Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 17, 2018

© REUTERS / Stringe

Sputnik: Two Down, Four to Go? Chinese Media Suggest Beijing Planning Six-Carrier Navy

Just as China's first homemade aircraft carrier, currently known as Type 001A, was sent out for full-scale sea trials this week, Chinese media began tossing around the idea that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) needs four more.

At the moment, China only has one fully operational aircraft carrier: the Liaoning, which was rebuilt using an unfinished Russian Soviet-era aircraft carrier named Varyag. China built a second aircraft carrier, the Type 001A, on their own, and it is now undergoing tests. The new carrier might be delivered to the PLA-Navy by the end of the year and commissioned sometime within the next two years, the Asia Times reported.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 17, 2018

China says military exercises intended to threaten Taiwan -- SCMP/AP

China’s Elite J-20 Stealth Fighters Conduct Maritime Combat Training; Aircraft’s Readiness No Longer in Doubt as it Enters Service in Growing Numbers -- Military Watch Magazine

The Chinese Company Selling Iranian Sniper Gear Around the World -- Daily Beast

Pentagon: No talk of scaling back drills ahead of North Korea summit -- The Hill

Pentagon denies report that B-52s were pulled from US-South Korea military drills -- Washington Examiner

Taliban’s 2018 offensive encompasses all regions of Afghanistan -- Long War Journal

Afghan military identifies 7 provincial capitals ‘under pressure’ -- Long War Journal

Afghan Forces 'Push Back Taliban' From Western City Of Farah -- RFE

Ukraine says military dolphins captured by Russia went on hunger strike -- The Guardian

How would NATO respond to a cyberattack? -- Martin Banks, Fifth Domain

As Germany prepares for NATO crisis-response role, its military readiness is ‘abysmal’ -- Stars and Stripes

German Military Struggles on Eve of Taking Reins of NATO Crisis Response Force -- Sputnik

Skripal poisoning: Germany got Novichok chemical sample from Russia in 1990s -- DW

Denmark to Pull Special Forces From Iraq as Most Daesh-Controlled Areas Freed -- Sputnik

Trump: NATO allies who miss spending defense targets will be ‘dealt with’ -- Defense News

US Congress puts US military sales to Turkey in jeopardy -- Al-Monitor

Broad new war authorization roils US lawmakers -- Defense News

US Navy still haunted by collisions, even as it adds Milius to 7th Fleet -- Defense News

At Bath, a destroyer’s keel is laid more than a year behind schedule -- Defense News

Lockheed contracts for Trident II ballistic missile production, support -- UPI

Despite Shortage, Air Force Likely Won't Boost Enlisted Pilot Ranks -- Military.com

General Atomics to retrofit MQ-9 Reaper drones -- UPI

WATCH: USS Milwaukee Tests Longbow Hellfire Missiles for First Time -- Sputnik

Coast Guard seeks feedback on potential impact of 6 new icebreakers -- Alaska Public Media

The Army is grooming an elite tier of electronic warriors -- C4ISRnet

Air Force apologizes for tweet using 'Laurel vs. Yanny' meme to promote mission against Taliban -- The Hill

U.S. military personnel at greater risk for skin cancer than general population -- News Medical Life Sciences

Defense bill amendments target Trump's military parade -- The Hill

Gina Haspel confirmed by US Senate to be first woman CIA director -- ABC News Online

Senate votes to confirm Haspel as 1st female CIA director -- AP

Jerry Chun Shing Lee spy trial: China gave ex-CIA agent US$100,000 and promised to take care of him ‘for life’, US court documents say -- SCMP

Pivot With a Nuclear Edge: Low Yield in the South China Sea -- Adam Cabot, RCD