Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 30, 2018

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph F. Dunford Jr. (L) and US Secretary of Defense James Mattis talk before a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Capitol Hill April 26, 2018 in Washington, DC. Brendan Smialowski, AFP

France 24: French special forces bolstering US-led operations in Syria, US defence secretary says

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday that French special operations forces arrived in Syria over the past two weeks to help boost US-led efforts against the Islamic State group.

Speaking to senior lawmakers in Washington, Mattis responded to a question about whether the United States was planning on pulling out of Syria -- something President Donald Trump has said would happen "very soon."

Right now, "we are not withdrawing," Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee.

"You'll see a reenergized effort," he said.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 28, 2018

We'd 'probably regret' pulling forces out of Syria says defense chief Mattis as he reveals French special forces are now backing up American troops -- Daily Mail/Reuters

Mattis Foresees 'Re-energized' Fight Against ISIS in Syria
-- Military.com/AP

US reaffirms its ‘ironclad commitment’ to defend South Korea -- Military Times

US flies B-52 bombers over South China Sea -- The Hill

US B-52s flew close to China in what may been a message to Beijing about Taiwan — but China says it will not work -- Business Insider

Moscow holds night rehearsal for WWII Victory Day military parade -- TASS

‘Carrier-killer’ nuclear sub to take part in Russia’s naval parade — source -- TASS

Greece to upgrade its US F-16 military jets amid tensions with Turkey -- DW

German Defense Minister von der Leyen wants €12 billion more for Bundeswehr -- DW

Nukes Should Stay: German Court Rules Against Removal of US Weapons From Country -- Sputnik

German military dogs may be equipped with camera systems -- DW

Newly confirmed Pompeo stresses defense spending target at first NATO meeting -- Defense News

US makes it cheaper for foreign nations to buy American weapons -- Defense News

Pentagon Acknowledges Mistakes As It Briefs Families Of Troops Killed In Niger -- NPR

Fired 7th Fleet admiral speaks out on what caused the Fitzgerald and McCain collisions -- Navy Times

Report: Navy Ship Designed for Fast Transport Has Problems -- Military.com/Virginia Pilot

The Pentagon is poised to send the LCS to thwart narcos -- Defense News

The Corps is on track to fully field the M38 marksman rifle, despite setbacks for the M27 IAR -- Marine Times

Marines want Russian-styled aircraft to realistically practice challenging them -- Marine Times

The Inside Scoop of How Deadly the 'New' F-35 Will Be -- National Interest

Air Force blames pilot error after two F-16s collide head-on in midair -- Air Force Times

Army’s Future Vertical Lift team working out how to get a helo within a decade -- Defense News

BAE Systems picked to field interim missile warning system for Army helos -- Defense News

The Pentagon Could Get Self-Driving Vehicles First -- Bloomberg

The Pentagon Is Making a Ray Gun to Stop Truck Attacks -- Defense One

The Pentagon’s New R&D Chief Has a Mandate for Change -- Defense One

Lawmakers Push Pentagon on Reforms, AI, New Missiles -- Breaking Defense

The Pentagon Needs to Take Advantage of Budget Stability -- National Interest

Pentagon Overspends $16 Million for Electric Breast Pumps: IG Report -- Military.com
How a Pentagon Contract Sparked a Cloud War -- NextGov

Green Beret dies in non-combat incident while serving in Papua New Guinea -- Army Times

Why America's next Fighter Ace Won't Be a Drone -- Michael Peck, National Interest

Military Page Admin: I Wish I’d Handled That Dino Puppet Video Differently -- Task & Purpose

The Week Ahead in Defense: April 30, 2018 -- Military.com