Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 31, 2016

AFP: Pentagon chief heads to Asian summit as nations fret over S. China Sea

Washington (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will depart Tuesday for an Asian security summit in Singapore, where Beijing's military expansion across the South China Sea likely will once again dominate discussions.

Regional neighbors are fretting over what they see as China's expansionism as it rushes to exert sovereignty over the waterway, a major global shipping route believed to be home to large oil and gas reserves.

China is using dredgers and other tools to convert low-lying ocean features and sandy blips into military bases.

A Pentagon report this month said China has added more than 3,200 acres (1,300 hectares) of land to the seven features it occupies in the Spratly Islands archipelago.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 31, 2016

Beijing tears into Pentagon over South China Sea issue -- Economic Times

War Against ISIS: Meet the U.S. Military Spy Plane Known as the Dragon Lady -- ABC news

Syrian Conflict Inspires Russian Tank Capable of Street Combat -- Sputnik

Russia's Black Sea Fleet Receives Last of 6 New Diesel-Electric Submarines -- Sputnik

Russia's Pacific Fleet to Order 6 New Diesel-Electric Submarines - Official -- Sputnik

Futuristic US railgun too expensive to use, similar projects in Russia – senator -- RT

Chinese army surrenders to flabby recruits as weight criteria loosened -- The Telegraph

Japan, South Korea on high alert for possible missile launch -- The Hill

Soldiers die in Indian army ammunition depot fire -- BBC

India Allows Private Companies to Build Rockets -- Defense News

Pakistan Seeks Greater Indigenization for Next Air Force Fighter -- Defense News

Israel’s New Defense Minister Faces Rift With Disgruntled Military -- WSJ

Finland military exercise mistaken for invasion. -- BBC

The Air Force's quiet war on the Latin American drug cartels -- Air Force Times

Congress seeks to strengthen U.S.-Taiwan military alliance as China asserts power -- Washington Times

Pentagon: US Allies Happy About F-35 -- Scout

Air Force chief of staff: 40,000 to 60,000 more airmen needed -- Air Force Times

Pentagon Cautious on Reusable Rocket Boosters -- WSJ

Pentagon is building massive hub of insider threat data -- NextGov

Holder: Snowden performed a 'public service' -- The Hill

US Army and Marine Corps PowerWalk into wearable battery trials -- Gizmag

Tried and True Tomahawk -- James Feldkamp, RCD

Air Force Museum Plans Special Activities for New Building -- AP

An Infantry Squad for The 21st Century -- Jules Hurst, War on the Rocks

The National Intelligence Council: The Upcoming Global Trends 2035 Report -- David T. Miller, Small Wars Journal