A NEW YEAR’s CAROL - "Ring Out, Wild Bells"

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Britain’s Poet Laureate (1850-1892) wrote more than "The Charge of the Light Brigade" (1854).

Prolific Tennyson also wrote an earlier poem "Ring Out, Wild Bells" (published 1850). Now days it rings out the old year and rings in the new, on New Year's Eve.

Ring Out, Wild Bells' words have deep meaning.
 
Also bringing the poem to life is a sad and moving musical version by Canadian singer Alana Levandoski.

Alana sings it here http://youtu.be/dbnsIydaYYg and below:

The sad tone has special poignancy for a year that brought bushfires in Australia and COVID everywhere. Here's Ring Out, Wild Bells:

Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky,
The flying cloud, the frosty light:
The year is dying in the night;
Ring out, wild bells, and let him die.

Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.

Ring out the grief that saps the mind
For those that here we see no more;
Ring out the feud of rich and poor,
Ring in redress to all mankind.

Ring out a slowly dying cause,
And ancient forms of party strife;
Ring in the nobler modes of life,
With sweeter manners, purer laws.

First Verse/Chorus

Ring out the want, the care, the sin,
The faithless coldness of the times;
Ring out, ring out my mournful rhymes
But ring the fuller minstrel in.

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.

First Verse/Chorus

Ring out old shapes of foul disease;
Ring out the narrowing lust of gold;
Ring out the thousand wars of old,
Ring in the thousand years of peace.

Ring in the valiant man and free,
The larger heart, the kindlier hand;
Ring out the darkness of the land,
Ring in the Christ that is to be.

First Verse/Chorus

Have a much happier 2021 everyone.

Pete

How did the Christmas Truce of 1914 Happen?

If World Peace broke out this Blog would be rapidly out of business. But still, I'm sure most agree, it would be worth it.

See this British Imperial War Museums (IWM) Youtube here and below:

Poem of Christmas COVID Hope & Affiniti's "O Holy Night"

Thank you all who have read, and especially you who have commented, on Submarine Matters this year. 

Here is a poem of hope for Christmas - circulated on the Internet anonymously, with Southern Hemisphere updating by me. 

T'was just days before Christmas,
And all through the town,
People wore masks,
That covered their frown.

The frown had begun
Way back last Summer,
When a global pandemic
Made life a bummer.

They called it Corona,
But unlike the beers,
It didn’t bring good times,
It only brought tears.

Contagious and deadly,
This virus spread fast,
Like a bushfire that starts
When lightning strikes parts.

Airplanes were grounded,
Travel was banned.
Borders were closed
Across air, sea and land.

As the world entered lockdown
To flatten the curve,
The economy halted,
And folks lost their nerve.

From March to July
We rode the first wave,
People stayed home,
They tried to behave.

When Spring emerged
The lockdown was lifted.
But some became careless,
Some of us drifted.

Now it’s December
Northern Hemisphere spiking,
Even in Sydney,
Not much to their liking.

Frontline workers,
Doctors and nurses,
Try to save people,
From riding in hearses.

This virus is awful,
This is COVID-19.
And only just now
Hopeful vaccines

It’s true that this year
Has had sadness a plenty,
We’ll never forget
The year 2020.

And just ‘round the corner -
The holiday season,
Can we be merry?
Is there even a reason?

To decorate the house
And put up the tree,
Maybe no one will see it,
No one but me.

But outside my window
The Sun shines strong,
And I think to myself,
One day Good comes along!

So, I gather the ribbon,
The garland and bows,
As I play those old carols,
My happiness grows.

Christmas is not cancelled
And neither is hope.
If we lean on each other,
I know we can cope. 

Merry Christmas everyone!
-------------------------------------------------------------

This great rendition of O Holy Night by Irish group Affiniti, with lead singer Emer Barry.
---

Merry Christmas 

Pete 

Excellent APDR Article: Conventional Submarine Size Trends

Kym Bergmann, the Editor of Australia's Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR), has written an excellent article, dated 16 December 2020, entitled:

"Conventional submarine trends in the Asia-Pacific: size definitely matters"

Its probably the best article I've read on conventional submarines all year.  

