Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 28, 2016

U.S. Army Soldiers with the 814th Multi-Role Bridging Company and Iraqi engineers with the 15th Iraqi Army Division, drive the MK-II bridge erection boat toward an improved ribbon bridge, Nov. 20, 2015. (Photo by Sgt. Cheryl Cox )

Military.com: US Troops Move Down to Battalion Level with Iraqis

U.S. troops have gone forward with Iraqi forces for the first time on the battalion level in a prelude to the expected assignment of more troops closer to the front lines in the effort to retake Mosul, a U.S. military spokesman said Wednesday.

The small team of about 10 U.S. engineers advised the Iraqis on building a floating bridge across the Tigris about 40 miles southeast of Mosul to connect the forward base at Makhmour to the Qayyarah West airstrip newly wrested from ISIS.
The deployment occurred around July 20, and the engineers have since withdrawn to Makhmour, said Army Col. Chris Garver, spokesman for Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 28, 2016

As noose tightens around Mosul, U.S. forces begin advising Iraqi units closer to front lines -- Washington Post

US says 6 airstrikes killed 14 civilians in Iraq and Syria -- AP

U.S. forces help Iraqis build bridge on way to Mosul -- Reuters

US stepping up efforts to destroy ISIS drones -- The Hill

Pentagon Allies Jailed in Turkey Amid Coup Backlash, General Says -- WSJ

Pentagon Chief Sees Role for U.S. Contractors in Rebuilding Iraq, Syria -- National Defense

Afghanistan Sees 20 Percent Rise in Casualties of Security Forces, Police: Official -- NBC

Failed Afghan Army Vehicle Maintenance Program to Cost US Taxpayers $1Bln -- Sputnik

Sloppy Oversight Alleged in Afghan Army Vehicle-Maintenance Program -- Defense News

FBI Chief Warns ‘Terrorist Diaspora’ Will Come to the West -- Bloomberg

Russian Defense Ministry explains approaches to operation in Syria -- TASS

Russian Next-Generation 'Doomsday Plane' Finally Ready for Action -- Sputnik

India To Upgrade Sukhoi Fleet With Russia's Help -- Defense News

UK Ready to Grow Defense Budget Even Further For New $240Mln Naval Gun -- Sputnik

Netherlands, Luxembourg Pitch In Two Airbus Tankers For NATO Fleet -- Defense News

Romania PM wants plan for NATO multinational brigade -- AP

Air Force dangles price incentives for advanced T-X trainer -- Flight Global

Worth the Wait? US Air Force’s First F-35 Squadron May Soon Be Combat Ready -- Sputnik

Ruling on $80 Billion Bomber to Be Declassified, Air Force Says -- Bloomberg

Air Force Secretary Hasn’t Seen Proposal for ‘Super’ A-10 -- DoD Buzz

US spy satellite blasts off on Atlas V rocket for secret mission (VIDEOS, PHOTOS) -- RT

Pentagon's failure to monitor truck contract caused costs to double -- USA Today

U.S. military may be about to get hoverboards, jetbikes, and ‘floating rescue stations’ -- Digital Trends

Does the Pentagon need a Space Acquisition Agency? -- Space News

Intel Community Whistleblower Chief Fighting Old Pentagon Bosses -- Government Executive

NSA could hold 'smoking gun' in DNC leak -- Politico

Edward Snowden said the NSA could 'certainly' trace the DNC hack — here's what experts think -- Business Insider

Raytheon launches NSA-approved ethernet encryption system -- UPI

BAE Systems Profit Rises on Increased Military Spending -- WSJ

There's no business like America's arms business — here's how defense giants are doing -- Business Insider

Memorial to slain Navy Seal Chris Kyle unveiled in Texas -- AP