Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 18, 2019

Missile maintainers with a Minuteman III at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. (U.S. Air Force photo)

FAS: Pentagon Blocks Declassification of 2018 Nuclear Stockpile

For the first time in years, the Department of Defense has denied a request to declassify the current size of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile.

“After careful consideration. . . it was determined that the requested information cannot be declassified at this time,” wrote Andrew P. Weston-Dawkes of the Department of Energy in a letter conveying the DoD decision not to disclose the number of warheads in the U.S. arsenal at the end of Fiscal Year 2018 or the number that had been dismantled.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 18, 2019

US Halts Recent Practice of Disclosing Nuclear Weapon Total -- Military.com/AP

US Inexplicably Halts Disclosure of Info on Size of Nuclear Arsenal -- Sputnik

New Nuclear Missiles’ Cost Estimate Changes Again -- Defense One

The cost of new intercontinental ballistic missiles is going up. Here’s why the Air Force isn’t concerned. -- Defense News

Air Force Planning Shorter, More Frequent Strategic Bomber Rotations -- Military.com

US Ready to Disclose Top-Secret F-35 Info to Japan – Report -- Sputnik

Japan's F-35As had 7 emergency landings before crash -- UPI

F-35 Parts Suppliers Moved to Long-Term Contracts to Reduce Costs - Producer -- Sputnik

New study shows grim outlook for future of Air Force pilot shortage -- Federal News Network

These are the five areas where the Air Force wants to see an explosion of technology -- Defense News

Report to Congress on Columbia-class Nuclear Ballistic Missile Submarine Program -- USNI News

Pentagon watchdog to audit $128B Columbia-class submarine: report -- The Hill

New Multi-Year War Experiment Will Prepare Marines to Fight in Crowded Cities -- Military.com

GenDyn awarded $125M for MK80, BLU-109 bomb components -- UPI

What will be the fate of the Chinook? Even the Army isn’t sure -- Defense News

Esper: The ultimate size of the Army is a moving target -- Army Times

Number of Female Generals, Admirals Has Doubled Since 2000, Report Finds -- Military.com

Next CNO Wants to See More Women Getting Promoted to Captain, Admiral -- Military.com

The trials of Patrick Shanahan -- Foreign Policy

DARPA’s director on how the Pentagon can transition innovation -- C4ISRNet

Report to Congress on U.S. Military Electronic Warfare Research and Development -- USNI News

US officials clash over Trump Iran arms control document: report -- The Hill

Diego Garcia: U.S. military’s “unsinkable carrier” springs a leak -- People's World

Europe missile defense command upgraded as Army announces leadership moves -- Stars and Stripes

Why another US destroyer is prowling the Black Sea -- Mark D. Faram, Navy Times

Senior Turkish Official Discusses Dispute With Trump Administration Over Military Deal -- NPR

Sweden Launches New 'Top Secret' Spy Ship in the Baltic Sea -- Sputnik

MiGs and Rafales to Slug It Out in Largest Indo-French Naval Exercise - Report -- Sputnik

U.K. Developing its Own Extra Large UUV for Royal Navy -- USNI News

Russia’s Aerospace Force forewarns of looming satellite collisions in space -- TASS

Russia flexes its heavy-lift helo muscles with new Mi-26 test flights -- Defense News

Indian purchasing agency OKs tank buy, but negotiations with Russia stand in the way -- Defense News

Iraqi Air Force Flies First Ever F-16 Combat Sortie Alongside Coalition Aircraft -- Sputnik

Satellite Photos Show Chinese Radar in Syria Restored After IAF Attack - Reports -- Sputnik