Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 18, 2019

Reuters: Senate sends massive defense bill for Trump to sign, creating Space Force

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to pass a $738 billion defense policy bill that creates President Donald Trump’s “Space Force” and gives federal employees 12 weeks of paid parental leave, sending it to the White House, where Trump has promised to quickly sign it into law.

The Republican-controlled Senate voted 86 to 8 in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. The Democratic-led House approved the bill by 377-48 last week.

Trump said on Twitter last week that he would sign the bill as soon as it passes, saying it included all his priorities.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 18, 2019

Senate sends Trump defense bill with federal parental leave, 'Space Force' authorization -- NBC/AP

Senate sends $738B defense bill to Trump's desk -- The Hill

Ousters, New Deployments and Supercarrier Woes: The Top Military Stories of 2019 -- Military.com

Congress approves largest military housing overhaul in two decades -- Task & Purpose/Reuters

HII launches USS John F. Kennedy ahead of further construction, testing -- UPI

Did Congress just cut competition out of the Army’s Bradley replacement program? -- Defense News

Oshkosh receives $801M contract for JLTVs for U.S., Montenegro -- UPI

Black Hawk Down: Army Puts Faith in Next Generation Aircraft ‘Leap’ -- Epoch Times

Pentagon shoots off new mid-range ballistic missile prototype -- FOX News/Warrior Maven

Lockheed awards $81.5M contract for hypersonic missile motor -- Defense News

US Military Should Add Deception to its Playbook, Pacific Air Forces General Says -- Defense One

Retired US Air Force general says China is 'building a navy in space' and he claims technology exists that could transport humans anywhere in the world in an hour -- Daily Mail

Half of active-duty service members are unhappy with Trump, new Military Times poll shows -- Military.com

U.S. carrier strike group harassed by Iranian vessels as it leaves Middle East -- UPI

How U.S. Military Aid Has Helped Ukraine Since 2014 -- NPR

U.S., South Korea agree to flexibility on $5B military cost-sharing demand -- UPI

South Korea to Join US-Led Coalition in Strait of Hormuz - Reports -- Sputnik

South Korea observes deployment of F-35A fighters in private ceremony -- UPI

Russian, US top brass discuss measures to avoid mid-air incidents -- TASS

Russian spy ship conducting 'erratic maneuvers' off US coast: report -- The Hill

Russia stands firm as world’s second biggest arms producer, says top official -- TASS

Putin hails Russian arms sales abroad -- San Diego Tribune

Russia's PAK DA Bomber to Enter Operational Service by 2027 -- Sputnik

Su-57 fighter jet once again tested in Syria — Russian General Staff -- TASS

Russia's Top Military Officer Airs Concern About NATO Drills -- VOA/AP

Russian Army Gen. Gerasimov, in Quotes -- Moscow Times

Russia and Turkey to discuss Libya military support in January: Kremlin -- Reuters

China’s new aircraft carrier the Shandong could confront other nations in disputed South China Sea, state media says -- SCMP

Aerial Early Warning, Reconnaissance Training Boosts PLA Navy's Capability in South China Sea -- Sputnik

Chinese and Japanese defence ministers agree to strengthen trust -- SCMP

Taiwan to team up with US to build fighter jet centre, sending another defiant message to Beijing -- SCMP

Poland to Complete Talks on Buying US F-35 Jets by January - Defence Minister -- Sputnik

Canada needs updated anti-aircraft systems for the modern battlefield, says army commander -- CBC

Not smart enough: The poverty of European military thinking on artificial intelligence -- European Council on Foreign Relations