Af/Pak & Other News (2/12/2021)

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Biden facing 'serious dilemmas' on Afghan troop withdrawal: US official

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210212-biden-facing-serious-dilemmas-on-afghan-troop-withdrawal-us-official



Analysis: What Happened When The Taliban Visited Turkmenistan?

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-turkmenistan/31098370.html



Pakistan test-fires surface-to-surface cruise missile, third test in 3 weeks

https://www.timesnownews.com/international/article/pakistan-test-fires-surface-to-surface-cruise-missile-third-test-in-3-weeks/719344



Russian, Chinese, U.S. Navies Participate In Pakistan's Aman-2021 Exercises

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/russia-china-us-navies-pakistan-aman-2021/31099814.html



Dam Agreement Highlights India’s Soft Power Gambit in Afghanistan

https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/dam-agreement-highlights-indias-soft-power-gambit-in-afghanistan/









India: The Tejas Tragedy

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20210212.aspx



The Farmers' Protests Are a Turning Point for India's Democracy—and the World Can No Longer Ignore That

https://time.com/5938041/india-farmer-protests-democracy/



Indian Army has leased four Heron UAVs

http://alert5.com/2021/02/12/indian-army-has-leased-four-heron-uavs/









On Revolution Anniversary, Analysts Blame Iran’s Islamist Ideology for National Decline

https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/voa-news-iran/revolution-anniversary-analysts-blame-irans-islamist-ideology-national



Iran’s nuclear non-compliance risks deal, warn UK, France, Germany

https://www.dw.com/en/irans-nuclear-non-compliance-risks-deal-warn-uk-france-germany/a-56552675



Attacking a Nuclear Iran: Lessons from Israel’s 1981 Attack on Iraq

https://wavellroom.com/2021/02/11/attacking-a-nuclear-iran-lessons-from-israels-1981-attack-on-iraq/









Inside the covert mission that sent Delta Force and British SAS deep behind Iraqi lines in search of Saddam's missiles

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/inside-the-covert-mission-that-sent-delta-force-and-british-sas-deep-behind-iraqi-lines-in-search-of-saddams-missiles/ar-BB1dCUCt



Controversial game ‘Six Days In Fallujah’ about the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War is back in production

https://taskandpurpose.com/entertainment/battle-of-fallujah-video-game/









Saudi-Led Coalition Thwarted Two Drones and a Ballistic Missile Launched by Yemen's Houthis -State Media

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-02-11/saudi-led-coalition-says-destroyed-ballistic-missile-launched-by-yemens-houthis-state-media



Yemen's Houthis say they hit Saudi Abha Airport, King Khalid air base with drones

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-security-yemen/yemens-houthis-say-they-hit-saudi-abha-airport-king-khalid-air-base-with-drones-idUSKBN2AC23L



Yemen rocked by heavy clashes amid stark UN starvation warning

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210212-yemen-rocked-by-heavy-clashes-amid-stark-un-starvation-warning



Biden is tackling the Yemen crisis with "urgency," but Iran won't make it easy

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/yemen-war-joe-biden-iran-saudi-arabia-houthis/




Sea Trials Commence for Turkey's First Armed Unmanned Vessel, ULAQ

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28955/Sea_Trials_Commence_for_Turkey_s_First_Armed_Unmanned_Vessel__ULAQ



Iranian official arrested in Istanbul over dissident's killing: sources

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-iran-arrest/iranian-official-arrested-in-istanbul-over-dissidents-killing-sources-idUSKBN2AC28I



Turkish-Ukrainian Corvette Deal to be Signed in April

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28954/Turkish_Ukrainian_Corvette_Deal_to_be_Signed_in_April









ISIS Ambushes Syrian Army Patrol, Kills 26 Regime Troops

https://sofrep.com/news/isis-ambushes-syrian-army-patrol-kills-26-regime-troops/



US-led airstrikes kill 12 Iran-backed terrorists in Syria

https://www.dailysabah.com/world/syrian-crisis/us-led-airstrikes-kill-12-iran-backed-terrorists-in-syria




