Af/Pak & Other News (8/11/2021)

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Joe Biden’s Afghanistan Withdrawal Is Looking Like a Disaster

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/joe-bidens-afghanistan-withdrawal-is-looking-like-a-disaster/



Taliban seizes Afghan borders with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan: Russia

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/8/11/taliban-take-control-of-northern-afghan-borders-russia-says



Farah City, Pul-i-Khumri fall to the Taliban

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/farah-city-pul-i-khumri-fall-to-the-taliban.php



Taliban Captures Mi-35 Helicopter Gifted by India to Afghanistan

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30206/Taliban_Captures_Mi_35_Helicopter_Gifted_by_India_to_Afghanistan#.YRPmRt9lBaQ



Taliban Seizes Kunduz Airport As Ghani Replaces Army Chief

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban-ghani-security/31404020.html



Pentagon: US Airstrikes in Afghanistan 'Having an Effect' on Taliban

https://www.voanews.com/us-afghanistan-troop-withdrawal/pentagon-us-airstrikes-afghanistan-having-effect-taliban



Afghan Government Requests Indian Air Force Support Against Taliban

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/08/11/afghanistan-india-support-taliban/



Taliban complete northeast Afghan blitz as more cities fall

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-taliban-e2c0e7b46c03cebb4fdddca309e005e8



Hundreds of Afghan forces surrender in Kunduz as Taliban consolidates hold on country’s north

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/11/hundreds-afghan-forces-surrender-kunduz-taliban-consolidates-hold-countrys-north/



Former headquarters of Northern Alliance falls under Taliban control

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/former-headquarters-of-northern-alliance-falls-under-taliban-control.php



439 Taliban Fighters Killed in Single-Day: Afghan MoD

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30202/439_Taliban_Fighters_Killed_in_Single_Day__Afghan_MoD#.YRPmXd9lBaQ



How is the Taliban gaining so fast in Afghanistan?

https://www.vox.com/22618215/afghanistan-news-taliban-advance



Why is the Taliban on such a winning streak, and can the tide be turned?

https://warisboring.com/why-is-the-taliban-on-such-a-winning-streak-and-can-the-tide-be-turned/



Taliban could take Afghan capital in 90 days amid rapid gains - U.S. intelligence

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/taliban-fighters-capture-eighth-provincial-capital-six-days-2021-08-11/



‘Complete, utter failure’: Frustration with Afghan army boils over as Taliban take 2 more provinces

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/aug/10/complete-utter-failure-frustration-afghan-army-boi/



Pentagon Hints Afghan ‘Leadership’ Will Be to Blame if Kabul Falls

https://www.airforcemag.com/pentagon-afghan-leadership-taliban-advance/



White House pins hope on diplomacy as Taliban advance in Afghanistan

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/08/10/biden-administration-diplomacy-afghanistan-taliban-military/2101628622438/



Turkey still keen to run Kabul airport despite Taliban advances, officials say

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/turkey-still-keen-run-kabul-airport-despite-taliban-advances-officials-say-2021-08-11/



Kabul’s fall may fuel Pakistan’s Frankenstein problem

https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/kabuls-fall-may-fuel-pakistan-s-frankenstein-problem-11628612860895.html









Indian Navy conducts Zayed Talwar 2021 exercise with UAE Navy

https://navalpost.com/indian-navy-conducts-zayed-talwar-2021/



Nirbhay cruise missile test-fired; indigenous engine a success, say officials

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nirbhay-cruise-missile-test-fired-drdo-says-indigenous-engine-a-success-101628656458294.html



Brahmos Cruise Missile: The backbone of the Indian Navy Firepower

https://navalpost.com/brahmos-cruise-missile/









Israel said to warn CIA chief that new Iranian president is mentally disturbed

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-to-warn-cia-chief-that-new-iranian-president-is-mentally-disturbed/



