Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 16, 2019

VOA: Afghan Officials Confirm US Troop Drawdown Plans

ISLAMABAD - Officials in Afghanistan confirmed Sunday the United States plans to withdraw thousands of troops from the country, insisting the move stemmed from a mutual understanding between the two allied nations.

Sources in Kabul went on to tell VOA the drawdown process is expected to start in three months, though no official confirmation was available immediately about the timeline.

On Saturday, U.S. media reported that President Donald Trump’s administration intends to announce as early as later this week plans to reduce the number of American forces in Afghanistan by around 4,000.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- December 16, 2019

In Afghanistan, Sen. Graham says US troop drawdown coming -- Military Times/AP

US Military Tells VOA No Afghan Drawdown Orders Received Yet -- VOA

BAE Systems awarded $249.2 million modification for self-propelled Howitzers -- UPI

‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Reveals a Navy in Crisis -- Military.com

Navy pilots demand more be armed on bases in letter to lawmakers and military brass -- FOX News

Army and Navy launch internal investigations into controversial hand gesture captured on video -- CNN

Historic data on military suicide shows no clear link with combat operations -- Military Times

A 'forever chemical' contaminates drinking water near US military bases -- NBC

Thousands of volunteers turn out to lay wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery -- The Hill

Air Force seeking commercial technologies for cislunar space operations -- Space News

Space Command HQ decision drawing near, Sen. Jones says -- Al.com

US defense chief chides NATO 'free riders' -- France 24

Despite US complaints, top NATO general says he’s working closely with the EU on military projects -- Defense News

British naval ship joins the search for doomed Chile military plane after it crashed on its way to Antarctica -- Daily Mail

South Korea a top buyer of U.S. weapons, annual report says -- UPI

Sweden Engages in 'Total Defence' Drill for First Time Since Cold War -- Sputnik

Switzerland Plans to Send Its Old Fighter Jets Back to the U.S. -- Bloomberg

Erdogan Drags NATO Bases Into Row Over Russian Missile Deal -- Bloomberg

The Russian Navy Has a Big Decision to Make: Time to Give up on Aircraft Carriers? -- National Interest

Putin says Russia's position on global arms market strengthens despite sanctions -- TASS

Russia's Sarmat Missile Could Be Armed With Next-Gen Hypersonic Combat Units - Military -- Sputnik

Russian Strategic Missile Forces to test-launch 6 ICBMs in 2020 -- TASS

Going Full Stealth: Russian Special Forces to Receive 'Silent Death' Automatic Rifles - Reports -- Sputnik

Chinese warplanes take South China Sea exercises to new level -- SCMP

China strengthens its recon wing -- Asia Times

Chinese President Xi Jinping promotes 170 PLA officers in move to streamline ranking system -- SCMP

Why China Wants Its Navy to Patrol the Atlantic Ocean -- National Interest

South China Sea: message for Beijing in Vietnam, Malaysia defence white papers -- SCMP

Japanese island could become an unsinkable US aircraft carrier -- CNN

Japan’s defence chief hits out at Beijing on South China Sea, military build-up -- SCMP