Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 10, 2018

A U.S. helicopter from the Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron Seven One lands on a Navy vessel. Department of Defense photo

CNBC: US greenlights more than $54 billion in military equipment to foreign governments

* The U.S. sold more than $54 billion in military equipment to foreign governments in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, according to the Pentagon's top financial officer.
* The increase in foreign military sales comes amid trade tensions between the U.S. and China, the world's two largest economies, and increased sanctions on Russia.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. sold more than $54 billion in military equipment to foreign governments in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, the Pentagon's top financial officer told a small group of reporters.

"We've had a 62 percent increase in foreign military sales, over $54 billion," David Norquist, the Defense Department's comptroller, said alongside Deputy Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan on Oct. 3.

"I don't know if it's a record, but if it is, and it's close to that, that matters. It matters, not only because it helps our industrial base, ... it helps our economy," Norquist explained, adding that the foreign military sales forge closer relationships with key allies.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 10, 2018

America sold $55.6 billion in weapons abroad in FY18 — a 33 percent jump -- Defense News

The Navy’s Terrible Accident Record Is Now Hidden From Public View -- The Atlantic

The U.S. Navy Is Hiding Aviation Accident Data -- Popular Mechanics

US Army Eyes Narrower Body Armor to Shave Off Weight -- Kit Up!/Military.com

The Army’s future tank may not be a tank -- Army Times

BAE to deliver 18 Howitzer artillery guns to U.S. Army -- UPI

This new rifle optic basically guarantees ‘one shot, one kill’ -- Army Times

Lockheed tapped to extend AN/TPQ-53 radar range -- UPI

So Patriot and THAAD will talk. What does that really mean? -- Defense News

Can the Army pull off buying two new helicopters back to back? -- Defense News

Army's top civilian says service found $25B to cut and move internally -- The Hill

Air Force eyes 1,600 airmen for possible ‘deploy or get out’ separation -- Air Force Times

Security firm uncovers new cyber group targeting government, military sectors in espionage campaign -- The Hill

Chief: This is how the Army must prepare for tomorrow’s wars -- Army Times

Forecasting Military Technology 2020-2040 -- Next Big Future

From Inside The NSA, A Call For More Whistleblowers -- NPR

Japanese navy trains with USS Ronald Reagan in East China Sea drills -- UPI

USA military might back Israel, Cyprus, Greece alliance -- Greek City Times

China concerned about US military exercise during Xi’s Philippine visit -- Military Times/AP

US F-22s and B-2 bombers complete new training to show China they won't back down -- Business Insider

Fresh tanks to replace ‘enduring equipment set’ on Korean Peninsula -- Stars and Stripes

South Korea-Philippines Military Ties in Focus With New Firearms Deal -- The Diplomat

New Pact Puts Indonesia-Saudi Arabia Military Ties in the Spotlight -- The Diplomat

China to sell 48 high-end military drones to Pakistan -- Economic Times/PTI

U.A.E. to buy 17 new, refurbished Apache AH-64E helicopters -- UPI

An Algerian Military Purge as a Survival Strategy -- Stratfor

Russia rejects Japan's protests over military build-up on disputed islands -- Jerusalem Post/Reuters

America violating gun copyrights? Kalashnikov unaware of US aim to replicate Russian arms -- TASS

NATO Flexes Muscles in Show of Strength to Russia -- VOA/AFP

Foggo: U.S., NATO Naval Forces Pushing Back Against Russian Harassment -- USNI News

How Russian hybrid warfare changed the Pentagon’s perspective -- Justin Lynch, Fifth Domain

Is It Time to Kick Out One Leg of the U.S. Nuclear Triad? -- Alexander Moore, American Conservative

Milley: The war in Afghanistan is 17 years old, and now storm clouds are ‘on the horizon’ -- Meghann Meyers, Army Times

Russia and America: Rivals Today, Allies Tomorrow? -- Michael C. Desch, RCD

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I am interested in the slow but steady rehabilitation of Wake Island into a functioning air and naval base. Austere is the word but it was at one time a destination for Pan Am Clipper planes in the 1930's so it has enough land and more with dredging to host a considerable contingent of men and aircraft.

I do wonder when Midway Island is similarly reestablished as a DOD island? Currently it is a national monument operated by the Dept of Interior. Might Trump strike that designation and give it back to DOD? Its a strategic piece of land so I think the change is inevitable.