Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 18, 2015

Undated photo of two Tupolev+Tu-22M Backfire bombers. Finnish Defense Forces Photo

USNI News: Russian Military ‘Snap Drills’ Include Bomber and Ballistic Missile Deployments to Crimea, Kaliningrad

A series of so-called snap drills by Russia’s Northern Fleet and its Western Military District will include deployments of high-end ballistic Iskander mobile ballistic missile systems (NATO Reporting name: SS-26 Stone) to Russia’s exclave in Kaliningrad and Tupolev Tu-M22 Backfire bombers to the exclave and Crimea, according to Tuesday Russian state media reports.

Citing an unmanned military source, the English-language Sputnik international quoted an unnamed source saying the assets would be deployed by assets from the Baltic Fleet.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 18, 2015

Large-scale military drills held across Russia -- ITAR-TASS

Moscow moving nuclear-capable weapons to Nato borders amid massive military drills across Russia -- IBTimes

Russia to Send New Missiles to Baltic Exclave on Maneuvers -- ABC News/AP

Russian Northern Fleet’s Nuclear Forces Hold Snap Drills -- Sputnik

Over 20 Russian Baltic Fleet Ships Involved in Naval Drills -- Sputnik

Hornets’ nest: Massive drills across Russia, 20 ships in Baltic Sea (PHOTO, VIDEO) -- RT

NATO Black Sea military drills -- ITAR-TASS

Here are all the NATO military ships operating on Russia's doorstep -- Business Insider

Latvia’s military claim spotting Russian fighter jets and subs near its borders -- ITAR-TASS

NATO allies come to grips with Russia's 'hybrid warfare' -- Tengri News

Iran's Fancy New Long-Range Missile Can Strike Israel -- The Diplomat

Foreigners Keep Eagle Eye on Iran-Made Destroyer - Commander -- Sputnik

Iran Deploys Rocket, Missile Batteries in Iraq -- Washington Free Beacon

GCHQ empowered to hack any device anywhere without terrorist, criminal threat – UK court doc -- RT

Malaysia May Buy Chinese Corvettes -- Defense World

PLA expands its Type 093 midget submarine line -- Want China Times

S. Korea takes a sideswipe at China's pressure on THAAD -- Yonhap News Agency

US Navy urges joint South-east Asia patrols of South China Sea -- Today Online

Japanese Warship Captain Set to Counter N. Korean Missiles -- Washington Free Beacon

Manila: U.S. had key role in deadly counterterrorism raid in Philippines -- Washington Post

Pentagon loses track of $500 million in weapons, equipment given to Yemen -- Washington Post

U.S. loses drone over Syria, which claims to have brought it down -- Reuters

3 things to learn about Syria shooting down a US drone -- David Cenciotti, The Aviationist

Boeing KC-46A tanker first flight likely in Q2-US Air Force official -- Reuters

US Lawmaker: Removal of Apache Helicopters from Guard ‘Devastating’ -- DoD buzz

Army Wants Upgrades to Improve M4A1 Carbine's Performance, Accuracy -- Military.com

Admiral: Navy’s Surface Fleet Vulnerable to Attacks Without EW Upgrades -- Defense Tech

Pentagon Creates Electronic Warfare Programs Council to Boost U.S. Technological Edge -- USNI News

Sequestration will put American lives in danger, military chiefs warn -- Washington Times

Military Officials Say US Readiness Affected by Budget Cuts -- ABC News/AP

CNO Greenert Warns Congress of Fighter Shortfall, Boeing Super Hornet Line to Close in 2017 Absent New Orders -- USNI News

Secret Service director says he's working on agency culture -- AP

The legacy of JIEDDO, the disappearing Pentagon organization that fought roadside bombs -- Washington Post

Is the Pentagon Losing the Arms Race in Space? -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat