Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April, 2020

The U.S. Navy coordinates transportation of sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) who have tested negative for COVID-19 in Guam. April 4, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Matthew R. White).

Sean Quirk, LawFare: Water Wars: Coronavirus Spreads Risk of Conflict Around the South China Sea

Washington and Beijing are using their militaries to signal that neither is letting down its guard on Taiwan and the South China Sea during the coronavirus pandemic. Soon after Taiwan’s Vice President-Elect William Lai Ching-te visited the United States in early February, People’s Republic of China (PRC) military aircraft crossed the dividing line in the Taiwan Strait into Taiwan’s airspace two days in a row. The incursions included Chinese H-6 bombers, J-11 fighter jets and KJ-500 early warning aircraft. Taiwan responded by scrambling F-16s to shadow the Chinese aircraft out of Taiwan’s airspace. On March 19, both USS Barry (DDG 52) and USS Shiloh (CG 67) launched SM-2 missiles for a live-fire exercise in the Philippine Sea. Some Chinese military analysts deemed the exercise to be an uncommon “warning to the People’s Liberation Army [PLA].”

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April, 2020

Coronavirus cleanup crew on infected aircraft carrier using makeshift masks: report -- The Hill

Army awards $10B in contracts for COVID-19 care facility construction -- UPI

Some coronavirus testing sites delayed due to lack of personal protective equipment -- The Hill

DoD Considers Stop-Loss Order to Maintain Troop Levels During Pandemic -- Military.com

Military sending doctors into New York hospitals hard hit by coronavirus as new facilities sit mostly empty -- CNN

2 sailors assigned to USS Nimitz test positive for COVID-19 -- UPI

Soldiers could’ve already had COVID-19 without knowing, and the chief wants to find out who they are -- Army Times

Veteran Affairs coronavirus cases top 3,000 nationwide, deaths near 150 -- Military Times

Here's Where Face Masks Are Now Required at the Pentagon -- Military.com

Face mask photos: How troops and families are coping with new military face covering guidelines -- Military Times

US Military Can Do More to Help with Coronavirus, House Armed Services Chief Says -- Defense One

Lockheed Martin awarded $167.5M for 48 LRASMs for Air Force -- UPI

Trip that led to acting Navy secretary's resignation cost $243K: reports -- The Hill

Navy 'moving forward' after 'difficult' week, top officer says -- The Hill

Trump removes acting Pentagon inspector general from job -- Federal Times

Senators demand more details from Trump on intel watchdog firing -- The Hill

USS Gerald Ford wraps tests of combat system capabilities -- UPI

Marine Corps fielding new body armor for troops -- UPI

Top Jet or 'Expensive Flying Lemon'? US Media Outlet Suggests F-35 Might Not Be Worth Its Price -- Sputnik

A-10 forced to make emergency belly landing at Moody AFB -- Air Force Times

This is what the Space Force will use to jam enemy satellites -- C4ISRNet

How past investments positioned DARPA to take on coronavirus -- C4ISRNet

DARPA has a crappy new idea to help soldiers -- Military Times

The Pentagon’s supply chain faces an economy under siege -- Defense News

US, Iraq to Hold Talks on Troop Future -- Military.com/AFP

Armed Forces reports 20 military suicides last year, largest number since 2014 -- National Post/Canadian President

German Military Cyber Operations are in a Legal Gray Zone -- LawFare

Satellite Imagery Shows Chinese Navy In Pakistan -- Forbes

Sea test this year for China’s new ‘skiing’ plane after coronavirus delay: reports -- SCMP

Chinese Army delivers anti-corona aid to Iranian armed forces -- MEHR News Agency

Australia’s Big Stake in India’s Military Reorganization -- David Brewster, War On The Rocks