Ablue-water navy is amaritime force capable of operating globally, essentially across the deep waters of openoceans.[1] While definitions of what actually constitutes such a force vary, there is a requirement for the ability to exercisesea control at long range.
The term "blue-water navy" is amaritime geographical term in contrast with "brown-water navy" (littoral waters and near to shore) and "green-water navy" (near to shore and open oceans).
TheDefense Counterintelligence and Security Agency of the United States has defined the blue-water navy as "a maritime force capable of sustained operation across the deep waters of open oceans. A blue-water navy allows a country toproject power far from the home country and usually includes one or more aircraft carriers. Smaller blue-water navies are able to dispatch fewer vessels abroad for shorter periods of time."[2]
In public discourse, blue-water capability is identified with the operation ofcapital ships such asbattleships,battlecruisers,aircraft carriers, andnuclear submarines. For instance, during the debate in the 1970s whether Australia should replaceHMAS Melbourne, a formerchief of navy claimed that if Australia did not replace her last aircraft carrier, she "would no longer have a blue-water navy".[3] In the end Australia did not buy a new carrier, but former Parliamentary defence advisor Gary Brown could still claim in 2004 that her navy remained "an effective blue-water force".[3] TheSoviet Navy towards the end of theCold War is another example of a blue-water navy that had minimal carrier aviation, relying instead on submarines, missile-carrying surface ships, and long-range bombers based on land.[4]
A blue-water navy implies force protection fromunderwater warfare,surface warfare, andaerial warfare threats and a sustainable logistic reach, allowing a persistent presence at long range. A hallmark of a true blue-water navy is the ability to conductreplenishment at sea (RAS),[5] and the commissioning of underway replenishment ships is a strong sign of a navy's blue-water ambitions.[6] While a blue-water navy can project sea control power into another nation's littoral waters, it remains susceptible to threats from less capable forces (asymmetric warfare). Maintenance and logistics at range have high costs, and there might be a saturation advantage over a deployed force through the use of land-based air orsurface-to-surface missile assets,diesel-electric submarines, or asymmetric tactics withfast attack craft (FAC). An example of this vulnerability was the October 2000USSCole bombing inAden.[7][8]
The term 'blue-water navy' should not be confused with the capability of an individual ship. For example, vessels of a green-water navy can often operate in blue water for short periods of time. A number of nations have extensive maritime assets but lack the capability to maintain the required sustainable logistic reach.[9] Some of them join coalition task groups in blue-water deployments such as anti-piracy patrols off Somalia.
According to a dictionary definition, blue-water capability refers to an oceangoing fleet able to operate on thehigh seas far from its nation's home ports. Some operate throughout the world.[10]
In their 2012 publication, "Sea Power and the Asia-Pacific", professors Geoffrey Till and Patrick C. Bratton outlined what they termed as "concise criteria" with regard to the definitions of brown-, green- and blue-water navies. Quote; "...a brown-water navy standing for a navy capable of defending its coastal zones, a green-water navy for a navy competent to operate in regional sea and finally [a] blue-water navy described as a navy with capability to operate across the deep waters."[11] They go on to say that even with such a definition and understanding of naval hierarchy, it is still "ambiguous". For example, while France and the United States may be considered blue-water navies, he states that the "operational capability and geographic reach of both navies are definitely different."[11]
Another definition states that 'brown-water' refers to the littoral areas within 100nautical miles of the coastline. 'Green-water' begins from 100 nautical miles out to the next major land formation, while 'blue-water' is the ability to project force out to at least 1,500 nautical miles beyond the coast.[12] Traditionally a distinction used to be made between a coastalbrown-water navy operating in thelittoral zone to 200 nautical miles (or 370kilometres) and an oceangoing blue-water navy. However, theUnited States Navy created a new term,green-water navy, to replace the term 'brown-water navy' in US Navy parlance.[13][14] Today, a brown-water navy has come to be known as a predominantlyriverine andlittoral force.
