Friday, January 15, 2016

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 15, 2016

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in October 2015, weeks after Russia began a bombing campaign to support the embattled Syrian leader. (Reuters/Kremlin Pool)

Washington Post: The secret pact between Russia and Syria that gives Moscow carte blanche

MOSCOW – When you are a major nuclear power and you want to make a secretive deployment to a faraway ally, what is the first thing you do? Draw up the terms, apparently, and sign a contract.

That’s what the Kremlin did with Syria in August, according to an unusual document posted this week on a Russian government website that details the terms of its aerial support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Among other revelations in the seven-page contract dated Aug. 26, 2015, the Kremlin has made an open-ended time commitment to its military deployment in Syria, and either side can terminate it with a year’s notice.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 15, 2016

Russia, Syria agreed 'open-ended' military presence for Moscow -- AFP

Russia warplanes in Syria made 5662 sorties since operation start — general staff -- TASS

Russian Warplanes Launch 97 Cruise Missiles on Daesh Targets in Syria -- Sputnik

Russia may start publishing data on US-led anti-IS coalition actions in Syria -- TASS

U.S. military confirms 8 civilian deaths in 2014 airstrikes -- AP

British and US military 'in command room' for Saudi strikes on Yemen -- The Guardian

France Sets Arms Export Contracts Record of $17.5B -- Defense news

Russia Is Beefing Up Its Air Defenses, Top U.S. Air Force General Says -- NPR

Russian Weapons to Maintain Balance of Power in Balkans -- Sputnik

Pakistani Naval Modernization Appears Stalled -- Defense news

Japan to test first homegrown stealth jet -- Stars and Stripes

China's latest military reform reveals its rising ambitions -- STRATFOR

Xi to Saudi Arabia as China Vows Bigger Military Presence in Middle East -- Breitbart

Report: North Korea using old Soviet submarines for missile launch -- UPI

How We Know North Korea's Latest SLBM Test Was a Likely Dud -- Ankit Panda, The Diplomat

Korea, US intelligence capabilities in question -- Korea Times

Former US SecDefs: Stronger Military Ties With China Key to Peace -- Defense News

Hawaii Military Helicopter Crash Update: 12 Reportedly Missing In Collision Off Oahu -- IBTimes

Mabus: Navy to Meet Shipbuilding Goals Regardless if LCS Buy is Reduced -- National Defense

Fleet Forces: Navy Should Train to Specific Threat Sets, Environments -- USNI News

Northrop Lays Out Vision for ‘Cyber Resilient’ Next-Gen Fighter -- Defense News

Army Special Operations Want Multi-Intelligence UAVs -- Defense News

Army’s Got Enough Drones; New Ones Should Be VTOL, Lundy says -- Breaking Defense

US Army cites deep safety flaws in probe into live anthrax shipments -- The Hill

MDA Suspends Consideration of Maine Site for Interceptors -- Sputnik

GOP candidates promise a bigger, better military -- Military.com

Watchdog: Pentagon wasted $215M on Afghan mining projects -- The Hill

Grassley requests full audit of Pentagon task force accused of wasting millions -- The Hill

Pentagon Sends Obama Plan to Close Guantanamo, Move Detainees to US -- Defense One

Former CIA chief in Benghazi challenges the story line of the new movie “13 Hours” -- Washington Post

US Navy personnel chief confident about female submariners -- AP

US Army Gen. Joseph Votel Officially Named as CENTCOM Nominee -- Defense News

Space Command colonel faces string of charges including rape, dirty selfie -- The Gazette

Army Rangers’ wild partying contributed to commander’s reprimand, report says -- Army Times

We Asked an Expert What Would Happen if Saudi Arabia and Iran Went to War -- Brian McManus, VICE News

ANALYSIS: How U.S. sailors almost started a crisis with Iran -- Stars and Stripes

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