From its introduction: "An almost universal trend in the design of diesel-electric submarines is that they are getting larger.  This can be observed in regional navies as diverse as those of Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia.  What they all have in common is a requirement for their submarines to be increasingly capable – particularly in overall combat power, range and endurance.  They are also all professionally led, high technology forces with close ties to the USN." 

The article looks in greater depth at South Korean, Australian and Japanese sub size increases, while it notes Indonesian subs have remained small.  

It then continues with a key section "Factors driving this inevitable size increase..."

The article then goes on to examine the critical outcome of sub size growth, which is rapidly rising price.

See this Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) article on submarines here.
__________________________

As well as submarines APDR continually publishes key articles on regional-to-broader international weapons systems, support and policy subjects, on "Land, Air & Space, Sea, Joint Projects, Cyber Security, IT, Simulation & Training and Government Policy & News".

APDR also has a very useful search engine, going back many years.

Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter is my main daily reading - with its short and long articles. 

Pete

India's Future Carrier AIRCRAFT Acquisition: Hard On Sellers!

PETE COMMENT

Under the "Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters" competition India is shopping for follow-on naval fighters. India started receiving Russian MiG-29K carrier fighters from 2010, but India has become unhappy with defects in these MiGs and difficulty sourcing spare parts. Indian industry is also trying to convince the Indian Navy to buy 50+ navalised indigenously developed Tejas fighters. But, reading between the lines, the Indian Navy is cautious over the suitability of Tejas in a carrier role - in terms of ramp launch aerodynamics, heavy weight and arrested landing ruggedness. 

Purchase of F/A-18Es, West European or post MiG Russian Su fighters, can be seen as replacements (by 2028?) for the MiG-29Ks and probably also the Tejas navalised fighters. 

India is world renowned as a determined haggler particularly where jet buys are concerned. If the Rafale deal for India's Air Force is anything to go by, a 7 year delay and Indian pressure to have the winning aircraft license built in Indian factories, is entirely possible. To further complicate matters the Indian Navy "Multi-Role Carrier Borne Fighters" acquisition process may have merged. This may be with the Indian Air Force "MMRCA 2.0" process for 114 Air Force multi-role combat aircraft. For your average Western arms dealer, negotiating India's technocratic, multi-dimensional, acquisition system is more difficult than learning Vedic Sanskrit while piloting a pogo stick. Good Luck unsuspecting sellers :)

ARTICLE

The Aviationist ably reports December 15, 2020 in part:

"An F/A-18E Super Hornet completed the launch from a ski jump ramp during a demo at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. Here’s the first image.

Although the demonstration was carried out in August [2020], and the news was out since then, the first photo of an F/A-18E Super Hornet completing a ski jump launch at NAS Patuxent River, MD, has just been released.

The take off from the ramp at Patuxent River was conducted as part of a demo arranged for the Indian Navy, which has been in talks for the potential acquisition of Super Hornets for its STOBAR (Short Take-Off But Arrested Recovery) aircraft carriers, such as the INS Vikramaditya and the under-construction INS Vikrant.

...Interestingly this wasn’t the first time a Hornet carried out ski jump take offs. [US] Air Force Systems Command, dated 1991, says that between 1982 and 1986 “a metal ramp was constructed that could be modified to give ramp exit angles of 3, 6, and 9 degrees. The ramp was 112.1 feet long and 8.58 feet high at ‘he exit when configured for the 9 degree exit angle, measured from the horizontal...The minimum ground roll for the F/A-18 was 385 feet at a gross weight of 32,800 lbs. This ramp effectively reduced the takeoff roll of the F-18 by more than 50 percent..."

SEE THE WHOLE EXCELLENT AVIATIONIST REPORT

 

An F/A-18 Super Hornet completes a ski jump launch demo for the first time on Aug. 13, 2020 at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. (Photo courtesy US Navy photo by Eric Hildebrandt via The Aviationist.)
---

Italy to build 4 Type U212 NFS Long Submergence Submarines

At last some worthwhile submarine news. 

