Af/Pak & Other News (2/2/2021)

[dump...@hotmail.com]

Afghan officials: Bombings in Kabul kill 2, including cleric

https://apnews.com/article/kabul-asia-pacific-taliban-afghanistan-9d5a9d4044b4ef7120a15ee86b600805



As U.S. warns on withdrawal, data shows Taliban attacks climb in past year

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-afghanistan-attacks/as-u-s-warns-on-withdrawal-data-shows-taliban-attacks-climb-in-past-year-idUSKBN2A13BU



Afghanistan: The Ikhwan Factor

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/afghan/articles/20210202.aspx



Will the US finally get the hell out of Afghanistan once and for all?

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/us-withdrawal-afghanistan-uncertain/



Pakistan court orders release of Daniel Pearl murder ‘mastermind’

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/2/pakistan-court-orders-pearl-kidnapping-mastermind-released









India-China standoff: Video shows huge number of PLA tanks, troops near LAC

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-china-standoff-video-shows-huge-number-of-pla-tanks-troops-near-lac/videoshow/80644538.cms



Purported militant groups claim responsibility for blast near Israeli embassy

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/02/purported-militant-groups-claim-responsibility-for-blast-near-israeli-embassy.php



MiG-29 K Aircraft Replacement, Indian TEDBF Breaks Cover at Aero India 2021

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28882/MiG_29_K_Aircraft_Replacement__Indian_TEDBF_Breaks_Cover_at_Aero_India_2021









Iran blinks again and again on 'redlines' - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/iran-blinks-again-and-again-on-redlines-analysis-657509



Iranian agents scouted Israeli, US, UAE embassies in East Africa for attack — TV

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iranian-agents-scouted-israeli-us-uae-embassies-in-east-africa-for-attack-tv/



Iran’s New Space Rocket Could Double As A Nuclear Missile

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/02/01/irans-new-space-rocket-could-double-as-a-weapon/



Israel sees 6-month Iran nuclear breakout, longer than Blinken projection

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/israel-sees-6-month-iran-nuclear-breakout-longer-than-blinken-projection-657524



Iran allows crew of seized South Korean ship to leave

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210202-iran-allows-crew-of-seized-south-korean-ship-to-leave









77th EFS practice defensive counter air with Saudi Saab 2000 AEW

http://alert5.com/2021/02/02/77th-efs-practice-defensive-counter-air-with-saudi-saab-2000-aew/









Kurds end siege of government-held areas in northeast Syria

https://apnews.com/article/race-and-ethnicity-syria-1e16bb685cc851da8529d13ea2716cfd



What next as Israel steps up attacks on Iranian forces in Syria?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/2/what-next-as-israel-steps-up-attacks-on-iranian-forces-in-syria









For third day in a row, IDF quadcopter falls outside Israel's borders

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/for-third-day-in-a-row-idf-quadcopter-falls-outside-israels-borders-657503



Israeli firm sells Harop, Rotem kamikaze drones to several Asian countries

https://www.defensenews.com/unmanned/2021/02/02/israeli-firm-sells-harop-rotem-kamikaze-drones-to-several-asian-countries/



Minister: US will never attack Iran’s nuclear facilities, Israel may act alone

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-2-2021/



Israel’s Skylock pioneers defending against drones

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israels-skylock-pioneers-defending-against-drones-657536









In Algerian mountains, army operation shows persistent militant threat

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-algeria-security/in-algerian-mountains-army-operation-shows-persistent-militant-threat-idUSKBN2A217A




Mogadishu Hotel Attack Death Toll Rises to 15

https://www.voanews.com/africa/mogadishu-hotel-attack-death-toll-rises-15









USS Porter conducts interoperability exercises with Ukrainian navy

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/february/9628-uss-porter-conducts-interoperability-exercises-with-ukrainian-navy.html



Russia is building a futuristic combat suit it claims can stop .50 caliber bullets

https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/russia-sotnik-combat-armor-development/



The Russian Military is Facing a Looming Demography Crisis

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russian-military-facing-looming-demography-crisis-177414



