Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 8, 2018

U.S troops keep watch during an official visit in Farah province, Afghanistan, on May 19. REUTERS/James Mackenzie

Newsweek: What Are U.S. Special Forces Doing in Farah, Afghanistan?

Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense has confirmed that American special forces are being deployed to the country’s western province of Farah.

According to the Khaama Press News Agency, the American troops are being deployed alongside Afghan forces to help train local troops. It is not yet clear how many Americans will be part of the Farah mission.

Ministry of Defense spokesman General Mohammad Radmanish said the U.S. troops will not participate in combat operations, and will be on a train, advise and assist mission. Radmanish added that the Americans will be helping the Afghans get to grips with new weapons.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 8, 2018

Iran To Practice Blockading Strait Of Hormuz As Saudis Say Mandeb Strait Is No Longer Safe -- The Drive

Iran meant navy exercise as 'a message' to US over sanctions, top general says -- The Hill

New Iraq mission emerges for Marines -- Marine Times

DoD Official: U.S. Committed to Countering Chinese Military Intimidation in South East Asia -- USNI News

China's Military Is Getting Deadlier By the Second. A New 'Battleship' Is the Answer. -- National Interest

High-Quality Shots Of Unpainted Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter Offer New Capability Insights -- The Drive

Taiwan Positions Land-Attack Cruise Missile Toward Mainland China (PHOTO) -- Sputnik

Russian fighter jet armed with Kinzhal hypersonic missiles to hold demonstration flights -- TASS

Russian Navy Preparing to Take on U.S. -- Eurasia Daily

Russia Can't Afford Its New T-14 Armata Tanks, Turns To Updated Older Designs Instead -- The Drive

Russia Flexes Muscles of Airborne Forces -- Eurasia Daily

NATO fails to inform Russia’s top brass on accidental missile launch over Estonia -- TASS

Following deals with Russia, Turkey now expands military cooperation with China -- Al-Monitor

UK's Next-Gen Nuclear Deterrent Risks Delays Over Faulty Welding in US - Reports -- Sputnik

US Defense Chief Mattis on Russian Subs in N Atlantic: 'Not Concerned About It' -- Sputnik

Navy sub head eyes great power competition -- Navy Times

Boeing Reportedly Blocks Offer Of Used 767s For Israeli Air Force Tanker Competition -- The Drive

Navy Shifting Homeports of 3 Carriers: Lincoln to San Diego, Stennis to Norfolk, Vinson to Bremerton -- USNI News

Bell Pushes V-280 Gunship, Shipboard Variants: Recon In Works -- Breaking Defense

Boeing contracted for KC-46 Pegasus risk reduction study -- UPI

'Force field' technology could make US tanks unstoppable -- FOX News

Marines increase ways to detect and kill air threats, from hobby drones to cruise missiles -- Marine Times

The Talos Missile Had A Wonderfully Complex Shipboard Assembly Line Of A Launch System -- The Drive

Remains from North Korea likely American soldiers who fought at Chosin Reservoir -- ABC News

Pentagon gives family dog tag found in remains returned by North Korea -- The Hill

Mattis: Pentagon, White House in 'complete agreement' on Space Force -- The Hill

Pence to discuss Space Force at Pentagon -- The Hill

Space Force on the Horizon … Maybe -- Malcolm Davis, The Strategist

Why Marine Aviation Is Leaping Into The Future And Army Aviation Isn't -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

DARPA Prototypes New AI-Enabled "Breakthrough" Cyberattack "Hunting" Technology -- Warrior Maven

How the Army is competing with Google for these ninjas -- Army Times

US Senate Intelligence Committee calls Julian Assange to testify - WikiLeaks -- RT