Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 20, 2016

The Hill: General: Afghan forces had 'mixed' results in first year fighting Taliban

Afghan National Security Forces had "mixed results" in their first year fighting the Taliban on their own, a U.S. brigadier general said Tuesday.

The forces did "fairly well" at deliberate planned operations, but had trouble when responding to crisis, Army Brig. Gen. Wilson Shoffnerr said.

In addition, the Afghan National Army faces a shortfall of 25,000 troops, a gap it hopes to close over the next six months, he said.
The Taliban is attempting to regain control of Helmand Province in southern Afghanistan, which was the focus of the military surge that President Obama ordered in 2009, but began to draw down in 2011.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 20, 2016

Afghan forces held back by corrupt, incompetent commanders in Taliban fight -- Washington Times

Le Drian, Carter, Other Ministers To Discuss ISIS Strategy -- Defense News

Russia's 2015 expenses for military operation in Syria do not exceed estimates — official -- TASS

Russia's Only Aircraft Carrier Not to Be Used in East Mediterranean -- Sputnik

Russian paratroopers to hold drills with interior forces, security service — commander -- TASS

Putin: Advanced Research Fund projects should lay basis for Russia’s armament system -- TASS

Report: Chinese Soldiers Linked to US Military Hacking Case -- Defense News/AFP

PLAAF Su-30MKK pilot claims to have close encounter with foreign fighter jet -- Alert 5

Top US, Chinese Admirals Confer -- Defense News

US Missile Defense Agency Head Syring on North Korean Nuclear Tests -- USNI News

China on ‘High Alert’ to Prevent Japan from Entering South China Sea Disputes -- USNI News

'Low Confidence': The Truth Behind South Korea's Troubled K2 Tank -- Sputnik

Germany to choose between Chinook and CH-53K for heavy-lift successor -- Flight Global

Report: Germany's Tornado Recon Jets 'Can't Fly at Night' -- Defense News/AFP

Poland hopes to buy U.S. Patriot missiles -- Reuters

General Atomics to Sell Reaper Drones to France for $43.7Mln - Pentagon -- Sputnik

US Air Force Facing Budgetary Train Wreck -- National Defense

USAF faces cost conundrum with F-35, KC-46 and LRS-B -- Flight Global

This Is The Most Important Technology On the F-35 -- Defense One

US Army Struggling To Keep Up With Needed Flying Hours -- Defense News

Navy Wants to Shoot Smaller Rounds from Rail Guns -- Defense Tech

Pentagon Eyes Laser-Armed Drones to Shoot Down Ballistic Missiles -- Defense One

US to Test First ICBM Intercept in 2016 - Missile Defense Agency -- Sputnik

New Generation of Commercial Satellites to Benefit Military -- National Defense

More Air Force drones are crashing than ever as mysterious new problems emerge -- Washington Post

Will 2016 be the Year of the Portable Lethal Drone? -- Defense Tech

U.S. Fleet Forces: New Deployment Plan Designed to Create Sustainable Naval Force -- USNI News

Navy Names Newest Virginia-Class Attack Submarine -- DoD Buzz

Matthew Bissonnette, Navy SEAL involved in Bin Laden raid, kept photo of the corpse: report -- Washington Times

Search Suspended for 12 Marines Feared Lost Following Hawaii Helicopter Collision -- USNI News