Military and Intelligence News Briefs -- May 28, 2015

A picture shows a military convoy on the road side of the Russian southern town of Matveev Kurgan, near the Russian-Ukrainian border in Rostov region, Russia, May 26, 2015. Reuters/Maria Tsvetkova

VOA: Russia's Military Preparations Raise Concerns in Europe, Ukraine

MOSCOW — Russia this week held surprise, massive military exercises as members of NATO, the western military alliance, took part in its own drills. Military analysts say the military muscle-flexing increases the chances for incidents that could spark a wider conflict.

The drills come as the Reuters news agency reports a Russian military build-up on the border with Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin signs a law making the loss of Russian troops in special operations a state secret.

Military and Intelligence News Briefs -- May 28, 2015

Putin declares Russian troop deaths in peacetime a secret -- BBC

Vladimir Putin declares all Russian military deaths state secrets -- The Guardian

U.S. slams Russian attempts to hide operations and bodies in eastern Ukraine -- Washington Post

Russia to Buy as Many T-50 PAK-FA Fighters as Manufacturers Can Produce -- Sputnik

'Better than US-made 5G': PAK-FA fighter to engage sea, air & ground targets -- RT

Russian Air Force to Get at Least 50 New Strategic Tu-160 Blackjack Bombers -- Sputnik

Lithuania Wants NATO Battalion as 'Security Guarantee' -- AP

Baltics mull joint air defence system against Russia -- AFP

Germany Lacked Will and Money to Implement Armata Project – German Media -- Sputnik

11 countries upgrade naval power amid South China Sea tensions -- Want China Times

Japan military may support foreign forces abroad for first time in 70 years -- RT

North Korea deploys new generation of fast warships -- The Telegraph

UK Based F-15Es Flew A Secret Long-Range Mission Over Africa On Monday -- FoxTrotAlpha

Trident nuke safety questioned by Salmond after Navy whistleblower leak -- RT

Canadian defence officials worry supply ships will be further delayed -- Ottawa Citizen

OPCW: 90 percent of world's declared chemical weapons destroyed -- Deutsche Welle

Pentagon mulls improving Iraqi troop training after fall of Ramadi -- Reuters

US to "fine tune" Iraq strategy in light of Ramadi debacle -- AP

US Army Chief Opens Door To Embedding US Troops With Iraqi Forces -- Defense One

Embattled F-35 fighter jet could soon be ready for combat -- Stars and Stripes

U.S. Army chief says no human error seen in anthrax mishap -- Reuters

US Army Successfully Intercepts Missile During New ICBS Defense System Test -- Sputnik

Check Out The $400,000 Helmet That Sees Through Walls -- Forbes

X-Ray Vision? DARPA Wants US Troops to See Through Walls -- Sputnik

Senators press DOD over drone training -- The Hill

Undertrained Military Drone Pilots Have Senators Steaming -- Fiscal Times

Army chief backs Senate approach to reforming Pentagon weapons buys -- The Hill

What's Eating Pentagon: China May Seriously Boost Its Naval Power by 2030 -- Sputnik