Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 22, 2015

Malcolm Davis, National Interest: Get Ready, Asia: China's Military Is Rapidly Catching Up to America

In considering Paul Dibb’s analysis on the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), I’d recommend anyone interested in the state of China’s military start by reading Roger Cliff’s China’s Military Power: Assessing Current and Future Capabilities. Cliff argues that “…by 2020, the quality of China’s military doctrine, equipment, personnel and training will likely be approaching, to varying degrees, those of the US and other Western militaries.”

Although prevailing weaknesses in organizational structure, logistics and organizational culture will limit the effectiveness of PLA weapons and platforms, “defeating China in these scenarios [Taiwan and South China Sea] could nonetheless be difficult and costly for the United States’ primarily as a result of the geographic advantages that China enjoys, as well as specific systems capabilities.”

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 22, 2015

THAAD system could be vulnerable to Chinese missiles: report -- Want China Times

Is This China’s Newest Tool To Thwart US Military Power? -- The Diplomat

Naval mines remain China's most effective area denial weapon -- Want China Times

China's Greatest Fear: U.S. Navy 'Cruise Missile Carriers' -- National Interest

Upgraded Arleigh Burke destroyer USS Benfold arrives in Japan -- Want China Times

Japan doubles F-15J fighters in Okinawa to counter China -- Want China Times

Pentagon confirms first US combat death against ISIS -- The Hill

Coalition: Next phase in Syrian campaign against ISIS to start soon -- The Hill

Amid Islamic State In Syria, A-10 Thunderbolt Jet To Target ISIS As US Air Force Employs Aging Aircraft -- IBTimes

Play it Again Uncle Sam: Pentagon Planning Massive New Offensive in Iraq -- Sputnik

Russia puts its military operations in Syria on display -- Washington Times

Russian Warplanes Destroyed 819 ISIL Targets in Syria Since Operation Began -- Sputnik

Russia, US move along same track to build up smart weapons potentials -- TASS

Putin's aggression is baffling NATO -- Reuters

Russia nearly done building its biggest Arctic military base -- RT

Russia to Station Military Unit in the Arctic by 2018 -- AP

Russia beefs up Kurils military base despite Japan tensions -- BBC

Austal prepares to launch Omani Navy's first high-speed support vessel -- IHS Jane's 360

What’s so special about Iran’s latest missile? -- al-Monitor

U.S. Set to Sell Fighter Jets to Pakistan, Balancing Pressure on Nawaz Sharif -- NYT

Canada's Decision to Not Buy F-35s Will Cause Prices to Hike for Everyone -- Sputnik

Canada’s Exit from F-35 Program Will Increase Unit Cost: General -- DoD Buzz

McCain: 'Have To' Reduce F-35 Total Buy -- Defense News

Lockheed Martin Completes Maiden Flight of New F-16V Jet -- Sputnik

USAF ‘Really, Really Close’ To Bomber Contract Award -- Defense News

Gates: Come Up With A Syria Strategy, Then Tell Putin ‘Stay Out of the Way’ -- Defense One

Gates says Putin might be ‘doing us a favor,’ urges more defense spending -- FOX News

Ahead of veto, Armed Services chairmen blast Obama -- The Hill

Obama Poised to Veto 2016 NDAA -- Defense News

The evolution of US military camouflage: From basic green and khaki to digital patterns and beyond -- FOX News

When it Comes Military Capabilities, Can Uniformed Officers Tell 'the Truth'? -- Dave Majumdar, National Interest