Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 18, 2016

Russian and Chinese servicemen shake hands during the Russian-Chinese drill "Naval Interaction-2015" at the Klerk testing grounds in Russia's Primorye Territory. © SPUTNIK/ VITALIY ANKOV

Dave Majumdar, National Interest: The U.S. Military's Greatest Fear: Russia and China are Catching Up Fast

The United States has fallen behind potential adversaries in certain key technological areas such as integrated battle networks according to senior U.S. Navy officials. Indeed, as one U.S. Navy admiral told an audience at the Navy League’s Sea, Air and Space symposium that the term “near-peer” is a misnomer—in some cases the Russian and Chinese have the advantage over American forces.

“Our near-peer competitors are no longer near peers,” said Rear Adm. Mike Darrah, Naval Air Systems Command’s program executive officer for unmanned systems and strike weapons. “In some cases, they have gone beyond us.”

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 18, 2016

ISIS bomb attacks in Baghdad a new challenge for Iraq’s military -- PBS

Sadr’s ‘Peace Brigades’ prepares for Mosul offensive -- Long War Journal

Russia Builds Military Camp Near Ancient Site in Palmyra -- AP

Russian Defense Ministry denies setting up military base in Palmyra -- TASS

Face the Facts: Russia's Military Is Modernizing Into a Lethal Fighting Force -- Dan Goure, National Interest

Azerbaijan Has Advantage Over Armenia In U.S. Military Aid -- Eurasianet.org

Thailand's Army Plans to Replace US Helicopters With Russian Aircraft -- Sputnik

Russia fights back against NATO missile shield with upgraded launch detection radar -- FOX news

US Spies at Russia’s Northern Doorstep: Intelligence Tightens Around Russia -- Sputnik

Stopped in their tracks: US Army fails to make top 3 in NATO tank challenge -- RT

Canada's troubled submarine fleet has been hit with another headache: hundreds of potentially dangerous welds -- CBC

U.S. vs Russia: Struggling for Undersea Nuclear Supremacy -- National Interest

U.S. vs Russian Nuclear-Armed Submarines -- Scout

US Navy Submarines Maintain an Edge--Russia -- Scout

Could US Submarines Stop a Chinese Amphibious Assault on Taiwan? -- Lyle Goldstein, Scout

U.S. Foreign Military Sales Growing in Volume, Complexity -- USNI News

US Navy Gears Up to Extend the Service of MH-60 Helicopters -- Defense News

US Navy Set to Deploy New Lethal Anti-Surface ‘Tactical Cloud’ Later this Year -- USNI News

Air Force unveils vision for small unmanned aerial systems -- The Hill

Pentagon Buys 'Safe Solution' for Zapping Drones Out of the Sky -- Sputnik

Why DARPA Is Pursuing the Reusable Military XS-1 Spaceplane -- Live Science

The Marines Are on the Hunt for Robots That Can Follow Their Orders -- Matthew L. Schehl, Defense News/Marine Corps Times

Ash Carter Says House Defense Bill ‘Gambling With Warfighting Money,’ Path to Hollow Force -- USNI News

House adopts amendment that slashes National Security Council -- The Hill

Army goes all-in on Bowe Bergdahl’s defense, assigns four military lawyers -- Washington Times

Bergdahl court martial delayed until 2017 -- The Hill

DOD proposes reforms to military justice system -- The Hill

Eric Fanning, First Openly Gay Army -- NBC

Pentagon under fire for proposed cuts to autism care -- The Hill

DoD Adds Funding to Enhance Zika Surveillance by Military Labs -- US Department of Defense

Starry, Starry Fight: The Pentagon’s General Bloat -- Mark Thompson, Time

Resilience vs. intelligence: DoD's space dilemma -- Amber Corrin, C4ISR & Networks

'Worst' charity for veterans run by VA employee -- CNN

How Swarming Drones Could Change the Face of Air Warfare -- Lara Seligman, Defense News

6 Facts Highlight Why We Need to Rebuild Our Military -- Justin Johnson Daily Signal