Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 13, 2018

A Belgian F16 fighter plane demonstrates the interception of an air force transport plane as they fly over Belgium, September 12, 2018 as part of NATO drills. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Reuters: European NATO jets showcase unified Russian deterrence

ON BOARD A BELGIAN AIR FORCE PLANE (Reuters) - British, French and German fighter jets simulated flight interceptions over Western Europe on Wednesday as part of NATO drills to deter Russian planes from entering allied airspace and to showcase European efforts to integrate their air defenses.

Fighter pilots carrying air-to-air missiles from 10 NATO nations took turns to simulate the interception of a Belgian air force transport plane en route to Spain, performing visual inspections of the aircraft’s status by hovering off the wings at speeds of 900 km/hour (560 mph).

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 13, 2018

NATO, Russia Drill Their Military Forces Amid Raised Tensions -- RFE

If Russia ever acts against NATO, US soldiers at Suwalki Gap may be first to fight back -- Stars and Stripes

Russian Bombers Flew near Alaska, Intercepted by Air Force Jets: US Military -- Military.com/FOX News

U.S. fighter jets intercept two Russian bombers near Alaska -- UPI

Secretive Russian GRU tests Trump with brazen tactics -- The Hill

What is the GRU? -- The Economist

Vostok 2018: sending a powerful message to NATO and its partners -- Jacqueline Westermann, The Strategist

Putin awards Russian, Chinese and Mongolian servicemen at Vostok-2018 drills -- TASS

Russia says joint war games with China will be routine -- AP

Russia Developing Unmanned Seaplane - Sputnik

A sleeping dragon rises: China’s military buildup -- Jon Connars, Asia Times

Japanese destroyer shoots down ballistic missile off Hawaii -- Defense News

Japan Successfully Tests Missile Interceptor off Hawaiian Coast -- Sputnik

South Korean students accused of quick weight gain to avoid military service -- CNN

South Korean students accused of weight gain to dodge military -- UPI

Algerian generals, others fired without explanation -- AP

New Swedish government advocates for greater defense spending -- Defense News

Estonia eyes mid-range air defense systems to rectify NATO ‘oversight’ -- Defense News

EC chief Juncker: 10,000 more border guards for European Union -- UPI

Canadian military seeks to reassure allies as legalized marijuana draws near -- Globe and Mail/Canadian Press

U.S., U.K navies perform counter mine exercise -- UPI

The military's preparations for Florence are a stark reminder -- CNN

The military versus Hurricane Florence: Why some troops are looking this storm right in the eye -- Military Times

Marine Corps bases cancel evacuation orders for Florence -- UPI

US Army Orders Emergency Fix on Apache Chopper's Rotor Blades -- Sputnik

L-3 Communications receives contract for towed sonar arrays -- UPI

Air Force Prototypes New Air-Launched Nuclear-Armed Cruise Missile -- Warrior Maven

USAF Plans To Drastically Boost Flexibility of U-2s and RQ-4s By Adding Modular 'Agile Pods' -- The Drive

USAF awards Boeing $2.9 billion for 18 more KC-46As -- Flight Global

F-35 operational testing delayed until latest software delivers -- Defense News

Marines Prepared to Use F-35Bs in Middle East Combat If Needed; No Other Naval Aviation Nearby -- USNI News

Air Force chief lays out future fight against peer-level adversaries -- Defense News

Managing World War -- Tomasz Dominiak, The Bridge

Nation's top Marine invokes World War II when talking Afghanistan time commitment: 'We're still in Germany; we're still in Japan' -- San Diego Union Tribune