Iran asks Iraq to expel Iranian rebels from Kurdistan region

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-asks-iraq-expel-iranian-rebels-kurdistan-region-2021-08-10/



Iran sending more weapons to Yemen's Houthis amid cease-fire effort: Pentagon

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/08/iran-sending-more-weapons-yemens-houthis-amid-cease-fire-effort-pentagon









Gunmen in Iraq assassinate mayor of Karbala

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1909011/middle-east









Pentagon denies official said attack on Israel-linked ship came from Yemen

https://www.timesofisrael.com/pentagon-denies-official-said-attack-on-israel-linked-ship-came-from-yemen/



New report details how Canadian made weapons are allegedly fuelling Yemen war

https://globalnews.ca/news/8101089/canada-weapons-lav-saudi-arabia-yemen-war/




Story on Turkish F-102 shot down by HAF F-5

http://alert5.com/2021/08/11/story-on-turkish-f-102-shot-down-by-haf-f-5/



US Congress alarmed by Turkish drones' global success, capability

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/diplomacy/us-congress-alarmed-by-turkish-drones-global-success-capability









Explosion reported on ship used to carry Iranian oil at Syrian port

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/explosion-reported-on-ship-at-syrian-port-report-676341



Third Fire Aboard Tanker in Syria Raises New Questions

https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/third-fire-aboard-tanker-in-syria-raises-new-questions









Israel Hit by Chinese Cyberattack, Beijing Denies

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30203/Israel_Hit_by_Chinese_Cyberattack__Beijing_Denies#.YRPmWd9lBaQ



Chinese hackers disguised themselves as Iran to target Israel

https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/08/10/1031622/chinese-hackers-false-flag-iran-israel-fireeye/









Wagner: Scale of Russian mercenary mission in Libya exposed

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58009514



The lost tablet and the secret documents

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/extra/8iaz6xit26/the-lost-tablet-and-the-secret-documents




Analysis: Somaliland’s lingering jihadi threat

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/08/analysis-somalilands-lingering-jihadi-threat.php




Nigeria and Cameroon Report Surrender of Hundreds of Boko Haram Fighters

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/08/11/nigeria-and-cameroon-report-surrender-of-hundreds-of-boko-haram-fighters/




Somalia: Creative Chaos

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/somalia/articles/20210811.aspx




Ethiopia's Tigray forces seek new military alliance

https://www.reuters.com/world/ethiopias-tigray-forces-seek-new-military-alliance-2021-08-11/



Ethiopia using rape as a strategy in Tigray war - Amnesty

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-58167818









Ukraine Defence Ministry reveals the weapon systems for MILGEM-class corvettes

https://navalpost.com/ukraine-milgem-class-corvettes/



Drones, delays and 6th gen jets: Russia’s UAC publishes strategy update

https://www.aerotime.aero/28565-Russias-UAC-publishes-strategy-update



Russian Commanders to Be Trained in Drone Warfare

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/08/11/russia-commanders-drone-warfare/



Why Russia Is Considering Jumping Ship On Aircraft Carriers

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/why-russia-considering-jumping-ship-aircraft-carriers-191582



First flight Special Forces Mi-8AMTSh-VN

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/first-flight-special-forces-mi-8amtsh-vn



Russia’s New Armata T-14 Tank Has a Numbers Problem

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/russias-new-armata-t-14-tank-has-a-numbers-problem/



Facebook bans Russian disinformation network that claimed coronavirus vaccines turn people into chimpanzees

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/11/facebook-russia-disformation-covid-vaccine/





British surveillance aircraft on patrol near Russia

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-surveillance-aircraft-on-patrol-near-russia/



NATO chief flags Baltic tensions ahead of Zapad military drill

https://www.defensenews.com/training-sim/2021/08/10/nato-chief-flags-baltic-tensions-ahead-of-zapad-military-drill/