'What happened to US diplomats in Cuba, happened to me in Moscow': CIA officers give new accounts of 'Russian sonic attacks' linked to mystery illnesses around the world

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9213641/CIA-officers-new-accounts-Russian-sonic-attacks.html



In Russia, supporters of Kremlin critic Navalny undeterred by police crackdown

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20210202-in-russia-supporters-of-kremlin-critic-navalny-undeterred-by-police-crackdown



Russian Media: ‘Traitors’ Like Alexei Navalny Deserve Death

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-medias-chilling-message-for-alexei-navalny-is-that-traitors-deserve-death




U.S. Navy Deploys Two Destroyers To Black Sea Triggering Russian Anti-Ship Drills

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39026/u-s-navy-deploys-two-destroyers-to-black-sea-triggering-russian-anti-ship-drills




Turkey, Azerbaijan Begin Joint Military Drills Near Armenian Border

https://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-azerbaijan-military-drills-near-armenia-/31081368.html




Georgia: Why New Armed Drone Is A Milestone In Proliferation

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/02/02/new-armed-drone-is-a-milestone-in-proliferation/




Austria's air defense is close to collapse, last call for new trainer/light fighter

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/02/austria-new-trainer-aircraft-procurement.html




German Navy Green Lights Laser-Based Weapon for Naval Warships

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/02/german-navy-laser-based-weapon/




Captain Sir Tom Moore dies at 100 after testing positive for Covid

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/02/captain-sir-tom-moore-dies-at-100-after-testing-positive-for-covid



Britten-Norman planning to automate Islander aircraft

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/britten-norman-planning-to-automate-islander-aircraft/









Mighty Dragon: China’s modified J-20 stealth fighter jet

https://multimedia.scmp.com/infographics/news/china/article/3120147/j20-stealth-fighter/index.html



China has reportedly stolen personal data from 80% of Americans

https://bgr.com/2021/02/02/us-vs-china-hackers-stole-personal-data-80-percent-of-americans/



China Uses Climate Change To Threaten Joe Biden Administration

https://www.newsweek.com/china-uses-climate-change-threaten-joe-biden-administration-1566056



Flood Of Chinese Aircraft South Of Taiwan Continues Days After Mock Attack Runs On U.S. Carrier

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39025/flood-of-chinese-aircraft-south-of-taiwan-continues-days-after-mock-attack-runs-on-u-s-carrier



China Could Use This Sneaky Bomber Maneuver To Encircle Taiwan

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/02/02/chinas-sneaky-bomber-maneuver-could-encircle-taiwan/





Hundreds of Myanmar lawmakers under house arrest after coup

https://apnews.com/article/myanmar-lawmakers-house-arrest-coup-93148fa493acec64213753152d84318d



Myanmar military stages coup, declares 1-year state of emergency

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/02/516f3839474a-breaking-news-myanmar-military-detains-leader-suu-kyi-ruling-party.html



U.S. calls Myanmar military's takeover a coup, while China labels it a "cabinet reshuffle"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/myanmar-coup-united-nations-biden-china-russia/



EXPLAINER: Why did the military stage a coup in Myanmar?

https://apnews.com/article/military-coup-myanmar-explained-f3e8a294e63e00509ea2865b6e5c342d





Australia sees light: Buying AH-64E Apache Guardian

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/02/australia-sees-light-buying-ah-64e.html





Thailand: Lighter, Smarter, Cheaper

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20210202.aspx





B-52H task force deploys to Guam in support of Pacific Air Forces

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/02/01/B-52H-task-force-deploys-to-Guam-in-support-of-Pacific-Air-Forces/7631612200661/










The Navy Finally Speaks Up About Its Bizarre "UFO Patent" Experiments

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39012/the-navy-finally-speaks-up-about-its-bizarre-ufo-patent-experiments



Hackers and spies are scrambling to steal information on vaccine programs, sources say

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hackers-and-spies-are-scrambling-to-steal-information-on-vaccine-programs-sources-say/ar-BB1dk4Pu



