Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 9, 2016

New York Times: Ashton Carter, U.S. Defense Chief, Makes Unannounced Visit to Afghanistan

KABUL, Afghanistan — Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter arrived in Afghanistan on Friday for his last planned trip to the country as America’s defense chief and as a 15-year war continues to rage.

Mr. Carter, accompanied by his wife, Stephanie, was to speak to American troops as well as meet with Afghan leaders during his visit, which was unannounced, Peter Cook, a Pentagon spokesman, said on Twitter.

About 9,800 American troops are in Afghanistan. Their roles include a counterterrorism mission against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State, and the training and advising of Afghan troops as part of a larger NATO mission.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 9, 2016

Pentagon credits Ashton Carter with 'spearheading' deepening of India-US defence cooperation -- PTI

US Senate prohibits defense cooperation with Russia -- TASS

How Russian Carrier Admiral Kuznetsov Compares to US Counterparts -- Sputnik

Russia and Cuba sign defense cooperation program until 2020 -- TASS

The Russian Navy Is Developing a New Submarine That Can Perform One Truly Strange Trick -- National Interest

The Hunt for Med October: US Navy searching for Russian 'carrier killer' submarines feared to have been sent after NATO warships in the Mediterranean -- Daily Mail

First two F-35 jets en route to Israel -- Times of Israel

Philippines says it will not aid U.S. in patrolling the South China Sea -- AP

U.S. official warns of North Korean nuclear capabilities -- AP

Spanish parliament to consider sending more military to Iraq -- Reuters

UAE Apaches, Saudi Chinooks Top Massive $7.9 Billion Weapon Sales Plan -- Defense News

US Army moves to beef up armored force -- Army Times

Army Debating Suitable Aircraft For Future Attack Mission -- Defense News

Army announces deployments for 6,100 soldiers -- Army Times

Defense, Navy Secretaries Spar Over Budget -- Defense News

Builders Escape Most Costs as Navy on the Hook for Warships -- Bloomberg

Navy, Northrop accelerate Aegis phased-array radar upgrade -- Defense Systems

Navy, Marines Eye ‘Green’ Solutions to Extend Operational Reach from the Sea -- USNI News

The US Navy is trying to deal with its sexual assault problem by giving sailors a reporting app -- Quartz

Marine Hornet pilot killed in crash off Japan -- Marine Times

Navy's futuristic destroyer glides past Chinese warships, docks in San Diego -- San Diego Union Tribune

Oversight panel demands answers on Pentagon waste report -- The Hill

Poll: Sequestration has hurt military's trust for political leaders -- Washington Examiner

Admiral: 'You can bet' Pearl Harbor survivors and victims always stood for the national anthem -- AP

Why Donald Trump's NSA Pick Is Scaring Some National Security Experts -- AP

What You Don’t Know About Gen. John Kelly -- Defense One

GOP pushes against potential Bergdahl pardon -- The Hill

Look to the military to fix U.S. trauma care -- Baltimore Sun

A Modest Proposal for Military Suicide and Military Sexual Assault -- War on the Rocks

U.S. Needs to Bolster Nuclear Arsenal and Missile Defense, Experts Say -- National Defense

How the NSA tells the president what foreign governments are going to do before they do it -- Paul Szoldra, Business Insider