Italy is buying and will probably do the building of what I think are the world's first 4 submarines that combine AIP and Lithium-ion Batteries.

These will be Type U212 NFS (for Near Future Submarine) Todaro Class Batch-III submarines.

AIP and Lithium Batteries will probably allow them to fully submerge longer than any other "conventional" (diesel-electric) submarines. 

See a good description with a cutaway diagram at https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/12/italys-new-type-u212-nfs-submarine-program-moving-forward-with-occar/

 

Nuke Weapons Prolif to-from China, Pak, NK, Libya, France - Snippets

In response to GhalibKabir's fine comments, of December 9, 2020, on nuclear weapons proliferation to-from China, I add further comments below:

Finding US Overt sources is quite easy. Finding non-US sources is more difficult.
---

SOURCE 1 

Mainly https://www.nti.org/learn/countries/china/nuclear/ 

“China was embroiled in nuclear proliferation scandals throughout the late 1980's and early 1990's, particularly with respect to its sale of RING MAGNETS to Pakistan in 1995. [38] 

[Wikipedia - "A subsidiary of the China National Nuclear Corporation contributed in Pakistan's efforts to expand its uranium enrichment capabilities by providing 5,000 custom made ring magnets, which are a key component of the bearings that facilitate the high-speed rotation of centrifuges. China has also provided technical and material support in the completion of the Chashma Nuclear Power Complex and plutonium reprocessing facility, which was built in the mid-1990s.^[50]" ] 

[Missile Threat In November 1992, China sold 34 M-11 [aka. DF-11] missiles to Pakistan. Satellite images showed missile canisters were delivered at Sargodha air base near Lahore.¹³ The Chinese government initially denied these allegations, accusing U.S. intelligence agencies of fabricating evidence of the transfer. The United States reimposed limited sanctions in response.¹⁴ After Beijing provided a more explicit commitment to adhere to the MTCR guidelines and to stop exporting missiles, the Clinton Administration lifted the sanctions in 1994.¹⁵ Although China pledged not to transfer missiles to Pakistan, it reportedly continued to assist Pakistan in developing its own indigenous missile capability.¹⁶ In 1992, China attempted to sell to Iran 500 DF-11 missiles. However, the deal was terminated due to U.S. pressure.¹⁷ A reported 30-50 DF-11 missiles may have been sold to Iran in 1995, although this remains unconfirmed.18 ] 

China provided Pakistan with a nuclear bomb DESIGN (used in China's October 1966 nuclear test). 

[That test was CHIC 4, October 27, 1966, Warhead 548, 12kt test yield]

These designs were later passed to Libya by the A.Q. Khan network, and discovered by IAEA inspectors in 2004 after then [Libyan] President...Qadhafi [who very foolishly - look what subsequently happened to him and his country!] renounced his nuclear weapons program and allowed inspectors to examine related facilities [in Libya]. The plans contained portions of Chinese text with explicit instructions for the manufacture of an implosion device. [39]”
---

SOURCE 2

Mainly https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/chinese-nuclear-program

Concentrates (at length worth a SubMatts' article in itself) on help to China from a US traitor, perhaps semi-official 1940-60s far left Curie cluster? French helpers and (no doubt permitted by the Soviets) the brainy but malleable, Klaus Fuchs (using his stolen from UK/US knowledge and expertise)  

Source 2 goes onto help FROM China 

"...during the 1990s. On one visit, he was told that the CHIC-4 (see above) the bomb used in China’s fourth nuclear test—was designed simply enough so that “anybody could build [it]” (Reed and Stillman 231).

