Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 30, 2015

Defense Secretary Ash Carter, center, testifies on the Iranian nuclear deal recently brokered by the Obama Administration before the Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., July 29, 2015. Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, right, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Secretary of State John F. Kerry, left; Teasury Secretary Jack Lew, second from left; and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz joined Carter during the hearing. DoD photo by Glenn Fawcett

Defense News: DoD to Congress: Iran Deal or No, Military Options Open

WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Ash Carter continued the administration's defense of the Iran nuclear deal, telling lawmakers Wednesday that while a pact with Iran carries risks, it is better than the alternative: an inevitable military confrontation.

"The effects of a strike are temporary, and secondly, Iran would respond to an American military strike," Carter told the Senate Armed Services Committee, when asked whether a military strike would set Iran's military program back further than the accord. Such a strike could lead Iran to become "irreconcilably committed to getting a nuclear weapon ... Effectively implemented, [the accord] stops Iran from getting a nuclear weapon not just for ten years or 15 years, but way beyond that."

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 30, 2015

It's Over: Russia, France Agree Mistral Contract Breach Settlement -- Sputnik

Russia developing 7-tonne universal combat robotic system -- ITAR-TASS

Group of Russian Black Sea Fleet ships returning to Mediterranean -- Itar-Tass

China, Russia to hold military drills in Sea of Japan -- Reuters

China Stages Huge Military Drills in South China Sea -- VOA

China’s Former Top General Snared in Xi’s Corruption Crackdown -- Bloomberg

Indian Officer Says India Will Keep Buying Russian Weapons -- Sputnik

Russia to Deliver Modernized Version of S-300 Air Defense System to Iran -- Sputnik

Saudi Arabia Requests $5.4 Billion Worth of PAC-3 Missiles -- DoD Buzz

Missing Lao Military Helicopter Found Crashed, Weather Hampers Rescue -- Radio Free Asia

Russian Military Near Latvia: A Dozen Aircraft Spotted In Airspace Around Baltic Sea -- IBTimes

Latvia, Lithuania To Raise Defense Spending -- Defense News

Is the Philippines’ Military Modernization Dead in the Water? -- Dr. Renato Cruz de Castro, The Diplomat

A look around the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier -- BBC

Canadian Military Buys Israeli Iron Dome Missile Defense Technology -- IBTimes

U.S. military service buys Israeli radar for testing -- UPI

US to deliver F-16 aircraft to Egypt -- Al Jazeera

US Senate confirms new Joint Chiefs chairman -- The Hill

Defense secretary will allow more troops to be armed following Chattanooga attack -- Washington Post

Army set to crack down on cyber bullying -- Army Times

US Navy to Commission Newest ‘Fast Attack’ Submarine -- Sputnik

Pentagon test chief raps F-35B reliability ahead of IOC -- IHS Jane's 360

US military's smart rifle can be HACKED: Security researchers remotely change weapon's target and disable its scope -- Daily Mail

US Military's Bomb Techs Fear Flying IEDs -- Defense News

FBI faces several challenges with cybersecurity program -- Washington Times

Dismantling military's transgender ban to begin Monday -- USA Today

Former Navy SEAL Alleges Anti-Gay Bullying by CIA Workers -- Military.com/AP