Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 28, 2019

U.S. President Donald Trump (L) listens next to Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan during a Cabinet meeting on day 12 of the partial U.S. government shutdown at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 2, 2019. REUTERS/Jim Young

The Hill: Acting Pentagon chief: Talks with Taliban 'encouraging,' no troop withdrawal plan yet

Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan said on Monday that there’s been “encouraging” progress in talks with the Taliban, though there is no concrete plan yet for the withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

Shanahan told reporters at the Pentagon that he would discuss possible troop drawdown plans after a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

“Hopefully, later on this week, when we get together we can talk about some of the encouraging conversations that are going on with the Taliban,” Shanahan said in his first remarks to the press since taking the acting role on Jan. 1.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 28, 2019

Afghan peace talks 'encouraging,' acting Pentagon chief says -- Reuters

U.S. Committed to Pulling Foreign Forces Out of Afghanistan: Official -- US News and World Report/Reuters

Afghan pilot, inspired by fallen US soldier, fights Taliban in the skies and online -- Stars and Stripes

Trump administration ready to suspend Russian arms control pact -- The Hill

US: Russia's INF rhetoric a 'laughable' fraud -- DW

Trump’s new nuclear weapon has entered production -- Defense News

USS Donald Cook leaves Black Sea after exercises -- UPI

The US Navy’s new, more lethal frigate is coming into focus -- Defense News

Army preps troop, equipment rotation in Europe for Atlantic Resolve -- UPI

If the money is there, new and improved F-15s could be coming soon to the Air Force -- Defense News

Boeing awarded $2.46B for P-8A patrol planes for U.S., U.K., Norway -- UPI

Lockheed tapped for sustainment of Norway's C-130J cargo aircraft -- UPI

US Military bosses plan to use tiny nuclear reactors to give troops power on the battlefield -- Daily Mail

Pentagon’s Iron Dome buy raises questions on US troop protection -- Jack Detsch, Al-Monitor

Pentagon official says agency has saved $4.7B over two years -- The Hill

US arms sales suffering under shutdown -- Defense News

Marine Corps officer asks Google to resume working with Pentagon -- FOX News

Pentagon Struggles to Fix Cyber Vulnerabilities, Keep Up With New Threats -- Sputnik

How the Pentagon’s fear of risk is stifling innovation -- Joe Gould, Defense News

Cultural divide: Can the Pentagon crack Silicon Valley? -- Aaron Mehta, Defense News

Without a clearer ethics policy, the US could lose the military tech battle with China -- Jill Aitoro, C4ISRNet

US, Canadian fighter jets scramble to escort Russian bombers -- AP

NATO tries to prevent an arms race -- DW

'Can't Afford to Wait': Defence Chief Unveils France's Hypersonic Arms Ambitions -- Sputnik

Head of UK defence firm BAE criticises Riyadh over Khashoggi and Yemen war -- Middle East Eye

German military sees rise in soldiers suffering from PTSD -- DW

'Irresponsible politics’ blamed for potential hiccup in Finnish aircraft purchase -- Defense News

Russia sells weapons worth $15 bln abroad annually -- TASS

Russian Baltic Fleet’s warplanes practice intercepting air targets -- TASS

Taiwan at risk of paralysing cyberattacks from mainland China, security think tank warns -- SCMP

China, Australia defence ministers talk closer military ties as Australian writer Yang Hengjun held in Beijing -- SCMP

India to Build Advanced Repair Facility for Scorpene-Class Submarines - Source -- SCMP

World’s nuclear weapons club to meet in China as trade talks and Meng Wanzhou extradition deadline loom -- SCMP