Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 9, 2019

A flotilla of Chinese naval vessels. Photo: AFP

SCMP: Ready, aim … China’s military tipped to keep ramping up combat drills after 18,000 exercises in 2018

* Armed forces expected to get up to speed for series of landmark anniversaries following a year in which 2 million people took part in war games
* Moves come as tensions rise, particularly with the US, which has labelled China a strategic rival and expanded its trade war into technology and security

The Chinese military is expected to ramp up training in 2019, a year of rising geopolitical challenges and several key anniversaries for the People’s Liberation Army.

Observers said growing tensions with the United States, and landmark commemorations including October’s 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic had pushed the PLA to expand drills.

The assessment came after Xinhua reported last week that about 2 million personnel were involved in more than 18,000 mostly small-scale exercises in 2018.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 9, 2019

China conducts first JL-3 SLBM launch -- Janes 360

Chinese Military Equips Troops in Tibet With Mobile Howitzers: Report -- News 18/PTI

China 'needs three aircraft carriers': naval expert -- AFP

Chinese warships dock in Cambodia amid rumours Beijing is building a new naval base there -- SCMP/AFP

China's Navy Railgun Is Out for Sea Trials. Here's Why It’s a Threat to the U.S. Navy. -- National Interest

US and China Aircraft Carriers and World Military Power 2025-2050 -- Next Big Future

Want to Sink a U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier? 5 Reasons It Might Be Next to Impossible. -- National Interest

Navy Quietly Fires 20 Hyper Velocity Projectiles Through Destroyer’s Deckgun -- USNI

As Arctic Warms, US Navy Considering Summer Transit, Bering Sea Port -- Defense One

2018: The year’s biggest Army Technology stories -- Army Technology

The Army's M1 Abrams Tank Is About To Get Even Deadlier -- National Interest

Air Force Pursues 6th-Generation Fighter Jet Prototyping & Demonstrations -- Warrior Maven

Lost Satellite Link Leads to Predator Disappearance in CENTCOM -- Air Force Magazine

National emergency? Pentagon accounts would be docked to pay for Trump's border wall -- USA Today

House Armed Services leaders oppose use of military funds for border wall -- Stars and Stripes

US government shutdown creating angst for defense contractors -- Defense News

Army Sergeant Faces Court-Martial For Allegedly Calling Fellow Soldier Fat, Pointing Gun At Another -- Task & Purpose

White House, Congress Transform Security Clearance System As Massive Backlog Begins To Shrink -- Forbes

False Comparisons of Troop Withdrawals -- Lawrence J. Korb, RCD

Re-establishing U.S. Space Command is a great idea -- Frank A. Rose, Brookings

NATO's Achilles' Heel: Power Grids -- Lukas Trakimavičius, Atlantic Council

Balkan Nation Closes In on Key Vote to Open Doors to NATO, EU -- Bloomberg

Waters Off Syrian Coast Closed Off for Russian Navy Missile Drills -- Sputnik

Russia: Expect a National AI Roadmap by Midyear -- Defense One

Russia is reportedly working on a longer-range version of the deadly Kalibr cruise missile its adversaries already fear -- Business Insider

Taiwan announces new-look military drills to counter China -- Washington Post

Taiwan announces new drill tactics to counter China -- Al Jazeera

To build stockpiles of weapons, UK looks at two-pronged approach -- Defense News

Military help UK police respond to Heathrow drone threat -- France 24

Bulgaria ready to start talks with U.S. on F-16 jet deal -- Reuters

Images show Iran prepping satellite launch despite Pompeo's threat -- CNN

Venezuela Tortured Military Personnel Accused of Subversion: Rights Groups -- US News and World Report/Reuters