Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 14, 2019

A satellite photo taken of the Nyonoksa Naval Weapons Range on August 12. (Satellite image ©2019 Maxar Technologies)

RFE: U.S. Concludes White Sea Radiation Explosion Came During Russian Nuclear-Missile Recovery

A State Department official says the United States has concluded that a mysterious explosion that occurred at a Russian naval test range in the White Sea in August occurred amid an operation to recover a nuclear-powered missile that had apparently crashed during a test.

The August 8 incident sent analysts from Washington to Brussels to Oslo scrambling to figure out what was going on, and was followed by contradictory statements from local and federal government officials in Russia about the nature of the explosion and the danger it posed to local residents.

“The United States has determined that the explosion…was the result of a nuclear reaction that occurred during the recovery of a Russian nuclear-powered cruise missile,” U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Thomas G. DiNanno told a United Nations committee on October 10, according to prepared remarks.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 14, 2019

Russia to hold Strategic Missile Force drills with over 200 missile launchers -- TASS

Russia to conduct sweeping drills of its nuclear forces -- AP

Russian Army to Launch Cruise & Ballistic Missiles During Drills on 15-17 October - Defence Ministry -- Sputnik

Russia Has a Terrifying Seaborne Nuclear Weapon -- National Interest

Russia's New Nuclear Weapon Is A Real Doomsday Device (And Aimed At America) -- National Interest

Putin Says Russia to Develop Missile Strike Systems Able to Penetrate Any Missile Defense -- Sputnik

Russian warships track movements of US Navy destroyer in Black Sea -- TASS

US Navy Vice Admiral Explains Goals of USS Porter Approaching Near Russian Border -- Sputnik

Will ground-based hypersonic missiles replace aircraft carriers in the defense budget? -- David B. Larter, Defense News

It's the US Navy's birthday. Here are five things to know about the powerful military force -- CNN

Meet the Army's New Airborne Trucks -- Popular Mechanics

Raider-X: Sikorsky’s Supersized S-97 For Army Scout -- Breaking Defense

What risks is the US Army taking to prep for future warfare? -- Jen Judson, Defense News

About-face: US Army says its buying new watercraft after all -- Defense News

DARPA’s Grand Challenge at 15: how far have autonomous military vehicles come? -- Army Technology

US Air Force’s Valkyrie Stealth Drone Damaged on Third Flight -- Sputnik

Pentagon Hasn’t Extended Carrier Lincoln Deployment as More Troops Headed to Saudi Arabia -- USNI News

F-15s, air defense systems and thousands of US troops heading to Saudi Arabia -- Defense News

Why Is Turkey in NATO Anyway? -- Defense One

France says securing military in Syria as U.S. begins withdrawal -- National Post/Reuters

French-Cypriot Naval Exercises Underway Amid Turkey’s Drilling Efforts in Region -- Sputnik

Iran’s expanded missile arsenal presents challenge for U.S., Saudi Arabia -- WSJ

Israel's Elbit Systems sells $153M worth of mini-drones to unnamed country -- UPI


India's Security Forces Cleared to Shoot Down Drones on International Border - Reports -- Sputnik

China's Army Is Getting a New Assault Rifle (And It Could Be a Really Big Deal) -- National Interest

Out of space at home, Singapore warplanes rehearse bomb runs in Idaho, Utah -- Defense News