Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 29, 2015

US President Barack Obama sits next to Gen. Lloyd Austin during a briefing at US Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida, Sept. 17, 2014. (photo by REUTERS/Larry Downing)

The Hill: Centcom commander: ISIS 'losing momentum'

Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, commander of U.S. Central Command, said the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria's (ISIS) recent losses in Ramadi and across Iraq and Syria shows the terrorist group is "losing momentum."

Austin, in a statement Monday, congratulated Iraqi security forces for securing a key government center complex in Ramadi on Monday with coalition support.

"We congratulate them on this important operational achievement," he said.

"Coupled with other recent ISIL losses across Iraq and Syria, including at Tikrit, Bayji, al Hawl, the Tishrin Dam, and Sinjar, the seizure of the Government Center clearly demonstrates that the enemy is losing momentum as they steadily cede territory," he said, using the administration's preferred acronym for the terrorist group.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 29, 2015

Rep. Peter King: U.S. airstrikes on Islamic State have had ‘minimal impact’ -- Washington Times

Alleged killer of Russian pilot of downed jet defends the killing -- Hurriyet Daily News

Saudi security spending rises $5.3 billion in 2015: minister -- Reuters

After Delays, A-29 Attack Aircraft to Arrive in Afghanistan in 2016 -- Military.com

US Military Mission in Afghanistan in Facts and Details -- Sputnik

Russia’s 'Terminator' Chopper to Become Immune to Missiles, Radars -- Sputnik

Russian state shipbuilder expected to be able to build aircraft carriers as of 2019 -- TASS

Tech Noir: Russian Army to Receive Next Generation Combat Robots in 2016 -- Sputnik

Chinese Army Allowed to Carry Out Anti-Terror Operations Abroad -- Sputnik

Landmark Japan-South Korea Accord to Fuel Military Cooperation -- Bloomberg

Spain To Stay With Patriots in Turkey; Italy Could Deploy Samp/T Missiles -- Defense News

Greek Government Not Planning Mandatory Women’s Military Service According to Spokesperson -- Greek Reporter

Vietnam Reveals New Drone for Patrolling the South China Sea -- The Diplomat

US Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine Visits Japan - Navy -- Sputnik

Japan wants its own CIA -- Japan Times

Need to know, 2016: A bigger US Air Force -- Air Force Times

Navy races to keep aging F/A-18 Hornets flying longer -- Military Times

Navy orders decoys for F-18s -- C4ISR & Networks

Need to know, 2016: US Aircraft programs to watch -- Air Force Times

11 new ships set to join US fleet in 2016 -- Navy Times

Enlisted women report to US submarines in early 2016 -- Navy Times

US Troops Need Training to Battle in Future Megacities, Marine General Warns -- Defense News

US Military Urban Combat Training: Virtual Reality Could Be Used To Prepare For Fighting In Megacities -- IBTimes

Aerospace Deals Come Down to Wire -- WSJ

Army Cyber Command Looks to Build New HQ -- Military.com/Saudi Press Agency

DOD proposes reforms to military justice system -- The Hill

Morale: Dog Tags Evolve -- Strategy Page

Groundbreaking for the US Army Museum set for April -- Army Times

What The 6 Killed In Afghanistan Tell Us About The Military Today (Audio) -- Here and Now

Declassified: How the Pentagon planned to nuke the Soviet Union and China during the Cold War -- Washington Post

CIA Fooled by Massive Cold War Double-Agent Failure -- Washington Free Beacon

The Changing Face of Warfare in the 21st Century -- Audrey Kurth Cronin, The Strategist/Real Clear Defense