Military And Intelligence news Briefs -- April 22, 2015

VOA: Pirate Attacks Increase in Southeast Asia

Pirates off the coast of Somalia made big news a few years ago. But the waters of the West Indian Ocean are not the world’s most dangerous for pirate attacks right now. The most dangerous seas are those of Southeast Asia.

The International Maritime Bureau released a report on sea pirates this week. The IMB says more than half of all sea pirate attacks since the beginning of 2015 have been in Southeast Asia.

Pottengal Mukundan is the director of the IMB. He tells VOA that armed pirates attack small oil ships in the area about every two weeks.

Military And Intelligence news Briefs -- April 22, 2015

No NATO troops on battlefield as Taliban announce spring offensive in Afghanistan -- FOX News/AP

Pentagon: Strikes forcing ISIS to move weapons, fighters back to Syria -- The Hill

Russia will not deploy nuclear forces outside its territory — Lavrov -- ITAR-TASS

Moscow waits for NATO request on military activities control -- ITAR-TASS

Russia Abandons Plans to Build Super-Heavy Carrier Rocket From Scratch -- Sputnik

China's defense chief meets military commanders of Chile, Mongolia -- Want China Times

Clues to China's J-20 stealth fighter's radar system seen on internet -- Want China Times

Economic and military power in Asia -- European Council on Foreign Relations

DCNS to maintain six French nuclear submarines -- Naval Technology

France Sends Battle Tanks to Poland -- Sputnik

Poland to beef up military with US missiles and French helicopters -- Euronews

Poland Buys Patriot Missiles as NATO Ramps Up Military Capacity -- Sputnik

German defense minister says 'no future' for G36 rifles in Bundeswehr -- Deutsche Welle

Pentagon chief: Europe's military power 'slipping,' must be boosted to fulfill role as US ally -- FOX News/AP

New law to allow Japan to supply U.S. military in South China Sea, say officials -- Reuters

US, Philippines Open Joint Military Exercises -- VOA

10 photos of the largest Phillipines-US military exercise in 15 years -- Business Insider

American Soldiers Banned From Going To Bars, Clubs In Philippines During the Joint Military Exercises; Murder Trial Of A US Marine Said To Be The Reason -- IBTimes

House panel holds off decision on A-10 fleet -- The Hill

General Atomics Developing Laser Weapons for US Navy Ships -- Times of San Diego

U.S Navy Pushes Congress for Boeing Growlers -- CBS

Congress Hates On the Navy’s Tiniest Warships -- War is Boring

Global Guided Missile Expansion Forcing U.S. Navy to Rethink Surface Fleet Size -- USNI

Pentagon Refuses to Reveal Info on $40B Faulty Missile Defense System -- Sputnik

State Dept. contractor allegedly paid by Chinese agent to spy on Americans – yet no charges filed -- FOX News

U.S. Navy develops ‘swarming’ drone technology (Video) -- FOX News

Big data a key resource for military development -- Want China Times

Five new leakers possible since Snowden -- The Hill

The most unpopular person in the Pentagon -- FCW

US Air Force to Reinstate Career Fields Closed to Women -- Sputnik

Same-Sex Military Spouses Speak of Unique Obstacles -- Time

How Incompetent Is the Empire’s Military in Star Wars? -- Quora Contributor, Slate