Af/Pak & Other News (2/24/2021)

[dump...@hotmail.com]

Civilian casualties in Afghanistan down, targeted killings up, UN says

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/02/23/afghanistan-civilian-casualties-targeted-killings/5271614123932/



Taliban Tells Its Members To Avoid Recruiting Foreign Fighters

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-tells-members-to-avoid-recruiting-foreign-fighters/31119080.html



'Shot at by both sides': Families flee as Taliban battles for territory in Kandahar

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/24/shot-at-by-both-sides-families-flee-as-taliban-battles-for-territory-in-kandahar



Joe Biden would not be okay if the Taliban ruled Afghanistan: White House

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/joe-biden-would-not-be-okay-if-the-taliban-ruled-afghanistan-white-house/articleshow/81186086.cms



Pakistan still interested in T129 acquisition

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/pakistan-still-interested-in-t129-acquisition/142596.article









As Iran plays chicken with Biden, it also moves closer to the bomb

https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-iran-plays-chicken-with-biden-it-also-moves-closer-to-the-bomb/



Iran Reveals New Long-Range Combat, Surveillance Drone

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29043/Iran_Reveals_New_Long_Range_Combat__Surveillance_Drone



U.N. expert: Iran committed multiple human rights violations in plane shootdown

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/02/24/UN-expert-Iran-committed-multiple-human-rights-violations-in-plane-shootdown/5531614140078/



UN Rapporteur: Iran Tried To 'Mislead' After Shooting Down Ukraine Passenger Jet

https://www.rferl.org/a/un-rapporteur-iran-tried-to-mislead-after-shooting-down-ukraine-passenger-jet/31118264.html



Iranian officials should be charged over shooting down of Ukrainian plane, UN expert says

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/23/iran-ukraine-flight-ps752-shot-down-un









PKK terrorists reveal orders to execute Turkish citizens in Iraq

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/pkk-terrorists-reveal-orders-to-execute-turkish-citizens-in-iraq



HRW lauds Iraqi arrest of alleged members of Iran-backed force

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1815196/middle-east



Why Is the Pope Going to Iraq Just as COVID and Rocket Attacks Are Surging?

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-pope-is-going-to-iraq-just-as-covid-and-rocket-attacks-are-surging?ref=home









AI militarization will be ‘force multiplier’ for UAE, Saudi Arabia

https://www.c4isrnet.com/artificial-intelligence/2021/02/24/ai-militarization-will-be-force-multiplier-for-uae-saudi-arabia/



HALCON unveils SkyKnight, UAE’s version of the Iron Dome interceptor

http://alert5.com/2021/02/24/halcon-unveils-skyknight-uaes-version-of-the-iron-dome-interceptor/



IDEX 2021: Milkor displays UCAV and Desert Sting guided munition

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/02/idex-2021-milkor-displays-ucav-and-desert-sting-guided-munition



Russia Displays Range of Counter-Drone Systems at IDEX 2021

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/23/russia-counter-drone-systems-idex-2021/



From lasers to missiles, IDEX exhibitors are determined to counter drones

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/idex/2021/02/23/from-lasers-to-missiles-idex-exhibitors-are-determined-to-counter-drones/



IDEX 2021: MBDA, Tawazun sign agreement on SmartGlider development

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/idex-2021-mbda-tawazun-sign-agreement-on-smartglider-development




Saudi Arabia awards contract to Science Technology for Eagle unmanned aircraft

https://defence-blog.com/news/saudi-arabia-awards-contract-to-science-technology-for-eagle-unmanned-aircraft.html



'Top Secret' Saudi documents show Khashoggi assassins used company seized by Saudi crown prince

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/politics/saudi-top-secret-documents-khashoggi-bin-salman/index.html









Syria war: Russian jets 'bomb IS positions in desert region'

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-56185976









The Israeli Military Is Preparing for the Worst on Iran

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/02/the-isreali-military-is-preparing-for-the-worst-on-iran/



US and Israeli forces kick off major missile defense exercise

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/us-and-israeli-forces-kick-off-major-missile-defense-exercise/









