Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 24, 2016

Spc. Vincent de Ruiter, prepares to fire a Javelin missile launcher at oncoming tanks during a training exercise at the Orchard Combat Training Center, Idaho, Aug. 21 (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Leon Cook, 20th Public Affairs Detachment)

Washington Post: This highly advanced U.S.-made anti-tank missile could now be on Syria’s frontlines

A picture of a U.S.-made advanced anti-tank missile, apparently in the hands of a group Kurdish forces fighting near the northern Syrian town of Shaddadi, was posted to social media Tuesday.

If confirmed, it would be one of the first documented uses of a FGM-148 Javelin in the war against the Islamic State and a marked escalation in U.S. material being funneled to local groups.

The Javelin, first fielded in the mid-1990s, is one of the United States most advanced man-portable anti-tank weapons. However, a number of other countries use the Javelin, including Jordan and Qatar. Unlike the BGM-71 TOW–a system that the U.S. has sent in numbers to CIA-backed groups fighting in Syria–the Javelin uses an advanced system to actually lock on to its target through infrared imaging. The Javelin is also more portable than the TOW, which requires a heavy tripod and a portable power supply; a Javelin can easily be fired from the shoulder.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 24, 2016

12 Iraqi brigades may need U.S. support for battle, general says -- Military Times

U.S. general heading air campaign against ISIL says ‘it was kind of sad to see’ Canada pull CF-18s -- National Post

ISIS May be Capable of USS Cole-Style Bombing: Former NATO Chief -- Defense Tech

Russia's nuclear hunter of aircraft carriers to get hypersonic cruise missiles by 2022 -- RT

Russia’s Strategic Missile Forces to test-fire new RS-26 missile in 2nd quarter of 2016 -- TASS

Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia And Qatar Almost Triple In Four Years -- Zero Hedge

Saudis Want to Buy Five Corvettes in Never-Ending Middle East Arms Race -- Sputnik

Italy summons US ambassador over reported NSA spying -- The Hill

Xi’s Master Plan for a Stronger, Leaner, More Lethal Chinese Military -- Lauren Dickey, National Interest

As China's Military Modernizes, Woody Island Deployments Are Just the Beginning -- Lauren Dickey, CFR

US Navy Lagging Behind China In South China Sea Rivalry: Admiral -- IBTimes

Pentagon Seeks to Deploy Mobile Artillery Near South China Sea -- Sputnik

South Korea Tells China Not to Intervene in Missile-Defense System Talks -- NYT

Envoy: US Missile System In South Korea Would Hurt Seoul-Beijing Ties -- Defense News

US Official: Washington Should Deploy THAAD Amid Pyongyang Missile Activity -- Sputnik

US Military Leader Says Okinawa Base Move Delayed 2 Years -- AP

Russia Sends 10,000 AK-47s to Afghanistan -- NBC

US forces to stay longer in Afghanistan -- Asia Times

One area where the Pentagon is playing catchup with Russia and China -- David Axe, Reuters

U.S. Air Force A-10 and MC-130J combat planes at work out of an austere landing field in Bulgaria -- The Aviationist

Trial F-35A deployment smooths path for first combat squadron -- Flight Global

Boeing seeks to recapture prime USAF C-17 training spot -- Flight Global

Damaged clutch shut down new Navy warship -- CNN

Decision Nearing on Where To Fix Damaged LCS -- Defense News

Biggest Change For Infantry Since WWII: XM25 -- Breaking Defense

U.S. Navy's Mach 7 Railgun Could Mean Billions of Dollars for General Dynamics -- Motley Fool

Future Uncertain for Textron AirLand T-X Bid -- Defense News

Coast Guard Commandant Calls for Manpower Plus Up -- Military.com

Just how much access does the NSA have to all unencrypted communications? -- BGR

Pre-Cognition: US Military-Funded Study Spots Future Protesters via Twitter -- Sputnik

CIA Director Brennan On Apple, Syria And ISIS -- NPR

Confessions From Bush’s NSA Spy Program -- Shane Harris, Daily Beast

US Needs To Prepare for Space War -- Elbridge Colby, Defense Nnews

No comments: