Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 21, 2017

Euronews: Western concerns over Russia-Belarus military drills

Seven days of joint Russia-Belarus military exercises have ended amid a warning from the Lithuanian president that the drills could be used as a pretext for an attack on the West.

Dalia Grybauskaitė made the claim during her address to the UN General Assembly on Monday (September 19).

The drills involved 12,700 personnel, according to Russia, as well as aircraft, tanks, rocket systems and other equipment.

“As we speak around 100,000 Russian troops are engaged in offensive military exercises named Zapad 2017,” Grybauskaitė said.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 21, 2017

If Russia gets its war games wrong, Europe could be in big trouble -- The Conversation

Russia flexes military muscle with new warheads and Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles -- Mirror

US fighter jets escort Russian bombers over Baltic and Norwegian Seas -- TASS

Russian Strategic Bombers Fly Over Baltic, Norwegian Seas -- Sputnik

Russian warship sails through English Channel -- TASS

The Russians Just Test-Fired an ICBM -- Defense One

What's in the New Russia-Thailand Military Pact? -- The Diplomat

New Generation of Chinese Drones Equipped With Anti-Tank Missiles Unveiled -- Sputnik

Israeli Air Force stands up second Iron Dome battalion -- UPI

Turkish state media boasts about new missile, ability to shoot down US aircraft -- Military Times

Turkey presses ahead with Nato exercises despite Russian arms deal -- Middle East Eye

Poland, NATO troops hold drills amid security concerns -- Washington Post

Official Report Finally Reveals Why Norwegian F-16 Mistook Tower for Target -- Sputnik

Czech Defence Ministry eyes $5B land modernization program, $2B vehicle acquisition -- Defense News

The Royal Navy Faces a Frightening Future Without Anti-Ship Missiles -- The National Interest Online

As Russia threatens, Sweden ponders joining NATO -- The Economist

Trump to 'consider' resuming military aid to Egypt -- The Times of Israel

U.S. Navy, stunned by two fatal collisions, exhausts some sailors with 100-hour workweeks -- National Post/Washington Post

Navy Secretary Says Perry Class Frigates Could Be Brought Back On The Cheap Without Upgrades -- The Drive

Army, Pentagon Upgrade ATACMS Missile to Attack Ships at Sea -- Scout Warrior

Lockheed to Develop ‘Legion Pod’ for Air Force F-15C Fleet -- Defense Tech

Air Force could ground more than 100 A-10s as early as FY18 as life of wings runs out -- Defense News

Mattis: DoD Lines of Effort Include Building a More Lethal Force -- Department of Defense

Air Force Reserve grooming space warriors -- SpaceNews

Air Force and industry rethink requirements to prep for space war -- Defense Systems

Air Force Plans to Test Gunship Laser Next Year, Top Commando Says -- Defense Tech

Air Force: It's Time to Get Rid of Stupid Policies -- Military.com

Mattis spells out how transgender 'ban' will work: No enlisting if you're transitioning and no more sex reassignment surgery starting next year – but current trans troops can keep serving indefinitely -- Daily Mail

The military may soon consider revenge porn a criminal act -- Vox

Commandant to Marines: You’ll have to fight to get to your next fight -- Marine Times

Top Marine general: Commanders need a 'holodeck' for war games -- Marine Times

What government wants from tech in the fight against terror -- Gordon Corera, BBC