Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 23, 2015

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg addresses a news conference during a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels February 5, 2015. Credit: Reuters/Francois Lenoir

Bloomberg: NATO's Response to Putin's Odd War Games Won't Be Fast

(Bloomberg) -- As the Kremlin’s warplanes probe the edges of NATO airspace, the alliance says its forces are ready if the Russians come. Political leaders will need a little longer to issue the marching orders.

Whatever the scenario -- an overt Russian attack on eastern Europe, a proxy war fought by pro-Russian rebels, a Crimea-style infiltration -- the immediate suspicion will fall on Russian President Vladimir Putin as the man behind it.

Who will order the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to strike back is less clear. The 28 governments in the U.S.-led alliance will all want a say, potentially slowing the deployment of a 5,000-man rapid-reaction force being set up to defend eastern Europe.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 23, 2015

NATO combat readiness to be put to test in 2015 -- Stars and Stripes

Russian Bear air collision 'risk' -- Press Association

Russian war planes 'rehearsing attacks' in UK airspace - British military chief -- IBTimes

Russia's military budget may shrink 10 percent in 2015 - Rostec -- Reuters

Russia to Produce Own Military Gear by 2017 Due to Sanctions — Rostec CEO -- Moscow Times/Reuters

Russia’s State Arms Exporter Sells Abroad Weapons Worth $13Bln in 2014 -- Spuntik

Russia offers Iran to replace S-300 with Antey-2500 — Rostec head -- ITAR-TASS

Kalashnikov Targeting Middle East Market -- Defense News

Swapping a rifle for a mailbag: One Russian’s alternative to army service -- Russia Beyond The Headlines

Russian Official Says Victory Day Parade Will Feature Latest Military Tech -- Sputnik

Iraq, Pakistan, Kuwait Show Interest in Russia's Next-Gen Military Gear -- Sputnik

US-led Airstrikes in Syria Kill Over 1,500 Islamist Fighters in 5 Months -- Sputnik

France deploys aircraft carrier against ISIS in Iraq - ministry -- RT

Disclosures of Battle Plan by Pentagon Startle Many -- NYT

Senators Criticize Pentagon for Discussing Mosul Operation -- WSJ

Why the Pentagon wants you to know its Mosul war plan -- Greg Jaffe, Washington Post

The Pentagon Spills the Beans: Stupidity, or Strategy? -- Mark Thompson, Time

New US Pentagon chief convenes unusual counter-IS meeting -- AP

Obama open to changes to military authority against Islamic State -- AP

Egyptian Leader Calls for Joint Arab Military Force -- WSJ

Israel Acquired 14 Additional F-35 Jets from the US at $2.82 billion -- Israel Defense

On Edge, Persian Gulf Monarchies Step Up Defense Spending -- WSJ

India now puts aircraft carrier plan on fast track -- Times of India

Japan set to loosen control over military introduced post WWII – report -- RT

Australia Starts U.S. Reaper Drones Training -- IBTimes

Argentina, China Could Jointly Develop Fighters -- Defense News

US Defense Secretary Calls Afghan Army 'A Powerful Force' -- AP

Britain at risk as our air defences are slashed -- Express

U.S. considers slowing military withdrawal from Afghanistan -- Washington Post

Boeing Under Mounting Pressure To Deliver New Tanker -- National Defense

Air Force Launches New Air Supremacy Effort for 2030 -- Defense Tech

Military could be using high-tech speech software by 2017 -- USA Today

New SecDef Says President Obama Needs Military’s Help -- DoD Buzz

New Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says transgender Americans should be allowed to serve openly in the military -- Daily Mail

The War On Powerpoint In The Military Continues -- Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, Forbes

China's Superpower Strategy (Analysis) -- Defense News

Al Jazeera to Reveal Hundreds of Secret Intelligence Documents -- Al Jazeera

The Spy Cables: A glimpse into the world of espionage -- Al Jazeera

Top U.S. Army Marksman Explains Why Gun Nuts Shoot Better -- Kevin Knodell, War Is Boring