Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 28, 2017



Reuters: Trump seeks 'historic' U.S. military spending boost, domestic cuts

President Donald Trump is seeking what he called a "historic" increase in defense spending, but ran into immediate opposition from Republicans in Congress who must approve his plan and said it was not enough to meet the military's needs.

The proposed rise in the Pentagon budget to $603 billion comes as the United States has wound down major wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and remains the world's strongest military power.

The plan came under fire from Democratic lawmakers, who said cuts being proposed to pay for the additional military spending would cripple important domestic programs such as environmental protection and education.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 28, 2017

Trump to Seek $54 Billion Increase in Military Spending -- NYT

Trump: We could spend $30 billion more than estimated on military -- CNBC

McCain, Thornberry rip White House budget plan on defense -- Defense News

McCain, Thornberry: Trump's Proposed Defense Spending Hike Not Enough -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

Reality Check: Trump Proposal Doesn't Cover Major Military Expansion -- Philip Ewing, nPR

Trump’s Proposed Increase in U.S. Defense Spending Would Be 80 Percent of Russia’s Entire Military Budget -- The Intercept

Pentagon presenting counter-ISIS plan to White House -- Military Times/AP

Mattis Gives White House Tentative Plan for Rapid Defeat of ISIS -- Militay.com

Russia is ready to discuss START-III Treaty revision with US -- TASS

Russia has no plans to change new START Treaty — diplomat -- TASS

Russia’s fifth-gen fighter blitz -- Defense News

Putin says he may close down Kant base if Kyrgyzstan no longer needs Russian help -- TASS

Smerch Designer Explains Why Kiev Can't Produce Its Own Shells for the System -- Sputnik

China secures its 'biggest' military export order for new UAV system -- IHS Jane's 360

N. Korea has ‘1000s of tons of chemical weapons’ scattered across country – Seoul -- RT

North Korea's Chemical Weapon: Inside Deadly VX Nerve Agent Attack -- Rolling Stone

N. Korea's next logical step may be ICBM: 8th US Army commander -- Korea Times

U.S., South Korean troops prepare for joint military drill -- UPI

Cambodia scraps counter-terrorism exercise with Australia, says it is occupied by elections -- ABC News Online

Netanyahu, Military Faulted in New Report on 2014 Gaza War -- Blomberg

Germany’s Military: Looking a Little, Well, Obsolete -- NRO

U.K. MOD reveals $2.12B upgrade plan for Scottish bases -- UPI

Britain and Russia discuss easing tensions, avoiding military accidents - Ifax -- Reuters

Viper Attack Helicopters Give Marines New Weapon for Pacific Arsenal -- Military.com/Stars and Stripes

U.S. Navy places Trident II guidance system production order -- UPI

Pentagon Pushes Missile Defense System With Faulty Interceptors – Report -- Sputnik

U.S. Navy orders 12 new fighter aircraft from Boeing -- UPI

U.S. Army, Marine Corps purchase additional M1156 guidance kits -- UPI

Air Force transition from the MQ-1 Predator to the MQ-9 Reaper is underway -- Air Force Times

Glock is protesting the Army's choice of Sig Sauer for its new handgun -- Army Times

Marine One Replacement Flying Under Trump's Radar -- National Defense

Why U.S. Army Paratroopers Are Practicing in the Frozen Arctic -- Popular Mechanics

The Army's first black, female 3-star was inspired to serve by her father — and Star Trek -- Army Times

Counter-Terror Chief: Expect Terrorist Drone Swarms ‘Soon’ -- Defense One

Fox News Poll: Confidence in military remains high, in media low -- FOX News