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Military


30 April 2014 Military News

Operations
Defense Policy / Programs
Defense Industry
Other Conflicts
News Reports

Current Operations

  • DOD Releases Report on Progress in Afghanistan DoD 30 Apr 2014 -- The Department of Defense provided to Congress today the April 2014 'Report on Progress Toward Security and Stability in Afghanistan,' a report to Congress in accordance with Section 1230 and 1231 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110-181), as amended; to include section 1221 of the NDAA for FY 2012 (Public Law 112-81); and sections 1212, 1223, and 1531(d) of the NDAA for FY 2013 (Public Law 112-239).
  • Report Points to Afghan Progress, Challenges AFPS 30 Apr 2014 -- While Afghan security forces did an outstanding job protecting their people during the April election, they are not yet ready to shoulder the burden alone, according to the Defense Department's congressionally mandated semiannual Report on Security and Stability in Afghanistan.
  • Forces Removing Equipment From Afghanistan Keep Eye on Russian Route VOA 30 Apr 2014 -- How to remove millions of tons of equipment from a landlocked country with primitive infrastructure?
  • Afghan Officials: Haqqani Militant Assault Repulsed VOA 30 Apr 2014 -- Afghan troops backed by Western air power reportedly have killed at least 60 insurgents near the Pakistani border in some of the heavily fighting in recent years, Afghan security officials said on Wednesday. The clashes in eastern Paktika province allegedly involve the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, which has sanctuaries in Pakistan's tribal areas.

  • P-8s, Cesar Chavez Detached from MH370 Search NNS 30 Apr 2014 -- In conjunction with the collaborative decision to cease flight operations, the two U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft flying missions in support of the MH370 search efforts, along with USNS Cesar Chavez (T-AKE 14), were detached from search operations and support efforts in Perth and will return to other operations within 7th Fleet this week.
  • Royal Navy concludes search for missing aircraft UK MOD 30 Apr 2014 -- HMS Echo has joined HMS Tireless in standing down from the search for the signal from the black box of Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

Defense Policy / Programs

  • Force Improvement Program to rejuvenate ICBM mission, improve work environment AFNS 30 Apr 2014 -- Recommendations were made, voices were heard and changes can already be seen at Malmstrom Air Force Base.
  • Kendall: Fixing Acquisition Requires Incremental Improvement AFPS 30 Apr 2014 -- Improving defense acquisition is a long, hard, tedious job that demands attention to hundreds of factors, and the Defense Department is making continuous incremental improvement in areas where it can make the most progress, the Pentagon's acquisition chief told a Senate panel today.
  • HURREX Citadel Gale 14 Exercise Begins May 5 NNS 30 Apr 2014 -- Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) and U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFF) will jointly conduct the annual hurricane preparedness exercise, HURREX/Citadel Gale 2014, from May 5 - 15 in preparation for the upcoming Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean area hurricane season.
  • Air Force Secretary Reports on Total Force Balance AFPS 30 Apr 2014 -- Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James yesterday outlined the service's progress in leveraging the talent and capabilities of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve within the total force concept.
  • USS Truxton Departs Aqaba, Jordan NNS 30 Apr 2014 -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) departed the Royal Jordanian Naval Base, just outside of Aqaba, Jordan, following a four-day logistics stop, April 23.

  • NATO Takes Prudent Steps to Reassure Allies, Show Resolve AFPS 30 Apr 2014 -- While solutions to issues Russia has caused in Ukraine require diplomacy, NATO is taking prudent steps to reassure allies and demonstrate resolve, a senior alliance official said.
  • US rapid reaction forces arrive in Baltics Iran Press TV 30 Apr 2014 -- NATO rapid reaction standing maritime forces have arrived in the Baltic Sea amid the escalation of tensions between the United States and Russia over the crisis in Ukraine.

  • Russia Starts Combat Helicopter Training Flights on Baltic Border RIA Novosti 30 Apr 2014 -- A newly formed Russian army helicopter brigade has begun training flights in the northwest of the country near the borders with the Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia, a spokesman for the Western Military District said Wednesday.
  • 2 New Missile Corvettes to Join Russia's Caspian Flotilla RIA Novosti 30 Apr 2014 -- Russia's two newest missile corvettes, the Grad Sviyazhsk and the Uglich, have successfully undergone navy sea trials and will be assigned to the Caspian flotilla by July, a spokesman for the Southern Military District said Wednesday.
  • French Warship Deliveries to Russia Not Affected by Sanctions RIA Novosti 30 Apr 2014 -- The delivery of two French warships to Russia will not be affected by the current EU sanctions imposed in light of the situation in Ukraine, French Permanent Representative to the UN Gerard Araud told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
  • US Lawmaker Vows to Block US Military Aid to Egypt VOA 30 Apr 2014 -- U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy said he intends to block aid to Egypt's military until he sees "convincing evidence" the interim military-backed government is committed to the rule of law. The lawmaker's statement came as Egyptian Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy met with Secretary of State John Kerry and insisted his country is moving forward on the path to democracy.

