KCNA via Reuters
Brendan Thomas-Noone, Lowy Institute: Asia’s Escalating Missile Race
If the Cold War was one long arms race, the modern era could be accurately described as an arms jog. Countries are defined less by how many nuclear warheads they have, and more by what they can do with them. This is particularly the case in Australia’s immediate region, where a significant missile competition is underway.
Last year saw a step up in the pace of missile testing and the operationalisation and deployment of capabilities that have been in development for some time. North Korea’s missile program and the responses of South Korea and Japan, as well as the successful testing of several long-in-development systems from Pakistan, India, and China are examples of this. The leaked draft of the U.S. government’s Nuclear Posture Review only adds to the pile.
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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 25, 2018
Russian defense minister visits Vietnam to boost ties -- AP
Qatar may soon buy Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft system – ambassador -- RT
New Tu-160 bomber to strengthen Russia’s nuclear triad — Putin -- TASS
Serial production of Armata tanks to begin in 2020 — source -- TASS
China denies plan to build military base in Afghanistan -- Reuters
China Develops Early Warning Jets For Aircraft Carriers -- Sputnik
Beijing denies former senior military officer Fan Changlong under investigation -- SCMP
Cambodia and China to Hold Joint Military Exercises for Second Time Ever -- Sputnik
France and Japan to scale up military exercises to deter China -- Nikkei Asian Review
Japan PM Abe reveals country's first mission to defend US military aircraft -- Stars and Stripes
North Korea Sets Up First Military Parade of 2018 and New Weapons Are Likely to Be on Show -- Newsweek
Captured USS Pueblo Displayed as N. Korean Propaganda Prize -- Military.com/AP
Lessons for today of USS Pueblo’s 1968 capture by North Korea -- Stuart Heaver, SCMP
Chilling video show South Korean police armed with rifles tackling a 'terror attack at the Winter Olympics' in drill designed to showcase their power amid rising tensions with North -- Daily Mail
NATO moves to assure Turkey of its support in fighting terrorism -- Defense News
Britain’s Nuclear Deterrent Isn’t a Military Asset, and Shouldn’t Be Funded as One -- Mark Galeotti, War On The Rocks
Germany freezes tank upgrade for Turkey amid Afrin op, Ankara says it expects ‘solidarity’ from ally -- RT
Germany's cabinet approved record-breaking arms exports -- DW
Afraid of a major conflict? The German military is currently unavailable. -- Washington Post
Despite Trump's punitive military aid cut, Pakistan and US are still intertwined -- Washington Post
Mattis signals harder line in South China Sea -- Asia Times
US likely to send 1st aircraft carrier since war to Vietnam -- AP
Global Demand for HK 416 Is Driving Down Price of Marines' M27 -- DoD Buzz, Military.com
Will the Army pick a bullpup for its new rifle? Several gun makers have solutions if it does. -- Marine Times
Navy SEALs Spotted Using Modified Jet Skis and Cool Magnetic Climbing Gear -- Popular Mechanics
DARPA envisions a hybrid engine to reach hypersonic speeds -- C4ISRNet
US Military Experts, Leaders Say 'Up or Out' Promotion System Outdated -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes
Secret U.S. Military Mission Led to Deaths of Somali Schoolchildren -- Newsweek
US Navy names new intel boss, other flag promotions -- Defense News
Bragg: 6 women become first to earn Expert Infantryman Badge -- The Fayetteville Observer
Wanted: ‘Iron Man’ suits for special operations troops -- Military Times
Trump’s nuke strategy will fuel an arms race, say House Democrats -- Defense News
Interview: Nuke warhead chief talks risk of nuclear war -- Defense News
150,000 immediate deaths followed by an even deadlier firestorm: Experts reveal what would happen if a nuclear missile REALLY detonated over Hawaii -- Daily Mail
The US Has Military Bases in 80 Countries. All of Them Must Close. -- Alice Slater, The Nation