Chinese scientists passed the CHIC-4 bomb technology to Pakistan, and allegedly conducted a nuclear test for Pakistan at Lop Nur on May 26, 1990. Additionally, China sold intermediate range ballistic missiles (IRBMs) albeit without nuclear warheads to Saudi Arabia, sold missile components to Iraq [can't find details], and trained Libyan nuclear experts in Beijing [maybe not much evidence?]. China has also tolerated the North Korean nuclear weapons program; after Pyongyang’s first test in 2006, China’s ambassador to the UN affirmed that “China does not approve of inspecting cargo to and from the D.P.R.K.” (328)." 

[China - North Korea relations is an ongoing story. With China thinking even a nuclear armed North Korean Buffer Zone (between China and US-SK forces) is better than no buffer zone at all.] 

Russian Directed Energy Weapon Against CIA in Australia

Here is a rare example of a US journalist (Julia Ioffe - clearly with good access) sympathetic to the health of intelligence personnel. See Ioffe being interviewed on Youtube here and above. 

In the Youtube, Ioffe refers to the CIA investigators identifying Russian intelligence use of the directed energy weapon against US officers in Australia here .

US intelligence agencies are reluctant to put anti-Russia issues (eg. Russian developed directed energy weapon use) to Trump or his loyal Secretary of State, Pompeo.

This is because bureaucrats are ever mindful of Trump's pro-Putin/Russian sympathies. There is also a yawning lack of intelligence security concerning Russia at the White House. Trump is well known to happily discuss relevant intelligence with Russian officials.

US officers are physically suffering while the Trump Administration does not confront
well-documented Russian use of directed energy weapons.

See 7 minutes of further details at https://youtu.be/psYu7hWpDZU?t=26m31s (PBS NewsHour, December 11, 2020).

See further detail, at Julia Ioffe's GQ article, which includes mention of the weapon being used by FSB officers in Australia - against US officers. 

Also see Australia's government owned ABC article "Russia suspected of Cold War-style microwave attack on CIA agents in Australia".

COMMENT

Help is on the way - but perhaps only after January 20, 2021. It is highly likely that the new foreign policy officials under the Biden Administration will be taking Havana Syndrome (ie. use of directed energy weapons) seriously.

Mach 1 Hero Test Pilot Chuck Yeager Dies at 97

Chuck Yeager died on December 7, 2020 at the age of 97. This is a very advanced age for someone in the high fatality early rocket/jet Test Pilot calling. 

NPR, December 7, 2020 reports on his death, his career and his major media portrayal in The Right Stuff  - a great movie. 

Yeager is most famous for breaking the sound barrier (Mach 1) in a decidedly dangerous rocket plane - a Bell X-1. Yeager did not have the higher mathematics/physics college education typically required of a Test Pilot these days. But he was a precise, gifted, natural pilot, also a showman with charisma. America needs heroes and he delivered at great personal risk.

 

Regarding the above Right Stuff scene. In December 1963 Yeager attempted an altitude record in a highly modified, rocket-boosted NF-104A aerospace trainer. Standard F-104As were known as "Widowmakers" in those early days, but the NF-104A proved even more dangerous. 

The Right Stuff  Youtube here and above is a symphony of jet, afterburner and rocket "notes" mixed to the film's great score. Turn it up loud!

In the youtube Yeager finally runs out of rocket fuel. His plane's upward momentum is overcome by gravity. He's up too high (too little oxygen) for his jet engine to function or restart. There is also too little air for his plane to glide forward. So he goes into an (often fatal) Flat Spin. Being skillful and lucky, he survives by ejecting at the right height. But, explosive firing of the ejector seat ignites the pure oxygen in Yeager's facemask as he parachutes to earth. 

After this youtube Chuck reaches the ground, he can still walk, but his face is badly burnt. He can hardly see. Luckily the world's No.1 plastic surgeon (for facial injuries) successfully treats Chuck. All a true story. 

Being a test pilot in a rocket plane was/still is a risky business.

Please connect with Submarine Matters' earlier post of December 8, 2015 that includes Yeager's 
Mach 1 achievement.  

Goodbye Chuck Yeager.

Pete

1,300 US Marines to be Permantly at Guam: Darwin?

