Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 22, 2015

A Chinese navy vessel fires its cannon during joint exercises with the Russian navy in the East China Sea, May 24, 2014.

Li Bo, VOA: Are Chinese/Russian Military Exercises an Effort to Offset US Primacy?

China and Russia conducted joint naval exercises this week in the Mediterranean Sea — a sign, some security experts say, that the two countries are stepping up defense cooperation to offset U.S. military primacy.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a total of 10 warships from the Russian Navy and China’s People's Liberation Army Navy took part in the week-long exercises. The Chinese Defense Ministry said the joint exercises focused on navigation safety, at-sea replenishment, escort missions and live fire exercises.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- May 22, 2015

Russian-Chinese naval exercise in Mediterranean ends -- ITAR-TASS

Pentagon: $1.9 billion arms sale to Israel approved -- i24 News

Defense giants expected to deliver nearly $2B in arms to Israel -- Washington Business Journal

Israel Defense Exports Plunge to Seven-Year Low -- Defense News

Here's never-before-seen footage of the Israeli military withdrawing from Lebanon in 2000 -- Business Insider/Times of Israel

Saudi Arabia Seeks 10 Sea Hawk Helicopters -- Defense News

Pentagon says U.S. anti-armor weapons due in Iraq next week -- Military Times

Russia, Paris to Reach 'Acceptable Decision' on Mistral Deal Next Week -- Sputnik

Analyst: China's Djibouti Ambitions a Sign of the Future -- Defense News

Chinese Army newspaper calls for military role in Internet culture war -- Ars Technica

Boko Haram crisis: 'Buhari hope' for Nigerian death-row soldiers -- BBC

Finland instructs nearly a million military reservists -- BBC

Bulgarian Air Forces Eyes Purchase of Used Fighters to Replace Russian MiGs -- Sputnik

France Boosts Arms Spending, Eyes C-130 Buy -- Defense News

German Spy Chief Admits NSA Was Allowed to Ride Roughshod for Years -- Sputnik

B-52s debut in Eager Lion exercise held in Jordan -- Military Times

DoD Strategy in Iraq Unchanged Post Ramadi -- Defense News

USAF Releases Strategic Master Plan -- Defense News

U.S. Air Force eyes ways to avert delays in more F-35 capabilities -- Reuters

AF shifting maintainers from A-10 to F-35 -- Defense News

Sikorsky Test Flies New Chopper as Parent Mulls Sale -- DoD Buzz

SOFIC 2015: US Air Force looks to future gunship modernisation -- IHS Jane's 360

US Air Force Wants to Fire Lasers from Aircraft by 2023 -- Military.com

US Air Force Launches X-37B Space Plane on 4th Mystery Mission -- Space.com

Firms Pitch Exoskeletons and Body Armor for SOCOM's Iron Man Suit -- Military.com

'Blast-proof' wallpaper developed by US Army -- BBC

The Pentagon Wants Special Ops To Carry DNA Scanners -- Gizmodo

A CIA Interrogator Said the Agency Punished Him For Cooperating With Torture Probe -- Jason Leopold, VICE News

3 Army officers should be disciplined for wasteful spending in Afghanistan: audit -- McClatchy News

Snowden talks NSA surveillance reform, reveals Papa John’s exists in Russia -- RT

Senator Shaheen: We Must Provide Better Contraceptive Access to Women in the Military -- Time

We’re gonna need a bigger Navy: In a world of many threats, our ships at sea are as crucial as drones -- John Lehman , New York Daily News

7 Heartbreaking Films of Military Valor -- James Jay Carafano, PJ Media