Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 19, 2017

The Independent: Donald Trump to announce $350bn arms deal with Saudi Arabia – one of the largest in history

The deal will be part of the president's proposal that Gulf nations form an 'Arab Nato'

Donald Trump will use his upcoming Saudi Arabia trip to announce one of the largest arms sales deals in US history - somewhere in the neighbouhood of $98bn to $128bn worth of arms. That could add up to $350bn over ten years.

The deal will be what the Washington Post said is a “cornerstone” of the proposal encouraging the Gulf states to form its own alliance like the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) military alliance, dubbed “Arab Nato."

Nato is comprised of 28 countries including the US. Mr Trump been an outspoken critic of the organisation but after a face-to-face meeting with Nato Secretary General Jens Stollenberg, he said the alliance was "no longer obsolete."

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 19, 2017

Saudis Said to Forge $6 Billion Lockheed Deal for Littoral Ships -- Bloomberg

Trump's Senior Adviser Jared Kushner Called Lockheed CEO To Slash THAAD Price For Saudi Arabia, Report Says -- International Business Times

Saudi Arabia launches national state company for military industries -- Al Arabiya

Israel’s regional military hegemony has been reduced, say analysts -- Middle East Monitor

Russian defense company awaits final go-ahead to test unmanned armored vehicles -- TASS

Drop in Military Spending in Africa -- VOA

East Africa: Kenya Tops Region's Military Ranking -- The East African

Chinese jets intercept US military plane over East China Sea -- South China Morning Post

Xi Revamping China's Military to Win Wars, Finkelstein Says: Q&A -- Bloomberg

US Military Hits Out at 'Unprofessional' China Over Plane Intercept -- Newsweek

The War China's Military Is Completely Obsessed With (Losing) -- Robert Farley, National Interest

US presses idea of Nato taking over training of Iraq troops -- The Straits Times

NATO defense chiefs: Alliance requires 'consistent, coordinated and coherent' strategy -- Defense News

NATO in Afghanistan: Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford says alliance should move quickly to deploy forces -- USA Today

The U.S. Navy Is Arming Its F/A-18s and F-35s with Ship-Killer Missiles -- National Interest

Boeing sets out upgrade ambitions for Super Hornet, Growler platforms -- Jane's 360

Air Force tests new lightweight F-35 helmet -- Defense Systems

Air Force sending bombers to train in England amid tensions with Russia -- Washington Examiner

Top US Air Force general opposes formation of separate 'Space Corps' -- Defense News

The SEALs want their divers going deeper and wirelessly networked -- Defense News

Zukunft: Changing Arctic Could Lead to Armed U.S. Icebreakers in Future Fleet -- USNI News

More US Bombers to Korea? Not Right Now, Says Air Force General -- Sputnik

US Navy moves second aircraft carrier near North Korea -- CNN

CIA Director Met High-Level North Korean Defector -- Washington Free Beacon

US Army's 2018 budget request stockpiles munitions, modernizes armored brigades -- Defense News

New defense budget poised to meet lower expectations -- Defense News

Defense chief appoints three senior officials -- The Hill

Could the military buy its guns online in the future? -- Washington Examiner

Army pulls recruitment ad after learning it showed soldier convicted of rape -- Army Times

Chelsea Manning Reveals First Photo Since Being Released From Prison -- NBC

The Competition Revolution in Military Space -- Robert walker, Cipher Brief

How the U.S. Military Is Trying to Mask Its Readiness Crisis -- Maggie Ybarra, National Interest

The Attack on USS Stark at 30 -- Sam LaGrone, USNI News