Despite the above, however, there is no agreed definition of the term.[15]
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There have been many attempts by naval scholars and other authorities to classify world navies, including; Michael Morris,[17] British naval historians Eric Grove[17] and Professor Geoffrey Till,[17][18] French strategistHervé Coutau-Bégarie[17][19] and professors Daniel Todd and Michael Lindberg.[17][20][16] All identify basic common criteria for gauging the capability of navies, such as; total displacement and number of ships; modernity and power of weapons and systems; logistical and geographic reach with capacity for sustained operations; and the professional qualifications/disposition of sailors.[17]
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The table below shows the world naval hierarchy according to the classification system by professors Daniel Todd and Michael Lindberg.[16] Their system originates from 1996[20] and outlines ten ranks, distinguished by capability. Since then it has been used by various other experts to illustrate the subject.[16][21] According to Todd and Lindberg, a "blue-water navy" is one that can project any sort of power beyond its own territorial waters.[16][21] However they used the principle ofloss of strength gradient and other criteria to distinguish navies by capability under the four "blue-water" ranks.[16][21] The six ranks of "Non blue-water navies" can be further broken down into "green-water" and "brown-water navies", and according to Todd and Lindberg, these are navies only capable of operating as coastal defence forces, coast guards or riverine forces.[16][21]
| Rank | Designation | Capabilities | Navies | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue-water navies | 1 | Global-reach power projection | Multiple and sustained power projection missions globally | United States |
| 2 | Limited global-reach power projection | At least one major power projection operation globally | United Kingdom,France,India,Italy | |
| 3 | Multi-regional power projection | Power projection to regions adjacent to its own | Russia,China,Japan | |
| 4 | Regional power projection | Limited range power projection beyondexclusive economic zone (EEZ) | Spain,Brazil,Australia,South Korea,Germany,Egypt,Netherlands | |
| Non blue-water: green-water navies | 5 | Regional offshore coastal defence | Coastal defence within and slightly beyond EEZ | Canada,[22] Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Israel, Singapore, Pakistan and others |
| 6 | Inshore coastal defence | Coastal defence confined to inner EEZ | North Korea, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Sweden[23] and others | |
| Non blue-water: brown-water navies | 7 | Regional offshore constabulary | Maritime policing within and slightly beyond EEZ | Iceland, Ireland, Tunisia, Estonia, Iraq, and others |
| 8 | Inshore constabulary | Maritime policing confined well within EEZ | Cambodia, Cyprus, the Philippines, and others | |
| 9 | Inland waterway riverine | Riverine defence of landlocked states | Bolivia, Paraguay, Burundi, and many others | |
| 10 | Token navy riverine | Very basic constabulary if at all | Many examples worldwide |
Historically, and to present day, blue-water navies have tended to establish overseas bases to extend the reach of supply lines, provide repair facilities and enhance the "effective striking power" of a fleet beyond the capabilities provided by the nation'shomeports.[24] Generally, these overseas bases are located within areas where potential conflicts or threats to the nation's interests may arise. For example, sinceWorld War II theRoyal Navy and later theUnited States Navy have continued to base forces inBahrain for operations in thePersian Gulf.[24] The military importance and value of overseas basing is primarily dependent on geographical location. A base located atchoke points in narrow or enclosed seas can be of high value, especially if positioned near, or within striking distance of an enemy'ssea lines of communications.[24] However advanced operating bases (or forward operating bases) can be equally as valuable.Naval Station Pearl Harbor acts as a "gateway" for the US Navy to "operate forward" in thePacific Ocean.[25]
These are examples of navies that have been described by various defense experts or academics as being blue-water navies. Some have successfully used their blue-water capabilities to exercise control on the high seas and from there have projected power into other nations'littoral waters.[26][27] However, there is no agreed upon definition among authorities as to what constitutes a blue-water navy.[15]