U.S. “Concerned” Over Egypt’s Procurement of Su-35 Jets

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29041/U_S_____Concerned____Over_Egypt___s_Procurement_of_Su_35_Jets




Photo Emerges Of Shadowy Intelligence Gathering "Ghost Plane" In Somalia

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39400/photo-emerges-of-shadowy-intelligence-gathering-ghost-plane-in-somalia




The Catalyst

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htcbtsp/articles/20210224.aspx




Nigerian Troops Reclaim Town Seized by Jihadists: Army

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/24/nigerian-troops-reclaim-marte/




C. Africa Forces Seize Bozize Stronghold: Government

https://www.barrons.com/news/c-africa-forces-seize-bozize-stronghold-government-01614167704









Russia: Necessary Expenses

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/russia/articles/20210224.aspx



The Typhoon Class Submarine Is Big. But How Big?

http://www.hisutton.com/How-Large-Is-The-Typhoon-Class-Submarine.html



Technology Executives Say All Evidence Points To Russia In Major Hack Of Computer Networks

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-hack-computer-technology-us-government/31118886.html



Amnesty International stopped classifying Putin critic Alexei Navalny as a prisoner of conscience, saying he advocated hatred in the past

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/amnesty-international-stopped-classifying-putin-critic-alexei-navalny-as-a-prisoner-of-conscience-saying-he-advocated-hatred-in-the-past/ar-BB1dYfpn




Georgia announced the restart of production of the Su-25

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/georgia-announced-the-restart-of-production-of-the-su-25




Croatia looks to buy F-35? Here's what we know

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/02/croatia-looks-buy-f35.html




French Carrier Strike Group Begins 2021 Deployment

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/23/french-carrier-strike-group-begins-2021-deployment




German court convicts Syrian ex-intelligence officer in historic torture trial

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/in-first-ever-trial-over-the-syrian-civil-war-german-court-convicts-a-former-intelligence-officer/2021/02/24/8032ef28-7681-11eb-9489-8f7dacd51e75_story.html



Germany prepares way for its troops to stay in Afghanistan

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-angela-merkel-taliban-germany-57dbf5b04e358f91df53e652a82d171c




Aerealis chosen by RAF to deliver research and development of advanced modular aircraft

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/02/aeralis-chosen-raf-development-modular-aircraft.html









China military may face tough year ahead as Beijing tightens purse strings

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3122814/china-military-may-face-tough-year-ahead-beijing-tightens-purse



What Are China’s Leaders Saying About the South China Sea?

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/02/24/what_are_chinas_leaders_saying_about_the_south_china_sea_661600.html



China officially plans to move ahead with super-heavy Long March 9 rocket

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/02/china-officially-plans-to-move-ahead-with-super-heavy-long-march-9-rocket/





Invasion: This Is How Chinese Tanks Would Cross the Taiwan Strait

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/invasion-how-chinese-tanks-would-cross-taiwan-strait-178698





N. Korean defector goes undetected for hours in daring swim to South

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210224-n-korean-defector-goes-undetected-for-hours-in-daring-swim-to-south



North Korea hacked Pfizer because it wants to sell bootleg COVID vaccines on the international black market, sources say

https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-korea-hacked-pfizer-because-162424788.html





South Korea to begin work on light aircraft carrier in 2022

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korea-to-begin-work-on-light-aircraft-carrier-in-2022





Japan increases protection for US military amid 'severe security environment'

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/24/asia/japan-us-mutual-defense-intl-hnk-ml/index.html



B-1B flew to Japan for integration training with JASDF despite fuel spray on windshield

http://alert5.com/2021/02/25/b-1b-flew-to-japan-for-integration-training-with-jasdf-despite-fuel-spray-on-windshield/





Myanmar: Why Did the Tatmadaw’s ‘War Fighters’ Seize Power?

https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/why-did-the-tatmadaws-war-fighters-seize-power/





Australia: Grollo Aerospace looks to finalise development of Evader aerial target system

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/grollo-aerospace-looks-to-finalise-development-of-evader-aerial-target-system



Government frustrations and concerns grow over Australia's multi-billion-dollar submarine and warship programs

