Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 22, 2020

FILE - U.S. troops patrol at an Afghan National Army (ANA) base in Logar province, Afghanistan, Aug. 7, 2018.

The Hill: Official: Pentagon has started 'prudent planning' for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May

The Pentagon has started planning to have zero U.S. troops in Afghanistan by spring, though orders have not yet been issued for a full withdrawal, a Defense Department official said Tuesday.

“I’d like to make it clear that [Defense Secretary Mark Esper] has not issued orders to reduce military personnel below this 4,000 to 5,000 level in Afghanistan, although we are conducting prudent planning to withdraw to zero service members by May 2021 if conditions warrant, per the U.S.-Taliban agreement,” David Helvey, the official performing the duties of assistant secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, told the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on National Security at a hearing.

The comments come as President Trump has been touting U.S. troop drawdowns in the region in the final stretch of the campaign as evidence he is delivering on his promise to end America’s “endless wars.”

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 22, 2020

US Forces Are Ready for Iran's Response to New Sanctions, Esper Says -- Military.com

Hat trick: Air Force flies B-1s, B-2s, B-52s over Europe, Pacific in major bomber mission -- Air Force Times

Air Force’s B-1 Bomber Fleet Months Ahead of Repair Schedule, General Says -- Military.com

US Air Force Reveals B-1B Lancer Readiness Rate Has Tripled Since Last Year -- Sputnik

It's Time To Take A Look Inside The B-21 Stealth Bomber -- National Interest

How the U.S. Air Force and New Space Force Are Getting Ready for Future Wars -- National Interest

USS Antietam conducts Tomahawk strike exercise near Guam -- UPI

Secretive Seawolf Submarine Makes Port Call In Europe For The Second Time In Two Months -- Warzone/The Drive

The hapless attack sub Boise will return to the fleet in 2023 after 8 years sidelined -- Defense News

House stopgap spending bill includes $1.6B for Columbia-class subs -- The Hill

Pentagon redirected pandemic funds to defense contractors: report -- The Hill

On a California tour, Pentagon chief scrutinizes a Navy in flux and a warship gutted by fire -- Washington Post

Retired 3-Star McMaster Says He Never Heard Trump Insult the Military -- Military.com

The US Navy Has Drifted Badly Off Course -- John R. Kroger, Defense One

The US Military’s Latest Wearables Can Detect Illness Two Days Before You Get Sick -- Defense One

The US Military Is Waging War on HIV-Positive Soldiers -- Bloomberg

Army funding research to allow drones to run on multiple fuel sources -- UPI

Mali coup leader was US-trained, but AFRICOM says counterterrorism training still vital -- Washington Examiner

Senior US General Reveals How Pentagon Plans to Avoid ‘Losing’ Nuclear War With Russia, China -- Sputnik

Beware, China: The U.S. Navy Is Building More Amphibious Assault Ships -- National Interest

China trails as US sixth-generation jet project gets airborne -- SCMP

Mysterious Russian Mi-171Sh Hip Assault Helicopters Are Bound For China -- Warzone/The Drive

Chinese propaganda film shows fake attack on US Air Force base with clips from Hollywood movies -- ABC News Online

China and India agree not to send more troops to border, says Chinese defence ministry -- SCMP/Reuters

Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen visits military base after PLA ‘provocations’ -- SCMP/AP

Russia rejects U.S. terms, sees 'minimal' chance to extend New START nuclear pact -- Reuters

Russian Deputy FM Says It's Unlikely That New START Treaty Will be Prolonged -- Sputnik

UK Increases Spy Flights Near Russian Border Trying to Find Moscow’s ‘Vulnerabilities’: Report -- Sputnik

Cash-strapped Britain eyes shrinking its order of new early-warning planes -- Defense News

The Arctic is a strategic hot spot, but Western allies lack good intel -- Defense News