Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 17, 2014

A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft flown by pilots from the 107th Fighter Squadron head toward Afghanistan after departing Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Sept. 26, 2011. A-10 jets are now carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State, a U.S. official confirmed Wednesday. (By Tech. Sgt. Daniel Heaton/ U.S. Air Force)

The A-10 Jet Carries Out Its First Airstrikes Against The Islamic State -- Washington Post

The A-10 Thunderbolt II attack jet has been carrying out airstrikes against the Islamic State since late November on a near-daily basis, a U.S. military official said Tuesday. It marks the first time the use of the pugnacious plane against the militant group has been confirmed, although U.S. military officials disclosed last month that they had deployed the A-10 in support of the mission in Iraq and Syria.

The jet is beloved by U.S. ground troops for its ability to strikes enemy fighters from the air, but it remains in a fierce budget battle in Washington. Air Force officials and some fiscal conservatives have advocated retiring the aircraft to save money and using other planes for close-air support missions. A compromise in the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act will keep it flying at least one more year, but it’s future afterward is still uncertain.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 17, 2014

Pentagon sending 250 MRAPs to Iraq at no charge for Islamic State fight -- Washington Times

Pakistani military chief visits Kabul to coordinate response to Peshawar massacre -- Stars and Stripes

Pakistan school massacre counters assertions Taliban crippled by U.S. drone strikes -- Washington Times

Armor: Chinese Assault Trucks -- Strategy Page

Leadership: China Analyses Their Primary Weakness -- Strategy Page

China plans nuclear-powered aircraft carriers: US expert -- Want China Times

'No Test' Declared for Arrow-3 Interceptor -- Defense News

Germany emerges as leading supplier to Israel’s navy -- World Tribune

US approves sale of Global Hawks to South Korea -- Stars and Stripes

Russia's Arms Exports in 2014 Worth $13Bln: Kremlin Aide -- Sputnik

Missile defense deployment in Romania against European security — Russian Foreign Ministry -- ITAR-TASS

Belarus to receive four S-300 surface-to-air missile systems from Russia in 2015 -- ITAR-TASS

Russian Strategic Missile Forces plan 14 launches in 2015 — commander -- ITAR-TASS

Russian Nuclear Missile Trains to Reappear as Tensions With West Grow -- Moscow Times

Ukraine Must Create One of Europe’s Most Powerful Armies: Security Council -- Sputnik

Pentagon confirms military buildup along Russian borders for ‘peace and stability’ -- RT

US Reaffirms Support to NATO Presence in Eastern Europe -- Sputnik

UK inquiry: Soldiers mistreated Iraqi detainees -- AP

You know who's not getting cheap gas? The US military -- CNBC

US Ballistic Missile Defense Needs More Testing: Missile Experts -- Sputnik

US Army Researches Light Vehicle Concepts, Futures Chief Says -- Defense News

U.S. Congress: Navy Needs More Money for 306-Ship Fleet -- DOD Buzz

GAO: DOD doesn't know if testing ranges are vulnerable to foreign firm spying -- Stars and Stripes

Will the Flak Jacket of the Future Include Organic Sensors? -- Patrick Tucker, Defense One

Military suicides total 144 in 1st 6 months, on rate to surpass 2013 -- Stars and Stripes

Public auction of military Humvees creating a buzz -- FOX News

Jesse Ventura sues HarperCollins over Chris Kyle’s ‘American Sniper’ -- Washington Post

Crocker: Training Rebels in Syria Is Moving Too Slow ‘To Make a Difference’ -- Charles Clark, Defense One/Government Executive

The nuclear money pit: Does America really need a new plutonium production line? -- The Economist

There Was No Way a P-51 Could Replace the A-10 -- Joseph Trevithick, War Is Boring

The mysterious lure of the French Foreign Legion keeps drawing Americans -- Dan Lamonthe, Washington Post

AMERICA'S MILITARY: Were the wars worth the cost? -- Andrew Tilghman, Military Times

The Global Conflicts To Watch in 2015 -- Uri Friedman, Defense One/The Atlantic

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