Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 27, 2015

Atlantic Council

Business Insider: Russia's military exercises are WAY bigger than NATO'

If military strength and ability was determined solely by the number of soldiers participating in military exercises, Russia would be able to steamroll through NATO without much of a second thought.

Since 2013, Russia has launched a number of military exercises with troop numbers regularly surpassing the 100,000 personnel mark. In comparison, the largest NATO member exercise during the same time frame took part in Norway in 2014 and had 16,000 personnel.

The following chart from The Atlantic Council sums up the vast numerical difference between Russian and NATO exercises.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 27, 2015

The NATO-Russia Exercise Gap -- The Atlantic Council

Nato defence spending falls despite promises to reverse cuts -- Jonathan Beale, BBC

This is how much NATO member states spend on their military -- Business Insider

Ukraine crisis prompts German debate on restocking military -- Reuters

Russia secures military deal to use Cyprus' ports despite EU concerns -- RT

Russia’s Bear: The old-fashioned plane still thriving -- BBC

U.S. Military Plan For Looming ISIS Offensive Takes Shape -- Time

DIA director skeptical of timeline for Mosul mission to oust Islamic State -- Washington Times

How the Military Will Fight ISIS on the Dark Web -- Next Gov

Pentagon using experimental deep web tool to ‘scoop up’ data on Islamic State -- Washington Times

Pentagon Speeds Shipment of M-16s and MRAPS to Iraqi Army -- DoD Buzz

Iran test-fires ‘new strategic weapon’ to battle ‘Great Satan’ US -- RT

China’s Air Force Sets Up in High Schools to Train Teen Top Guns -- Bloomberg

Myanmar military wins rare praise in war with ethnic Chinese rebels -- Reuters

Draft Chinese law paves way for counter-terror operations abroad -- Reuters

Japan's defense capability should not be underestimated: expert -- Want China Times

Indonesia’s New Military Commands: A South China Sea Focus? -- Prashanth Parameswaran, The Diplomat

'Jihadi John': British Prime minister defends security services -- BBC

NATO Commander Glad to Have A-10s Back In Europe -- Defense Tech

Gibraltar's vital role for the US Navy's operations is underlined -- Merco Press

Small Diameter Bomb II Completes Live Fire Test Destroying T-72 Tank -- Defense Tech

Navy's New Maritime Strategy Includes More Destroyers to Pacific -- Military.com

New Index of U.S. Military Strength: The Cyber Threat -- The Daily Signal

James Clapper: Half the world’s stable countries ‘at risk of instability’ -- Washington Times

‘Military-Grade’: Alleged Arms Traffickers Extradited to US -- ABC News

Why the New Bomber is a Good Investment -- Robert Haddick, War On The Rocks

Effort to get Chris Kyle the Medal of Honor under fire by veterans -- Washington Post

Prince Harry to Leave the Military -- ABC News