Military And intelligence News Briefs -- April 1, 2015

Members of the armed forces of the separatist self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic drive a tank on the outskirts of Donetsk on January 22. (Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters)

Military.com: US Army Eyes Ukraine Conflict for Intel on Russian Military Technology

The U.S. Army is working to glean intelligence on Russian military technology from the conflict between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces, American generals said.

The Moscow-backed rebels are waging a hybrid war that includes the use of soft power such as disinformation and cyberattacks to hard power such as truck-mounted Grad rocket launchers, according to Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, commander of U.S. Army Europe.

Military And intelligence News Briefs -- April 1, 2015

The Pentagon Hangs Back in Yemen As American-Made Planes Pound Rebels -- Joseph Trevithick, War Is Boring

Bashar Assad, Syrian president, contradicts Moscow, says Russia supplying weapons since 2011 -- Washington Times

Mistral contract freezing's no laughing matter — Kremlin -- ITAR-TASS

Russia’s strategic aviation begins exercise featuring missile carrying cruisers, bombers -- ITAR-TASS

Russia Again Flight Tests New ICBM to Treaty-Violating Range -- Washington Free Beacon

Russia’s All-New Armata Tank Rolls Over the Competition - Stern -- Sputnik

Self-sufficient Russian military force to be formed in Arctic by 2018 — Defense Ministry -- ITAR-TASS

Russian army to have more than 350,000 contract servicemen by year end -- ITAR-TASS

Guardians of the Galaxy: Russia Creates International Space Patrol -- Sputnik

First China air force drills in 'far offshore' Pacific Ocean -- Economic Times/AFP

China detains, fines person for military graft rumors -- Reuters

Taiwan’s largest missile ship goes into service -- Gulf Times

Germany, France, Italy plan to develop military drones -- Military Times/AP

Turkish military officers acquitted of charges of plotting a coup in retrial -- FOX News/AP

Bolivia defence minister sacked over controversial top -- BBC

Congo Military Leaders Sign Pledge to Combat Rape in War -- ABC News/AP

Remove US military bases from Latin America - UNASUR chief -- RT

Obama ends freeze on U.S. military aid to Egypt -- Reuters

Obama administration ends long hold on military aid to Egypt -- Washington Post

Marine Corps Identifies $2.1B in Unfunded Priorities, Mostly in Aviation -- USNI News

Navy Fixes Carrier Catapult to Launch Jets with External Fuel Tanks -- Defense Tech

Navy Builds New Radar for Carriers, Amphibs -- DoD Buzz

Army not content to ‘own the night,’ seeks aircraft for all weather conditions -- Washington Times

GOP senators warn of new threat to A-10 fleet -- The Hill

DARPA wants an army of drones to overwhelm the enemy -- Endgadget

U.S. Expands Foreign Cyberattack Retaliation Options -- NYT

Obama Unveils New Penalties for Overseas Cyberattacks -- WSJ

Why the Pentagon’s Cybersecurity Dollars Don’t Add Up -- Aliya Sternstein, Nextgov

Federal judge denies FOIA request for secret CIA document -- The Hill

Ex-Navy SEAL lawmaker: Don't lower standards for military recruits -- The Hill

Carter Sidesteps Question on Whether Bergdahl Served With Distinction -- Military.com

These Women Are Fighting the Pentagon Over Its Handling of Sexual Assault Claims -- Mother Jones

Active-duty suicides up in 2014: report -- Washington Times

For Sale on eBay: Military Vehicle To Start Your Robot Army -- Gizmodo

Pentagon Needs Budget Reality, Not Gimmicks -- Defense News

Mexico Is Arming Itself With U.S. Military Hardware: But America’s southern neighbor once preferred European weapons — what changed? -- Robert Beckhusen, War Is Boring