Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 4, 2020

Pentagon Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley, pictured in February 2020, said that the Pentagon needs smaller, more capable forces armed with long-range missiles posted more widely around Asia 

AFP: Eyeing China, top US general sees tech revolution on battlefield 

The Pentagon's top general said Thursday that the US military has to fully embrace robotics and artificial intelligence if it is to maintain superiority to China.

Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley also said that the Pentagon needs smaller, more capable forces armed with long-range missiles posted more widely around Asia to hem in the top US adversary. 

"We are in the middle of a fundamental change in the character of war," Milley told the Defense Forum Washington online symposium at the US Naval Institute. 

Read more .... 

 Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 4, 2020 

America sold $175 billion in weapons abroad in FY20 -- Defense News 

Compromise defense bill confronts a rising China -- Defense News 

2021 defense funding bill blocks troop drawdowns in Germany, Afghanistan, Iraq -- UPI 

US defense bill challenges Trump's Germany troop withdrawal -- DW 

US Plans to Master Hypersonic Weapons in 3 Years to Catch Up to Russia and China -- Sputnik 

Missile defense: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' -- Peter Huessy, The Hill 

Congress directs DoD to build interim homeland missile defense interceptor -- Defense News 

The Air Force wanted to mothball over 100 planes. Here’s what Congress says it will permit. -- Defense News 

F-35: One Update Could Make This Stealth Fighter Even More Powerful -- National Interest 

America’s Newest Military Branch Celebrates its First Birthday -- RCD 

Navy to rename U.S. Fleet Forces Command to U.S. Atlantic Fleet -- UPI 

U.S. Navy to Divide Japan-based 7th Fleet's Operations -- Ken Moriyasu, Nikkei Asia 

Lewandowski, Bossie added to Pentagon advisory board after latest purge -- The Hill 

There should be no doubt about Michele Flournoy for defense secretary -- Barry Pavel, Defense News

Mystery surrounds deaths of Special Forces soldier, 37, and a veteran whose bodies were discovered in a training area on Fort Bragg -- Daily Mail 

U.S. Marines conclude cold-weather exercise in Norway -- UPI 

U.S. B-52, joined by NATO fighter planes, completes Barents Sea exercise -- UPI 

With Sudan naval base, Russia may have a 'key to Africa' -- DW 

Russia Deploys Missiles to Pacific Islands Claimed by Japan -- AP 

China planning coastal base that will allow it to launch rockets from sea -- SCMP 

Chinese military urged to modernize theories, organization, weapons to reach PLA's 2027 centennial goal -- Global Times 

Germany's Rheinmetall to build bombs for French, German air forces -- UPI 

UK soldiers 12% more likely to die than US troops in 'war on terror' -- The Guardian 

Israeli Navy welcomes new generation of German-made warships -- Defense News/AP 

U.S. Military: Iran Is Sending Arms And Troops To Help Venezuela -- Forbes 

Iraq cool to Iranian offers of military cooperation -- Al-Monitor