Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 2, 2015

Voice of America: China Expands Military Facilities on Man-Made Islands

China has nearly completed a military-length runway on one of the artificial islands it has built in the disputed South China Sea, according to satellite photos published by a maritime monitoring group.

The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI) says China continues to pave and mark the 3,000-meter airstrip, which analysts say is capable of accommodating any plane in China's air force fleet.

Additional military facilities - including two helipads, up to 10 satellite communications antennas, and a possible radar tower - are also being built on the Fiery Cross Reef, said the group's online report.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 2, 2015

Meet China's East China Sea Drones -- The Diplomat

Military facilities in S China Sea easy targets for US forces: experts -- Want China Times

Threat of war with major power ‘low, but growing,’ military strategy report warns -- Washington Times

Dempsey: Other Nations Gaining on US Military Supremacy -- Voice of America

Pentagon Says Odds Of Clash With Russia, China Rising -- Radio Free Europe

Kremlin regrets confrontational tone of US national military strategy -- ITAR-TASS

Russia: New US Military Strategy Is Confrontational -- VOA

Russia’s new version of national security strategy to counter all threats — Kremlin -- ITAR-TASS

New Pacific Russian Nuclear Missile Submarine Facility Could Open by October -- USNI News

Full Steam Ahead: Russia to Maintain Naval Shipbuilding Despite Economy -- Sputnik

Russian arms chief pledges to completely replace Ukrainian components by 2018 -- RT

Russia’s future amphibious assault ships to be greatly different from Mistrals -- ITAR-TASS

Russia to deploy 1st Bastion silo-based coastal missile system in Crimea by 2020 -- Russia Beyond the Headlines

Russians are confident in their military, poll shows -- RT

NATO Accuses Russia of 'Aggressive Methods' of Naval Intel Collection -- Sputnik

NATO navies should beef up against Russia: commanders -- i24 News

NATO is Not a Real Military Actor -- Jyri Raitasalo, War On The Rocks

Lithuania: NATO Keeps Mum On 'Baltic Brigade' Request -- Defense News/AFP

Bulgarian Cabinet Approves Negotiations for Purchase of New Fighter Jets -- Novinite

NATO chief visits site of future facility in Romania -- Washington Post

New Amphib Ship Planned for Italian Navy -- Defense News

Japan subs option driven by politics not merit warns inquiry -- Financial Review

UK Pushing to Bomb Syria as Defense Chief Labels ISIL Strategy 'Illogical' -- Sputnik

Murphy's Law: The Hidden Flaw Of The Su-30 -- Strategy Page

Congress Aims to Keep Bans on Dealing with Cuban Military -- VOA

America's Got Useful Ships Just Lying Around -- David Axe, War is Boring

Deadly Osprey crash spurred safety changes -- San Diego Union Tribune

Prowler Retires Following 45 Years of Naval Service -- Navy.mil

Live fire test sees F-16 shoot down a drone -- Geek

Submarines: Robotic Subs Evolve -- Strategy Page

NSA’s XKEYSCORE spy program is ‘as easy as typing a few words in Google’ -- RT

US Navy Yard shooting scare deemed false alarm -- Defense News

The US Military Should ‘Go Small’ to Defeat ISIS -- Robert A. Newson, Defense One/Council on Foreign Relations

US military morale is reportedly at 'rock bottom' again -- Business Insider