Ian Ellis
@www.iejmedia.com
Founder: IEJ Media ➤ https://www.iejmedia.com | Producer: Why Should We Care About the Indo-Pacific Podcast ➤ @indopacpodcast.bsky.social ➤ www.youtube.com/@ippodcast
🚨 Marine F-35B stealth fighter aircraft landed in Puerto Rico yesterday, as the U.S. significantly bolsters its airpower in the Caribbean following one of the largest naval deployments ever to the region.
New SOUTHCOM report with a closer look at the air combat element:
@vcdgf555.bsky.social
New SOUTHCOM report with a closer look at the air combat element:
@vcdgf555.bsky.social
September 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
🚨 Marine F-35B stealth fighter aircraft landed in Puerto Rico yesterday, as the U.S. significantly bolsters its airpower in the Caribbean following one of the largest naval deployments ever to the region.
New SOUTHCOM report with a closer look at the air combat element:
@vcdgf555.bsky.social
New SOUTHCOM report with a closer look at the air combat element:
@vcdgf555.bsky.social
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM): Air and Naval Assets
+ Potential strike package with a TLAM (Tomahawk Land Attack Missile) loadout via @vcdgf555.bsky.social
+ Potential strike package with a TLAM (Tomahawk Land Attack Missile) loadout via @vcdgf555.bsky.social
September 1, 2025 at 1:42 AM
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM): Air and Naval Assets
+ Potential strike package with a TLAM (Tomahawk Land Attack Missile) loadout via @vcdgf555.bsky.social
+ Potential strike package with a TLAM (Tomahawk Land Attack Missile) loadout via @vcdgf555.bsky.social
One pager on Op. Midnight Thunder, the largest B-2 strike in U.S. history, which targeted three key Iranian nuclear facilities.
- 125+ aircraft + 1x guided-missile sub
- Main strike package: 7x B-2 bombers
- Employed decoy + deception tactics
- 75+ precision-guided munitions (MOP, TLAM, HARM)
- 125+ aircraft + 1x guided-missile sub
- Main strike package: 7x B-2 bombers
- Employed decoy + deception tactics
- 75+ precision-guided munitions (MOP, TLAM, HARM)
June 24, 2025 at 4:37 PM
One pager on Op. Midnight Thunder, the largest B-2 strike in U.S. history, which targeted three key Iranian nuclear facilities.
- 125+ aircraft + 1x guided-missile sub
- Main strike package: 7x B-2 bombers
- Employed decoy + deception tactics
- 75+ precision-guided munitions (MOP, TLAM, HARM)
- 125+ aircraft + 1x guided-missile sub
- Main strike package: 7x B-2 bombers
- Employed decoy + deception tactics
- 75+ precision-guided munitions (MOP, TLAM, HARM)
Dual U.S. carrier coverage in the Middle East 🇺🇸
- Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived in CENTCOM AOR, operating off the coast of Oman
- In the Red Sea, Truman CSG continues non-stop 24/7 strike ops against the Houthi
+ Nimitz CSG chopped into U.S. 7th Fleet & heading west
- Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived in CENTCOM AOR, operating off the coast of Oman
- In the Red Sea, Truman CSG continues non-stop 24/7 strike ops against the Houthi
+ Nimitz CSG chopped into U.S. 7th Fleet & heading west
April 12, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Dual U.S. carrier coverage in the Middle East 🇺🇸
- Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived in CENTCOM AOR, operating off the coast of Oman
- In the Red Sea, Truman CSG continues non-stop 24/7 strike ops against the Houthi
+ Nimitz CSG chopped into U.S. 7th Fleet & heading west
- Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group (CSG) arrived in CENTCOM AOR, operating off the coast of Oman
- In the Red Sea, Truman CSG continues non-stop 24/7 strike ops against the Houthi
+ Nimitz CSG chopped into U.S. 7th Fleet & heading west
🚨 The U.S. launched large-scale precision strikes against the Houthi in Yemen yesterday: Map
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, on station in the Red Sea, & USAF participated in the operation, which hit “dozens & dozens” of targets.
~20% of the fleet in theater:
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, on station in the Red Sea, & USAF participated in the operation, which hit “dozens & dozens” of targets.
~20% of the fleet in theater:
March 16, 2025 at 11:33 PM
🚨 The U.S. launched large-scale precision strikes against the Houthi in Yemen yesterday: Map
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, on station in the Red Sea, & USAF participated in the operation, which hit “dozens & dozens” of targets.