  • Russia Shows Modern Military in Ukraine Crisis VOA 30 Apr 2014 -- An estimated 40,000 Russian troops are deployed on the Ukrainian border, poised to invade if the order comes from Moscow.

  • Saudi Arabia ends 'largest' maneuvers in its history VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- Saudi Arabia ended military exercises Tuesday along the borders of Iraq and Kuwait, as well as other regions, in what the media described as the largest in the kingdom's history.

  • Shaping the future of the UK space sector UK Government 30 Apr 2014 -- The government has today (30 April 2014) released two new policies that will shape the future of the UK’s growing space industry. The government response to the space Innovation and Growth Strategy (IGS) action plan 2014 – 2030 and the national space security policy (NSSP) set out plans to achieve a £40 billion UK space industry by 2030 and a coherent approach to protecting the UK’s space assets.

  • Army denies U.S. applying pressure on Apache crash probe CNA 30 Apr 2014 -- Taiwan's Army denied a report Wednesday that the United States has pressured the military to keep quiet about what caused an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter to crash on Apr. 25 before an investigation into the accident is completed.

  • April 30, 2014 - U.S. Department of State Daily Press Briefing US Dept. of State 30 Apr 2014

Defense Industry

Other Conflicts

News Reports

  • U.S. Lawmakers Introduce Bill Sanctioning Top Russian Firms RFE/RL 01 May 2014 -- U.S. lawmakers have introduced legislation that would impose tougher punitive measures against Russia over its actions in Ukraine, including sanctions on leading Russian banks, energy firms and weapons manufacturers.
  • Ukraine military on full combat alert: Kiev Iran Press TV 30 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine's acting President Oleksandr Turchynov says the country's military is on full combat alert against a possible invasion by Russian troops massed on the border.
  • Ukraine forces helpless in quelling unrest: Kiev Iran Press TV 30 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine's interim President Oleksandr Turchynov says the country's police and security forces are "helpless" in quelling pro-Russian protests in the east.
  • Ukraine to Hold Snap Military Drills in Downtown Kiev at Night RIA Novosti 30 Apr 2014 -- The Kiev city administration has warned citizens and guests that Ukrainian armed forces will hold military drills involving armored vehicles in the capital on Wednesday night, but the Ukraine's Defense Ministry denied the reports.
  • Ukraine's Interim Leader Orders Creation of Regional Defense Battalions RIA Novosti 30 Apr 2014 -- Acting Ukrainian President Olexander Turchynov on Wednesday said territorial defense battalions will be formed in every region to protect the crisis-hit country.
  • Moscow to use all legal means to prevent bloodshed in Ukraine - Russian official VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- Russia will stand firm to prevent bloodshed in Ukraine and defend the rights of Ukrainian people by all available legal means, Valentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, the Federation Council, said in an interview with The Voice of Russia radio Wednesday.
  • Ukraine Admits It's Losing Control in East VOA 30 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine's acting president says that the Kyiv government has effectively lost control over the situation in the country's eastern Luhansk and Donetsk regions where a number of government buildings have been taken over by pro-Russia separatists.
  • Poll Finds Ukrainians Doubt Effectiveness of Interim Government VOA 30 Apr 2014 -- An opinion poll released Wednesday by a U.S. democracy group finds widespread doubts and worries among Ukrainians who think their country is in the grip of chaos and don't believe the government is effective.
  • Protesters seize city council, police department in Ukraine's Gorlovka VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- Supporters of federalization have taken control of the city council building and police department in the eastern Ukrainian city of Gorlovka, a local official told the Russian nes agency on Wednesday. 'The Gorlovka district council and central city police depatment were seized by armed men. There are about 20-30 people, they represent the People's Republic of Donetsk,' a representative of the regional branch of the Interior Ministry said.
  • Donetsk referendum to take place soon, 2000 polling stations ready VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- The Central Election Commission of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic has set up over 2,000 polling stations and 55 electoral commissions for the upcoming referendum, the head of the Election Commission told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
  • Ukrainian Forces 'On Full Combat Alert' RFE/RL 30 Apr 2014 -- Ukraine's acting president has said that Ukraine's army is on 'full combat alert,' as pro-Russian separatists seized the administrative headquarters in another eastern town.
  • Donetsk Dispatch: City Looks To Victory Day With Trepidation RFE/RL 30 Apr 2014 -- Nearly two weeks after the Geneva agreement intended to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine was signed, no de-escalation has been seen in the industrial and mining region of Donetsk.
  • In Central Asia, Patriotic Russian Symbol Claimed By Ukraine Separatists Is Revived RFE/RL 30 Apr 2014 -- The St. George ribbon, a military symbol of both Imperial and Soviet Russia, is being distributed in several Central Asian countries ahead of Victory Day on May 9, an ostensibly apolitical move that could provoke tensions as the ribbon also symbolizes pro-Russian separatism in Ukraine.
  • Sanctions allow Russia revise its priorities – Russian President's aide VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- Sanctions against Russia are a dead-end policy but it stimulates the country to revise its priorities, presidential aide Andrei Fursenko told Rossiya 24 channel Tuesday.
  • Kiev authorities making situation in Ukraine catastrophic – Russian envoy VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- Speaking at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Russia's permanent envoy to the UN Vitaly Churkin said that the current Ukrainian regime is likely to drive the country to a catastrophe.
  • Sanctions against Russia is irresponsible approach of West to international politics – Russian envoy VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- Sanctions against Russia prove irresponsible approach of the West towards the international politics, said Russia's permanent representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin.

