Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 13, 2020

President Xi Jinping (center) transfers a military flag to Gao Jin (left) and Liu Fulian, commander and political commissar, respectively, of the PLA Strategic Support Force, at an inauguration ceremony in Beijing on Dec. 31. Credit: Chinese Ministry of National Defense

Space News: U.S. satellites increasingly vulnerable to China’s ground-based lasers

Of the world’s 50 satellite laser ranging stations, five fixed stations are in Shanghai, Changchun, Beijing, Wuhan and Kuming

The Defense Intelligence Agency warned in January 2019 that China likely will field in 2020 a ground-based laser weapon that can counter low-orbit space-based sensors. By the mid-to-late 2020s it may field higher power systems that could damage the structures of non-optical satellites.

How real is the threat? Analysts have already identified five Chinese laser bases. One in Xinjiang has four main buildings. One of these building is thought to be for tracking satellites, while equipment in the other three could be used to dazzle or disable satellite sensors. If the Xinjiang facility is representative of the other four, all five bases can be located and are vulnerable to aerial attacks.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 13, 2020

Six Ways the U.S. Isn't Ready for Wars of the Future -- James Stavridis, Bloomberg

The Pentagon has a plan to include more women in national security. Here’s what that means — and why it matters -- Jeannette Gaudry Haynie, PhD and Kyleanne Hunter, PhD, Task & Purpose

US Navy ‘not intimidated’ by China ‘carrier killer’ threat -- Asia Times

USNI News Fleet and Marine Tracker: July 13, 2020 -- USNI News

US Navy welcomes first Black female tactical aircraft pilot -- NBC

The Marine Corps' major redesign means big cuts — including to its working dog force -- Business Insider/Military.com

26th Marine Expeditionary Unit returns home after 7-month deployment -- UPI

US21 to support USAF Special Warfare mission -- Air Force Technology

Nevada Democrats aim to block Nellis bombing range expansion -- Air Force Times/AP

The Defense Bill Could Rewrite How the US Does Cyber Defense -- Defense One

New nuclear warhead funding would be blocked by House appropriators -- Defense News

Congress releases declassified Pentagon files showing deployed US troops were exposed to dangerous toxins -- CNN

Pentagon appoints Kratsios to top technology office -- UPI

Trump Says He's Working To Get 10 More Icebreakers For The Coast Guard From "A Certain Place" -- Warzone/The Drive

Historic retention rates credited by Army, Air Force generals with helping them meet end-strengths -- Army Times

US Marine who was part of an elite group sent to Iraq to 'clear a path' to Baghdad ahead of the 2003 invasion says he was 'systematically trained to kill' and shown videos of heads being shot off to desensitize him to violence -- Daily Mail

The murder of Vanessa Guillén has opened the floodgates on sexual assault in the US military as servicewomen rush to share their stories -- Business Insider

Fort Hood’s command climate is under review amid investigation into killing of Spc. Vanessa Guillen -- Army times

Decorated Green Beret known as ‘Captain America’ commits suicide -- NYPost

U.S. pilot safely ejects from A-29 Super Tucano in Afghanistan crash -- UPI

US Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drones have deployed to Estonia for the first time in history -- Business Insider

Latvian defense minister expresses interest in U.S. troop deployment -- UPI

British Army sheds an Afghan war legacy: blast-proof trucks -- Defense News

Cyprus: US military training won’t harm Russia, China ties -- AP

Japan is 'shocked' and furious at the US after a major coronavirus outbreak at 2 Marine bases in Okinawa — and says the US is not taking the virus seriously -- Business Insider

US sends surveillance aircraft to watch Chinese coastline as Taiwan starts major military exercise -- SCMP

Taiwan’s military tests defences against mainland China invasion in annual war games -- SCMP

The CCP’s Refusal to Join the U.S. in Arms Talks Intensifies Concerns about China’s Nukes -- Rebeccah Heinrichs, National Review

China's stealth fighter jet is going into mass production after a key upgrade -- SCMP

Russian Defense Ministry reports interception of U.S. spy plane -- UPI

Russia’s foreign minister mocks intel on bounties to Taliban for killing American troops -- Military Times

Israelis Crafting Counter Drone System To Track, Kill Operators -- Breaking Defense

Military Medicine Joining Forces to Fight COVID-19 All Around the World -- America's Navy