Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 6, 2019

Any operation would mark the third Turkish incursion into Syria in as many years (AFP)

Middle East Eye: Pentagon chief says any Turkish incursion east of Euphrates 'unacceptable'

Mark Esper warns US will prevent any unilateral military movement into northeastern Syria as Turkey prepares for offensive

US Defence Secretary Mark Esper said on Tuesday that any Turkish operation into northeastern Syria would be "unacceptable" and that the United States would prevent unilateral incursions.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that Turkey, which already has a foothold in north Syria, would be carrying out a military operation in the Kurdish-controlled area east of the Euphrates River.

"Clearly we believe any unilateral action by them [Turkey] would be unacceptable," Esper told reporters travelling with him to Japan.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- August 6, 2019

Pentagon chief: US would prevent 'unacceptable' Turkish invasion of Syria -- The Hill

North Korea bristles at joint South Korea-U.S. military exercise -- UPI

Esper: US won't 'overreact' to North Korean missile launches -- The Hill

Pentagon: Cost of F-35 fighter plane program up by $25B -- UPI

Effort to Upgrade F-35 to Carry Nukes Helped Add $95 Bln to Plane’s $1.5 Trln Price Tag - Report -- Sputnik

‘Damaged’ US F-22 Stealth Fighter Reportedly Spotted Flying Over Syria -- Sputnik

New Army Laser Could Kill Cruise Missiles -- Breaking Defense

With China, Russia in Mind, Pentagon Adding Stealthy Cruise Missiles -- Defense One

Congress Demanded The Army Put Its Plans To Gut Its Underappreciated Naval Fleet On Hold (Updated) -- WarzoneéThe Drive

Army Halts Plans to Scuttle Its Fleet of Watercraft -- Military.com

Lockheed space exec talks future space endeavors -- C4ISRNet

Deadly Germ Research Is Shut Down at Army Lab Over Safety Concerns -- The New York Times

Pentagon Tops $2 Trillion in Costs to Field Major Arms Programs - Bloomberg

Can all the open Pentagon leadership jobs get filled this fall? -- Leo Shane III, Defense News

Can the Pentagon Save its Way to Better Management? -- Peter Levine, War On The Rocks

Tactical military vehicle accidents in the Marine Corps and Navy are at a 10 year low, according to military data. But these grieving families are still questioning it -- Marine Times

Air Operations Continue at High Tempo in Afghanistan -- Air Force Magazine

Peace deal in Afghanistan closer than ever before, says NATO chief -- Reuters

Balkan countries boost their air defense capabilities, albeit for different reasons -- Defense News

Nordic countries see Russia flex its missile muscles -- Defense News

Putin: Russia open to new arms talks with U.S. to avoid 'chaos' -- UPI

Russia to take deployment of US missile systems to Japan into account — senior diplomat -- TASS

Russia Unites Countries in Battle at Annual War Games -- Moscow Times

WATCH jaw-dropping moment of ‘nuke-like’ explosion at Siberian ammo depot -- RT

Comic Or Commander In Chief? Reform Of Ukrainian Defense Industry Giant Tests Zelenskiy’s Will -- RFE

UK Royal Navy bosses plead with sailors to stop taking ketamine amid fears of widespread use in junior ranks -- The SUN

China vows response if US deploys missiles in region, arms race feared -- FOX News

China says People's Liberation Army will defend every part of its territory -- National Post/Reuters

China's Plan For Powerful Naval Fleets Hit By Budget Squeeze. Blame Trump -- IBTimes

Forget the Stealth Fighters and Aircraft Carriers: China's Military Has Big Problems -- Michael Peck, National Interest