PDB – China and Russia’s ‘Dramatic’ Space Buildup

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Today’s PDB includes a variety of critical, global national security issues.

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READ TODAY’S PDB BELOW:

NATIONAL SECURITY

US Nuclear Bombs May Be Headed Back To The United Kingdom. More than a decade after the U.S. withdrew its last nuclear bombs from the United Kingdom, the Pentagon’s latest budget request suggests that weapons of this type may be heading back to British soil.

Defense Intelligence Agency cites 70% growth in Russia and China’s combined space assets since 2019. DIA officials characterized the growth in maturity and quantity of Russia and China’s on-orbit capabilities as “dramatic.”

Biden’s gaffes on Ukraine can veer from U.S. policy. Biden ad-libbed this week that Russia’s actions in Ukraine constitute a ‘genocide.’ Meanwhile, the State Department is in the midst of a painstaking process to decide if that’s in fact the case.

HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. warns newly discovered malware could sabotage energy plants. U.S. officials announced the discovery of malware they believe was intended to cripple LNG facilities.

CHINA THREAT

China gathers most powerful destroyers as US carrier group holds exercise off Korean peninsula. Four of China’s largest and most advanced destroyers have been spotted off the east coast of China as a US Navy carrier strike group is conducting an exercise with Japan near the Korean peninsula.

Australia Asks Solomon Islands to Abandon China Security Pact. An Australian minister visits Honiara to voice concerns over a pact that could allow Chinese warships to dock in the Pacific nation.

RUSSIA THREAT

Ukraine says it damaged Russian navy flagship, crew evacuates. Ukrainian forces said they struck and seriously damaged the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, dealing a potentially major setback to Moscow’s forces as they try to regroup for a renewed offensive in eastern Ukraine.

Moscow digs in for protracted fight as war stretches into 50th day. Fifty days into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is digging in for a drawn-out conflict.

Maps: Russia has advanced into the center of Mariupol, tightening its grip on a key target. The Russian military moved into the center of the southern city of Mariupol this week, a significant advance in a crucial, bloody battle that has continued for almost seven weeks.

Russia has yet to slow a Western arms express into Ukraine. Western weaponry pouring into Ukraine helped blunt Russia’s initial offensive and seems certain to play a central role in the approaching, potentially decisive, battle for Ukraine’s contested Donbas region. Yet the Russian military is making little headway halting what has become a historic arms express.

Hiding in Plain Sight, a Soviet-Era Air Defense System Arrives in Ukraine. Encouraged by the United States, Slovakia “donated” a bulky but effective S-300, hoping to challenge Russian domination of the skies in the war next door.

The secret of Ukraine’s military success: Years of NATO training. Extensive programs have taught thousands of Ukrainians how to transform from a rigid Soviet-style force into a modern army that thinks on the move.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Combined Maritime Forces establishes new allied naval group to patrol Red Sea region. The multinational Combined Maritime Forces in the Middle East will stand up a new Combined Task Force-153 to specifically address maritime threats in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

India Considering Repairing U.S. Military Sealift Ships Following 2+2 Dialogue. The United States and India are weighing the potential to maintain and fix U.S. Military Sealift Command ships in Indian shipyards, the State Department announced this week.

US MILITARY

Eielson Air Force Base Alaska days away from achieving full complement of F-35s. Eielson AFB will receive its final two F-35 strike fighters in the coming days, making it the Air Force’s second fully-equipped combat-coded F-35 wing and the first for Pacific Air Forces.

END of PDB

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