought out by Western-based companies, while a pending priva tisation process could see the sale of the 'Big Five'2 of the South African industry. This much might be expected of a sector that has its contemporary origins in the apartheid period of enforced isolation and self-sufficiency.
    [Show full text]
  • Dodannualreport20042005.Pdf
    chapter 7 All enquiries with respect to this report can be forwarded to Brigadier General A. Fakir at telephone number +27-12 355 5800 or Fax +27-12 355 5021 Col R.C. Brand at telephone number +27-12 355 5967 or Fax +27-12 355 5613 email: [email protected] All enquiries with respect to the Annual Financial Statements can be forwarded to Mr H.J. Fourie at telephone number +27-12 392 2735 or Fax +27-12 392 2748 ISBN 0-621-36083-X RP 159/2005 Printed by 1 MILITARY PRINTING REGIMENT, PRETORIA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE ANNUAL REPORT FY 2004 - 2005 chapter 7 D E P A R T M E N T O F D E F E N C E A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 0 4 / 2 0 0 5 Mr M.G.P. Lekota Minister of Defence Report of the Department of Defence: 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005. I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Department of Defence. J.B. MASILELA SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE: DIRECTOR GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE ANNUAL REPORT FY 2004 - 2005 i contents T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S PAGE List of Tables vi List of Figures viii Foreword by the Minister of Defence ix Foreword by the Deputy Minister of Defence xi Strategic overview by the Secretary for Defence xiii The Year in Review by the Chief of the SA National Defence Force xv PART1: STRATEGIC DIRECTION Chapter 1 Strategic Direction Introduction 1 Aim 1 Scope of the Annual Report 1 Strategic Profile 2 Alignment with Cabinet and Cluster Priorities 2 Minister of Defence's Priorities for FY2004/05 2 Strategic Focus 2 Functions of the Secretary for Defence 3 Functions of the Chief of the SANDF 3 Parys Resolutions 3 Chapter
    [Show full text]
  • The Seven Seas Tattler Issue 1.6 - November 2017
    The Seven Seas Tattler Issue 1.6 - November 2017 Good Day all members of the Seven Seas Club. Here is your November edition - I trust that you will find items of interest (Ed - [email protected]) From the Chairman The Navy has been very quiet over the last while except for SAS SPIOENKOP and SAS MANTATISI sailing every now and then for some training. The Durban based OPVs (Strikecraft) have conducted patrols along the coastline, stopping over in Simon's Town for fuel and a bit of R&R. They have returned to their base in Durban. SAS AMATOLA is currently getting ready for Exercise OXIDE, which is a search and rescue exercise with the French based at Reunion. The exercise will be conducted in Durban. Talking of the French, their ship the FLOREAL sustained some damage in Durban from the storm recently and will remain in Durban for a while to effect repairs. We welcome new members and wish all those with upcoming birthdays a very special day and a great year ahead. Report from The Treasurer Financial results for September were, once again, most pleasing, with our sales target achieved and bottom line exceeded. Thanks for the great support! Our Club Manager has been particularly vigilant and has managed to keep costs down, especially controllable costs such as water, electricity and stationery / printing and we are indebted to him. The targets for October are a little more challenging, but we are confident that they will be achieved if the current support from members continues. The signs are already there.
