Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 1, 2019

Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier REUTERS/Bobby Yip

Business Insider: China is building a powerful navy to take on the US in the Pacific — Here's what their arsenal looks like

* China's naval force is growing at an incredible rate, not just in size but also in combat capability. It's reportedly growing faster than any other great power navy.
* The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy is fielding a variety of new warships and submarines, as well as new weapons, to tip the scales in its favor in the region.
* Here are some of the vessels the PLAN is adding to its expanding arsenal.

The Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy is one of the largest naval forces in the world, and it continues to grow. More importantly, though, China is rapidly building and fielding increasingly capable naval vessels, weapons that could tip the scales in the US-dominated Pacific.

The Chinese PLAN has probably benefitted the most from the country's major military modernization plan, the goal of which is to transform the Chinese armed services into a world-class fighting force able to defeat another great power.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 1, 2019

China's Air Force Must Choose: The J-20 Stealth Fighter or the J-11D (Who Wins?) -- National Interest

Could this new material help China break the hypersonic weapon heat barrier? -- SCMP

Two Chinese navy ships begin six-day charm offensive in Hong Kong -- SCMP

Never a dull day in the western Pacific -- Christopher Bodeen, The Associated Press

Ex-CIA officer Jerry Lee expected to plead guilty to spying for China -- NBC

US Navy’s new assault ship to bolster aviation component in Japan -- Defense News

Will every Marine a rifleman remain? New cyber unit ‘can have purple hair’ but no Eagle, Globe and Anchor, commandant says -- Marine Times

True Size of US Strategic Arsenal Uncovered Despite Pentagon Secrecy -- Sputnik

B-1 bomber fleet grounding ends -- Defense News

Boeing preps F-15 production line for possible Air Force orders -- Defense News

Boeing's MQ-25 refueling drone moved to air base for flight testing -- UPI

Just How Many New B-21 Stealth Bombers Does the Air Force Need? -- National Interest

Saudi-led coalition begins paying US back for overdue Yemen war bills -- Al-Monitor

US Air Force ties to Greece may grow as relations with Turkey sour -- Air Force Times

US military no longer tracking who controls Afghan districts -- The Hill

Analysis: US military ends reporting on security situation in Afghanistan’s districts -- Long War Journal

US watchdog: Afghans may not be ready for ‘day after’ peace -- Military Times/AP

Key chairman surprised that Trump hasn't nominated Shanahan for Defense secretary -- The Hill

Still No Defense Secretary? That’s a Scandal. -- Bloomberg

This Stealth U.S. Submarine and the F-22 Raptor Have 1 Big Thing In Common -- National Interest

Army May Redesign Its Fighting Formations in Look to the Future -- Military Times

DARPA: This Smart Contact Lens Could Give Soldiers Superpowers -- Futurism

House intel chair plans criminal referral for Blackwater founder -- Defense News

Germany BACKLASH: Fury brewing at Merkel’s fighter jet upgrade plan - ‘What about NATO?’ -- Express

German, Norwegian officials huddle over joint submarine program -- Defense News

Polish defense minister: F-35 acquisition ‘not far away’ -- Defense News

Czech President Milos Zeman says West’s allegations of espionage against Huawei are not supported by evidence -- SCMP

Russia sends new S-400 missiles to China to replace those damaged in 2017 — source -- TASS

Russian Navy to receive 40 advanced minesweepers by 2030 -- TASS

Kenyan soldiers traumatized by US-backed war in Somalia often receive discipline but not treatment -- Stars and Stripes/Washington Post