Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 16, 2015

President Barack Obama, center, Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Defense Secretary Ash Carter sit together at the Pentagon, Dec. 14, 2015, as they meet with the National Security Council about the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL. DoD photo by Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz

Military Times: Islamic State fight will continue on multiple fronts in 2016

The battle against the Islamic State group is likely to remain the center of attention into 2016, but it is unlikely to expand into an all-out ground war in which U.S. soldiers and Marines slug it out with the militants.

No one thinks the Islamic State group will be defeated anytime soon, and defense officials acknowledge there is no firm timeline for ousting the militants from their strongholds. And exactly how the battle will be waged, and possibly expanded, in the months ahead remains unclear.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 16, 2015

Saudi Arabia launches ‘Islamic military alliance’ to combat terrorism -- Washington Post

Is Saudi Arabia's 'Islamic Military Alliance' Spin or Gamechanger? -- Cassandra Vinograd, NBC

Line in the Sand: New Saudi Arabian Coalition Won't Just Fight Daesh -- Sputnik

Carter Seeks New Ways to Fight ISIL in Turkey Visit -- Defense News

Carter Calls for More Global Cooperation to Defeat ISIL -- US Department of Defense

US defense chief Carter makes surprise visit to Iraq -- DW

Passing the Buck: Turkish Government Shifts Su-24 Blame to Air Force Chief -- Sputnik

Russia has flown more than 4,000 sorties in Syria since Sept 30: agencies -- Reuters

Russia, U.S. military chiefs discuss Syria cooperation - agencies -- Reuters

Russian defense minister confirms Russian ground operation in Syria ruled out -- TASS

Russian Defense Ministry announces military procurement plan -- UPI

Sketches of Russia's railway-based missile system ready — missile force chief -- TASS

Russia’s Strategic Missile Force will double number of launches in 2016 — commander -- TASS

Iran confirms plans to buy Russia’s T-90 tanks -- TASS

Iranian ballistic missile test violates U.N. resolution, sanctions monitors say -- Washington Times

Dem senator: Obama must respond to Iran missile test -- The Hill

China advances sea- and land-based nuclear deterrent capabilities -- IHS Jane's 360

China military says 'pathogen' of corruption persists in ranks -- Reuters

Chinese Submarine Rehearsed Attack on US Aircraft Carrier Reagan -- Sputnik

Japan agrees to raise host-nation spending for U.S. military -- Reuters

First Japanese-built F-35 Begins Assembly -- Defense News

Pakistan Test-Fires Second Missile in Three Days -- AFP

Africa: The Next Defense Market Opportunity? -- Defense Industry Daily

US aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East -- The Hill

Truman enters 5th Fleet area of responsibility, ending carrier gap -- Stars and Stripes

F-35B Integration, Larger Fleet Size Create Opportunities To Rethink How Fleet Operates -- USNI News

Lockheed Martin Says the F-35 Program is Back on Schedule -- Popular Mechanics

Northrop Grumman completes B-2 bomber maintenance -- UPI

Northrop Grumman maps out 'bold' vision for aerospace sector -- Reuters

Northrop accelerating B-2 bomber modernization and preparing for Long Range Strike Bomber work -- Next Big Future

Pentagon to lose emissions exemption under Paris climate deal -- The Guardian

U.S. Department of Defense Makes $7-Billion Bet Against Saudi Arabia -- Monday Morning

Air Force looks to double its number of drone squadrons -- Defense Systems

Air Force Desperately Offers Six-Figure Bonuses To Stop Losing Drone Pilots -- Daily Caller

The military's real problem: Fewer Americans are joining -- The Politico

Army cuts 2,664 active-component soldiers in October -- Army Times

In a first, Pentagon names female commandant of West Point’s cadets -- Washington Post

Back in 2000, the CIA made 8 predictions on what life would be like in 2015 — here's what it got right (and really wrong) -- Nathan McAlone and Julie Bort, Business Insider

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