Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 16, 2016

USS Dewey (DDG-105), USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG-108), USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS OÕKane (DDG-77) and USS Sterett (DDG-104) participate in a show of force transit training exercise on Nov. 4, 2016. US Navy Photo

Bloomberg: Trump Would Get the 350 Ships He Wants Under Navy’s New Plan

* Navy cites need to boost large surface combatant force, subs
* Service spurns departing Carter’s call to build fewer ships

The U.S. Navy says it needs as many as 355 ships, up from the current goal of 308, echoing a goal that President-elect Donald Trump set in his campaign.

The “Force Structure Assessment” being released on Friday calls for expanding the Navy from its current fleet of 272 over the next 30 years. That could mean increased sales for General Dynamics Corp. and Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc., the nation’s primary makers of combat vessels, as well as Lockheed Martin Corp., with its Aegis combat system, and Raytheon Co., which makes electronic combat systems and the new Air and Missile Defense Radar.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 16, 2016

US Navy’s New Fleet Goal: 355 Ships -- Defense News

Navy Wants to Grow Fleet to 355 Ships; 47 Hull Increase Adds Destroyers, Attacks Subs -- USNI News

US Navy conducts missile tests off Hawaii -- Stars and Stripes/The Honolulu Star-Advertiser

The Navy is building fleets of unmanned 'swarmboats' that can overwhelm and confuse enemies -- Digital Trends

The U.S. Navy's Next Missile Sub Is Called USS Columbia -- Popular Mechanics

Pentagon: IS seized weapons, missile system in Palmyra -- UPI

Russia rejects U.S. concern about ISIS seizing arms in Syria -- AP

Russia Will Respond if NATO Establishes Military Group in Black Sea -- Sputnik

The Sound of Silence: Chinese Subs to Become Superstealth -- Sputnik

Amid growing N.K. threat, S. Korea bolsters security ties with U.S., Japan -- Yonhap News

NATO-Russia Council to hold meeting on Monday -- AP

South Caucusus energy security on NATO radar -- UPI

Is Britain cooking the books over its shrinking military? -- RT

Canada: Smoother military exit system for soldiers still years away, documents show -- CBC

Super Hornets and Canadian Strategic Thinking -- Paul T. Mitchel, RCD/The Bridge

First F-35s Built Outside of US Go Operational in Italy -- Defense News

U.S. military set to reach Afghanistan troop target next month -- Military Times

US F35 fighters to deploy from Royal Navy aircraft carrier -- BBC

U.S. Army Returns Tanks to Europe as NATO Eyes Assertive Russia -- NBC

Marine Corps to Arm Osprey With New Weapons and build a new variant for the 2030s -- Scout Warrior

Pentagon to Create Hypersonic Missile Defense Program -- Washington Free Beacon

Mike Rogers Calls for Space Reorganization; U.S. Space Capabilities Threatened by China's Anti-Satellite Missile -- University Herald

Boeing to Develop High Energy Laser Technologies for US Air Force -- Sputnik

The Predator's Stealthy Successor Is Coming -- Popular Mechanics

Pentagon falling behind in advancing US military-tech superiority - report -- RT

Report: Pentagon Must Close Gap With Silicon Valley -- Washington Free Beacon

NSA Watchdog Fired After Retaliating Against Whistleblower -- Sputnik

Trump strikes fear into defense contractors -- The Hill

Trump Pledges to Work With Boeing to Cut Costs of Air Force One -- Sputnik

Trump names retired Lt. Gen. Kellogg and Crowley to national security posts -- Washington Examiner

Bowe Bergdahl Due Back in Court for a Pretrial Hearing -- AP

Army Says Some Misconduct Trends Are Increasing -- AP

America’s F-35 fighter jet vs China’s J-20: which is better, cheaper, stealthier? -- South China Morning Post

The Infantryman’s Christmas List: How to Equip Our Men for Ground Combat -- NRO