 | This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2023) |
ThePeople's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is subject to a variety of assessments regarding its capabilities. China's ambition towards blue-water capability received much attention, particularly from theUnited States Congress[28] andDepartment of Defense,[29][30] with both acknowledging that China's primary aim was to project power in theFirst and Second island chains.[29][31] In a 2013 report to Congress, defense experts also asserted that over the coming decades, China would gain the capability to project power across the globe – similar to Britain's 1982Falklands War.[29] In 2015, Todd and Lindberg's classification system put the PLAN was a rank four "regional power projection navy".[20][16] In 2020, assessment ofUnited States Naval Institute coined Chinese Navy "in terms of modern warships and submarines China far outstrips any erstwhile naval competitors, except for the United States."[32]
Since 2008, the PLAN has conducted anti-piracy missions in theGulf of Aden on acontinuous basis.[33]
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TheFrench Navy is recognised as being a blue-water navy by various experts and academics.[A][11][26][27] According to professors Daniel Todd and Michael Lindberg, the French Navy is a rank two "limited global-reach power projection navy".[20][16]
The navy operates a single nuclear-powered aircraft carrier (Charles de Gaulle) which forms the centrepiece of the Navy's principal expeditionary task group (known as the Aeronaval Group). In addition to this, the navy maintains a secondary Amphibious Group (known as Le Groupe Amphibie) based around theMistral-class amphibious assault ships. Both these formations are part of theForce d'action navale (or Naval Action Force). The 'Forces sous-marines' operates four nuclear-poweredballistic missile submarines and six nuclear-poweredfleet submarines. France retains a network of overseas naval facilities around the world; fromFort de France in the Caribbean, toLe Port, Réunion in the Indian Ocean,Papeete in the Pacific and in several other parts of the world too, including the Gulf, South Atlantic and the Western Pacific.[34]
The navy's operational duties include the protection of French interests abroad and the security of the nation's manyoverseas departments and territories, as such the Navy undertakes a number ofstanding commitments worldwide.[35]
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TheIndian Navy is unique among Asian navies due to its long experience in carrier power projection since 1961.[36][37] This, according to Dr. George J. Gilboy and political scientist Eric Heginbotham, gives the Indian Navy the "leading power projection capability in the region".[36] The Indian Navy is also the only Asian navy considered to be a rank three "multi-regional power projection navy" per Todd and Lindberg's classification system.[20][16] In his discussion paper for Consultancy Africa Intelligence, Greg Ryan asserts that in recent years, the Indian Navy has emerged as a "global power in the blue water sense".[38]
India initially outlined its intentions of developing blue-water capabilities under the 2007Maritime Capabilities Perspective Plan,[39][40] with the navy's priority being the projection of "power in India's area of strategic interest", theIndian Ocean Region.[41][42] Since 2007 the navy has increased its presence in thePersian Gulf and theHorn of Africa to theStrait of Malacca, and routinely conductsanti-piracy operations and partnership building withother navies in the region.[43][44] It also conducts routine two to three month-long deployments in theSouth andEast China seas as well as the westernMediterranean simultaneously.[45][46] The navy has a listening post inMadagascar.[47]
India inducted its first aircraft carrier in 1961, and the navy has ever since operated two independent carrier task forces. AfterINS Viraat andINS Vikrant were decommissioned, the country's strike force currently centers on the two carrier battle groups:INS Vikramaditya, and a new indigenous aircraft carrier,INS Vikrant commissioned in September 2022, restoring India's two-carrier capability. The Indian Navy also possesses anamphibious transport dock,INS Jalashwa, and currently operates 3Arihant-class indigenously developed nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine with one more under construction, along with leasing oneAkula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine and has many more ships of different types planned or under construction.
