Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 20, 2019

A soldier assigned to the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), participates in a training during a tactical leader's exercise at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, U.S., August 27, 2019. REUTERS/Bryan Woolston

Reuters: Border wall, Iran, Space Force among hurdles for $700 billion U.S. defense bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Disputes between U.S. Republicans and Democrats over President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall, Space Force and his ability to launch a war with Iran are among the biggest obstacles Congress faces in passing a massive annual defense policy bill.

Members of the House of Representatives and Senate formally launched on Thursday this year’s negotiations on the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, the $700 billion bill that sets policy for the Pentagon.

The NDAA has been signed into law every year since 1961, one of the few major pieces of legislation that always gets through Congress despite deep divides between the two parties.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 20, 2019

Negotiators kick off defense bill talks amid border wall, Iran debates -- The Hill

Air Force’s Problem-Plagued New Tanker Likely Won’t Deploy for 3 Years or More -- Military.com

The F-35 Is About to Enter Beast Mode -- Popular Mechanics

Next-generation F-35 fighter jets go to National Guard unit -- AP

What Weapons Will The U.S. Air Force Kill In Its 2021 Budget? -- Forbes

The top Pentagon space command officer recently met with billionaire investors Musk, Bezos and Branson -- CNBC

Irregular warfare remains the threat, despite a Marine Corps shift to the near-peer fight -- Marine Times

Marines Test Nonlethal Mortar Round for Crowd Control -- Military.com

Marines Arm Drone Vehicle with .50-cal Machine Gun for Urban Fight -- Military.com

US Military Vows to Defend US Elections -- VOA

Ukraine military aid extension passes US House after White House delay -- Defense News

New AFRICOM chief in Niger to assess security in volatile western Africa -- Stars and Stripes

US Military 'Impressed' by Cooperation with Turkey in Syria; Erdogan Issues Warning -- VOA

House Armed Services panel gets classified briefing on Saudi attacks -- The Hill

Pentagon Weighs Sending More Military Assets to Mideast -- Wall Street Journal

Pentagon won’t blame Iran for Saudi attack until Saudi assessment concludes -- Military Times

Pentagon weighing move to send more troops to Middle East to deter conflict -- FOX News

Attacks Expose Flaws in Saudi Arabia's Expensive Military -- New York Times

Government report reveals Pakistan’s progress on military acquisitions amid financial woes -- Defense News

North Korea May be Preparing to Launch Nuclear Missile-Capable Submarine - Reports -- Sputnik

South Korea vows to beef up defense against North Korean cyberthreats -- UPI

Seoul, Washington to Hold Talks on Defence Cost-Sharing Deal in South Korea Next Week - Reports -- Sputnik

China’s military powers are wake-up call for United States, retired US admiral says -- SCMP

China's Dream: 6 Aircraft Carriers All with Killer J-20 Stealth Fighters -- National Interest

Chinese Bombers Conduct Air Strikes During Military Exercise in Russia -- The Diplomat

Russia, China prepped for military cooperation -- Anadolu agency

Russia's Kaliningrad Territory Is Armed to The Teeth. NATO Wants to Crush It in a War. -- David Axe, National Interest

Pentagon Says Has Plan of Defeating Air Defence System of Russia’s Kaliningrad Region -- Sputnik

NATO Is Making Sure It Can Stop a Russian Invasion -- David Axe, National Interest

NATO allies unleash their drones in the waters off Portugal -- Defense News