Russian strategic bombers deal new strikes on IS

The Russian military says its strategic bombers have struck targets in Syria in a third straight day of a heavy bombing blitz.
Russia, which has conducted air campaign in Syria since Sept. 30, sharply raised its intensity this week on President Vladimir Putin’s orders.
Putin told the military to step up the bombing after the confirmation that the Russian plane crash in Egypt that killed all 224 people on board was downed by a bomb, which the Islamic State group said it had planted.
Col. Gen. Andrei Kartapolov said that long-range Tu-95, Tu-160 and Tu-22M3 bombers operating from Russian bases Nov 19 took part in raids against IS targets in Syria. They joined Russian war planes based at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria’s province of Latakia. AP

Estonia hosts NATO cyberdrill with focus on infected tablets

Thirty-three countries are attending NATO’s largest ever cyberdrill in Estonia, focusing on malware in tablets and how infected devices may compromise data privacy for staff of the world’s biggest military alliance.
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Robert Hoar, who heads the drill, Nov. 19 said scenarios do not include “attacking or defending;” participants have instead been provided realistic “storylines” that must be solved.
The five-day Cyber Coalition 2015 exercise, held at the alliance’s cyber exercise range in Estonia’s second city, Tartu, mainly aims at enhancing NATO nations’ ability to work together in a crisis situation.
NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence — a think-tank and training facility — is based in Tallinn, the Estonian capital. It is the third time that the small Baltic nation is hosting such an event. AP

Mississippi County agrees to 8-year lease for drone plant

Jackson County in Mississippi has reached an agreement with an aerospace and technology company to extend the lease of a drone plant.
Local news outlets report Northrop Grumman has agreed to extend the lease for Moss Point Unmanned Systems Center for eight years.
In a statement, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran said that he and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker worked with state and county officials to secure the lease.
The center produces portions of the Navy Fire Scout unmanned helicopter, wiring for the Air Force Global Hawk, a high-flying surveillance aircraft and the unmanned Navy Triton.
The center employs about 70 people in defense-related jobs. It began unmanned aircraft production in 2006. AP