Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 29, 2020

The Hill: Pelosi, Schumer request US intelligence leaders brief Congress on reports of Russian bounties

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) requested Monday that two top U.S. intelligence leaders brief the House and Senate on news reports that Russians offered bounties to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan last year.

In a letter to Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe and CIA Director Gina Haspel, Pelosi said, "Congress and the country need answers now."

The Speaker also pointed to denials from President Trump that he was briefed about the intelligence months ago and noted that the U.S. has not taken any action to respond to the Kremlin aggression and escalation.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- June 29, 2020

White House says Congress will be briefed on reports of Russian bounties -- The Hill

Trump claims intel on Russian bounties was deemed not credible -- the Hill

White House: No Consensus Among US Intel on Alleged 'Russian Bounties' for US Troops in Afghanistan -- Sputnik

What's it like to fly an F-35 Lightning? -- Top Gear

Air Force doesn’t have enough drone pilots or sensor operators, GAO says -- Air Force Times

Air Force staffing shortage causing health issues in drone pilots, GAO report says -- UPI

Trump administration considers ending Congress' review of arms sales: sources -- Reuters

Pentagon lists firms it says are backed by Chinese military -- AFP

US Senate advances $740 billion defense bill, stage set for Confederate battle -- Reuters

Senate offers more funding for hypersonic weapons tracking -- UPI

House defense bill targets potential troop drawdowns in Africa, South Korea -- The Hill

The Air Force's last AC-130U gunship, named 'Big Daddy,' made history before a flight this month -- Business Insider

GM Defense wins $214.3M contract to build troop carriers -- UPI

The Military We Have Vs. The Military We Need -- Gregory D. Foster, Defense One

The Navy Needs a Course Correction: Prototyping with Purpose -- Senators Jim Inhofe and Jack Reed, US Naval Institute

The 100-Ship US Navy -- Jonathan Panter, Anand Jantzen, and Johnathan Falcone, War On The Rocks

South China Sea: US Air Force ‘heads out again on search for Chinese submarines’ -- SCMP

U.S. agrees to EU offer to create dialogue on China's threat to the West -- UPI

House bill calls for US Congressional oversight of Afghanistan withdrawal -- UPI

Pentagon chief seeks to reassure NATO over US troop plans -- AP

Esper visits NATO with assurance of U.S. commitment -- UPI

Allies worry US drawdown could embolden Russian aggression -- Military Times

German, Spanish Eurofighters will receive the world’s most capable fighter jet radar -- Defence Blog

State-of-the-Art Uniform for UK Royal Marines Unveiled -- Sputnik

Here’s why Britain is struggling to form a fully effective carrier strike group -- Defense One

Here’s why Britain is struggling to form a fully effective carrier strike group -- Defense News

UK Defence Ministry Failed to Account for Final Cost of Aircraft Carriers, Public Watchdog Says -- Sputnik

Sweden tests new ground-to-air defense missile -- UPI

NORAD F-22s intercept 4 Russian spy planes off Alaskan coast -- UPI

China’s National Security Commission met in secret amid coronavirus pandemic -- SCMP

The cheap, light howitzer China is rolling out in Tibet -- SCMP

India Readies to Deploy Rafale Along China Border with First Batch of French-made Jets Arriving Soon -- Sputnik

India Deploys Quick Reaction Air Defence System Amid Raging Chinese Jets, Helicopters Near Ladakh -- Sputnik

Indian missile system order ‘could raise border risk for China’ -- SCMP

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Promise to Unveil New ‘Surprise’ Weapons Soon -- Sputnik

Turkey’s ‘chronic engine problem’ is harming defense projects, warn officials -- Defense News