Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 15, 2016

VOA: US General: IS Losing Its Grip in Afghanistan

PENTAGON—Islamic State (IS) appears to be losing its grip in Afghanistan, due in part to a steady aerial bombardment from U.S. and NATO forces and the terror group's failure to win over Afghans themselves.

"Nobody really wants Daesh [Islamic State] in the neighborhood," Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, a spokesman for the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission, told Pentagon reporters Thursday via a video link from Afghanistan.

"We think we have significantly decreased the footprint that they have in Afghanistan," he said.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 15, 2016

Air strikes hit Islamic State in Afghanistan under new rules: U.S. -- Reuters

U.S. gaining momentum on Islamic State, Obama says -- USA Today

Top Pentagon official: 'Right now it sucks' to be ISIS -- CNN

U.S., Russia talking 'almost daily' on Syria military actions -- Military Times

Top general: 50,000-troop coalition needed in order to crush ISIS -- FOX News

General: ISIS in Afghanistan potentially an 'enormous' threat -- The Hill

UK military officers give targeting training to Saudi military -- The Guardian

Israeli military struggles with rising influence of Religious-Zionists -- Reuters

Putin just sent Armenia MiG-29 fighters and military aid. Here are three key reasons why. -- Washington Post

Russia won't stop development of fifth-generation strategic bomber — defense official -- TASS

Russian army got 1,200 new and modernized planes, helicopters over past 3 years -- TASS

Russia to develop new strategic extra heavy airlift aircraft — deputy minister -- TASS

Russia's Aircraft Carrier Set for a Massive Upgrade: The Lethal MiG-29K -- National Interest

Kim Jong Un promotes senior military officials -- NK News

China's military has a new enemy: Disney's 'Zootopia' -- L.A. Times

Chinese general visits man-made South China Sea islands -- AP

China Blasts New US-Philippine Military Cooperation -- AP

U.S.-Philippines enhance military alliance, China isn't happy -- CNN

Norwegian Defense Command Calls for Budget Increase -- Defense News

Here's How Norway's New US-Made Radar Aimed at Russia Will Look -- Sputnik

Poland's Defense Minister: Military Modernization Program Underfunded -- Defense News

U.S. Air Force says combat-ready F-35 fighter jets on track for 2016 -- Reuters

Work: 'Confident' F-35 Ejection Issue Will Be Resolved -- Defense news

US to Spend $14Bln Annually for 10 Years on F-35 Without Congress Oversight -- Sputnik

Northrop's Mystery Bomber Bid May Trigger Review, CRS Says -- Bloomberg

The Air Force Initiative To Replace The A-10 Warthog Is Nothing But Vaporware -- FoxTrot Alpha

4-year-old Navy ship needs $23M in repairs -- CNN

U.S. Navy funds Raytheon's next-gen jammer for $1 billion -- UPI

US Senator Feinstein Takes Aim at Nuclear Cruise Missile Funding -- Defense News

Senators Concerned With Shrinking Missile Defense Research Budget -- Defense news

DoD Embraces Commercial Space Boom, But Warns of Its Limits -- Defense News

Pentagon Says Legislation Not Needed on Merger Reviews -- Bloomberg

Every Dollar Counts: New Army Policy Aims To Shake Up Spending Practices -- Defense News

Four soldiers injured when military vehicle overturns on New Jersey Turnpike -- FOX news

Military Recovers 9 of 12 Marines Killed in Hawaii Crash -- AP

Mabus Says Marine Boot Camp Will Stay Gender-Segregated -- for Now -- Military.com

Mabus to Marines: Women in Combat Is Irreversible -- AP

Aerospace, defense sector largest contributor to U.S. exports -- UPI

Losing Their Edge: US Army Studies Russian Military -- Sputnik

The Mistake that Decapitated Pentagon Innovation — and How to Fix It -- John Hamre, Defense One

ICBMs: America's Nuclear 911 Force Remains Crucial to Deterrence -- Constance Baroudos, National Interest