Norman Friedman

Norman Friedman is an internationally known strategist and naval historian. He is the author of nearly 30 books, including the award-winning Seapower as Strategy and The Fifty-Year War, a history of the Cold War that won the Royal Services Institute’s Westminster Medal for the best English-language military book for the year 2000.

He also writes a monthly column on world naval developments for the Naval Institute’s Proceedings magazine, and his articles have appeared in Joint Forces Quarterly, Jane’s International Defence Review, Asian Pacific Defence Reporter, Defense Electronics, The Journal of Electronic Defense, The International Countermeasures Handbook, Armada, Defence, ORBIS, Military Technology, Naval Forces, Jane’s Navy International, Signal, The Wall Street Journal (U.S., European, and Far Eastern editions), DPA, RUSI Journal, and the Journal of Cold War Studies, among others.

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* Eugene Ely lands his Curtiss pusher biplane aboard USS Pennsylvania in January 1911. National Archives photo.

Aircraft Carrier Evolution Centennial of Naval Aviation

The George H.W. Bush is the current chapter in a carrier story which began almost a century ago, in November 1910, when an intrepid aviator named Eugene “George” Ely flew …

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The littoral combat ship USS Freedom (LCS 1) transits the Pacific Ocean en route to participate in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises. Some time in 2010 the U.S. Navy plans to decide between the two competing LCS designs as the basis for a class of 50 or more ships. U.S. Navy photo by Senior Chief Mass Communication Specialist Dave Nagle.

Littoral Combat Ship Concepts and End Products

Both competing prototypes of the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) are now complete, and as of spring 2010, the U.S. Navy planned to choose one or the other for further production. …

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The amphibious assault ship Makin Island (LHD 8) sails westerly through the Strait of Magellan as the ship prepares to enter the Pacific Ocean. Makin Island circumnavigated South America on the way from Pascagoula, Miss., to her new homeport in San Diego, Calif., her gas-turbine/electric drive saving $2 million worth of fuel in the process. Photo courtesy of Chilean Navy.

Going Electric

The new Zumwalt-class destroyer is described as an “electric ship.” The next-generation carrier is more “electric” by far than any predecessor. Probably the same will be true of the coming …

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The guided missile frigate USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG 58) low in the water but under way after the ship struck an Iranian mine on Apr. 14, 1988. The wrinkled skin of the helicopter hangar attests to the force of the blast, which nearly severed the keel and blew the gas turbines from their mounts.  U.S. Navy photo.

Barring the Door Three Different Anti-access Approaches

Sometimes the U.S. Navy says that its role is often to “kick in the door” – to gain access to places we want to influence, which do not want us. …

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UCAVs: Considering the Next Step

Unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) first came to prominence in the United States during the attack on Afghanistan, when Predators armed with Hellfire missiles were used to attack particular insurgent …

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Shipbuilding industry woes may see the closing of the Odense yard, which built the innovative and much-admired Absalon for the Danish navy. Photo courtesy of Herbert via Wikimedia Commons.

World Naval Developments 2009

This is necessarily a highly selective tour of only a few world navies. At least for Western navies, the primary issue during 2009 was how badly they would be hurt …

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