Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 26, 2021

US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabia's King Salman signing the deal [Mandel Ngan/AFP]

Reuters: Exclusive: Biden team looking to stop Saudi arms deals that help it attack others

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - After pausing half a billion dollars in arms deals with Saudi Arabia out of concern over casualties in Yemen, President Joe Biden’s administration may shift U.S. policy not only to cancel past deals that pose human rights concerns, but limit future military sales to “defensive” weapons.

Four sources familiar with the administration’s thinking said officials are assessing the array of military equipment and training included in sales to the Saudis to determine what can be considered defensive.

Those deals would be allowed.

A State Department spokesperson said, “Our focus is on ending the conflict in Yemen even as we ensure Saudi Arabia has everything it needs to defend its territory and its people,” adding Biden has pledged to end U.S. military support for the military campaign against the Houthis.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 26, 2021

Biden team considering halting some arms sales for Saudis: Report -- Al Jazeera

U.S., China lead world as military spending increases globally -- UPI

Pentagon’s dated budget process too slow to beat China, new report says -- Defense News

US military may sidestep big budget cuts backed by progressives -- Defense News

US warships in Persian Gulf have suffer COVID-19 outbreaks -- FOX News

2 US Navy warships in Mideast hit by coronavirus outbreaks -- AP

Defense head Austin weighs warship needs in Pacific, Mideast -- AP

B-52 Could Get New Hypersonic Missile: Global Strike Commander -- Breaking Defense

‘Too early to say’ when B-52 engine contract will be awarded -- Defense News

Air Force general worried US won’t field sixth-gen fighter in time to beat China -- Defense News

USAF Considering Pilot Training Changes to Curb Flight Accidents -- Air Force Magazine

Key Senator Urges Pentagon to Finish F-35’s Combat Tests Quickly -- Bloomberg

The F-35’s Trillion Dollar Cost – How Did It Happen? -- Lynn Haueter, RCD

Northrop Grumman Wins As Chinese And Russian Hypersonic Threats Increase -- Seeking Alpha

Pentagon aims to field hypersonic weapons by mid-2020s -- UPI

More missiles, dispersed forces are key to stopping Chinese invasion of Taiwan, says former US Navy official -- Defense News

Soldiers exposed to explosions during combat face higher risk of Alzheimer's - even if they do not suffer traumatic brain damage, scientists warn -- Daily Mail

Fort Bliss Commander Wants Leaders in Barracks More Often to Stop Sexual Harassment, Assault -- Military.com

How Airmen and Aircraft Helped Move U.S. Forces Out of Somalia -- Air Force Magazine

Canada’s new frigate is getting heavier, more expensive -- Defense News

New Details of Russian Belgorod ‘Doomsday’ Submarine Revealed -- USNI News

Russian Iskander missile system was completely useless, says Armenian Prime Minister -- Defence-Blog

Kremlin denies comments on Pashinyan’s claims of Iskander system inefficiency -- TASS

Russian Army orders more Chinese SUVs -- Defence-Blog

New report flags Chinese push to field support ships, planes for greater reach -- Defense News

China's ships are getting bigger and more aggressive, and Japan is scrambling to keep up -- Business Insider

Japan could fire at foreign official vessels aiming to enter Diaoyu Islands -- SCMP

Vietnam strengthens fortifications in disputed South China Sea, satellite images reveal -- Defense News

EXCLUSIVE: Indian special forces 'kidnapped' Dubai's Princess Latifa from yacht and returned her to her father in secret prisoner swap for wanted British arms dealer -- Daily Mail

North Korea's Network Of Prison Camps Funds Weapons Programs, Rights Group Says -- NPR

Colombia launches new military unit to target drug trafficking, armed groups -- Reuters

Israel chooses to buy Lockheed’s CH-53K over Boeing’s CH-47 -- Defense News

Unmanned systems, artificial intelligence dominate the IDEX showroom -- Defense News