DefenceTalkThe Pentagon plans to spend an additional $900 million in the coming year to boost cyber defense measures, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Thursday. US officials are still reeling from last year’s revelation that personal data from some 20 million federal employees, contractors and others had been hacked in a massive breach at the Office […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-boosts-spending-to-fight-cyber-attacks-66866/

DefenceTalkThe Pentagon has asked Russia to stay away from parts of northern Syria to protect U.S. Special Operations Forces there, according to military officials. The acknowledgment shows a level of cooperation with Russia despite the Pentagon’s repeated insistence that it is not coordinating with Moscow. Both have been managing air campaigns over Syria for months. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-asks-russia-to-avoid-parts-of-syria-to-protect-us-forces-66802/

DefenceTalkThe United States Defense Department said on Tuesday that the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan should not be a cause of concern to India as the deal “always” took into account the regional security situation. India has expressed its disappointment at the decision by the Obama Administration to sell to sell eight Lockheed […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-16-sale-pakistan-not-concern-india-pentagon-66781/

DefenceTalkUS Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will on Tuesday preview the Pentagon’s plans for its 2017 budget, including extra cash to fight the Islamic State group, previously secret mini-drones and a beefed-up US presence in Europe’s east. The base budget for fiscal year 2017 is expected to be $524 billion, augmented by $59 billion for an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-chief-to-unveil-mini-drones-anti-is-funds-66641/

DefenceTalkWashington: A navigational error caused two US Navy vessels to stray into Iranian waters, Pentagon chief Ashton Carter said Thursday, as opponents of the Obama administration voiced increasing anger over the US response to the incident. Carter provided no detail but said “a navigational error of some kind” led to the two small patrol boats […]https://www.defencetalk.com/navigational-error-to-blame-in-iran-incident-pentagon-66376/

DefenceTalkThe overall security situation in Afghanistan deteriorated in the second half of 2015, with an increase in insurgent attacks and higher casualties among both Taliban and national forces, a Pentagon report stated Tuesday. This month marks a year since the US- and NATO-led mission in Afghanistan transitioned into an Afghan-led operation, with allied nations assisting […]https://www.defencetalk.com/afghan-security-worse-in-second-part-of-2015-pentagon-66109/

DefenceTalkWASHINGTON: Defense Secretary Ash Carter announced today that beginning in January 2016, all military occupations and positions will be open to women, without exception. For the first time in U.S. military history, as long as they qualify and meet specific standards, the secretary said women will be able to contribute to the Defense Department mission […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-opens-all-military-occupations-positions-to-women-65972/

DefenceTalkWashington: US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter will announce Thursday that he is ordering the military to open all combat positions to women, a US official said. Speaking on condition of anonymity ahead of Carter’s press briefing at the Pentagon, the official said, “Yes, he will announce” the move. The official said the changes would be […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-military-to-open-all-combat-positions-to-women-65968/

DefenceTalkWASHINGTON: Russia’s arming its Su-34 warplanes in Syria with air-to-air missiles can only complicate an already difficult situation in Syria’s airspace, Pentagon spokesperson Michelle Baldanza told TASS on Monday. “Such systems will further complicate an already difficult situation in the skies over Syria and do nothing to further the fight against ISIL [the former name […]https://www.defencetalk.com/pentagon-warns-russia-against-arming-warplanes-syria-air-to-air-missiles-65943/

DefenceTalkWashington: More US troops could “absolutely” be deployed to Syria if Washington identifies more “capable local forces” as partners in the fight against the Islamic State jihadist group, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said in an interview aired Sunday. Carter’s comments to ABC News came about a week after the White House announced the deployment of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/more-us-troops-possible-in-syria-pentagon-chief-65781/