~20% of the fleet in theater:
The Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, on station in the Red Sea, & USAF participated in the operation, which hit “dozens & dozens” of targets.
~20% of the fleet in theater:
U.S. Navy Assets + Pacific Force Posture: New map
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, America Amphibious Ready Group, Expeditionary Mobile Base USS John L. Canley, DESRON 15, + at least 4x fast-attack subs have been operating in the Indo-Pacific.
~1/3 of the fleet in theater.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, America Amphibious Ready Group, Expeditionary Mobile Base USS John L. Canley, DESRON 15, + at least 4x fast-attack subs have been operating in the Indo-Pacific.
~1/3 of the fleet in theater.
March 11, 2025 at 3:53 PM
U.S. Navy Assets + Pacific Force Posture: New map
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, America Amphibious Ready Group, Expeditionary Mobile Base USS John L. Canley, DESRON 15, + at least 4x fast-attack subs have been operating in the Indo-Pacific.
~1/3 of the fleet in theater.
The Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group, America Amphibious Ready Group, Expeditionary Mobile Base USS John L. Canley, DESRON 15, + at least 4x fast-attack subs have been operating in the Indo-Pacific.
~1/3 of the fleet in theater.
Balloon barrage: China launched 11 balloons toward Taiwan yesterday, the most ever recorded in a single day.
I recently asked RADM (Ret) Mike Studeman, former commander of Naval Intelligence, about their capabilities 👇
- Electronic warfare
- Surveillance
- Comms
- Decoys
+ The list goes on…
I recently asked RADM (Ret) Mike Studeman, former commander of Naval Intelligence, about their capabilities 👇
- Electronic warfare
- Surveillance
- Comms
- Decoys
+ The list goes on…
March 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Balloon barrage: China launched 11 balloons toward Taiwan yesterday, the most ever recorded in a single day.
I recently asked RADM (Ret) Mike Studeman, former commander of Naval Intelligence, about their capabilities 👇
- Electronic warfare
- Surveillance
- Comms
- Decoys
+ The list goes on…
I recently asked RADM (Ret) Mike Studeman, former commander of Naval Intelligence, about their capabilities 👇
- Electronic warfare
- Surveillance
- Comms
- Decoys
+ The list goes on…
TL;DR
- Increasing intensity
- More forces
- More forward
- Expanded joint ops
- Increasing intensity
- More forces
- More forward
- Expanded joint ops
March 5, 2025 at 1:37 AM
TL;DR
- Increasing intensity
- More forces
- More forward
- Expanded joint ops
- Increasing intensity
- More forces
- More forward
- Expanded joint ops
China intensified its military presence & activity near Taiwan in Feb, significantly outpacing previous years
- 362 PLA aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ (4x more than 2024 & 5th highest on record)
- 223 navy warships tracked (+42%)
- Deployed 2x surface action groups
- 5x joint combat patrols
- 362 PLA aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ (4x more than 2024 & 5th highest on record)
- 223 navy warships tracked (+42%)
- Deployed 2x surface action groups
- 5x joint combat patrols
March 5, 2025 at 1:01 AM
China intensified its military presence & activity near Taiwan in Feb, significantly outpacing previous years
- 362 PLA aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ (4x more than 2024 & 5th highest on record)
- 223 navy warships tracked (+42%)
- Deployed 2x surface action groups
- 5x joint combat patrols
- 362 PLA aircraft entered Taiwan’s ADIZ (4x more than 2024 & 5th highest on record)
- 223 navy warships tracked (+42%)
- Deployed 2x surface action groups
- 5x joint combat patrols
Breaking today: SECDEF deploys U.S. Army Stryker Brigade Combat Team to Southern Border 🇺🇸
- Mechanized infantry force of ~4,400 soldiers
- 300+ Stryker 8-wheeled armored vehicles
+ General Support Aviation Battalion w/ 650 troops, UH-60 Black Hawks & CH-47 Chinooks
Composition:
- Mechanized infantry force of ~4,400 soldiers
- 300+ Stryker 8-wheeled armored vehicles
+ General Support Aviation Battalion w/ 650 troops, UH-60 Black Hawks & CH-47 Chinooks
Composition:
March 2, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Breaking today: SECDEF deploys U.S. Army Stryker Brigade Combat Team to Southern Border 🇺🇸
- Mechanized infantry force of ~4,400 soldiers
- 300+ Stryker 8-wheeled armored vehicles
+ General Support Aviation Battalion w/ 650 troops, UH-60 Black Hawks & CH-47 Chinooks
Composition:
- Mechanized infantry force of ~4,400 soldiers
- 300+ Stryker 8-wheeled armored vehicles
+ General Support Aviation Battalion w/ 650 troops, UH-60 Black Hawks & CH-47 Chinooks
Composition:
China’s Defense Ministry spox warns Taiwan: “We will come & get you, sooner or later.”
