Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 15, 2016

New York Times: China Appears to Confirm It Has Militarized Disputed Spratly Islands

BEIJING — The Chinese government appeared to confirm on Thursday that it had begun placing antiaircraft guns and other defenses on the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, despite earlier promises that it would not militarize the islands.

Satellite images released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington this week showed “large antiaircraft guns and probable close-in weapons systems” on its outposts in the Spratlys.

“As for necessary military facilities, they are primarily for defense and self-protection, and this is proper and legitimate,” the Chinese Defense Ministry said on its website in response to the report, which was made by the group’s Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative. “For instance, if someone was at the door of your home, cocky and swaggering, how could it be that you wouldn’t prepare a slingshot?”

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 15, 2016

Images show 'significant' Chinese weapons systems in South China Sea -- The Guardian

China defends its right to 'ready slingshot' in South China Sea -- Reuters

U.S. ready to confront Beijing on South China Sea: admiral -- Reuters

US Eyes Bigger Partnership with China on Space -- Defense Tech

India, China Facing Off in Military Cooperation Race in SE Asia -- Military.com

India, China vow to step up military-to-military ties -- Times of India

India Gears Up for Final Trial of Nuke Capable ICBM -- Sputnik

Report: North Korea tested a sub-launched missile in December -- UPI

Putin, Abe Agree to Restore Frozen Military Contacts - Lavrov -- Sputnik

Russia drops out of world's top 5 defense spenders -- UPI

Volume of Russian Arms Exports May Increase to $20Bln Annually - Medvedev --

Sputnik

Russian Strategic Missile Force armed with about 400 ballistic missiles — Defense Ministry -- TASS

As Many as 99% of ICBMs of Russia's Strategic Missile Forces in Combat Readiness -- Sputnik

Chief of Staff says Russia informs NATO of all its military activities -- TASS

In collapse of US-Russian military ties, some see nuke risk -- AP

US MANPAD supplies should worry Pentagon, not ‘small arms' seized in Palmyra – Russian military -- RT

Carter confident U.S. will remain key to anti-ISIS coalition -- AP

Kuwait Wants Abrams Tank Upgrades -- Defense News

German military relying on Russia, Ukraine firms -- DW

Poland Orders Howitzers in $1.1B Artillery Deal -- Defense News

US Military Completes $11.2 Million Face-Lift in Estonia -- AP

The US Air Force Is Unworried by Trump's Fickle Nuclear-Weapons Talk -- Defense News

US Marines to Integrate Armed Weapons Into Osprey, Build New Tiltrotor Craft -- Sputnik

Raytheon Excalibur Round Set to Replace LRLAP on Zumwalts -- USNI News

US Navy’s Swarming Drone Boats Conduct Independent Missions -- Defense Tech

BAE Systems Presents First AMPV Prototype to US Army -- Defense News

Report: Malfunction caused Thunderbird crash after academy flyover -- Air Force Times

Pentagon Chief May Have to Steer Clear of $10 Billion Contractor -- Bloomberg

Military planners prepping for uncertainty of a Trump inauguration ceremony -- Military Times

Military to Serve Ceremonial, Security Roles in Trump Inauguration -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

The Invisible Costs of Cyber Weapons -- Herb Lin, Defense One

A New Chance to Prioritize Pentagon Spending -- Mark Lucas, RCD

Want a better Navy? Try Fixing the Little Things -- Cmdr. Daniel Dolan, USN (Retired), USNI News