Nuclear war with China or Russia 'a very real possibility,' U.S. Strategic Command chief warns

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/1/charles-richard-us-strategic-command-chief-nuclear/



Check Out These Fascinating, Declassified Photos of The A-12 Oxcart RCS Tests Inside Area 51

https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/01/check-out-these-fascinating-declassified-photos-of-the-a-12-oxcart-rcs-tests-inside-area-51/



Study Finds U.S. Defense Industrial Base on Negative Trajectory

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/2/2/report-finds-us-defense-industrial-base-on-negative-trajectory



US boosting rare earth element processing capacity with $30M contract

https://defbrief.com/2021/02/02/us-boosting-rare-earth-element-processing-capacity-with-30m-contract/



Nanotechnology The Future of Metamaterial Science, New Study Says

https://thedebrief.org/nanotechnology-the-future-of-metamaterial-science-new-study-says/



Northrop Grumman collaborates with Ultra to demonstrate unmanned anti-submarine warfare capability

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/february/9629-northrop-grumman-collaborates-with-ultra-to-demonstrate-unmanned-anti-submarine-warfare-capability.html



Top Aces Receives Former Israeli F-16s To Be Used For Adversary Training With The U.S. Air Force

https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/02/top-aces-receives-former-israeli-f-16s-to-be-used-for-adversary-training-with-the-u-s-air-force/



Intel Agency Worker Pushed His Own Drone Company, Report Details

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/02/intel-agency-worker-pushed-his-own-drone-company-report-details/171773/



Citadel Defense Lands Multi-Million US Contract for AI Counter-Drone System

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/02/citadel-titan-counter-drone-contract/



SpaceX's second high-altitude Starship test flight could happen today

https://www.engadget.com/starship-to-attempt-another-highaltitude-test-after-being-ground-by-the-faa-094056315.html



Pentagon Hypersonics Director Rebuts Critics, Step By Step

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/pentagon-hypersonics-director-rebuts-the-critics-point-by-point/



An open system for missile-warning satellite data is in the works but faces challenges

https://spacenews.com/an-open-system-for-missile-warning-satellite-data-is-in-the-works-but-faces-challenges/



Boeing faces struggle in space technology, just as company's problems with 737 MAX jet get sorted out

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/defense-executive/article/14196643/boeing-space-struggle



US Army seeking simultaneous transmit and receive tactical radios

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-seeking-simultaneous-transmit-and-receive-tactical-radios



Army robots made of robots? New LEGO-like method could make it happen

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2021/01/30/army-robots-made-of-robots-new-lego-like-method-could-make-it-happen/



This could be the Army’s next-generation rifle optic of choice

https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/army-next-generation-squad-weapon-fire-control-l3harris/



Air Force Holds Back $336 Million on Flawed Boeing Tanker

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-02-01/boeing-tanker-s-flaws-irk-air-force-spur-336-million-holdback



Boeing Finds Fixes For Two KC-46 Deficiencies

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/boeing-finds-fixes-two-kc-46-deficiencies



Air Force Looking to Expand Role for Tankers

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/2/1/air-force-looking-to-expand-role-for-tankers



Navy Hopes to Deploy its Early Razorback UUVs Soon Even As Development Continues on Updated Capability

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/01/navy-hopes-to-deploy-its-early-razorback-uuvs-soon-even-as-development-continues-on-updated-capability



Navy’s Hotly Anticipated Drone Ship Plan Coming This Month

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/navys-hotly-anticipated-drone-ship-plan-coming-this-month/



The US Navy is planning to 'recycle' one of its first supercarriers. Here's what's next for USS Nimitz

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-us-navy-is-planning-to-recycle-one-of-its-first-supercarriers-heres-whats-next-for-uss-nimitz/ar-BB1djQMI



Light Carrier Studies Already Underway As Navy Considers Role for CVLs in Future Fleet

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/01/light-carrier-studies-already-underway-as-navy-considers-role-for-cvls-in-future-fleet