Pete Comment

Of interest to Australia. 1,300 US Marines will be permantly based at Guam, much closer to Australia than previously. This is along with a 3,700 Marine force rotating through Guam.

What impact that will have on the up to 2,500 per year Marine Rotational Force [through] Darwin (MRF-D) Australia agreement is unknown (?) and will need to be worked out. This is yet another item on Biden's amd Prime Minister Morrison's very long To Do lists.

ARTICLE

Miguel Ortiz at We Are The Mighty December 4, 2020 reports 
 https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-trending/camp-blaz/ :

"Camp Blaz [Guam] is the first new USMC base in nearly 70 years" 

On October 1, 2020, the United States Marine Corps activated its first new base since 1952. Marine Corps Base Camp Blaz will host roughly 5,000 Marines of III Marine Expeditionary Force on the island of Guam. The Marines will relocate from their current station in Okinawa, Japan over the next five years. 1,300 Marines will be permanently stationed at Camp Blaz while the remaining 3,700 Marines will serve as a rotational force.

The new Marine Corps strategy in the Pacific calls for a smaller, more agile and lethal force. “We have to spread out,” said the Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. David Berger. “We have to factor in Guam.” Camp Blaz will allow the United States to distribute its premiere amphibious fighting force across the Pacific. Operating from Guam, the Marine Corps will be able to respond to a wider array of aggressive actions from China...."

.50+ Calibre Assassination of Iranian Nuclear Scientist: Diagram.

The recent assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was carried out remotely with the help of preparatory humint, satellite warning/part cuing, artificial intelligence (ie. complex software) in the Nissan shoot car, a facial recognition camera for targeting, hooked up to a machinegun (likely heavy) in the Nissan. Finally there was a bomb with about a 3 second timer to blow up the Nissan.

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was traveling with his wife in a [semi] bulletproof car in the city of Absard, east of Tehran on Friday afternoon, November 27, 2020 when he was killed. Fakhrizadeh's car and a car full of bodyguards were surrounded by a security detail of three other vehicles (telltale security outrider motorbikes?). The convoy had to go though a narrow, one-way, "kill zone" (see Diagram below). After going around a distracting roundabout, which semi-hid the Nissan.

Fakhrizadeh was shot at least three times by a medium-heavy machinegun in the Nissan that was parked approximately 150 meters up ahead. The Nissan later exploded after maybe 3 seconds, perhaps further damaging Fakhrizadeh's car. 

Conflicting sources (with much unlikely information) are here and here. 

COMMENT

Months of humint and sigint planning allows for a complex remote operation.

The satellite could have been used to cue the radio dish/antenna on the Nissan to provide 20 seconds notice that the right/expected convoy (with telltale outriders) was approaching.

(See Diagram for killzone channeling) A high spec camera in the Nissan would have been configured  to capture the target’s face through glass OR the operation planners already knew which car Fakhrizadeh was traveling in.

Fakhrizadeh's car may have only been resistant to standard 7.62mm ammunition. If the machine gun was of a heavy calibre - say .50 calibre (12.7mm) (eg. an M2 or equally common Russian Kord) with special armour piercing bullets, they could easily get to Fakhrizadeh.

Even if the heavy machine-gun failed to fire - an automatic timer in the Nissan was set to explode blowing up Fakhrizadeh's still approaching car. The explosion also had the advantage of destroying any remaining assassinating country evidence. 

Before the operation there would be little difficulty transporting the assassination equipment in pieces across any one of Iran's many loose land and sea borders (see Map below). Iran is surrounded by such loose and/or contested borders as Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf. This presents endless opportunities for any determined state based assassination operation.

WIDE AREA MAP (Courtesy BBC)

---

DIAGRAM - Points 1, 2 and 5 appear correct although the equipment was more likely hidden in a Nissan car, not an open air "pick-up". But 3 and 4 are clearly wrong: Fakhrizadeh (the VIP) would not get out of the car (that was protecting him) "to investigate the noise". Doctrine: A fired upon VIP armoured car speeds away from the threat. (Diagram coutesy USA Today Sun, with some old information as at November 30, 2020).
---

UK-French Nuclear Weapon Treaties 2010: 2 SSBNs Collided

Further on my message that the French nuclear deterrent has never been entirely homegrown, is the 2010 UK-French Lancaster House Treaties. These have synonymous/working and overlapping instruments that include the 2010 Downing Street Declaration and 2010 Teutates Treaty.

