Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 6, 2012



Pentagon Helps New Stealth Fighter Cheat on Key Performance Test -- Danger Room

It seemed like a promising step for America’s next stealth fighter: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter passed a key Pentagon test of its combat capability. But it turns out that the family of jets cleared the mid-February exam only because its proctor agreed to inflate its grade. In essence, the military helped the F-35 cheat on its midterms.

The collusion between the Pentagon testing body, known as the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC), and the F-35 program — first reported by Inside Defense — confirmed that the U.S.’ most expensive warplane met previously established performance criteria. Specifically, the review was meant to show that the jet can fly as far and take off as quickly as combat commanders say they need it to.

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MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

UN inspectors get rare access to suspected Iran nuclear site
-- Christian Science Monitor

'Is China Enemy No. 1?' Debate Erupts at Marine War Game -- Aol Defense

China Spends Even More on Its Military While Pentagon Yawns -- Danger Room

China’s Mystery Missile Launcher
-- Defense Tech

Russia Close to Sign Su-35 Fighter Deal With China
-- RIA Novosti

Russia's Northern Fleet Gets Modernized Anti-Submarine Plane -- RIA Novosti

NATO chief expects continued cooperation with Russia after Putin election
-- Washington Post/AP

BAE, Lockheed Face Off for Korea, Taiwan F-16 Upgrades -- Defense News

U.S. placates Brazil over canceled deal -- UPI

China's Long March-5 rocket to take off in 2014 -- China Daily

U.S. official: Missiles give Libyan militias 'leverage'
-- USA Today

Libya Army Graduates First Tripoli-Trained Troops -- Defense News

U.S. Central Command Chief Concerned About Syrian WMD -- Global Security Newswire

Norway upbeat on F-35; Florida test flight set -- Reuters

EU Lawmaker: France, Germany Pressured Greece To Avoid Defense Cuts
-- Defense News

In Europe, top sergeant tells senior Army NCOs to roll up their sleeves -- Stars and Stripes

Boise group claims USAF F-35 socioeconomic study is faulty -- Eric Palmer Blog

U.S. Air Force Approves JSF Flight Operations: Sources -- Defense News

U.S. Air Force space plane marks one year in orbit -- Spaceflight Now

In Space, Doing More With Less Much Scarier Than Budget Cuts -- Aol Defense

DNI Jim Clapper Out in Fall? Rumor Mill Says Maybe
-- Aol Defense

Why Do Programs Fail?
-- Ares/Aviation Week

Military women hail progress, seek more at leadership symposium -- Stars and Stripes

8 women allege rape, harassment in military suit
-- StlToday

U.S. Army recommends court-martial for four in soldier's suicide -- L.A. Times

Army psychiatrist: PTSD diagnoses were fixed at Walter Reed -- McClatchy News

Brass Orders Breathalyzers for Sailors, Marines -- Military.com

Colombian maker of fashionable bullet-proof clothing finds growth abroad -- McClatchy News

Pentagon says military network will continue to air Limbaugh’s show; no review planned -- Washington Post/AP

Retired Gens to Obama: No War of Choice With Iran
-- Military.com

Should Defense begin cutting from the top? -- Walter Pincus, Washington Post

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