TheItalian Navy was categorised as a "regional blue-water navy" inLiu Huaqing's Memoirs (1994),[48] and as a rank three "multi regional power projection navy" by Professors Daniel Todd and Michael Lindberg in 1996.[20] In the former 1989 publication "The Atlantic Alliance and the Middle East", Joseph I. Coffey asserted that Italy's blue-water capabilities didn't extend beyond the Mediterranean sea.[49] Today the navy possesses twoaircraft carriers (Cavour andTrieste, withGiuseppe Garibaldi being retired in 2024).
The Marina Militare routinely deploys to theIndian Ocean andPersian Gulf as part of multinational anti-piracy missions such asOperation Ocean Shield andOperation Atalanta,[50] and is capable of deploying a carrier battle group in support of NATO or EU operations such as duringOperation Enduring Freedom (2001) andEU Navfor Med (European migrant crisis). In 2015 scholar Sarah Kirchberger mentioned Italy as a blue-water navy capable of operating in the high seas far from its home.[51]
As of June 2024 the Italian Navy has deployed a Carrier Strike Group, based on the Cavour (CVH 550) STOVL aircraft carrier (withF-35B on board), for a five-months deployment to theIndo-Pacific region, reachingSingapore,Australia,Japan and thePhilippines. Italian Navy will also participate to theExercise RIMPAC, the world's largest international maritime warfare exercise. This is an indisputable evidence of the top level capabilities reached by the Italian Navy, which place the same at the level of the Royal Navy.[52][53][54]
| This article needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(December 2023) |
TheSoviet Navy maintained naval forces able to rival those of the United States; however, following the end of theCold War and dissolution of theSoviet Union in 1991, theRussian Navy experienced a severe decline due to lack of funding.[55] By the late 1990s, there was little tangible evidence of Russian blue-water capability.[55] It was not until 2007, under PresidentVladimir Putin, that "naval ambition broadened in scope and aimed at re-creating a large blue-water navy".[56] Today, the Russian Navy is considered to be a rank 3 "multi-regional power projection navy" by Todd and Lindberg's classification system.[20][16] The Russian Navy has also been described as a blue-water navy by British naval historian Professor Geoffrey Till.[9]
TheRoyal Navy is considered to be a blue-water navy by naval experts and academics. This position has been further cemented with the introduction of two newQueen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers, eighteen new frigates (8Type 26, 5Type 31, and 5Type 32), and other warships currently being procured.[26][27][A][B] A term used commonly in theUnited Kingdom is that the Royal Navy maintains a maritimeexpeditionary capability.[57] According to Todd and Lindberg's classification system, the Royal Navy is a rank two "limited global-reach power projection navy".[20][16]
The Royal Navy supports a number ofstanding commitments worldwide on a continuous basis and maintains an expeditionary task force known as theJoint Expeditionary Force (Maritime) (JEF (M)).[58] TheRoyal Navy Submarine Service operates fourVanguard-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines and seven nuclear-poweredAstute andTrafalgar classfleet submarines which operate globally.[59] TheRoyal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) maintains a number of ships which support Royal Navy operations globally by resupplying personnel, food, water, armament and fuel to their ships. The RFA also augment the Royal Navy's amphibious landing capabilities by operating theBay class.[60][61] The United Kingdom maintains five overseas naval facilities, including a naval support facility, named theBritish Defence Singapore Support Unit, inSembawang,Singapore in theFar East.[62][63][64]
TheU.S. Naval War College identifies the Royal Navy's tasks as fighting wars, conducting distant expeditions, maintaining good order at sea and preventing and deterring conflict.[65] As such, the Navy views the retention of its "world-class" high-end disciplines in anti-air and anti-submarine warfare as strategically important.[65] The Royal Navy has shown many examples of its expeditionary capabilities[C] sinceWorld War II, such as theKorean War, the 1982Falklands War, the 1990–91Gulf War,Sierra Leone, theWar in Afghanistan, the2003 invasion of Iraq,[65] and during the2011 military intervention in Libya.