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-24/government-frustrations-future-frigate-warship-fleet-program/13184064










MDA to provide the Laser System for Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC)

https://navalpost.com/laser-warning-countermeasure-system-canadian-surface-combatant/










American Airlines Confirms Encounter With Unidentified Cylindrical Object Over New Mexico

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39416/american-airlines-confirms-pilot-report-of-bizarre-cylinder-shaped-object-over-new-mexico



Court to Decide Whether CIA Can Hide Documents About Poisoning Assassinations

https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7m8k8/court-to-decide-whether-cia-can-hide-documents-about-poisoning-a



CIA Nominee Vows To Probe Mysterious Microwave Attacks

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/02/cia-nominee-vows-probe-mysterious-microwave-attacks/172263/



U.S. Holds Slim Edge over China in Artificial Intelligence, Former Google Chairman Says

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/23/u-s-holds-slim-edge-over-china-in-artificial-intelligence-former-google-chairman-says



Army AI Gets Live Fire Test Next Week

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/army-ai-gets-live-fire-test-next-week/



Pentagon tests prototype for space energy beam - report

https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/pentagon-tests-prototype-for-space-energy-beam-report-660049



Air Force launches unarmed Minuteman 3 missile from Vandenberg AFB

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your-air-force/2021/02/24/air-force-launches-unarmed-unarmed-minuteman-3-missile-from-vandenberg-afb/



New Army "Optionally-Manned Tank" To Be Robot Drone & Manned Attack Vehicle

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/land/new-army-optionally-manned-tank-to-be-robot-drone-manned-attack-vehicle-DDXUshpoq0Gd-2mSB-CcaA



U.S. Army to test out French anti-tank artillery round

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/23/us-army-fire-french-anti-tank-artillery-round/



US Army Set to Make Quantum Leap With Ultra-Short Pulse Laser Technology

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/24/us-army-ultra-short-pulse-laser/



Army Builds Future Next-Gen Tank & Plans to Keep Abrams Fighting

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/land/army-builds-future-next-gen-tank-plans-to-keep-abrams-fighting-jYwcG1vgXEuoXRZGCdQ79g



Erickson To Begin Flying Optionally-piloted Air Crane Next Year

https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/general-aviation/2021-02-23/erickson-begin-flying-optionally-piloted-air-crane-next-year



Erickson Proposes Military Role for S-64F+ Aircrane

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/erickson-proposes-military-role-s-64f-aircrane



Hawaii 1st to receive new warships that pull onto beaches

https://apnews.com/article/us-news-hawaii-honolulu-02da011bd540155f0c27f2dbf1049212



Laser Defense Pod For The Air Force's Fighter Jets Is Finally Taking Shape

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39406/laser-defense-pod-for-the-air-forces-fighter-jets-is-finally-taking-shape



Boeing begins T-7A Red Hawk production

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/boeing-begins-t-7a-red-hawk-production



New T-7A Jet Trainer Flight Test Could Happen This Year

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/2/23/just-in-new-t-7a-jet-trainer-flight-test-could-happen-this-year



To Design A Cheap New Fighter, The U.S. Air Force Should Embrace This Boondoggle

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/02/24/to-design-a-cheap-new-fighter-the-us-air-force-should-embrace-this-boondoggle/



Hill AFB F-35A pilots take on ‘impossible to replicate’ scenarios at Red Flag 21-1

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/hill-afb-f-35a-pilots-take-on-impossible-to-replicate-scenarios-at-red-flag-21-1/



The First F-15EX Fighter Jet Has Now Flown In Its Air Force Colors

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39413/the-first-f-15ex-fighter-jet-has-now-flown-in-its-air-force-colors



Lockheed Martin set to commence JASSM AGM-158B-2 LRIP

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lockheed-martin-set-to-commence-jassm-agm-158b-2-lrip



Report on Virginia-class Attack Submarine Program

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/24/report-on-virginia-class-attack-submarine-program-2



Navy Tests Autonomous Aerial Supply Drone From Its Newest Supercarrier

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39415/navy-tests-autonomous-aerial-supply-drone-from-its-newest-supercarrier