    [Show full text]
  • Personnel Strategies for the Sandf to 2000 and Beyond
    number fourteen THE CRITICAL COMPONENT: PERSONNEL STRATEGIES FOR THE SANDF TO 2000 AND BEYOND by James Higgs THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Established 1934 The Critical Component: Personnel Strategies for the SANDF to 2000 and Beyond James Higgs The Critical Component: Personnel Strategies for the SANDF to 2000 and Beyond James Higgs Director of Studies South African Institute of International Affairs Copyright ©1998 THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS Jan Smuts House, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa Tel: (011) 339-2021; Fax: (011) 339-2154 All rights reserved ISBN: 1-874890-92-7 Report No. 14 SAIIA National Office Bearers Dr Conrad Strauss Gibson Thula • Elisabeth Bradley Brian Hawksworth • Alec Pienaar Dr Greg Mills Abstract This report contains the findings of a research project which examined the way in which the personnel strategies in the South African National Defence Force (SANDF ) are organised. A number of recommendations are made which are aimed at securing efficient, effective and democratically legitimate armed forces for South Africa. Section Four sets out the recommendations in the areas of: a public relations strategy for the SANDF ; the conditions of service which govern employment of personnel; a plan for retaining key personnel; a strategy for the adjustment of pay structures; a review of race representivity plans for the SANDF ; a strategy for reducing internal tension while reinforcing cultural identity and diversity; an overview of the rationalisation and retrenchment plans; observations on the health and fitness of the SANDF personnel; recommendations for increased efficiency in the administrative process and for the review of the current structure of support functions.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Non-Whites in the South African Defence Force by Cmdt C.J
    Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 16, Nr 2, 1986. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za The Role of Non-Whites in the South African Defence Force by Cmdt C.J. N6thling* assisted by Mrs L. 5teyn* The early period for Blacks, Coloureds and Indians were non- existent. It was, however, inevitable that they As long ago as 1700, when the Cape of Good would be resuscitated when war came in 1939. Hope was still a small settlement ruled by the Dutch East India Company, Coloureds were As war establishment tables from this period subject to the same military duties as Euro- indicate, Non-Whites served as separate units in peans. non-combatant roles such as drivers, stretcher- bearers and batmen. However, in some cases It was, however, a foreign war that caused the the official non-combatant edifice could not be establishment of the first Pandour regiment in maintained especially as South Africa's shortage 1781. They comprised a force under white offi- of manpower became more acute. This under- cers that fought against the British prior to the lined the need for better utilization of Non-Whites occupation of the Cape in 1795. Between the in posts listed on the establishment tables of years 1795-1803 the British employed white units and a number of Non-Whites were Coloured soldiers; they became known as the subsequently attached to combat units and they Cape Corps after the second British occupation rendered active service, inter alia in an anti-air- in 1806. During the first period of British rule craft role.
    [Show full text]
  • Sas Spioenkop
    DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS SPECIAL REPORT Special ** COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS SPECIAL*** 06-2005 By : Piet Sinke SAS SPIOENKOP The Blohm + Voss the MEKO® A- 200 design was selected on November 12th 1998 by the South African Navy. The European South African Corvette Consortium (ESACC), consisting of the German Frigate Consortium (Blohm+Voss, Thyssen Rheinstahl and Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werf), African Defence Systems (part of the French Thales defence group) and a number of South African companies were to built the 4 new frigates of the VALOUR class for the South African Navy, the frigates were ordered December 3rd 1999. Work began on the first unit SAS Amatola (F145) February 28th 2001 and on the third, SAS Spioenkop (F147) August 28th 2001. The program was known as Project Sitron. The ships were to be outfitted and weapons integration performed after delivery in South Africa In June of 2002, the names for the 4 Valour class frigates under construction for the South African Navy were released. The first being SAS Amatola (F145), The 3 sisters are named SAS Isandlwana (F146), SAS Spioenkop (F147), and SAS Mendi (F148). PSi-Daily maritime press clippings Page 1 11/16/2005 DAILY COLLECTION OF MARITIME PRESS CLIPPINGS SPECIAL REPORT The 121 mtr long hull is shaped to reduce radar signature. Have fin stabilizers. The frigate is designed around a single GE LM2500 gas turbine, with a maximum output of 20 000 kW, plus two MTU 16V 1163 TB93 diesels, each of 5 920 kW. The propulsion system is described as CODAG-WARP (Combined Diesel and Gas Turbine—Waterjet and Refined Propellers), with the cross-connected diesels driving the two CP props and the gas turbine the waterjet.
