Could Jet Ski Bombs Change the Way Navies Operate? || Peter Zeihan
Aug 19, 2024
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Peter Zeihan, a naval operations expert, discusses the surprising potential of low-tech innovations, specifically jet ski bombs, to revolutionize naval combat. He highlights how unconventional tactics, like those seen in Ukraine, challenge traditional naval strategies and empower smaller nations. The conversation also delves into the implications of agile vessels and drone technology on future warfare, emphasizing the necessity for innovation and funding to adapt to a rapidly changing maritime landscape.
The shift towards low-tech threats, exemplified by Ukrainian forces using modified speedboats, challenges the dominance of traditional naval fleets.
Regional navies face significant vulnerabilities and must innovate rapidly to secure maritime routes against unconventional attacks in tense areas.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Naval Power
The strategic significance of aircraft carriers in modern naval warfare is highlighted, as they offer a considerable advantage by allowing for power projection without direct engagement. The United States possesses a substantial lead in naval capabilities with its fleet of supercarriers, which surpasses the combined strike potential of most global navies. The discussion also notes that the recent performance of Ukrainian forces against the Russian Black Sea Navy, utilizing modified speedboats as makeshift attack vessels, underlines a shift in how naval power can be challenged. This development raises questions about the ability of traditional naval fleets to adapt to low-tech, unconventional threats.
Challenges for Global Navies
The constraints faced by various nations’ navies are explored, particularly for Russia, which has limited maritime access and vulnerable ports that could be easily disrupted in a conflict. Similar vulnerability is noted for regional navies, especially those in areas like the Persian Gulf and the Aegean Sea, where tensions could escalate quickly through low-cost methods of attack. The implications for nations like Iran, Kuwait, and several others in the Gulf are significant, as their commercial interests depend on maintaining secure maritime routes. Emphasis is placed on the need for established naval powers to innovate rapidly in response to emerging asymmetric threats from less conventional forces using accessible technologies.
*This video was recorded during my backpacking trip through Yosemite in the end of July. The US Navy and its fleet of carriers (and super-carriers) haven't had much of a challenge on the seas since WWII. But of all things, it might be some low-tech jet ski bombs that change the way the world's navies operate.