Germany arrests British embassy worker accused of spying for Russia

https://www.cnn.com/2021/08/11/europe/germany-uk-embassy-accused-spy-russia-intl-gbr/index.html




Interview with Spanish F/A-18 pilot who had deployed to Lithuania

http://alert5.com/2021/08/11/interview-with-spanish-f-a-18-pilot-who-had-deployed-to-lithuania/



Navantia conducts combat system trials for S-80 class submarine ‘S-81’

https://www.naval-technology.com/news/navantia-conducts-s81-combat-system-trials/




Type 26 Frigate: Versatile Member of the Royal Navy

https://navalpost.com/type-26-frigate/









Honduras and El Salvador commission first Near Coastal Patrol Vessels

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/honduras-and-el-salvador-commission-first-near-coastal-patrol-vessels









Report: China Is Hacking Russia, Too

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/08/report-china-hacking-russia-too/184426/



China's Likely Responses to European and Indian Warships in Sea it Calls its Own

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/chinas-likely-responses-european-and-indian-warships-sea-it-calls-its-own



A Struggle for Information Control Between China’s Government and the Tech Giants

https://thediplomat.com/2021/08/a-struggle-for-information-control-between-chinas-government-and-the-tech-giants/



Fear What You Wish For

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htiw/articles/20210811.aspx



China claims its 093 SSNs intentionally revealed selves.

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/08/china-claims-its-093-ssns-intentionally.html



Chinese court sentences Canadian Michael Spavor to 11 years for spying

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210811-chinese-court-sentences-canadian-michael-spavor-to-11-years-on-spying-charges





U.S. Senators Had to Sneak Into Taiwan to Help South Korea Avoid Wrath of China

https://www.newsweek.com/us-senators-sneak-taiwan-help-south-korea-avoid-wrath-china-tammy-duckworth-1618324



Biden Administration Approves M109A6 Howitzer Sale To Taiwan.

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/08/11/biden-administration-approves-m109a6-howitzer-sale-to-taiwan/





Vietnam T-6 Program May Double In Size

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/light-attack-advanced-training/vietnam-t-6-program-may-double-size





Indonesian research body issues scathing assessment of country's air defence radars

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indonesian-research-body-issues-scathing-assessment-of-countrys-air-defence-radars










Harvard Prof. Loeb Launches ‘Galileo Project,’ Systematic Hunt for Signs of Extraterrestrial Life

https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2021/8/11/galileo-project/



Climate Change Is Already Disrupting the Military. It Will Get Worse, Officials Say

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/08/climate-change-already-disrupting-military-it-will-get-worse-officials-say/184416/



‘Masters of the Air’ Spielberg’s Third WWII Series Is Finally in Production

https://sofrep.com/news/masters-of-the-air-spielbergs-third-wwii-movie-is-in-production/



Here’s what will happen to US troops who refuse mandatory COVID-19 vaccines

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-troops-refuse-mandatory-covid-vaccines/



Cyberattacks on Commercial Space Are Inevitable, Deputy SPACECOM Boss Warns

https://www.airforcemag.com/cyberattacks-on-commercial-space-are-inevitable-deputy-spacecom-boss-warns/



Digital engineering shows promise of cheaper, more flexible missile warning constellations

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/08/10/digital-engineering-shows-promise-of-cheaper-more-flexible-missile-warning-constellations/



NSA Awards Secret Up-to-$10B Contract to Amazon

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/08/nsa-awards-secret-10-billion-contract-amazon/184420/



First-Ever North American Luftwaffe Airbus A400M Atlas Demo at Thunder Over Michigan

https://theaviationist.com/2021/08/11/a400m-tom-display/



Castle Air Museum needs help to transport 10 war birds from Hawaii

http://alert5.com/2021/08/11/castle-air-museum-needs-help-to-transport-10-war-birds-from-hawaii/



Aerospace & Defense Roundup: August 10

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/z/aerospace-defense-roundup-august-10



