Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 18, 2015

Stratfor: NATO Improves Readiness in Eastern Europe

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization continues to refine its plan to set-up six new forward staging units in the three Baltic States, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria. The intention is to establish so-called NATO Force Integration Units (NFIU) that would operate under the watch of Multinational Corps Northeast in Szczecin, Poland, one of the many NATO Readiness Forces headquarters. The units are being established in eastern NATO countries and will liaise directly with local militaries and political decision-makers.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- February 18, 2015

NATO's Plans for its Next Force Taking Shape -- Defense News

How strong is the Nato military alliance? -- BBC

Is NATO Still Relevant? -- Lincoln Mitchell. Observer

NATO to wait and see on Afghan progress -- Daily Mail/AP

Despite Islamic State beheadings, NATO has no plans for new intervention in Libya -- Stars and Stripes

NATO chief concerned over continuing Ukraine fighting -- AP

Russian Defense Ministry sues German company Rheinmetall for contract breach -- ITAR-TASS

Russia Ready to Supply Su-30 Fighters to India if French Rafales Deal Folds -- Sputnik

Russia’s Mi-17V-5 helicopters in Afghanistan to be serviced by American companies -- ITAR-TASS

Russian Shipbuilder Sets Post-Soviet Record by Building 4 Nuke Subs Simultaneously -- Moscow Times

Soviet subs risk 'slow Chernobyl' in Norway -- The Local

Russia's fighter jets start 'active phase' of military exercises in northwest-Ifax -- Reuters

No, Russia isn’t building a giant new aircraft carrier -- David Axe, Reuters

New Delhi Gets Full Access to Russian New Fighter Jet Technology -- Sputnik

India to spend $1b on Israeli weapons -- YNet News

Israeli defence minister lands at India airshow to boost arms sales -- Reuters

IDF expects UGVs, robots to play ever-greater roles in combat -- Jerusalem Post

North Korea just flight-tested new sea-based ballistic missiles -- Business Insider/Washington Free Beacon

France in 'final stage' of talks to sell Rafale jets to Qatar -- Reuters

Sweden and Finland plan more military cooperation amid Russia tensions -- Reuters

Military ‘mask’: British Army gets ‘information warfare’ focus, says top general -- RT

Turkey, US May Soon Agree on Syria Plan -- Defense News

Global Market Growing for Miniature Drones -- Defense Tech

U.S. To Allow Export Of Armed Military Drones -- AP

US Air Force tests satellite network against worst-case scenario -- ECN

Carter takes over at Pentagon -- Military Times

Lawmakers press Ashton Carter to address sexual assault in the military -- Washington Times

Holder: Closing Gitmo 'realistic' -- The Hill

Did NSA plant spyware in computers around the world? -- AP

Launching a fighter jet off an aircraft carrier is one wild ride -- Autoblog

Jeb Bush's Foreign Policy Plan: More Military Spending Will 'Encourage Peace' -- Christina Wilkie, Huffington Post