Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 9, 2020

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Iran has half a million troops and another half a million in reserve. It has Soviet tanks and jets and a small number of those are from the US, but supplied before the Islamic Revolution in 1979. President Donald Trump reimposed brutal sanctions on Iran last year and this has crippled their defense spending

Daily Mail: The Ayatollah's arsenal: A MILLION troops, hundreds of missile launchers capable of striking the entire Middle East and a maritime guerrilla force for choking the world's oil supply in the Persian Gulf... but is it enough to the stand up to the US?

  * Iran has the largest fighting force in the Middle East, with half a million ground troops and the same in reserve
  * Due to a relative lack of air force power, Tehran has devoted much of its multi-billion dollar budget to missiles
  * Despite this vast ballistic array, there were no casualties in last night's strikes on two American bases in Iraq
  * US and European government sources claim that the retaliation missiles deliberately missed the troops
  * More humiliating is the possibility that Iran missed its human targets out of sheer military incompetence
  * Despite a technological gulf with the US - the most advanced military in the world - Iran still poses a threat
  * Its navy has evolved into a fearsome maritime guerrilla force capable of strangling the Strait of Hormuz
  * Meanwhile uranium enrichment has increased to weapons-grade levels and Tehran could be making a WMD

Iran's supreme leader has a million troops on stand-by, hundreds of missile launchers capable of striking the entire Middle East and a maritime guerrilla force for exacting revenge on the US for Qassem Soleimani's killing last week.

Tehran's first retaliatory move was delivered in a 22-missile strike on two US bases in Iraq last night. But despite the array of devastating options at his disposal, it is believed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei deliberately pulled his punches.

There were no US casualties in the bombardments and US and European government sources said today it appeared the missiles deliberately missed the personnel in the bases, despite Tehran's furious threats of vengeance.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- January 9, 2020

Here's How US and Iranian Forces Compare in the Middle East -- Military.com

Iran's military power is boosted by unconventional tactics and proxies in strategic locations -- CNN

What we know about Iran’s counter-space weapons -- C4ISRNet

‘Quantum Change’ in Missiles Made Iran a Far More Dangerous Foe -- Washington Post

Demystifying The Iranian Navy’s Submarine-Launched Hoot Super Weapon -- Forbes

Iran spent years building a cyber arsenal. Will it unleash that arsenal now? -- Chris Meserole, Brookings

Prepare For the Worst From Iran Cyber Attacks, As DHS Issues Warning: Experts -- Breaking Defense

Report: B-52s deploy to Diego Garcia amid Iran tensions -- Air Force Times

Milley says Iran launched ballistic missiles intending to kill -- Military Times

F-35As at Hill AFB reach full warfighting capability -- UPI

The surface Navy needs to fundamentally reshape itself to defeat the Chinese threat, study finds -- Defense News

Future Navy, Marine Corps aircraft spending estimated at $11 billion per year -- UPI

US lawmakers protest proposed cuts to shipbuilding -- Defense News

USS Abraham pulls into Pearl Harbor amid lengthy deployment -- UPI

Timeline set to get troubled flattop Ford to sea -- Navy Times

US Army to field Israeli-made long-range missile on helicopters -- Defense News

US Army warns about fake text messages about military draft -- CNN

While China Spends, Trump Budget Looks Flat For 2021 -- Breaking Defense

‘It’s terrible’: Fears grow that Trump is kneecapping the Pentagon -- Politico

NATO’s Anniversary Summit Was a Success for the Alliance and President Trump. -- Dan Gouré, RCD

Trump wants NATO to be more involved in the Middle East. That may take some convincing. -- Aaron Mehta and Joe Gould, Defense News

Trudeau confirms Canadian military personnel were at airbase hit by Iranian missiles -- CBC

Putin’s Visits To Syria, Turkey Show Russia’s Military And Energy Might -- Forbes

Putin Observes Hypersonic Kinzhal's Launch as Trump Boasts US Developing 'Lethal, Fast' Missiles -- Sputnik

Pakistan and China launch joint naval drills. Should India be concerned? -- Defense News

China starts work on US$97 million, 10,700 tonne civilian patrol vessel – its biggest ever -- SCMP

Chinese military hints at plans for airborne laser attack weapon -- SCMP

Strengthening the U.S.–Taiwan Alliance. -- Seth Cropsey, RCD

UN: South African military plane crash-lands in Congo -- AP

35 Turkish soldiers sent to Libya so far, but won’t see combat: Erdogan -- Arab News/AFP

Official: Afghan Military Helicopter Crash Kills 2 -- Military.com/AP