“We make no promise to renounce the use of force, which is targeted at the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces & external interference.”
“We warn the US: playing sneaky tricks on Taiwan would only backfire.”
“We make no promise to renounce the use of force, which is targeted at the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces & external interference.”
“We warn the US: playing sneaky tricks on Taiwan would only backfire.”
March 1, 2025 at 2:04 AM
China’s Defense Ministry spox warns Taiwan: “We will come & get you, sooner or later.”
“We make no promise to renounce the use of force, which is targeted at the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces & external interference.”
“We warn the US: playing sneaky tricks on Taiwan would only backfire.”
“We make no promise to renounce the use of force, which is targeted at the ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces & external interference.”
“We warn the US: playing sneaky tricks on Taiwan would only backfire.”
🚨 Major Chinese military activity in the Indo-Pacific
- Launched snap live-fire drills 40 nautical miles from Taiwan
- Conducted unannounced live-fire drills between Australia & New Zealand
- Deployed 2x surface action groups led by Type 075 amphibious assault ships
- Carrier Liaoning (16) underway
- Launched snap live-fire drills 40 nautical miles from Taiwan
- Conducted unannounced live-fire drills between Australia & New Zealand
- Deployed 2x surface action groups led by Type 075 amphibious assault ships
- Carrier Liaoning (16) underway
February 28, 2025 at 12:14 AM
🚨 Major Chinese military activity in the Indo-Pacific
- Launched snap live-fire drills 40 nautical miles from Taiwan
- Conducted unannounced live-fire drills between Australia & New Zealand
- Deployed 2x surface action groups led by Type 075 amphibious assault ships
- Carrier Liaoning (16) underway
- Launched snap live-fire drills 40 nautical miles from Taiwan
- Conducted unannounced live-fire drills between Australia & New Zealand
- Deployed 2x surface action groups led by Type 075 amphibious assault ships
- Carrier Liaoning (16) underway
U.S. and allied partners kicked off the new year with military exercises around the world 🇺🇸
February 16, 2025 at 11:08 PM
U.S. and allied partners kicked off the new year with military exercises around the world 🇺🇸
New: Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is fully mission capable and back conducting flight ops in the Med following a collision with merchant vessel Besiktas-M while operating near Port Said, Egypt, on 12 February.
(U.S. Navy photos)
(U.S. Navy photos)
February 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
New: Aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) is fully mission capable and back conducting flight ops in the Med following a collision with merchant vessel Besiktas-M while operating near Port Said, Egypt, on 12 February.
(U.S. Navy photos)
(U.S. Navy photos)
“We’re very close to that [point] where on a daily basis the fig leaf of an exercise could very well hide operational warning. Their aggressive manoeuvres around Taiwan right now are not exercises as they call them, they are rehearsals. They are rehearsals for the forced unification of Taiwan.” (FT)
February 14, 2025 at 8:34 PM
“We’re very close to that [point] where on a daily basis the fig leaf of an exercise could very well hide operational warning. Their aggressive manoeuvres around Taiwan right now are not exercises as they call them, they are rehearsals. They are rehearsals for the forced unification of Taiwan.” (FT)
"The work that #USAID does is essential for national security success," a former Sr. USAID Official told us on @indopacpodcast.bsky.social
"It's my belief that the incoming administration has chosen USAID to curb-stomp it to death as a way to send a message to the rest of the federal bureaucracy.”
"It's my belief that the incoming administration has chosen USAID to curb-stomp it to death as a way to send a message to the rest of the federal bureaucracy.”
February 12, 2025 at 2:29 AM
"The work that #USAID does is essential for national security success," a former Sr. USAID Official told us on @indopacpodcast.bsky.social
"It's my belief that the incoming administration has chosen USAID to curb-stomp it to death as a way to send a message to the rest of the federal bureaucracy.”
