Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 17, 2015

A serviceman carries a air-to-ground missile next to Sukhoi Su-25 jet fighters during a drill at the Russian southern Stavropol region, March 12, 2015. Russia has started military exercises in the country's south, as well as in Georgia's breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and in Crimea, annexed from Ukraine last year, news agency RIA reported on Thursday, citing Russia's Defence Ministry. REUTERS/Eduard Korniyenko

Daily Mail: Putin's show of military strength: Russian president mobilises entire 'Northern Fleet' of 45,000 troops, 41 ships and 110 aircraft to dwarf Nato exercises taking place in Norway

* Mr Putin has promised to spend £228billion to overhaul fighting forces
* President made his first public appearance yesterday since March 5
* Norway holding 'Joint Viking' drills involving 5,000 troops in Finnmark

Vladimir Putin has put on a show of Russia's military strength after mobilising the entire 'Northern Fleet' of 45,000 troops, 41 ships, 15 submarines and 110 aircraft.

In what was one of the Kremlin's biggest shows of force since its ties with the West plunged to Cold War-lows, the exercises seemed to be aimed at dwarfing Nato drills in neighbouring Norway.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 17, 2015

Russia to Maintain Arms Export Level Despite Western Sanctions – Think Tank -- Sputnik

Russian Strategic Strike Bombers Deployed to Crimea for Military Drills -- Sputnik

Russia's Arctic Soldiers May Be Rewarded With Free Homes in Crimea -- Moscow Times

Twenty six heads of state confirm participation in Victory Day celebrations in Moscow -- ITAR-TASS

Leaders of 26 States to Visit Moscow for Victory Day Celebrations -- Sputnik

France to Return Money to Russia if Mistral Not Delivered - Arms Trader -- Sputnik

France May Relocate Mistral Ship Due to High Maintenance Costs – Reports -- Sputnik

Norway launches a massive military exercise -- China Daily

NATO holds naval exercises in the Black Sea -- Euronews

Prague Agrees to Let US Army Convoy Cross Czech Territory -- Sputnik

Ignore US and Nato - cuts in UK defence budget could be a good thing -- The Guardian

Germany to boost mid-term defense spending -- Reuters

Why are submarines not included in Canada’s National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy? -- Michael Byers, National Post

Israeli DM Candidates: A Cast of Hawks -- Defense News

Pakistan Test Fires Laser-Guided Missile from Drone -- Defense Tech

Between US and China, S. Korea in Bind Over Missile Defense System -- VOA

Japan builds military forces to counter Chinese threats -- Washington Times

Fixing China's Intelligence System -- The Diplomat

Afghanistan Welcomes US Move to Drop Drawdown Plan -- VOA

U.S. Air Force blasted for defying Congress over Russian rocket ban -- Washington Times

US Navy Wants 28 More Tomahawks on Virginia-Class Submarines -- DoD Buzz

DARPA Pursues Hybrid-Electric Stealth Cycle -- Defense News

The Military’s Cybersecurity Budget in 4 Charts -- Defense One/NextGov

FBI’s Plan to Expand Hacking Power Advances Despite Privacy Fears -- National Journal

Obama requested $51 billion for Pentagon operations, the GOP wants $90 billion-plus -- AP

House GOP To Propose War-Funding Hike -- Defense News

Here comes a new GOP push for a military buildup -- Washington Post

House GOP Budget Plan Calls for More Military Spending, Ending Health Law -- WSJ

The US military has an integrity problem -- Carl Forsling, Task & Purpose

Prince Harry looking for work after announcing plans to leave the army -- CTV/AP

For the US, funding the Chadian military to fight Boko Haram could backfire -- Hilary Matfess, Quartz

No room for sense of entitlement among veterans and military families -- Dave Duffy, Washington Post

Battle Over How to Count Navy Ships is Confusing, But Not New -- Megan Eckstein, USNI News