Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 31, 2015

David Axe, War Is Boring: A Series of Mistakes Led to NATO’s Bloody Air Crash

A stray checklist and sloppy procedures might have caused a Greek F-16 to crash into a crowded tarmac

The twin-seat F-16D was airborne for just 7.8 seconds. Barely enough time for the two Greek air force pilots to register what was happening — and not enough time to safely eject before the single-engine jet fighter plunged to Earth, plowing into the crowded tarmac at Los Llanos air base in southern Spain during the middle of a NATO Tactical Leadership Program war game.

Ten people — eight of them French airmen on the ground — died immediately in the Jan. 26, 2015 incident, including the two flight lieutenants in the F-16, Panagiotis Laskaris, 35, and 32-year-old Athanasios Zagas. One French airman died in a hospital the next day, raising the death toll to 11. Thirty-three French and Italian ground personnel suffered injuries, some of them serious.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- July 31, 2015

NATO agrees on support package for Iraq to strengthen security, defense sectors -- FOX News/AP

NATO Decides to Provide Defense Assistance Package to Iraq -- Sputnik

Ukraine-Russia Conflict: German Military Spending $21 Million On Troops For NATO Exercises In Ukraine -- IBTimes

NATO Commander: Russia’s use of force in Europe is a major threat -- PBS Newshour

NATO intercepts record numbers of Russian aircraft over Baltic -- IHS Jane's 360

Russian military controls 500km of offshore Arctic - Defense Ministry -- RT

Russia to re-start launches of ‘Satan’ ICBM -- Russia & India Report

Russia’s Answer to NATO: Robotic Cannon and Smart Anti-Torpedo -- Sputnik

Russia’s Defense Ministry gives up excessive types of uniforms, saves $200 mln -- ITAR-TASS

Russia Mistral: France 'agrees warship compensation' -- BBC

India, Russia to Resume Co-Development of 5th Generation Fighter Jet -- Sputnik

China and Russia to Hold Military Exercise in the Sea of Japan -- The Diplomat

Brand New Russian, Chinese Hypersonic Weapons Unnerve US -- Sputnik

Xi Jinping’s fight against corruption in the military continues -- The Economist

Confirmed: China Building New Aircraft Carrier Possibly Nuclear Powered -- Sputnik

S. Korea to start mass production of new M-SAM missile -- Yonhap News Agency

Britain to double number of military personnel in South East Asia war games -- The Telegraph

Airbus seeks to rebuild trust as A400M systems fall short -- Reuters

Nigeria military poorly equipped to fight Boko Haram: military chief -- AFP

Nigerian Army Lacks Funding, Arms To Fight Boko Haram, Sacked Military Chief Warns -- IBTimes

Wikileaks: US 'spied on Japan government and companies' -- BBC

The first F-35 squadron is ready for combat, according to the Marines -- Reuters

Boeing Shuffles Leadership for Struggling KC-46 Program -- Defense News

Report: US strategic bomber spending totals $58B through 2024 -- Flight Global

LCS Anti-Sub Warfare Package Too Heavy; 3 Contracts Issued For Weight Reduction Study -- USNI News

More Powerful, Special-Ops Sniper Rifle Unlikely for Marine Snipers -- Military.com

Army faces recruit deficit, may miss '15 goal -- USA Today

Pentagon Could Allow More Military Personnel to Carry Guns in Wake of Chattanooga Shooting -- WSJ

Force 2025 and Beyond: How the Army Is Preparing for Its Future -- Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Defense One

Podcast: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter may be the future, but is that a good thing? -- Jason Fields, Reuters