"It's my belief that the incoming administration has chosen USAID to curb-stomp it to death as a way to send a message to the rest of the federal bureaucracy.”
Quick look @ Chinese PLA military activity around Taiwan in 2025
• +250% incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ
• +38% naval warships operating nearby
• 17x bomber sorties (most since 2022)
• 28x balloons (10x direct overflights)
• 6x joint combat readiness patrols
• 5x drone circumnavigations
• +250% incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ
• +38% naval warships operating nearby
• 17x bomber sorties (most since 2022)
• 28x balloons (10x direct overflights)
• 6x joint combat readiness patrols
• 5x drone circumnavigations
February 11, 2025 at 1:04 AM
Quick look @ Chinese PLA military activity around Taiwan in 2025
• +250% incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ
• +38% naval warships operating nearby
• 17x bomber sorties (most since 2022)
• 28x balloons (10x direct overflights)
• 6x joint combat readiness patrols
• 5x drone circumnavigations
• +250% incursions into Taiwan’s ADIZ
• +38% naval warships operating nearby
• 17x bomber sorties (most since 2022)
• 28x balloons (10x direct overflights)
• 6x joint combat readiness patrols
• 5x drone circumnavigations
Snapshot: 2025 U.S. military activity in the Indo-Pacific
- 200 National Guard Airmen + F-35A fighters deployed to Kadena
- Elevated recon sorties; additional ISR assets moved into theater
- First exercise with the Philippines involving a U.S. carrier
- USAF B-1B Lancer bombers deployed to Guam
- 200 National Guard Airmen + F-35A fighters deployed to Kadena
- Elevated recon sorties; additional ISR assets moved into theater
- First exercise with the Philippines involving a U.S. carrier
- USAF B-1B Lancer bombers deployed to Guam
January 27, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Snapshot: 2025 U.S. military activity in the Indo-Pacific
- 200 National Guard Airmen + F-35A fighters deployed to Kadena
- Elevated recon sorties; additional ISR assets moved into theater
- First exercise with the Philippines involving a U.S. carrier
- USAF B-1B Lancer bombers deployed to Guam
- 200 National Guard Airmen + F-35A fighters deployed to Kadena
- Elevated recon sorties; additional ISR assets moved into theater
- First exercise with the Philippines involving a U.S. carrier
- USAF B-1B Lancer bombers deployed to Guam
DOD + U.S. Coast Guard announce immediate action in support of Presidential Executive Orders
- USCG surging assets (cutters, aircraft, boats, + deployable specialized forces) to increase presence
- DOD augmenting forces at the SW border with additional ~1,500 ground personnel
- USCG surging assets (cutters, aircraft, boats, + deployable specialized forces) to increase presence
- DOD augmenting forces at the SW border with additional ~1,500 ground personnel
January 23, 2025 at 9:03 PM
DOD + U.S. Coast Guard announce immediate action in support of Presidential Executive Orders
- USCG surging assets (cutters, aircraft, boats, + deployable specialized forces) to increase presence
- DOD augmenting forces at the SW border with additional ~1,500 ground personnel
- USCG surging assets (cutters, aircraft, boats, + deployable specialized forces) to increase presence
- DOD augmenting forces at the SW border with additional ~1,500 ground personnel
U.S. Navy force posture ahead of the presidential transition of power 🇺🇸
8 of America’s 11 aircraft carriers are active or working up, and 3 are currently deployed: Truman in the Middle East (5th Fleet), Vinson + Washington in the Indo-Pacific (7th Fleet)
8 of America’s 11 aircraft carriers are active or working up, and 3 are currently deployed: Truman in the Middle East (5th Fleet), Vinson + Washington in the Indo-Pacific (7th Fleet)
January 18, 2025 at 2:21 AM
U.S. Navy force posture ahead of the presidential transition of power 🇺🇸
8 of America’s 11 aircraft carriers are active or working up, and 3 are currently deployed: Truman in the Middle East (5th Fleet), Vinson + Washington in the Indo-Pacific (7th Fleet)
8 of America’s 11 aircraft carriers are active or working up, and 3 are currently deployed: Truman in the Middle East (5th Fleet), Vinson + Washington in the Indo-Pacific (7th Fleet)
