Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 12, 2015

Adm. William Gortney. DOD photo

CNN: U.S. admiral raises alarm over Russian military threat

Washington (CNN)The ability of the U.S. and Canadian military to defend North America could be jeopardized by stepped up Russian military activity, according to the commander of the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

Adm. William Gortney told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday that Russia is continuing to work on its program to deploy "long-range conventionally armed cruise missiles," that can be launched from its bomber aircraft, submarines and warships. This is giving the Kremlin "deterrent" options "short of the nuclear threshold," Gortney said.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 12, 2015

Russia's Arctic pivot is a massive military undertaking -- Business Insider

Russia’s Arctic Militarization ‘Disturbing,’ US Lawmakers Say -- Defense Tech

Russian Defense Ministry may spend up to $4.7 billion on new weapons in 2015 -- ITAR-TASS

Russian Black Sea Fleet Warships in Artillery, Missile Drills -- Sputnik

Large-scale artillery, Black Sea Fleet drills launched in Russia -- ITAR-TASS

Russian Defense Ministry again dismisses allegations of Russian involvement in Ukraine -- ITAR-TASS

NATO exercises to test readiness upgrade -- AFP

Sweden Plans to Increase Military Spending -- WSJ

Cameron: Trident is non-negotiable -- Herald Scotland

No sign of imminent N. Korea nuclear test: US think-tank -- AFP

China’s Antigraft Drive Exposes Military Risks -- WSJ

Vietnam Military Blasts US for Interfering With Russian Refueling Flights -- Sputnik

Poland seeks to acquire submarine-based Tomahawk missiles -- RT

Beijing seeks to block deployment of US THAAD system to S Korea -- Want China Times

US not sure how it will support Syrian rebels in battle -- The Hill

Obama’s budget offers Army ‘bare minimum’ while at ‘historically low levels’ -- Washington Times

Army leaders warn of 'dark and dangerous future' under sequester -- The Hill

Ashton Carter: Islamic State ‘metastasizing,’ U.S. intervention desperately needed -- Washington Times

In coalition of many, US air power does the heavy lifting -- AP

NATO, US Air Force AWACS Modernization Moves Forward - Boeing -- Sputnik

USAF wants small, fully integrated JSTARS replacement -- Flight Global

$62 Million: The Cost to Operate a Single US E-4 in 2014 -- David Axe, Real Clear Defense

McCain Warns Navy On LCS Upgrade -- Breaking Defense

Marines Defend New Wheeled Amphibious Vehicle Design -- DoD Buzz

Weapons: SEALs Select A Superior 40mm Six Shooter -- Strategy Page

The US Navy's combat dolphins are serious military assets -- Business Insider

Drone pilot pool grows after Air Force sounds alarm -- Washington Times

Search in US Army helicopter crash called off -- BBC

Military helicopter crash in Florida: Rescue efforts end -- CNN

Military families grieve for 11 killed in Black Hawk crash -- Washington Times

Update: Marine killed in crash at MCAS Yuma -- Yuma Sun

Bomb-sniffing elephants? Not so nutty, US Army says -- AP

US Army Drug Treatment Program Riddled With Errors & Problems, Reports -- Sputnik

Navy SEAL Rob O'Neill who shot and killed Osama Bin Laden takes job at Fox News -- Daily Mail

Why the Navy Is More Important Than Ever -- Reihan Salam, NRO