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TheUnited States Navy is considered a blue-water navy by experts and academics.[11][26][27] It is distinguished from other power projection navies in that it is considered a global blue-water navy, able to operate in the deep waters of every ocean simultaneously.[9] According to Todd and Lindberg's classification system, the United States Navy is a rank one "global-reach power projection navy", and the only navy to occupy this rank.[20][16]
The USN maintains elevencarrier strike groups[66] (centered on theNimitz-class aircraft carrier andGerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers), of which six are deployed or ready for deployment within 30 days, and two ready for deployment within 90 days under the Fleet Response Plan (FRP). The USN also maintains a continuous deployment of nineexpeditionary strike groups that embark aMarine Expeditionary Unit with anAviation Combat Element onamphibious warfare ships.[67] The USMilitary Sealift Command is the largest of its kind in the world and is responsible for delivering military transport and ship replenishment around the globe.[68]
The US Navy has shown countless examples of its blue-water combat capabilities and has the ability toproject force onto thelittoral regions of the world, engage in forward areas during peacetime, and rapidly respond to regional crises. Some examples of such areWorld War II, theKorean War, theVietnam War, thePersian Gulf War, theWar in Afghanistan and theIraq War.
TheUnited States Coast Guard, while not technically a navy, is also a blue-water naval force capable of deploying to waters throughout the world.
Some green-water navies have ambitions towards the development of blue-water capabilities.[15][69]
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While considered to be a green-water navy,[9] theJapan Maritime Self-Defense Force is undergoing transition to develop blue-water capabilities.[78][79] It began in 1981 whenPrime MinisterZenkō Suzuki put forward a new doctrine requiring the JMSDF to expand its operations by 1,000 miles for defense of the nation'ssea lines of communication.[78][79] To respond to the growing blue-water requirements, the JMSDF has been developing impressive capabilities, most notably the creation of destroyer flotillas centered on large helicopter destroyers (such as theHyūga-class helicopter carrier) and largeAegis-equipped destroyers.[80][81] The first Japanese post-WWII overseas naval air facility was established next toDjibouti-Ambouli International Airport; it supports a number ofLockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft.[82] It was then decided to operate F-35B fighters on board theIzumo-class, a development of theHyūga-class, and by July 2021JSIzumo had completed modifications for this purpose,[83] followed by an operational test using the U.S. Marine Corps F-35B in October.[84]
TheRepublic of Korea Navy also has ambitions to develop blue-water capabilities.[85][86][87] In 2001, the South Korean President,Kim Dae-jung, announced plans to build a "Strategic Mobile Fleet".[85] The plan includes the construction of up to threeDokdo-class amphibious assault ships, with aski-jump for the operation ofV/STOL jet fighters being considered for the second vessel currently under construction.[88] On 3 December 2021 the National Assembly passed the budget to fund a fixed-wing aircraft carrier tentatively namedCVX-class aircraft carrier capable of operating F35B, expected to enter operations possibly as early as 2033.[89][90][91]
TheBrazilian Navy is experiencing a "shift in maritime priorities" with ambitions of developing a blue-water navy.[92] While the navy maintains a mix of capabilities enabling it to operate in the wider South Atlantic Ocean, the Brazilian government wishes to be recognized as "the leading maritime power in the Southern Hemisphere" and is seeking to develop a modern naval shipbuilding industry.[92]
TheIranian Navy aims to develop blue-water capabilities: in July 2016, it announced plans to establish a presence in theAtlantic Ocean,[93] and as of May 2021 has sent ships into the region.[94]
The operating areas of maritime forces range from the deep waters of the open oceans (known colloquially as blue water).
in the past 15 years the Soviet Navy has steadily grown from a coastal defense force into a blue water navy powerful enough to challenge the US Navy in most major ocean areas of the world
...the United States and the United Kingdom have the world's two best world-spanning blue-water navies... with the French being the only other candidate... and China being the most likely competitor in the long term