The nuclear aspects of the treaties were aimed at improving nuclear wepaon management coordination between the UK and France (the only two Western European powers who actually own their nuclear warheads) and to reduce the high costs of nuclear weapon management. 

Most of their operational nuclear warheads are mounted on their 4 SSBNs each, ie. the 4 UK Vanguard-class and 4 French Triomphant-class.

"Lancaster", "Downing" and "Teutates" appear to be used interchangeably due to legal complexities and also to add bureacratic-security-cover over what are sensitive nuclear weapon matters.

A Major Nuclear Accident

Somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean, on February 3-4, 2009, HMS Vanguard SSBN and the French Navy’s Le Triomphant SSBN collided - luckily in slow customary SSBN motion. Both sustained serious damage and limped home under their own power (?).

After this shock and for many other diplomatic and cost reasons the UK and France believed it high time to conclude what became the Lancaster House defence and security cooperation treaties, covering conventional and nuclear weapon matters.

Between the lines the UK and France also concluded SSBN patrol procedures (dividing the Atlantic up into national zones?) to avoid future collisions.

The Treaties

The Lancaster House Treaties of 2010 [actual text] are two treaties between UK and France for defence and security cooperation.^[1][2] They were signed at 10 Downing Street (UK Prime Minister's main office, London, UK) on November 2, 2010 by UK Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy.^[3]

Under the 2010 Lancaster Treaties umbrella is the Downing Street Declaration, which covers conventional weapon matters and the nuclear weapon matters that I’m interested in, eg:

• Collaboration on the technology associated with nuclear stockpile stewardship in support of both countries' independent nuclear deterrent capabilities. This included building a new joint facility at Valduc nuclear weapons center in France that modelled performance of nuclear warheads and materials to ensure long-term viability, security and safety. This was supported by a new joint Technology Development Centre at Aldermaston Nuclear Weapons Establishment in the UK.

and

• The two countries began joint development of some of the equipment and technologies for the next generation of nuclear submarines.

------------------------

Under the 2010 Lancaster Treaties umbrella in the joint Nuclear Weapons management realm is the Teutates Treaty [actual text] between the UK and France on Joint Radiographic / Hydrodynamics Facilities (Valduc and Aldermaston).

“Teutates” was the Celtic God of War (tribal defensive) in ancient Britain and Gaul (no less). So it is an appropriate name for a nuclear weapons treaty.

After the post 2009 rush to conclude these treaties in 2010 all may have gone swimmingly until the UK Government’s big Brexit blunder impinged on UK-French nuclear weapon management. This will be explored next week.

COVID: Entire crew HMS Vengeance SSBN replaced: RN officer tested positive.

Not only HMS Vigilant (SSBN) has had severe COVID problems this year (see my November 2, 2020 report) but now her sister sub HMS Vengeance (SSBN) has had a major disruption due to COVID. 

See the UK Daily Mail's report of  December 4, 2020:

'Entire crew' of nuke-carrying Trident submarine based in Scotland 'is replaced after Royal Navy officer tested positive for Covid-19'

"A Trident submarine's entire crew was replaced after an officer tested positive for Covid-19, it was claimed last night.

Almost 170 Royal Navy sailors serving aboard HMS Vengeance were taken off days before a deployment, according to The Sun.

The crew had been living in strict isolation and had food delivered to their rooms along with regular testing.

...But Navy top brass reportedly had to overhaul the entire crew when an officer caught the virus.

Sources have pointed the finger at inspectors who came aboard HMS Vengeance while docked at the Faslane naval base in Scotland last week.

[needless to say] An insider told the newspaper: 'It would be a disaster if there was a Covid outbreak on a sub if it was on patrol.'"

