Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 14, 2018

F-35A Lightning II (Wikipedia)

Bloomberg: Lockheed F-35 Cost Stabilizes at $406 Billion, Pentagon Says

* New report to Congress shows slight decline in overall cost
* Projected procurement costs tick down to $345.4 billion

The Pentagon’s estimated cost to develop and purchase Lockheed Martin Corp.’s F-35 jet, the costliest U.S. weapons program, has stabilized for now, according to a new report to Congress.

The total acquisition cost for the advanced fighter is projected at $406.1 billion, virtually unchanged from the $406.5 billion estimated last year, according to the Defense Department’s latest Selected Acquisition Report, which will be sent to Congress this week. The projections were obtained in advance by Bloomberg News.

Within the total -- which includes research, development and initial support such as spare parts and military construction -- the estimated cost to procure 2,456 U.S. aircraft has ticked down to $345.4 billion from $346.1 billion, or a 0.2 percent decline.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 14, 2018

Pay Now, Save Later on the F-35? -- The Fiscal Times

F-35 Costs Set To Rise By £12 Billion, Experts Suggest -- Forces Network

US F-35 fighter modernization could cost $16 billion through 2024 -- Reuters

S. Korea signs deal on 90 more Taurus bunker-buster missiles -- Yonhap News Agency

U.S., Japan Conduct ASW Drill in South China Sea -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat

US aircraft carrier and MSDF helicopter destroyer conduct joint exercises in disputed South China Sea -- The Japan Times

Australian Army set for a massive overhaul of fighting vehicles in 'discrete' reequipment megaproject -- NEWS.com.au

US gives Philippine air force first drones -- Channel News Asia

Spyware? Australia’s Military Bans Chinese Social Media App WeChat -- Sputnik

China raises pay, pensions for trimmed down military, announces plans for veterans' ministry -- South China Morning Post

Panel: Taiwan Looking More to Japan, U.S. for Economic, Security Support -- USNI

Russia getting ready for more tests of newest intercontinental ballistic missile Sarmat -- TASS

Stalin' or 'Vatnik'? Russian MoD Approves Finalists in Missile Naming Contest -- Sputnik

NATO won’t invoke Article 5 on collective defense over UK claims against Russia — source -- TASS

NATO's Global Engagement Grows To Face North Korea’s Nuclear Ambitions -- VOA

Rare interview: Senior navy officer sheds light on Israeli submarine scandal -- Jerusalem Post

Marines Release Specifications for New Mega-Drone -- Defense Tech

GenDyn contracted for components on next generation of Navy subs -- UPI

Two Of The Navy's Youngest Perry Class Frigates Are Set To Be Sunk -- The Warzone/The Drive

Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Enters Drydock -- MarineLink

Electric Boat Awarded Long-Lead Contract for Virginia-Class Block V Attack Boats -- USNI NEWS

M4: The Gun the Army Loves to Go to War With -- National Interest

The Army’s next question: should battlefield commanders have cyber capabilities? -- Fifth Domain

Some soldiers may not be able to handle new pace of training, Guard chief says -- Army Times

First female Ranger grads open up about the aftermath and joining the infantry -- Army Times

URS awarded contract for support of Air Force's drone fleet -- UPI

US Mega Drone Will Be As Deadly As The F-35 Fighter and Launch From Warships -- Newsweek

Air Force Secretary Vouches for Trump's Aid on New Air Force One -- Bloomberg

Senators consider putting AFRICOM headquarters, staff in Africa -- Military Times

Exclusive: Fitness app Strava overhauls map that revealed military positions -- Reuters

Crunched for Cash, U.S. Navy Ends Legendary Combat Camera Units -- ALC

The US Navy Should Start Weaning its Reactors off Bomb-Grade Uranium -- Alan J. Kuperman Coordinator of the Nuclear Proliferation Prevention Project/Defense One

Top Gun For Grunts: Mattis May Revolutionize Infantry -- Breaking Defense