Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 28, 2018

Photo: The Higgins guided-missile destroyer, pictured, and the Antietam came within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands. (Wikimedia Commons: Frederick McCahan)

ABC News Online: US warships sail near disputed islands in South China Sea in a move likely to anger Beijing

Two US Navy warships have sailed near South China Sea islands claimed by China, two US officials say, in a move likely to anger Beijing as President Donald Trump seeks its continued cooperation on North Korea.

The operation was the latest attempt to counter what Washington sees as Beijing's efforts to limit freedom of navigation in the strategic waters.

While this operation had been planned months in advance, and similar operations have become routine, it comes at a particularly sensitive time and just days after the Pentagon uninvited China from a major US-hosted naval drill.

The US officials, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said the Higgins guided-missile destroyer and the Antietam, a guided-missile cruiser, came within 12 nautical miles of the Paracel Islands, among a string of islets, reefs and shoals over which China has territorial disputes with its neighbours.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 28, 2018

Exclusive: U.S. warships sail near South China Sea islands claimed by Beijing -- Reuters

Understanding China’s Military Expansion and Implications for U.S. Policy -- Patricia M. Kim, Council on Foreign Relations

WATCH Chinese Pilots Perform Night Land on Carrier Amid South China Sea Tensions -- Sputnik

Did these US-South Korean military drills cause Kim's change of heart? -- Paula Hancocks, CNN

The truth about the brutal four-hour battle between Russian mercenaries and US commandos in Syria -- The Independent

Russia floats out large amphibious assault ship -- TASS

Russian Navy to Maintain Balanced Presence in Mediterranean - Military Official -- Sputnik

Putin Slams US Over Pushing Turkey into Abandoning S-400 Deal With Russia -- Sputnik

Turkey looking at buying Russian Su-57 fighter jets instead of US’ F-35’s - newspaper -- TASS

Is Turkey at a Crossroads Between US F-35 and Russian S-400? -- Sputnik

Turkey May Buy Russian Su-57 Jets, If Delivery of F-35 Jets Suspended - Reports -- Sputnik

Turkey threatens retaliation if new bill stops F-35 sale -- Defense News

F-35 sale to Turkey runs into congressional buzz saw -- Al Monitor

Is the US out as Turkey’s top Western arms dealer? -- Burak Ege Bekdil, Defense News

Future of F-35 in Italy remains a mystery under new government -- Defense News

HMS Queen Elizabeth ships crew finally meet the F-35B -- UK Defense Journal

Europe’s first MALE drone hits the skies using space-based tech -- Defense News

‘Euro Hawk’ fiasco looms large in Germany’s new spy drone search -- Defense News

NATO Has No Clue How Many of Its Soldiers Have Died in Its Battles -- Sputnik

Czech defense minister orders probe into Israeli radar deal -- Defense News

Advanced Super Hornet, F-35 Face Stealth Dilemma -- Defense Tech

Senators Want More Details on 2-Carrier Buy, LCS Requirement Before Supporting Additional Shipbuilding Funds -- USNI News

Army May Have to Rely on Simulators to Train for Future Urban Combat -- Defense Tech

Air Force to Get First Female Air Commando General -- Military.com

Marines Want New Skis, Not New Ski Boots -- Defense Tech

The Military Wants Bulletproof Batteries For Armor -- Futirsm

Iron Man: USSOCOM one year from putting someone into powered exoskeleton -- Defense News

Air-To-Air Helicopter Refueling Still Gives Me The Willies -- Fox Trot Alpha

Imagining a Cyber Surprise: How Might China Use Stolen OPM Records to Target Trust? -- Ian Brown, War On The Rocks

Why Peacetime Naval Buildups are Difficult -- Steven Wills, CIMSEC

Mattis Kicked Off His Memorial Day Weekend By Keeping It Humble At The White House Mess -- Task & Purpose

Arlington National Cemetery is running out of room -- CBS