Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 8, 2018

Brookings: China’s military spending

When assessing China’s military spending and modernization, we should keep six things in mind. First, China’s official military spending figures are questionable, with many
independent estimates suggesting that it already spends in excess of $200 billion on its military each year. Although the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has become somewhat more transparent over the past two decades, the exact annual defence budget should be taken with a grain of salt.

Two, until about 2020 the PLA will be undertaking perhaps its most radical modernization drive since 1949, shrinking the size of its ground forces by about 300,000, increasing the relative weight of its air force and navy, and improving joint theatre-level command and control structures. In short, the PLA is evolving into a modern, war-fighting, and offensive-oriented force.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 8, 2018

Does China’s J-20 rival other stealth fighters? -- China Power

China Wants the Most Powerful Military on the Planet by 2050. And They Might Pull It Off. -- Adam Ni, National Interest

China’s Military Revolution: Smarter, Better, Faster, Smaller -- The Cipher Brief

Washington Must Own up to Superpower Competition With China -- The Diplomat

China test hypersonic space vehicle as Xi Jinping continues PUSH to rival Trump military -- Express

Iran’s Russian Anti-Aircraft Missile Now Operational, U.S. Says -- Bloomberg

Exclusive: Japan's new advanced fighter may be based on existing foreign design - sources -- Reuters

Russia, Mozambique to step up military-technical cooperation -- TASS

High Caliber Bumerang: Why Russia Needs Wheeled Tanks (PHOTO, VIDEO) -- Sputnik

Most Russian Plane Intercepts over Baltics Due to Error: NATO General -- Military.com

Top NATO general says 'there is a chance' to improve relations between Russia and alliance -- TASS

Russia Would Overrun NATO in European War, Report Warns -- Newsweek

F-35 in peril as Italy’s Five Star political party nears power -- Defense News

Germany moves to boost presence in Afghanistan, training in Iraq -- Defense News

US, Allies Conduct Biggest Artillery Event in Europe Since Cold War -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

Army to position more armored vehicles in Europe, speed upgrades to equipment at home -- Army times

Another KC-46 delivery slip puts pressure on Boeing to meet contract obligations -- Defense News

Boeing's struggling Air Force tanker program may be headed for more trouble -- Business Insider

Some ‘hiccups’ with engine design, but B-21 on track, Wittman says -- Defense News

A lack of spare parts keeps half of US F-35s from flying, senior officers acknowledge -- Washington Examiner

First Marine Battalion Gets ‘Eyes in the Sky’ Mini-Drones -- USNI News

Navy Working New Fleet Size Study Following Latest Strategic Reviews -- USNI News

Submarines train at the North Pole -- Navy Times

Collision that killed 10 US sailors caused by warship’s mistaken maneuver – official probe -- RT

Army Plans to Field H&K G28 as New Squad Marksman Rifle -- Kit Up!

What kind of vehicle design can the Marines get for $50,000? -- C4ISRNet

CIA Warns of Extensive Chinese Operation to Infiltrate American Institutions -- Washington Free Beacon

Lockheed CEO Hewson defends the company’s role with DoD: ‘We are leading a national asset’ -- Defense News

Nuclear weapons chief: Doctrine of 'mutually assured destruction' is good for another 10 years -- Washington Examiner

Corker: If Pentagon can ‘turn entire countries into craters’ why can't it audit itself? -- Defense News