Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 19, 2016

FOX News/EFE: US Defense Department: Iraqi army, Kurds collaborating well in Mosul battle

Military coordination between Iraqi government and Kurdish Peshmerga forces in the battle to free Mosul from the Islamic State is very good, the United States defense department said Wednesday.

Some 18,000 soldiers from Iraq's central army and 10,000 troops from the country's Kurdistan region were converging on the IS stronghold city of Mosul, north Iraq, where it is thought that around 5,000 jihadist fighters remained, said Pentagon spokesman Jeff Davis.

"The level of coordination and cooperation we have seen between the Kurds and the (Iraqi security forces) has been very good," Davis said, adding "they're working together very well, collaborating just the way we would want them to."

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 19, 2016

What U.S. allies are up against in the methodical battle for Mosul -- CBS News

How the US Is Helping the Mosul Offensive -- ABC News

U.S. Troops Moving on Mosul With Iraqi, Peshmerga Allies -- Foreign Policy

Russian General Staff: Mosul operation has not started essentially -- TASS

How the Fight for Mosul Is Likely to Play Out -- Jim Molan, The Interpreter

A "Lasting Defeat" of the Islamic State Will Be Elusive -- Bill Roggio, Long War Journal

As Mosul Operations Begin, Carter to Visit Region -- Defense News

Syria campaign raises interest in Russian weapons and naval hardware -- TASS

Russia's Pantsyr-SM air defence system ready in two years -- IHS Jane's 360

Russian military launches own ‘closed internet’ for classified data exchange – report -- RT

Norwegian P-3 shadows Admiral Kuznetsov task force as it sails towards Syria -- Alert 5

North Korea's Musudan Missile Could Be Operational Sooner Than Expected -- 38 North

Japan may accelerate missile defense upgrades in wake of North Korean tests: sources -- Reuters

Exclusive: Proposed German missile defense system cost far above estimates - sources -- Reuters

Turkey Looks to Enrich Drone Fleet -- Defense News

Surgical strikes like Israeli army's exploits, says PM -- Times of India

How the U.S. military spies on Okinawans and me -- Japan Times

Skipper of LPD-17 said “crew performed flawlessly” during attack -- Alert 5

Report: F-35 Is Now Training with F-15s, A-10 Warthogs and Navy Seals -- National Interest

House Lawmakers Push for More F-35 Funding in FY17 Budget -- Defense News

Adm. Rogers: US 'Working Our Way Through' NSA-Cyber Command Split -- Defense News

Glock Woos Marine and Army Spec Ops. Is DoD Next? -- Military.com

US Army Still Equipped With 1980s Weapons, Equipment - Ex-Vice Chief of Staff -- Sputnik

She fled Iraq with her family. Now she's a U.S. Marine. -- Marine Times

Army and Tufts study how people think, respond to stress -- FOX News

Air Force Acquires Spy Scope to Protect Satellites -- Defense Tech

In World’s First Joint Unmanned Exercise, Drones Learn to Talk to Each Other -- Defense Tech

DARPA Do-It-All Drone Among New VTOLs Nearing Flight -- Breaking Defense

These Mini Robots Help Grunts Identify And Kill The Enemy -- Task & Purpose

That pilot in the cockpit may someday be a robot -- Military Times

Former B-2 Pilot to Air Force: Forget Drone Bombers -- DoD Buzz

USS Zumwalt, Baltimore and Freedom of the Seas -- Bryan McGrath, National Interest

With GPS, Failure Is Not An Option -- James Hasik, Atlantic Council

Where Are All the Startups? -- Caroline Houck, Defense One

Creating New Advantages for America’s Military -- Mark Gunzinger, Jacob Cohn, Timothy A. Walton & Ryan Boone, RCD