  • IMF cuts Russia growth outlook for 2014 Iran Press TV 30 Apr 2014 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has cut its 2014 growth forecast for Russia, saying the country is in recession because of damage caused by the Ukraine crisis.
  • IMF: Russian Economy Now In Recession RFE/RL 30 Apr 2014 -- The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says Russia is in recession with its economy suffering from massive capital outflows over the Ukraine crisis.

  • US sanctions against Russia's space industry affect Europeans VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- US sanctions against the Russian space industry are actually targeted against another competitor of the Americans - European companies, a source in the Russian space and rocket sector told Interfax-AVN on Wednesday. 'Formally the US sanctions impede the export of dual- and military-purpose technology to Russia. However, it is evident that a ready satellite does not refer to this category because by taking a satellite, Russia gets a piece of hardware, not technology.

  • Security Council welcomes timely, peaceful parliamentary elections in Iraq UN News Centre 30 Apr 2014 -- The United Nations Security Council today welcomed the timely holding of parliamentary elections in Iraq, and, looking forward to the certification of the results by national electoral officials, called on the country's leaders "to engage, as quickly as possible, to form a Government that represents the will and sovereignty of the Iraqi people."
  • Iraqis Vote Amidst Violence VOA 30 Apr 2014 -- Ballot counting began immediately at polling stations across Iraq after voting ended Wednesday. Electoral officials say more than 50 percent of registered voters turned out, despite a series of election day attacks that left at least 12 dead.
  • Iraqis Vote In Landmark Parliamentary Elections RFE/RL 30 Apr 2014 -- Polls have closed in the first parliamentary election in Iraq since U.S. forces withdrew from the country in 2011.e
  • Iraqis Vote in Parliamentary Election VOA 30 Apr 2014 -- Voting got under way across Iraq Wednesday morning in the country's general elections, amid tight security and a ban on vehicular traffic to prevent possible attacks. There were small incidents of scattered violence, including several mortar rounds, although voting appears to be going ahead smoothly in most places.

  • U.S. Still Hunting KGB, Decades After Cold War RFE/RL 30 Apr 2014 -- Attention former KGB officers: If you were involved in rights abuses during Soviet times and find yourself in the United States, U.S. authorities may be looking for you.

  • CIA delays declassifying congressional report on harsh interrogations VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- The CIA has demonstrated remarkable reluctance to declassify parts of the congressional report on harsh interrogation techniques of suspected terrorists. No more is the agency eager to be open regarding its other sensitive operations and history. In recent years, CIA decision-makers have wrestled with Congress, archivists, journalists, former CIA employees and even an ex-CIA director over what information could be revealed. Usually, secrecy holds upper hand.

  • Yemen army launches new assault on Qaeda, 30 killed VoR 30 Apr 2014 -- Suspected Al-Qaeda militants killed 18 Yemeni soldiers in separate ambushes Tuesday as the army launched a ground offensive against their remaining strongholds in the south, medical and security sources said.

  • ILS Satellite Launches Remain on Schedule Despite Sanctions RIA Novosti 30 Apr 2014 -- The newly imposed US sanctions against Russia will not affect the work of the International Launch Services (ILS) company, a spokesperson for the Luxembourg-based satellite fleet operator SES told RIA Novosti Wednesday.



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