Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 26, 2018

An F-35B Lightning II, attached to the “Avengers” of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211, launches from the flight deck of Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) during a regularly scheduled deployment of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Sabyn L. Marrs

Business Insider: The US military is reportedly preparing to take its F-35 stealth fighters into combat for the first time

* The US is reportedly preparing to take its F-35s into battle for the first time, according to CNN.
* F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters aboard the USS Essex, an amphibious assault ship deployed to the Middle East earlier this month, may soon be called up to launch airstrikes in Afghanistan.
* The first reported F-35 combat mission was conducted by Israel in May.

The US is finally ready to take its most expensive fighter jets into battle, as the F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters sailing aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex may soon be called to conduct strikes against insurgent forces in Afghanistan, CNN reported Tuesday.

The USS Essex arrived in the Middle East earlier this month. Having already sailed through the Gulf of Aden into the North Arabian Sea, the ship should move into the Persian Gulf in the very near future, a defense official told CNN. The stealth fighters on board have reportedly been conducting intelligence and reconnaissance operations in Somalia, but they have yet to engage an enemy in combat.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 26, 2018

US F-35 fighter jet poised for combat debut -- CNN

Trump’s Venezuela Military Option Gains Backers as Millions Flee -- Bloomberg

Top EU security chief emphasizes ‘shared self-interest’ in defense cooperation after Brexit -- Defense News

New Russian mobile missile complexes may replace Yars after 2030 -- TASS

Russia releases video showing what its newest Kh-35U anti-ship missile can do to a vessel -- Business Insider

Germany delays tender for military helicopters: document -- Reuters

Australia’s new hi-tech fighter jets can ‘operate in a battle space with impunity’ -- News.com.au

Japan is developing supersonic glide bombs to defend remote islands -- SCMP

UN Command Says Having Communication with N. Korea for First Time in 11 Years -- Sputnik

South Korea's Moon Says US Troops Should Stay Even After Reunification -- Sputnik

US-S.Korea military readiness hurt by drill pause -- AFP

Suspending Korea exercises caused slight dip in readiness: U.S. general -- Reuters

Pentagon examining land in Poland after offer of ‘Fort Trump’ base -- Washington Examiner

US Coast Guard transferring two armed cutters to Ukraine -- The Hill

US military forces put multidomain operations to the test in Pacific -- Defense News

New Navy grooming standards, and big changes for sailors assigned to Marine units — everything you need to know -- Navy Times

Navy F-35 makes emergency landing at civilian airport -- Navy Times

Let’s Have a Look At The Helicopter The U.S. Air Force Has Selected To Replace The UH-1N Huey -- The Aviationist

F-22 and F-35 'DNA': Why Lockheed Martin's F-16 Block 70 Could Be Something Special -- National Interest

Air Force B-2 Bombers and F-35 Stealth Fighters Share a Big Problem -- National Interest

Northrop's B-2 Bomber Upgrade to Evade Enemies May Run Late -- Bloomberg

Army Body Armor May Be Too Heavy for Combat, Report Finds -- Military.com

The Marines want to test all recruits for cyber skills -- Fifth Domain

3 Ways the Marines Are Making Their Fitness Tests Tougher in 2019 -- Military.com

Mattis: Jury Is Out on Women Succeeding in Combat Jobs -- AP

Mattis Denies Rift with Top White House Official over Syria Endgame -- Military.com

Armed Services chairman to Trump: Keep Mattis 'as long as you possibly can' -- The Hill

Chinese national in the US Army arrested for spying on US engineers, scientists, and even defense contractors for China -- AP

Air Force eyes Legion of Merit for drone crews, and maybe someday the Distinguished Flying Cross -- Air Force Times

Military seeks volunteers for a study that could help grieving families -- Military Times

Why Green Berets are the smartest, most lethal fighters in the world -- Daniel Brown and Paul Szoldra, Business Insider

M230: Could This Gun Be the U.S. Military's Ultimate Weapon? -- Charlie Gao, National Interest