Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 16, 2015

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the Kremlin in Moscow, March 5, 2015. Credit: Reuters/Sergei Karpukhin

Reuters: Putin says Russia was ready for nuclear confrontation over Crimea

(Reuters) - Moscow was ready to put its nuclear forces on alert to ensure Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine last year, President Vladimir Putin said in a pre-recorded documentary aired on Sunday.

Putin also said that Russia had saved the life of Ukraine's former pro-Moscow president, Viktor Yanukovich, who he said had been in danger after 'revolutionaries' seized power following weeks of violent street protests in Kiev last year.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- March 16, 2015

Crimea May Have Faced Armed Conflict With Kiev - Russian Defense Minister -- Sputnik

Russia starts nationwide show of force -- Reuters

Putin Orders Northern Fleet to Full Alert for Combat Readiness Drills -- Sputnik

Russian army snap check not linked to international situation — Kremlin -- ITAR-TASS

Russia Begins Air Force Tactical Drills in Siberia -- Sputnik

Russian defence minister says new threats demand greater military capability-RIA -- Reuters

Russia to decide on its own what military presence to have in Crimea — diplomat -- ITAR-TASS

Second Mistral-class helicopter carrier leaves port for sea trials in the Atlantic -- ITAR-TASS

Moscow concerned about growing number of NATO drills near Russian borders — diplomat -- ITAR-TASS

NATO disputes Conservative claim that Russians confronted Canadian warship -- Ottawa Citizen

Turkish jets intercept Russian plane over Black Sea -- Hurriyet Daily News

China deploys J-7s, ground based air defenses to border with Myanmar -- Alert 5

Institute: China now world's third-biggest arms exporter -- AP

Ex-Top China Military Official, Facing Bribery Probe, Dies -- AP

China's Military Can Beat The US In South China Sea And Diaoyu/Senkaku Island Conflicts: Poll -- IBTimes

Tokyo building forces to counter China -- Washington Free Beacon

Pakistan to Buy Russian Mi-35 Helicopter Gunships - President to Sputnik -- Sputnik

Australia's Botched Sub Bidding Process Upsets Sweden -- The Diplomat

Labour will consider cutting number of British nuclear submarines, says Balls -- The Guardian

N Korea Could Have 100 Nuclear Weapons by 2020 - Albright -- Sputnik

THAAD to be deployed in S. Korea in emergencies: source -- Yonhap News Agency

US to Deploy Missile Defenses to South Korea in Emergency -- Sputnik

Sweden’s global arms trade is on the rise -- The Local

Venezuela stages military exercise to counter U.S. 'threat' -- Reuters

New U.S. stealth bomber shrouded in mystery -- CNN

Cheaper, Safer Munitions for the Army -- Armed With Science

The A-10 Warthog: Too Old to Keep Fighting? -- Joseph Trevithick, Real Clear Defense

Army’s withdrawal of officer’s Silver Star sparks ire of Congress -- Washington Times

Inside Fort Hood’s Prostitution Ring -- M.L. Nestel, Daily Beast

Touching moment Delta Airlines bag handlers pay tribute to K9 soldier and his dog as their bodies are returned home -- Daily Mail

Confessions Of A US Navy Blue Angel -- Tyler Rogoway, Foxtrot Alpha

The New Space Race -- Julie Johnsson, Bloomberg

Can the US Navy Actually Afford to Keep Its Aircraft Carriers? -- Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat