Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 8, 2014

Russian Tu-95 Bear bomber with a F-22 escort. SF Citizen

Russian Strategic Bombers Near Canada Practice Cruise Missile Strikes On US -- Washington Free Beacon

Nuclear launch rehearsal conducted in North Atlantic

Two Russian strategic bombers conducted practice cruise missile attacks on the United States during a training mission last week that defense officials say appeared timed to the NATO summit in Wales.

The Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers were tracked flying a route across the northern Atlantic near Iceland, Greenland, and Canada’s northeast.

Analysis of the flight indicated the aircraft were conducting practice runs to a pre-determined “launch box”—an optimum point for firing nuclear-armed cruise missiles at U.S. targets, said defense officials familiar with intelligence reports.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 8, 2014

Russian Reconnaissance-Strike Drone Chirok to Begin Tests in 2015 -- RIA Novosti

Russia bases high-tech nuclear sub closest to Norway -- Barents Observer

NATO Allies Commit to Defense Boost -- Defense News

German Defense Ministry Opposes NATO’s Request to Increase Military Spending -- RIA Novosti

US, Ukraine to Conduct Military Exercises in Black Sea on September 8-10: Kiev -- RIA Novosti

Israel To Trim 2014 Budget To Cover War Cost, Boost MoD -- Defense News

Turkey in talks with France over missile purchase: Erdoğan -- Hurriyet News/AFP

Chinese Carrier's Purported Air Wing Deemed Plausible but Limited -- Defense News

China says 2 pilots died in aircraft carrier tests -- Pantagraph.com

New Japanese submarines to cost Abbott's Australian Government $20 billion -- News.com.au

Vietnam Deterring China with Submarines -- Maritime Executive

Philippines DND seeks P25 B for modernization projects -- PhilStar

Delays force India's Navy to drop demand for foreign submarines -- Times of India

U.K. EXCLUSIVE: New submarine technology to allow more women onboard -- Daily Star

Royal Naval shortages to leave ships at sea for 9 months -- Sunday Times

Royal Navy will get second aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales after Nato leaders agree to boost military spending -- Daily Mail

U.S. eyes deal with S.Korea on F-16 upgrades by year-end -sources -- Reuters

US military suffers Japan base setback -- RT

Navy's new amphib highlights the future of Marine aviation -- Navy Times

Obama: U.S. military to provide equipment, resources to battle Ebola epidemic in Africa -- Washington Post

US to convert older Mavericks into laser-guided missiles as strikes on IS continue -- IHS Janes 360

Video: New Armored Vehicles Replace Armor with Agility -- Defense Tech

Kendall Questions Number of Army Modernization Programs -- DoD Buzz

Hagel Pushes New Tech, Prototyping, Allied Engagement -- Defense News

MRAPs get bad rap -- Stars and Stripes/San Antonio Express-News

Pentagon, Congress Face Stark Budget Choices -- Government Executive

New U.S. Virginia-class Submarine Christened 'John Warner' -- Marine Link

Fewest recruits ever test positive for HIV -- Stasr and Stripes/San Antonio Express-News

Switzerland ‘unlikely to extradite Snowden’, if he appears for NSA testimony -- RT

U.S. Senator Feinstein: ISIS threat can't be overstated -- The Hill

U.S. Campaign '16: Despite Tough Talk, Little Chance of Defense Increase -- Defense News

America’s neglected defense -- Robert J. Samuelson, Washington Post

America's Dangerous Aversion to Conflict -- Robert Kagan, WSJ

Has NATO lost its will as well as its muscle? -- George Will, Washington Post