Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 12, 2015

Adm. William Gortney. DOD photo

CNN: U.S. admiral raises alarm over Russian military threat



Washington (CNN)The ability of the U.S. and Canadian military to defend North America could be jeopardized by stepped up Russian military activity, according to the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.


Adm. William Gortney told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that Russia is continuing to work on its program to deploy "long-range conventionally armed cruise missiles," that can be launched from its bomber aircraft, submarines and warships. This is giving the Kremlin "deterrent" options "short of the nuclear threshold," Gortney said.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 12, 2015

Russia's Arctic pivot is a massive military undertaking -- Business Insider



Russia’s Arctic Militarization ‘Disturbing,’ US Lawmakers Say -- Defense Tech



Russian Defense Ministry may spend up to $4.7 billion on new weapons in 2015 -- ITAR-TASS



Russian Black Sea Fleet Warships in Artillery, Missile Drills -- Sputnik



Large-scale artillery, Black Sea Fleet drills launched in Russia -- ITAR-TASS



Russian Defense Ministry again dismisses allegations of Russian involvement in Ukraine -- ITAR-TASS



NATO exercises to test readiness upgrade -- AFP



Sweden Plans to Increase Military Spending -- WSJ



Cameron: Trident is non-negotiable -- Herald Scotland



No sign of imminent N. Korea nuclear test: US think-tank -- AFP



China’s Antigraft Drive Exposes Military Risks -- WSJ



Vietnam Military Blasts US for Interfering With Russian Refueling Flights -- Sputnik



Poland seeks to acquire submarine-based Tomahawk missiles -- RT



Beijing seeks to block deployment of US THAAD system to S Korea -- Want China Times



US not sure how it will support Syrian rebels in battle -- The Hill



Obama’s budget offers Army ‘bare minimum’ while at ‘historically low levels’ -- Washington Times



Army leaders warn of 'dark and dangerous future' under sequester -- The Hill



Ashton Carter: Islamic State ‘metastasizing,’ U.S. intervention desperately needed -- Washington Times



In coalition of many, US air power does the heavy lifting -- AP



NATO, US Air Force AWACS Modernization Moves Forward - Boeing -- Sputnik



USAF wants small, fully integrated JSTARS replacement -- Flight Global



$62 Million: The Cost to Operate a Single US E-4 in 2014 -- David Axe, Real Clear Defense



McCain Warns Navy On LCS Upgrade -- Breaking Defense



Marines Defend New Wheeled Amphibious Vehicle Design -- DoD Buzz



Weapons: SEALs Select A Superior 40mm Six Shooter -- Strategy Page



The US Navy's combat dolphins are serious military assets -- Business Insider



Drone pilot pool grows after Air Force sounds alarm -- Washington Times



Search in US Army helicopter crash called off -- BBC



Military helicopter crash in Florida: Rescue efforts end -- CNN



Military families grieve for 11 killed in Black Hawk crash -- Washington Times



Update: Marine killed in crash at MCAS Yuma -- Yuma Sun



Bomb-sniffing elephants? Not so nutty, US Army says -- AP



US Army Drug Treatment Program Riddled With Errors & Problems, Reports -- Sputnik



Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill who shot and killed Osama Bin Laden takes job at Fox News -- Daily Mail



Why the Navy Is More Important Than Ever -- Reihan Salam, NRO