Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 26, 2015

The Australian/Wall Street Journal: US launches airstrikes on Tikrit after Iran’s ‘failure’ to defeat Islamic State

US warplanes began airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Tikrit yesterday in what US officials said was a sign of the failure of Iranian-backed forces to retake the city.

The offensive to retake the city has been stalled for more than a week and US officials said they began the strikes after the Iraqi government formally requested help. The US in recent days began providing video feeds and other intelligence to Iraqi forces, drawing the Americans into closer co-ordination with Iranian-allied Shia militias spearheading the campaign.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 26, 2015

Iran-backed militia given intelligence files on U.S. operations in Yemen -- Washington Times

Proxy War: U.S. on Both Sides of Tensions Between Iran, Saudi Arabia -- NBC

Russia's New Military Transport Plane Set to Make Its Maiden Flight in 2017 -- Sputnik

Russia can build Mistral helicopter carrier alternative by 2020 — expert -- ITAR-TASS

Russia Successfully Test-Fires RS-26 Ballistic Missile -- Sputnik

Russia Military Update: Russian Armed Forces Will Draft Thousands Of Crimea Residents This Year -- IBTimes

Putin: Russia put an end to activities of over 300 foreign intelligence agents in 2014 -- ITAR-TASS

Secret NSA Docs: Israel Intelligence in Top 3 Most Aggressive Against US -- Sputnik

Pentagon Reports on Military Cooperation with Israel -- Arutz Sheva

Iran to Test Intercontinental Ballistic Missile in 2015 - US Defense Agency -- Sputnik

Turkey to take missile decision after elections -- Hurriyet Daily News

UK to Send 75 Military Advisors toTrain Syrian ‘Moderate Opposition’ -- Sputnik

US hands over armored vehicles to Ukraine as part of military assistance program -- FOX News/AP

China Missile Test Highlights Space Weapons Threat -- Washington Free Beacon

China markets attack drone to foreign customers -- Washington Times

Military Gears Up for Space Warfare -- Washington Free Beacon

Software Glitch Causes F-35 to Incorrectly Detect Targets in Formation -- Defense Tech

USAF starts researching helmet-mounted cueing for F-22 -- Flight Global

DARPA, Navy contract for new UAS-ship capability - UPI

Pentagon's research arm seeks new directions, advantages -- USA Today

McCain Slams $46B Spent on Axed Programs -- Defense News

McCain: Navy’s UCLASS in Danger without More Stealth, Weapons -- DoD Buzz

Increased Military Spending Wins Out After Dueling Budget Votes in House -- NYT

Pentagon to push back against GOP budget -- The Hill

FBI needs better intelligence analysis: report -- Washington Times

Uncertain Future For Boeing’s Fighter Jets -- Trefis

U.S. military challenged maritime claims of 19 countries in 2014 -- Reuters

Bergdahl Charged With Desertion, Misbehavior -- VOA

Why the U.S. Army Is Charging Bowe Bergdahl With Desertion -- David Graham, The Atlantic

State: Bergdahl swap was 'worth it' -- The Hill

CIA official who directed hunt for bin Laden is being removed from post -- Washington Post

It's OK to leak government secrets - as long as it benefits politicians -- Trevor Timm, The Guardian

With spread of illicit arms, can anti-aircraft missiles be short-circuited? -- Washington Post