Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 23, 2018

CNBC: Here's what the $1.3 trillion defense-friendly spending bill looks like for the military

* Lawmakers unveiled a colossal $1.3 trillion spending bill that gives the Pentagon a hefty spending hike.
* House Speaker Paul Ryan called the legislation "the Trump-Jim Mattis budget."
* The Department of Defense will have a top line budget of $700 billion.

The military's massive funding hike just got a little bit closer to reality.

Congressional leaders unveiled a colossal government spending bill Wednesday night after striking an agreement on some major points of contention. In order to avoid the third government shutdown this year, lawmakers will now rush to pass the 2,200-page legislation by Friday's midnight deadline.

The $1.3 trillion omnibus offers the most significant increase in defense funding in the past 15 years, including a pay hike for personnel.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 23, 2018

Here's What the Military Gets in $1.3 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill -- Military.com

US Lawmakers tout military pay raise in omnibus budget, but troops already have that money -- Military Times

Pentagon chief presses for end to Yemen war in meeting with Saudi prince -- Al-Monitor

US forces remain in Manbij, despite threats from Turkey -- Military Times

Mattis, Saudi leader discuss Taliban safe havens to support peace talks -- Military Times

US will have role in Afghan reconciliation with Taliban -- Military Times/AP

North Korean thaw continues as joint US-South Korea military drill is cut in half -- FOX News

US Navy challenges Beijing in the South China Sea amid trade war rumblings -- Business Insider/Reuters

Chinese navy to carry out combat drills in South China Sea -- Reuters

Russia’s Military Buildup: Is Vladimir Putin Bluffing? -- David Brennan, Newsweek

Saudi Arabia says F-15 survived SAM hit over Yemen -- Jane's 360

Amnesty International slams Western arms sales to Saudi Arabia and allies in Yemen war -- DW

Afghan army faulted for sloppiness with blood-type testing -- ABC News/AP

These three German drones are worth watching -- Defense News

The UK Has Spent Nearly 15 Years Developing Watchkeeper Drones It Says Aren't Safe to Fly -- The Warzone/The Drive

Royal Navy Will Retrofit Type 45 Destroyers To Keep Them From Breaking Down -- The Warzone/The Drive

France meets A400M milestone early -- Defense News

State Department approves arms sales to Saudi Arabia -- Defense News

Army holds its first comprehensive live-fire drills on Okinawa in a decade -- Stars and Stripes

Fight to Hawaii: How the U.S. Navy is Training Carrier Strike Groups for Future War -- USNI News

The Best Of The USMC's Aging F/A-18 Hornets To Receive Lethal Radar Upgrade -- The Warzone/The Drive

The Navy's Super Hornets Are Getting an Upgrade -- Popular Mechanics

Navy to Congress: Columbia-class Submarine Program Still on Schedule with Little Margin for Error -- USNI News

US Army to demo precision strike, hypersonics, ramjet capabilities in just a few years -- Defense News

US Army successfully demos laser weapon on Stryker in Europe -- Defense News

Lockheed Is Proposing a Major 'Triple Intelligence' Upgrade for the U-2 Spy Plane -- The Warzone/The Drive

Laser weapon for KC-135 ‘still in the infancy stage’ -- Defense News

Congress directs Army to conduct light vehicle competition in FY18 spending bill -- Defense News

Air Force "Hardens" Satellites to Prepare for Space War (Think Russia or China) -- National Interest

McMaster, Leaving White House Post, Will Retire From Army This Summer -- VOA

Trump to decide Friday on new policy for transgender troops, likely limiting their service -- USA Today

Obama-era sequester decimated U.S. military; Air Force short 2,000 pilots: report -- Washington Times

Coast Guard cutter, 49, shows its age: 35 breakdowns in 19 days -- WorkBoat

After a combined 21 years of service, these military working dogs got the sendoff they deserve -- Air Force Times