Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 22, 2018

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis provides testimony on the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the Department of Defense to members of the Senate Committee on Armed Services during a hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington D.C., June 12, 2017. (Photo Credit: DoD photo by U.S. Army Sgt. Amber I. Smith)

SCMP: US defence chief Jim Mattis visiting Beijing at ‘critical time’ for China-US military ties

Both sides recognise need to step up communication to ease tensions over South China Sea and Taiwan, analysts say

China and the United States are moving to contain military tensions and the risk of misjudgment, with US Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis heading to Beijing next week.

The visit comes after Mattis rebuked Beijing this month for its military build-up in the South China Sea amid worsening ties between the nations, and analysts say both sides recognise the need to step up communication to keep the situation from spiralling out of control.

Mattis announced on Wednesday that he would go to Beijing next week before travelling to Seoul. Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan confirmed the visit, adding that details would be released on Friday.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 22, 2018

Suspected Chinese lasers target US aircraft over the Pacific, US military source says -- CNN

US intelligence report: China will have the world's most powerful naval gun ready for war by 2025 -- CNBC

China's shipbuilder hints at third aircraft carrier -- UPI

Will China have aircraft carrier that can match US Navy's? -- Brad Lendon, CNN

Trump Will Not 'Make America Great Again' by Spending More on Defense, China Military Says -- Tom O'Connor, Newsweek

Moscow’s other navy -- Victor Abramowicz, The Interpreter

Russia's Military Built a 'Terminator' And Now It's Getting Smart Weapons -- Newsweek

Cyprus, Israel, Greece pledge deeper military ties -- ABC News/AP

Tunisia’s delicate balancing act with Nato -- Middle East Eye

NATO Head: No Guarantee Trans-Atlantic Alliance Will Survive -- Military.com/AP

'Ill-Advised Policy': Turkish President Slams US Move to Block F-35 Sale -- Sputnik

Senate moves to block F-35 transfer to Turkey -- The Hill

The US congressional fight over F-35s for Turkey isn’t over -- Al-Monitor

US Fears Russia May Get Access to F-35 Tech Via Turkey - Reports -- Sputnik

Senators 'deeply troubled' military lawyers being used for immigrations cases -- The Hill

Military Asked To Provide 20,000 Beds For Detained Immigrant Children -- NPR

Replacements, improvements on the way for Air Force Huey bases -- UPI

Why the US Air Force should choose the A-29 in the light-attack experiment -- Rep. John Rutherford, Defense News

Air Force's $44.3B KC-46A 'Aggressive but Achievable' Production -- Bloomberg

One of these 3 missiles could be the Army’s pick to protect against indirect fires -- Defense News

Air Force Issues First Guidance to Troops About Space Force -- Military.com

Lockheed tapped for Aegis combat system development, support -- UPI

Navy Could Extend Life of Amphibs to 50 Years, LCS for 35, If Navy Invests in their Upkeep -- USNI News

Northrop Grumman contracted for Mk 48 torpedo support -- UPI

Navy contracts for submarine ballistic missile re-entry systems -- UPI

Project Maven wasn't alone: Googlers reportedly boycotted another military tool -- CNet

US Army asks startups to deliver next-generation weapons -- Endgadget

Lawsuit: Green-Card Holders Face Bias in US Military Policy -- Military.com/AP

Are We Seeing The End Of History At The Army Command And General Staff College? -- Maj. Nick Brunetti-Lihach, USMC, Task & Purpose

Needles in Haystacks: Analyzing Today's Flood of Information -- Adam Wasserman and Chris Todd, War Room