Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 4, 2019

This photo taken on October 24, 2018, shows Thai sailors visiting Chinese guided missile destroyer Guangzhou during the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise at a military port in Zhanjiang, in China’s southern Guangdong province. China is on the cusp of fielding some of the world’s most advanced weapons systems — and in some cases already has surpassed its rivals, a Pentagon assessment released Tuesday found. AFP

SCMP: China keeps lid on military spending for fourth year in a row

* Defence budget’s annual increases have slowed to single digits since 2016 after cuts in personnel as part of modernisation drive
* Spending ‘solely for safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity’ and ‘is not threat to other countries’, says legislature spokesman

China is expected to announce single-digit growth in its defence budget for the coming year – the fourth year in a row of increases in single figures, the spokesman of the country’s top legislative body revealed on Monday.

Zhang Yesui, spokesman of the National People’s Congress, did not disclose the total figure, but added that the rise in China’s defence spending had slowed from its previous double-digit growth to a single-digit increase since 2016.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 4, 2019

China says defence spending rise to be "reasonable and appropriate" -- Economic Times/Reuters

Why US Navy’s South China Sea operations tighten squeeze on Southeast Asian nations caught between Washington and Beijing -- SCMP

The future of China-US military relations -- AEI

Pentagon Wants 78 Lockheed F-35s in 2020, Six Fewer Than Planned -- Bloomberg

US Air Force suspends KC-46 tanker deliveries -- Defense News

Boeing Unveils Fighter Drone that Could Play Wingman to Manned Jets -- DoD Buzz

Firepower: The Army Tested a Helicopter Shotgun with an Amazing 1,200 Barrels -- National Interest

The U.S. Military's Next Super Weapon: Tactical Tunnels -- Michael Peck, National Interest

US Military Changing ‘Killing Machine’ Robo-tank Program After Controversy -- Defense One

Pentagon approaches massive new AI, machine learning breakthrough -- FOX News/Warrior Maven

The Pentagon’s Technology Chief Is an Utter F*cking Fool -- Spencer Ackerman, Daily Beast

General Atomics nets $11.7M for parts on Ford-class EMALS system -- UPI

US deploys THAAD missile defense system to Israel -- The Hill

Hearing postponed for two Navy SEALs and two Marine Raiders in death of Green Beret staff sergeant -- Military Times

Trump defends decision to scrap large-scale military exercises with South Korea -- The Hill

South Korea conservatives: Canceled joint drills 'worst' for security -- UPI

US, South Korea to Hold Joint Drills Next Week - Reports -- Sptunik

US Senator: Does Turkey want to quit NATO? -- Ekathimerini

Border wall casts long shadow over FY20 defense budget — and that’s not all -- Defense News

Here's Why the Initial 2020 Pentagon Funding Plan Is DOA -- Motley Fool

The Military's Budget Is America's Biggest Defense Weapon -- Mark Montgomery, National Interest

Russian Military Mulls Angara-A5 Heavy Rocket for Satellite Launches - Source -- Sputnik

Iran merging military-linked banks to stabilize sector -- Reuters

Malaysian pilot details A400M missions, midair refueling experience -- Defense News

'Oh, Oh You're NOT in the Army Now': Thousands Rejected by UK Forces Due to Acne -- Sputnik

Norway Hopeful to Set Sunken Frigate Afloat in Six Weeks (PHOTO) -- Sputnik

Germany's Policy Choices Are Hastening The Decline Of NATO -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

Never Again War? Tracing German Military Identity -- Jayanth Deshmukh and Divyameenakshi Thiagarajan, International Policy Digest

India Pilot Abhinandan Varthaman Seeks to Get Back Into Action ASAP - Report -- Sputnik