Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 17, 2021

U.S. Army and Chinese PLA military personnel attend a disaster management exchange near Nanjing, China, November 17, 2018. Photo by Aly Song/Reuters

NPR: Pentagon Pushes For Bigger Effort To Deter China's Growing Military Might 

The Chinese pilots push the throttles on their heavy bombers as the music in the video builds to dramatic, Hollywood-style swirling strings. Radios crackle while the planes rise and stream across the ocean. Suddenly, missiles unleash with a whoosh. Fireballs and bouncing debris rise from the targets: Hawaii and Guam. That propaganda video was released last fall and appeared on the official social media accounts of the People's Liberation Army Air Force. 

Some at the Pentagon are dismissing the Top Gun-like video with smirks and eye rolls. After all, it includes footage lifted from the movies Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, The Hurt Locker and The Rock. 

Read more .... 

 Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 17, 2021 

China’s military modernisation poses a threat to Taiwan -- Gulf News/AFP 

Taiwan boosts South China Sea deployments, gets submarine nod -- Al Jazeera 

Taiwan Boosts Military Presence in Disputed South China Sea as US Helps It Build Fleet of Submarines -- Sputnik 

Taiwan on schedule to complete F-16 upgrade by 2023 -- Taiwan News 

Virginia lawmakers prepare to battle the Pentagon over a potential cut to the carrier fleet -- Defense News 

US Navy set to receive latest version of the Tomahawk missile -- Defense News 

US General says North Korea could test new intercontinental missile 'in the near future' -- The Hill 

US-South Korea alliance ‘has never been more important,’ says Defense Secretary Austin -- AP 

B-2 Spirit Stealth Bombers And B-1B Lancers Team Up For Arctic Show Of Force -- Warzone/The Drive 

US Bomber Aircraft Conduct Training Mission Near Iceland, Air Force Says -- Sputnik 

F-22 pilot treated for minor injuries after landing gear failed to deploy -- Air Force Times 

Pentagon Unveils Details On Effort To Equip Its Services With Massive Swarms Of Deadly Drones -- Warzone/The Drive 

Navy plan for MQ-25A unmanned aircraft clears last hurdle -- UPI 

US Army prepping robotic combat vehicles for big test with soldiers in 2022 -- Defense News 

Pentagon eases COVID-19 travel restrictions -- UPI 

Minority students underrepresented as nominees to US military academies: analysis -- The Hill 

Officials urge Biden to appoint cyber leaders after SolarWinds, Microsoft hacks -- The Hill 

Top Pentagon research arm combats ‘aggressive’ foreign investors -- C4ISRNet 

Pentagon leaders talk about border, hemispheric security at Senate hearing -- UPI 

U.S. Military Says 'China and Russia May Be Collaborating' South of U.S. Border -- Newsweek 

Top military brass tells senators more resources are needed to compete with China, Russia in Latin America -- War Is Boring 

Russia remains top threat to US homeland, general says -- Bloomberg 

US military 'playing against pickup teams' while enemies 'training for the Super Bowl': Douglas MacGregor -- FOX News 

Afghan security forces still need US help to stand on their own, watchdog warns -- Military Times

NORAD readies for Arctic air defense exercises -- UPI 

Top British F-35 Pilot On How His Fledgling Team Is Forging Its Own Path Forward -- Warzone/The Drive 

Russia warns UK nuclear arsenal plan harms global security -- DW 

Ukraine should look to US for air defenses, improved air force, says former defense adviser -- Defense News 

Senior female officer quits Canadian Forces, says she's 'sickened' by reports of sexual misconduct -- CBC News

US Media Brands Turkey's Possible Purchase of Russian Su-57 Stealth Jet 'NATO's Nightmare' -- Sputnik 

Israel announces upgrades to iron dome missile defense system -- UPI 

Iran blames air defense operator for shooting down Ukraine International Airlines plane -- DW