    [Show full text]
  • SA Navy Is Offering Young South African Citizens an Excellent Opportunity to Serve in Uniform Over a Two-Year Period
    defence Department: Defence REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH AFRICAN NAVY “THE PEOPLES NAVY” MILITARY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM 2021 COMBAT, ENGINEERING, TECHNICAL, SUPPORT Please indicate highest qualification achieved BACKGROUND Graduate ........................................................................................................ MILITARY SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM (MSDS) (e.g. National Diploma Human Resource) Matric The SA Navy is offering young South African citizens an excellent opportunity to serve in uniform over a two-year period. The Military Skills Development System MUSTERING (MSDS) is a two-year voluntary service system with the aim of equipping and TECHNICAL SUPPORT developing young South Africans with the necessary skills in order to compete in the open market. ENGINEERING COMBAT Young recruits are required to sign up for a period of two-years, during which Please complete the following Biographical Information: they will receive Military Training and further Functional Training. First Names: ........................................................................................................... All applicants must comply with the following: Surname: ................................................................................................................ - South African Citizen (no dual citizenship). - Have no record of criminal offences. ID Number: ............................................................................................................. - Not be area bound. Tel.(H) ........................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Secret South African Project Team: Building Strike Craft in Israel, 1975-791 ______
    119 THE SECRET SOUTH AFRICAN PROJECT TEAM: BUILDING STRIKE CRAFT IN ISRAEL, 1975-791 ___________________________________________ Cdr Thean Potgieter Subject Group Military History Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University Introduction Though the history of the South African Navy (SAN) only dates back to 1922, for most of its history it depended on Britain for warships. The British Royal Navy on the other hand had an unbroken involvement with maritime defence along the South African Coast and the protection of the Cape Sea Route from 1806 to 1975 (when the Simon’s Town Agreement was cancelled). However, political tension between South Africa’s apartheid government and Britain caused a break in this relationship, forcing the SAN to acquire warships from alternative sources. A number of South African efforts to acquire corvettes failed during the 1970s, leaving the strike craft project as the only major warship project of the SAN to succeed for close to three decades. This project had an overseas as well as a local building phase. As part of the overseas phase, a project team was dispatched to Israel in 1975 to oversee the building and commissioning into the SAN, of three strike craft. The project team consisted of the Armaments Board (AB, Armscor after 1977) team as well as the SAN project team. While the AB/Armscor had to oversee the building process, the SAN team had to prepare to take the vessels into service. As a result of the international condemnation of South Africa’s apartheid policy, many countries refused to sell armaments to South Africa and the United Nations (UN) instituted a series of restrictions against South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • The Seven Seas Tattler Issue 1.7 - December 2017
    The Seven Seas Tattler Issue 1.7 - December 2017 Good Day members of the Seven Seas Club Our December edition of the Tattler will hopefully provide items of interest. Tattler wishes all a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday period. Comments are always welcome and can be directed to [email protected] Chairman's Report Protea is currently in Durban conducting surveys on the damage to the harbour after the recent storm. Amatola is currently in Le Reunion conducting search and rescue exercises with the French Navy. There is quite a lot of commercial work (mainly trawlers) being conducted by the Dockyard. No foreign visits expected in the near future. The Committee and members would like to congratulate R Adm (JG) D.M. Mkhonto on his promotion to R Adm as Chief Director Maritime Strategy with effect 1 Apr 18. I would like to take the opportunity to wish club members a Merry Christmas and great festive season. Also, my best wishes to those having birthdays in December. (Ed - see elsewhere) Club Manager's Report Happy Hour and 100 Club Draw The next Happy Hour and 100 Club draw will take place in the Club on Tuesday the 12th December 2017 from 17h00 to 18h00. Boerewors Rolls will be on sale at R25 each. Normal attendance prizes for two lucky Members in attendance. Home to the Warrant Officers The Club will host the Warrant Officers in the Club on Monday the 4th of December 2017 at 12h00 for 12h30. Members are encouraged to invite either serving or retired Warrant Officers to join us at this annual event.
