Monday, February 18, 2013

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 18, 2013

Photo: Risky choice: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in flight (www.is.northropgrumman.com)

Pentagon General Issues Warning On JSF Blow-Outs -- ABC News (Australia)

The multi-billion-dollar F-35 Joint Strike Fighter chosen by Australia as its replacement combat aircraft is again flying through turbulence, with strong criticism from a Pentagon general about the system used to build it.

The Joint Strike Fighter has been billed as the smartest fighter jet on the planet, designed to strike enemies in the air and on the ground without being detected by radar.

But Australia's most expensive defence acquisition has experienced soaring costs and is now at least five years late.

US Air Force Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan, who has recently taken over as head of the JSF project team, says putting the plane into production before it has been tested properly - a process called concurrency - has caused major problems.

Read more ....

MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE NEWS BRIEFS

Arms sales drop for first time since 1990s -- Al Jazeera

North Korea seeking membership in nuclear club - expert -- RT

N. Korea tested long-range missile engine before nuke blast: sources -- Yonhap News Agency

UAE-made UAV appeals -- Khaleej Times

Did Russian early-warning system see the meteorite? -- Russian Strategic Forces

Russian military expert: “If Nagorno Karabakh conflict is not solved in 2013, war will be inevitable” -- APA

Australian may have leaked Mossad secrets: report
-- Reuters

Ben Zygier, Israel’s ‘Prisoner X,’ may have revealed how Mossad used foreign passports -- McClatchy News

Netanyahu Doubles Down On Spy Secrecy Following Prisoner X Fallout -- Business Insider/AFP

Israeli soldier posts Instagram image of Palestinian child in crosshairs of rifle -- The Guardian

Saab Signs Next Generation Fighter Aircraft Gripen E Development Deal -- Defence Talk

British PM seeks to salvage India Eurofighter deal -- Financial Times

EU launches military training mission in Mali -- US News and World Report/AP

Mali Mission Spurs French Interest in Armed UAV -- Defense News

New Zealand lays out military involvement plan in Afghanistan after drawdown -- Global Times/Xinhuanet

AFRICOM Out Of Africa -- Strategy Page

US scrambles jet fighters after Russian nuclear bombers circle American airspace over Guam
-- Daily Mail

Obama Nominee for Defense Likely to Get Confirmed: Top Republican -- New York Times/Reuters

White House Concerned About Delay in Security Confirmations -- New York Times

GOP foes of Hagel nomination say vote should go on -- Washington Post

CIA’s covert drone program might shift further to Pentagon
-- Stars and Stripes/Tribune

Navy paints dire picture of weakened US fleet -- Stars and Stripes

Army plows ahead with troubled war-zone program
-- Army Times/USA Today

$245 Million Face-Lift For S.D. Flattop
-- UT San Diego

Space-Based Sensors A Ballistic Missile's Worst Nightmare
-- Space Daily

MIT Wants Tomorrow’s Soldiers to Talk Through Their Shirts -- Danger Room

Recognizing Virtual Heroes -- Strategy Page

New Medal Recognizes Changing Face of Conflict, Official Says -- US Department of Defense

Pentagon aims ax to make a point with sequester cuts, uses worst-case scenarios to force deal
-- Washington Times

Home from war, troops face 'white knuckled' first month -- NBC

BY THE NUMBERS: The Destructive Power Of The Russian Meteor -- Business Insider

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