SEE WHOLE DAILYMAIL ARTICLE

Nuclear and Missile Proliferation: SE Asian-Australia Region

Sparked by GhalibKabir’s interesting comment of December 2, 2020 is my comment below.

Yes Russia is very unlikely to accept Indian export of BrahMos to Australia.

In any case Australia politically would reject joint Russian-Indian missile BrahMos because it is part Russian. Australia would be relying on the US to work out countermeasures Against BrahMos.

On an electronic intel level BrahMos might be packaged with hidden extra Russian spyware software. That may also render it inoperable in attempted use against target ships carrying Russian friend-or-foe transmitters.

Past Russian nuclear and missile assistance to India's Nirbhay, nuclear capable cruise missile, would also turn off Australia.

There may be more interest likely in Israel's small "Baby Boomer" SSB platform supersonic endrun Popeye Turbo n-SLCM.

More overtly (and in joint Australia-US character) is:

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/01/australia/hypersonic-missile-australia-us-intl-hnk/index.html of Dec 1, 2020 "Australia partners with US to develop hypersonic missiles"

"(CNN) Australia will jointly develop hypersonic cruise missiles with the United States in a bid to counter China and Russia which are developing similar weapons, Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said on Tuesday.

"We will continue to invest in advanced capabilities to give the Australian Defence Force more options to deter aggression against Australia's interests," Reynolds said in a statement.

She did not reveal the cost of developing the missiles or when they would be operational.

Australia had set aside up to 9.3 billion Australian dollars ($6.8 billion) this year for high-speed, long-range missile defense systems, including hypersonic research..."

Likely synonymous with the US developing a larger longer range SM-6 - with SM-6 already ordered by Australia. Australia may be part funding the enlarged version. Also see  “This is likely to be the SM6 missile” 

An authenticly hypersonic US missile, that might be passed on to Australia by the 2030s, is the under development - see "Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS)" missile.  

I haven't read much about Vietnam building an n-deterrent (with Russian help?) but it would make sense against China. However Vietnam might reason that it would need a too large, hence unaffordable deterrent, to give China pause. I see Vietnam has curtailed its nuclear energy plans.

Philippines is still under US Treaty/control [see Diplomat paysite] stopping Phils doing its own n-deterrent. 

I class Phils with Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar as being (understandably) too frozen in fear in Chinese headlights to contemplate a n-deterrent. It cannot be easy for the mainland Southeast Asian countries, knowing they are but a short Chinese tank drive away.

Indonesia already has the money to go nuclear, but that would form the major headache for Australia - enough for Australia to also go down the n road.

Australia Hosted French Nuclear Sub: NEW INFORMATION

Australia hosted France's Rubis class nuclear attack submarine FNS Emeraude and the submarine tender/support vessel FNS Seine at Australia's Fleet Base West, near Fremantle and Perth, Western Australia. 

The Australian and French navies are united in their Indo-Pacific security relationship, which is heightened by Australia's decision to buy/build 12 French designed large conventional Attack class submarines.

Australia's Asia-Pacific Defence Reporter (APDR) reports, 9 Nov, 2020 [hyperlinks added by Pete]:

"The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) will host Marine Nationale units FNS Emeraude and FNS Seine at Fleet Base West from 9 November 2020. Prior to the maintenance and logistics visit, Australian Defence Force elements, including HMAS Anzac, HMAS Sheean and a P-8A Poseidon aircraft exercised with the French Navy units off the coast of Fremantle..."

SEE WHOLE APDR ARTICLE

NEW INFORMATION

The USN via "Defence Blog" December 2, 2020 subsequently reported FNS Emeraude and FNS Seine

visited US Naval Base Guam.

Pete Comment

Unreported visits of both vessels, before and/or after, to French Indo-Pacific territories, are possible

 eg. forward naval bases at:

-  Nouméa, New Caledonia, South Pacific

-  Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia, South Pacific, and

-  Port Réunion naval base, Réunion Island, Indian Ocean.