Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 25, 2020

CNN: US and UK accuse Russia of launching new space weapon

(CNN)The US and UK militaries on Thursday accused Russia of conducting a space-based anti-satellite weapons test earlier this month, saying that a Russian satellite released an object capable of targeting a satellite.

It's the first time the US has accused Moscow of testing such a weapon.

"U.S. Space Command has evidence that Russia conducted a non-destructive test of a space-based anti-satellite weapon," the command said in a statement, saying that on July 15, Russia "injected a new object into orbit from Cosmos 2543," a Russian satellite that has been in orbit since 2019.

The statement added that the new "object" was released in proximity to another Russian satellite, activity that the command said was "inconsistent with the system's stated mission as an inspector satellite."

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 24, 2020

US confirms fighter flew close to Iranian passenger plane to 'inspect it' -- The Hill

Beijing’s Houston consulate is ‘epicentre’ of theft of research by Chinese military, US diplomat says -- SCMP

‘Where’s the proof?’ China’s consul general in Houston says US spying claims further damage relations -- SCMP

Chinese diplomat accused of spying operation in US used to work in Australia -- ABC News Online

Singaporean pleads guilty in US to working for Chinese intelligence -- SCMP

The price of the F-35 has been falling, but it could hit a wall soon -- Defense News

F-35 Sustainment Challenges Take Center Stage -- National Defense

Cost tripled for missile defense warhead, despite prior warnings, GAO finds -- Defense News

U.S. Was Warned for Years About Failing $1.2B Warhead -- Bloomberg

U.S. Army integrates tactical network systems onto combat vehicles -- Defence Blog

Boeing preps for next test of US Navy’s future aerial tanker drone -- Defense News

Marines begin deactivation of all tank battalions -- UPI

Marine assigned to Trump's helicopter squadron tests positive for COVID-19 -- The Hill

U.S. paratrooper dies in vehicle rollover in Syria -- UPI

As coronavirus lingers, all 4,000 cadets to return to Air Force Academy -- Air Force Times

With Pentagon UFO unit in the spotlight, report mentions 'off-world vehicles not made on this earth' -- FOX News

US Government Invokes Defence Act to Safeguard Rare Earths, Magnets Production -- Sputnik

Four Functions the Intelligence Community Should Rethink -- Defense One

U.S. Senate passes $740 billion defense bill, bucking Trump on Confederate names -- CNBC

US State Department officially makes it easier to export military drones -- Defense News

State Department authorizes $634.7M deal to upgrade Chile's F-16s -- UPI

Trump’s troop drawdown from Germany will take ‘years,’ says Inhofe -- Defense News

U.S. and Canada Must Cooperate to Defend the Arctic -- US Naval Institute

Britain, Sweden, Italy to collaborate on combat aircraft -- UPI

Romanian Fighter Jets Scrambled to Escort Russian Bombers Flying Over Black Sea -- Sputnik

Russia's Su-27 Scrambled to Intercept US Reconnaissance Plane Over Black Sea - Military -- Sputnik

Russia's GRU Hackers Hit US Government and Energy Targets -- Wired

Over 10,000 troops participating in large-scale tactical drills in Russia’s south -- TASS

Russia to install missile attack warning system for Kazakhstan in 2020 -- TASS

Chinese military plans live-fire exercise off southern coast -- SCMP

Chinese President Xi Jinping urges military to boost drone warfare capacity -- SCMP

Chinese military plans live-fire exercise off southern coast -- SCMP

Australian warships encounter Chinese navy in contested South China Sea -- ABC News Online

Iran Has Started Development of Heavy Fighter Jet, Senior Commander Says -- Sputnik

Singapore wants F-35s at same base as F-16s, USAF still considering location -- Sputnik

Pakistan Ranked Most Improved in Protecting Nuclear Materials: Report -- Sputnik

This sculpture at CIA headquarters holds one of the world's most famous unsolved mysteries -- CNN