Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 11, 2016

Kamov Ka-52 (archive) © Yuri Smityuk/TASS

TASS: Russia's Alligator combat helicopter made its debut in Syria in early April — source

The source said that the Ka-52 helicopter was equipped with the L370 Vitebsk jamming system that proved effective against terrorists' man-portable air-defense systems

MOSCOW, April 11. /TASS-DEFENSE/. Russia's Kamov Ka-52 ('Hokum-B') helicopter has made its combat debut in Syria, according to a Russian defense industry source.

"Both Mi-28N and Ka-52 combat helicopters have started to make combat sorties in Syria. Mi-28N was used for the first time near Palmira (Homs province) in late March, while Ka-52 has made its combat debut in the vicinities of the Homs city in early April", the source said. He pointed out, that one Ka-52 had been exploited as a "counter-terroristic asset", eliminating small groups of terrorists, using both unguided and high-precision weapons. "The Ka-52 helicopter was equipped with two types of 'Ataka' guided missile (AT-9 Spiral-2), namely, armed with anti-tank (9M120) and anti-personnel (9M120F, F stands for fugasnaya, high-explosive) warheads. As the terrorists had not deployed armoured vehicles in the area, where the Ka-52`s first combat sortie took place, the helicopter used 80mm S-8OFP unguided rockets and 9M120F guided missiles to eliminate several groups of terrorists", the source added. He said, that 9M120F fully revealed its combat potential as an anti-personnel weapon as it had eliminated a group of terrorists in a small trench, being guided via radio command channel. "Even S-8OFP. unexpectedly, turned out to be a relatively precision rocket", the source pointed out. He did not mention the losees of the terrorists.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- April 11, 2016

1st delivery of Russian S-300 air defense system arrives in Iran - Iranian FM -- RT

Iran confirms delivery of first batch of Russia’s S-300 air defense missile systems -- TASS

Russian Navy Set to Receive 6 Advanced Patrol Ships by 2019 -- Sputnik

Russia orders another 30+ Su-30SM fighters -- IHS Jane's 360

Jordan Interested in Purchasing Russian Su-34 Bombers – Reports -- Sputnik

Procurement: Russian Tech Is A Hard Sell -- Strategy Page

Japan Sends 'Destroyer' to South China Sea in Message to China -- Military.com

BAE Systems to Provide Upgraded Amphibious Assault Craft to Japan -- Defense Tech

Air forces of China, Pakistan launch joint training exercise -- Reuters

South Korea Is Claiming the Most Senior Military Defection from the North Yet -- Reuters and VICE News

Intelligence: What North Korea Really Fears -- Strategy Page

German army forced to lay down weapons due to ´overtime limits´ -- The Telegraph

Sweden military servers hacked, used in 2013 attack on US banks -- Physorg

Carter Optimistic About More Military Cooperation With India -- AP

Military officials: White House didn't want public dispute on China -- CNN

U.S. Navy leads 30-nation maritime exercise in Middle East -- Reuters

Air Force Bases B-52s in Middle East for First Time Since Gulf War -- DoD Buzz

These 4,500 Marines and sailors will soon be in striking distance of ISIS -- Navy Times

The future USS Zumwalt is so stealthy that the Navy used reflective material to make it visible to mariners during recent sea trials -- AP

U.S. needs up to 18 more Russian rocket engines - Pentagon -- Reuters

Industry Jockeys Over ICBM Motors For Commercial Space Launch -- Defense News

Why the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter might not stink -- Jason Fields, Reuters

Navy SEALs’ switch to MMA training spurs fight over new commander -- Washington Times

Naval Warfare: Cost Increase On Stealthy Destroyers Not Caused By Shipyard -- Loren Thompson, Forbes

CIA chief Brennan would not carry out waterboarding torture for Trump or Cruz -- The Guardian

'Ridiculous': Donald Trump dismisses CIA director's stance against waterboarding -- Business Insider

Carter’s Goldwater-Nichols Plan Leaves Big Changes for Hill -- Defense News

Arms makers take on Pentagon's cost cop -- Politico

US military wants vaccines that adapt to fight new viruses -- Endgadget

Military suicides top Iraq deaths -- Houston Chronicle

This Navy SEAL died on a secret mission. And his family fears they'll never get closure -- Navy Times