Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 31, 2017

Courtesy Alert 5

South China Morning Post: China tests new spy drones in near space ‘death zone’

High-altitude unmanned vehicles tasked with military intelligence gathering can fit inside a shoebox and cost just a few hundred yuan

High-altitude spy drones could help China dominate “near space” – a region of the Earth’s atmosphere that is at the heart of a modern-day space race.

Near space, which begins at about 20km above sea level, has until now been regarded a “death zone” for drones – thin air at this altitude makes it hard to generate lift, while extremely low temperatures mean electronic components like batteries are prone to fail.

However, a new type of Chinese-developed drone that is undergoing testing appears to have overcome such difficulties, marking a significant step towards China’s ambitions of exploiting near space for purposes of military intelligence.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 31, 2017

China's First 5th Generation Fighter Moves Into Serial Production -- The Diplomat

With all eyes on North Korea, Beijing looks ready to deploy fighter jets in the South China Sea -- Business Insider

Australian universities are helping China's military surpass the United States -- Sydney Morning Herald

Taiwan leader promises to raise defence spending as she praises ‘unprecedented’ friendship with United States -- SCMP

S. Korea not mulling any more THAAD deployments: foreign minister -- Yonhap News Agency

Lull in South China Sea tensions brings joint Asean-China naval drill closer -- South China Morning Post

Japanese 'marines' eyed for Okinawa mission -- Asahi Shimbun

India, Japan begin anti-submarine warfare exercise -- Economic Times

Why Japan's New Military Aircraft Gift to the Philippines Matters -- The Diplomat

Japanese expert: Military alliance with US remains the only option for Japan -- The Hankyoreh

US, Japan seen teaming on military tech more closely: panel -- Nikkei Asian Review

Why Did Putin Launch 4 ICBMs? Because He Can, Czech General Says -- Defense Tech

Why Russia's New 'Stealth' Submarines Have a Big Problem -- National Interest

Iranian Air Force Holds Massive Drills Protecting Nuclear Facilities -- AP

French senator demands public inquiry into Microsoft military deal -- The Register

North Korea threat of above-ground bomb test serious, US says -- Defense News

New $400m army to fight human traffickers and terrorists faces UN moment of truth -- The Guardian

Afghan War Data, Once Public, Is Censored in US Military Report -- New York Times

Pentagon responds to GAO F-35 sustainment report -- Inside Defense

Marines to get Star Trek phaser-like device for nonlethal weapon option -- Marine Times

Mattis: Soldiers killed in Niger not part of anti-terror authorization -- The Hill

Mattis, Tillerson: No authority for military action in North Korea outside 'imminent threat' -- The Hill

Mattis Gives Guarded OK to New Military Force Authorization -- DoD BUzz

Mattis, Tillerson tell Congress new war authorization should have no time, geographic constraints -- The Hill

Niger attack reignites debate over military authorization: What to know about AUMF -- FOX News

Court partially blocks Trump's transgender military ban -- The Hill

The U.S. F-35 versus the PRC J-20 -- Mark B. Schneider, RCD

Kelly: I'll 'never' apologize to Dem lawmaker over Gold Star phone call -- The Hill

Danger's of Buying the Next ICBM From the Lowest Bidder -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

The Video Game That Could Shape the Future of War -- Adin Dobkin, The Atlantic