Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 17, 2018

Name game ... It’s a “helicopter destroyer”, not an aircraft carrier or amphibious assault ship. Japan remains sensitive about its growing military might. Source: USNSource:Supplied

SCMP: China may use Japan’s aircraft carrier plan to push through more military spending, observers say

Tokyo says it wants to upgrade its Izumo-class destroyers so they can carry and launch fighter jets
Move would be a first since nation adopted its pacifist constitution and could make regional neighbours anxious, experts say

Tokyo’s plan to develop an aircraft carrier capable of launching fighter jets is driven by Beijing’s military rise, but the move could embolden hawkish generals in China to press ahead with their own expansion programmes, observers said.

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner Komeito Party this week approved a new defence guideline that will effectively allow the Japanese military to convert naval vessels currently capable of carrying only helicopters into fully operational aircraft carriers able to launch fighter jets like the F-35.

The plan is controversial as under its pacifist constitution, Japan has never before owned such advanced naval hardware.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 17, 2018

The Chinese Military Has One Weakness It Can't Fix: No Combat Experience -- David Axe, National Interest

Why India’s expanding military ties with the United States and Russia could put the squeeze on China -- Kristin Huang, SCMP

The NSA and China feuded in cyberspace in 2014. Will they again? -- Justin Lynch, Fifth Domain

Trump says he will review case of decorated Green Beret charged with murder of Afghan man -- The Hill

Modernization top priority in FY20 budget, Pentagon’s No. 2 official says -- Defense News

Audits: $53M of missile motors at Hill AFB wrongly listed as not working -- Air Force Times

The US Air Force Has a Plan to Stop Navy-Killer Missiles -- National Interest

US Air Force set to launch 1st next-generation GPS satellite -- Air Force Times

Air Force Ballistic Missile Becomes A Test Case For Trump Industrial Strategy -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

Army artillery testing in Arizona aimed at shooting farther -- Army Times/AP

Ultimate Gun for the Army: A Rifle That Can Fire Up to 5 Rounds at Once -- National Interest

This battalion commander tried to withhold holiday time off for recruiters who didn’t make quotas -- Army Times

New LCS-Launched Video-Guided Undersea Warhead Explodes Enemy Targets -- Warrior Maven

The Navy Wants Swarm Weapons That Can Do Something Amazing -- National Interest

U.S. Needs a Robust, Lethal Amphibious Fleet for Global Operations -- Daniel Gouré, RCD

Don’t expect the Corps' new Chinese J-20 stealth fighter to be dogfighting with Marine jets -- Marine Times

The Coast Guard turned down a request for an Arctic exercise out of concern the US's only heavy icebreaker would break down and Russia would have to rescue it -- Business Insider

Icebreaker Or Border Wall? House Action Jeopardizes Coast Guard Ship Funding -- Military.com

US Africa strategy hinges on local forces stepping up as Pentagon ramps down: Bolton -- Defense News

Bolton outlines shift in Africa strategy for military, civilian aid -- UPI

Conditions Improving for a US Return to Libya, Marine Commander Says -- Military.com

Audit finds cyber vulnerabilities in US missile defense system -- Navy Times

The Pentagon wants to enlist AI to protect AI -- C4IRSNet

Boeing tapped for Kuwait Super Hornet fighter work -- UPI

GenDyn tapped for U.S., U.K. submarine weapons system services -- UPI

U.S., South Korea can't agree on sharing the bill after Trump's criticism -- Reuters

Russia claims Pentagon ignoring request to discuss nuclear dispute -- Defense News

Top diplomat notes Russian, US special services maintain contact -- TASS

US missile defense facilities in Europe located within Russia's reach, says commander -- TASS

Russian Missile Forces Taking Into Account US Possible Withdrawal INF Treaty -- Sputnik

Russia completes building infrastructure for Sarmat ICBMs -- TASS

Russian Strategic Missile Forces to Get 100 New Pieces of Armament by Year-End -- Sputnik

Russian Tu-160 vs. US bombers: The White Swan is still in its prime -- RT

A Mach-10 Missile Won’t Save Russia’s Stealth Fighter -- David Axe, War Is Boring

Bus Stop Reportedly Points to Location of Norway's Top Secret War Headquarters -- Sputnik

Underwater VIDEO Reveals HUGE Damage to 'Torn Apart' Norwegian Frigate -- Sputnik

Canada is looking for a way out of big Saudi arms deal, says PM -- Reuters

South Korean helo maker moves to ‘sweeten the deal’ after Philippines hints at Black Hawk purchase -- Defense News

The Loose “Shoot and Scoot” Missiles and the Threat to Aviation -- Robin Wright, New Yorker