Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 17, 2017

The Hill: Top US, Russian military officials agree on 'enhanced communications' to avoid 'unintended incidents'

The first meeting between the top military officers in the United States and Russia since 2014 resulted in an agreement on enhancing communication to avoid “unintended incidents," the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said Thursday.

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford and Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Gen. Valery Gerasimov met Thursday in Azerbaijan, the first meeting between the nations' top military officers since military cooperation was suspended three years ago amid Russian aggression in Ukraine.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 17, 2017

Pentagon Chief Rules Out US-Russia Military Collaboration -- VOA

Middle East Increases Emphasis on Military Capabilities and Pushes Defence Spending Back to Growth, IHS Markit Says -- Business Wire

Brazil to retire its only aircraft carrier, Sao Paulo -- UPI

Expert says North Korea will be able to develop ICBM in several years -- TASS

Russian defense ministry shows off Su-35S maneuverability -- UPI

Russia's Red Army Choir sings for first time after crash -- AFP

‘Vicious circle’: Moscow warns NATO Black Sea buildup & increased spending may lead to new Cold War -- RT

NATO: Russia targeted German army with fake news campaign -- DW

Libya Sends New Request for Military Training to NATO -- Reuters

NATO, Finland deepen cooperation on cyber defense -- The Hill

Finland to ramp up troop levels amid heightened Russian tensions -- DW

France to receive A400M airlifters beefed up for combat -- Defense News

NATO European allies to jointly buy planes, set up new elite HQ -- Reuters

Germany plans NATO deals for military planes, subs -- AP

German Defense Minister Ursula Von der Leyen opens Munich Security Conference with call for responsible US involement -- DW

Trudeau says Canada one of NATO's 'strongest actors' without committing more money -- CBC

Europe must not bow to U.S. spending demands on NATO: EU's Juncker -- Reuters

The 2 Percent NATO Benchmark Is a Red Herring -- Peter Layton, National Interest

Carrier Gerald R. Ford Heads to Sea Next Month; Commissioning Later This Year -- USNI News

A Renaissance for Small Aircraft Carriers? -- Austin Bay, Townhall

US Completes Series of Four Trident II Submarine-Launched Missile Tests -- Sputnik

Air Force’s Huey Replacement Program Proposal Pushed Back -- DoD Buzz

Raytheon developing new tool for war game assessment -- UPI

General Dynamics gets $170 million cybersecurity order -- UPI

US Special Forces ‘Iron Man’ Suit To Begin Testing by Summer 2018 -- Sputnik

Robert Harward turns down Trump's offer to be national security adviser -- The Guardian

Mattis is 'alone' in plans to boost defense budget, says House Armed Services Committee chair -- Defense News

Officials Could Present Trump with Proposal to Send More Troops to Syria -- NBC

CIA director: Agency isn't hiding intelligence from Trump -- Military Times

Charted: Here’s How the Cost of Each Version of the F-35 is Changing -- Defense One

Trump's F-35 Calls Came With a Surprise: Rival CEO Was Listening -- Bloomberg

What Mattis Needs to Do As Defense Secretary -- Kathleen Hicks, Cipher Brief