    [Show full text]
  • Department of Defence Annual Report 2003/2004
    All enquiries with respect to this report can be forwarded to Brigadier General L.S. Mollo at telephone number 012 355 5800 or Fax 012 355 5021 Dr M.B. Khanyile at telephone number 012 355 6309 or Fax 012 355 5813 email: [email protected] All enquiries with respect to the Annual Financial Statements can be forwarded to Mr H.J. Fourie at telephone number 012 392 2735 or Fax 012 392 2748 ISBN 0-621-35254-3 RP 137/2004 Printed by FORMESET PRINTERS CAPE Department of Defence D EPARTMENT OF D EFENCE A NNUAL R EPORT 2 0 0 3 / 2 0 0 4 The Honourable Mr M.G.P. Lekota Minister of Defence Report of the Department of Defence: 01 April 2003 to 31 March 2004. I have the honour to submit the Annual Report of the Department of Defence. J.B. MASILELA SECRETARY FOR DEFENCE: DIRECTOR GENERAL FY2003-2004 Annual Report i TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE List of Tables vi List of Figures viii Foreword by the Honourable Mr M.G.P. Lekota, Minister of Defence ix PART 1: STRATEGIC DIRECTION Strategic Overview 1 Chapter one: Strategic Direction Aim and Scope of the Annual Report 3 Alignment with Cabinet and Cluster Priorities 3 Strategic Profile 4 Aim of the DOD 4 Shared Values 4 Minister of Defence's Priorities for FY2003/04 4 Strategic Focus 4 Responsibilities and Strategic Direction in the DOD 5 Functions of the Secretary for Defence 5 Functions of the Chief of the SANDF 5 Policy Decisions 6 Chapter two: Defence Objectives, Outcome and Outputs Department of Defence Programmes 8 Strategic Objectives 8 Defence Outcome 8 Defence Outputs 8 Services Rendered 9 Discontinued Services
    [Show full text]
  • Navy News Week 38-6
    NAVY NEWS WEEK 38-6 21 September 2018 How the U.S. Is Recovering Oil from a Nuked Warship Prinz Eugen, once the pride of the German Navy, is sitting upside down in the Pacific and threatening to leak. By Kyle Mizokami Sep 17, 2018 U.S. Navy photo by LeighAhn Ferrari, chief mate, U.S. Naval Ship Salvor The U.S. military is trying to recover the oil form a ship that's been underwater for 72 years. In an interesting twist, it's not even an American warship. The United States captured the German heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen as a war prize after the end of World War II. The Prinz Eugen capsized in 1946 after being nuked—twice—during the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll. For decades, experts have feared that the ship's oil might leak into the Pacific. Now the Pentagon is trying to do something about it. The Doomed Fleet It was July 1946, months after the end of World War II, when the U.S. Navy assembled one of the mightiest fleets in history. Led by the aircraft carrier Saratoga and battleship New York, the group also included captured Axis vessels such as the Japanese battleship Nagato and the Prinz Eugen. A doomed fleet of more than 80 warships anchored at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, way out in the Pacific Ocean... and was promptly nuked. Twice. See the video in this 8½ minute clip at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy6-ZKWCoH0 . Even with WWII barely in the rearview, U.S.-Soviet relations had been turning frosty.
    [Show full text]
  • MARITIME Security &Defence M
    June MARITIME 2021 a7.50 Security D 14974 E &Defence MSD From the Sea and Beyond ISSN 1617-7983 • Key Developments in... • Amphibious Warfare www.maritime-security-defence.com • • Asia‘s Power Balance MITTLER • European Submarines June 2021 • Port Security REPORT NAVAL GROUP DESIGNS, BUILDS AND MAINTAINS SUBMARINES AND SURFACE SHIPS ALL AROUND THE WORLD. Leveraging this unique expertise and our proven track-record in international cooperation, we are ready to build and foster partnerships with navies, industry and knowledge partners. Sovereignty, Innovation, Operational excellence : our common future will be made of challenges, passion & engagement. POWER AT SEA WWW.NAVAL-GROUP.COM - Design : Seenk Naval Group - Crédit photo : ©Naval Group, ©Marine Nationale, © Ewan Lebourdais NAVAL_GROUP_AP_2020_dual-GB_210x297.indd 1 28/05/2021 11:49 Editorial Hard Choices in the New Cold War Era The last decade has seen many of the foundations on which post-Cold War navies were constructed start to become eroded. The victory of the United States and its Western Allies in the unfought war with the Soviet Union heralded a new era in which navies could forsake many of the demands of Photo: author preparing for high intensity warfare. Helping to ensure the security of the maritime shipping networks that continue to dominate global trade and the vast resources of emerging EEZs from asymmetric challenges arguably became many navies’ primary raison d’être. Fleets became focused on collabora- tive global stabilisation far from home and structured their assets accordingly. Perhaps the most extreme example of this trend has been the German Navy’s F125 BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG class frig- ates – hugely sophisticated and expensive ships designed to prevail only in lower threat environments.
    [Show full text]