New Light Shed On The Once Top Secret Tacit Blue Aircraft By Veteran Program Manager

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41892/new-light-shed-on-the-once-top-secret-tacit-blue-aircraft-by-veteran-program-manager



U.S. Air Force prepares to move to new deployment model

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/08/10/air-force-chief-of-staff-new-deployment-model/6511628617090/



Advanced Tactics and Rotor X unveil design concept of Barracuda HSVTOL aircraft family

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/august/7526-advanced-tactics-and-rotor-x-unveil-design-concept-of-barracuda-hsvtol-aircraft-family.html



US Army’s critical missile defense system will play role at Project Convergence

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/smd/2021/08/10/us-armys-critical-missile-defense-system-will-play-role-at-project-convergence/



Missile launch ‘successful’ from Vandenberg Space Force Base overnight

https://keyt.com/news/2021/08/11/missile-launch-successful-from-vandenberg-space-force-base-overnight/



Accept Risk, And Reframe Air And Missile Defense As An Enabler

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/accept-risk-and-reframe-air-and-missile-defense-as-an-enabler/



RE2 develops autonomous helicopter refueling system for AH-64

http://alert5.com/2021/08/11/re2-develops-autonomous-helicopter-refueling-system-for-ah-64/



Army Command Posts Getting Mobile, Dispersed, Quieter; Division Exercise In October

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/army-command-posts-getting-mobile-dispersed-quieter-division-exercise-in-october/



Ripsaw: The U.S. Army Has Big Plans for Its Next Tank

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/08/ripsaw-the-u-s-army-has-big-plans-for-its-next-tank/



US Army orders more Strykers with 30mm cannons from Oshkosh

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/08/10/us-army-orders-more-strykers-with-30mm-cannons-from-oshkosh/



‘Confident’ Of 2023 Fielding Goal, Army Dubs Hypersonic Weapon ‘Dark Eagle’

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/08/confident-of-2023-fielding-goal-army-dubs-hypersonic-weapon-dark-eagle/



The U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35C and The 5,000-Mile Strike Mission

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/08/11/the-us-marines-corps-f-35c-and-the-5000-mile-strike-mission/



U.S. Air Force to test ‘Quarterhorse’ autonomous Mach 5 jet

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/u-s-air-force-to-test-quarterhorse-autonomous-mach-5-jet/



Busy times for USAF's only Nuke Sniffer

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/busy-times-for-usaf-s-only-nuke-sniffer



F-15 Uses New Infrared Pod To Shoot Down Target F-16 With AIM-120 Missile

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41932/f-15-uses-new-infrared-pod-to-shoot-down-target-f-16-with-aim-120-missile



Kendall: Current F-35 Block 4 Issues Reminiscent of Earlier JSF Problems

https://www.airforcemag.com/kendall-current-f-35-block-4-issues-earlier-jsf-problems/



Navy beats goal for 56 fully mission capable P-8A Poseidon aircraft

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/08/10/navy-p-8a-fmc-goals/2241628623746/



Carl Vinson strike group using first deployment with F-35C, beefed-up air wing to hone advanced operations

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/08/10/carl-vinson-strike-group-using-first-deployment-with-f-35c-beefed-up-air-wing-to-hone-advanced-operations/



These Contenders Are Vying To Replace The Navy's T-45 Goshawk With A New Jet Trainer

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41935/these-contenders-are-vying-to-replace-the-navys-t-45-goshawk-with-a-new-jet-trainer



Raytheon completes testing of SPY-6V3 air defense radar for new US Navy Ford-class aircraft carriers

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/focus-analysis/naval-technology/10555-raytheon-completes-testing-of-spy-6v3-air-defense-radar-for-new-us-navy-ford-class-aircraft-carriers.html



Report to Congress on Navy SSN(X) Next-Generation Attack Submarine

https://news.usni.org/2021/08/11/report-to-congress-on-navy-ssnx-next-generation-attack-submarine-3