Lebanon: Fatal Fun

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20210212.aspx









Jordan to found F-16 air combat training centre

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/jordan-to-found-f-16-air-combat-training-centre









A Group Of Israelis Secretly Built And Tested Suicide Drones For An Unknown Asian Customer

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39209/a-group-of-israelis-secretly-built-and-tested-suicide-drones-for-an-unknown-asian-customer



IDF bases have become easy pickings for thieves

https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/By0070PM1100



Iran is strategic threat, battle with Hezbollah more likely - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/arab-israeli-conflict/iran-is-strategic-threat-battle-with-hezbollah-more-likely-analysis-658358



Elbit to export Iron Fist system to the Netherlands

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2021/02/11/elbit-to-export-iron-fist-system-to-the-netherlands/









Al-Watiya - From A Libyan Super Base To Turkish Air Base

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/09/al-watiya-airbase-capture.html




Kenya Air Force receives first C-145 aircraft

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/february/6938-kenya-air-force-receives-first-c-145-aircraft.html










Ukraine’s President Finally Flexes His Muscles; Volodymyr Zelensky is taking on his country’s pro-Russian media machine. But can he emerge victorious?

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/02/12/ukraine-volodymyr-zelensky-russia-propaganda-media-medvedchuk-euromaidan-kremlin-hybrid-war/



US, Europe accuse Russia of blocking Ukraine war solutions

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/12/us-europe-accuse-russia-of-blocking-ukraine-war-solutions



Kalashnikov AKV-521 semi-automatic carbine

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/02/kalashnikov-akv-521-semi-automatic-carbine



Russia's New Helicopter-Transportable Armored Buggy Looks Like A Plague Doctor Mobile

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39242/this-russian-helicopter-transportable-armored-buggy-looks-like-a-driveable-plague-mask



Russia Threatens To Cut Ties With EU If Sanctions Are Imposed Over Jailing Of Navalny

https://www.npr.org/2021/02/12/967344804/russia-warns-eu-against-imposing-sanctions-over-jailing-of-opposition-leader



Russian Media Ordered To Delete Reports On Planned 'Flashlight' Protest

https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-media-ordered-to-delete-reports-on-planned-flashlight-protest/31100000.html



Facing a light show of love for Navalny, Russia warns against "unsanctioned" courtyard protests

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alexei-navalny-russia-putin-protest-valentines-day-demonstration-warning/




Georgia developing indigenous surveillance and strike UAS

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/georgia-developing-indigenous-surveillance-and-strike-uas




European Defence Agency Rough-terrain Transport UGV Swarm project kicks off

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_february_2021_global_security_army_industry/european_defence_agency_rough-terrain_transport_ugv_swarm_project_kicks_off.html




Armenian-Made Kamikaze Drones Undergoing Tests

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/12/armenia-tests-kamikaze-drone/




Polish F-35 Jets to Be Stationed At Lask Air Base in Central Poland

https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/12/polish-f-35-jets-to-be-stationed-at-lask-air-base-in-central-poland/




Bomb making equipment and Isis flag found during police raids in Denmark and Germany

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bomb-making-equipment-and-isis-flag-found-during-police-raids-in-denmark-and-germany/ar-BB1dD5Nd




French armed forces taps Airbus for fixed-wing maritime drone system

https://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/unmanned/article/14197386/airbus-survey-copter




UK aircraft and US nuclear sub work together near Falklands

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/uk-aircraft-and-us-nuclear-sub-work-together-near-falklands/



The Royal Navy Keeps Shrinking—Frigates To Drop By Three Over Five Years

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/02/12/the-royal-navy-keeps-shrinking-frigates-to-drop-by-three/



Royal Air Force C-17 declares an emergency in the air

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-air-force-c-17-declares-an-emergency-in-the-air/









Columbia: There’s One Place In The World Where AC-47 Spooky Gunships Still Fly

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39236/theres-one-place-in-the-world-where-ac-47-spooky-gunships-still-fly









China surprises India with its speed, moves out 200+ tanks from Pangong Tso

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/china-surprises-india-with-pace-of-withdrawal-pulls-out-200-tanks-in-2-days-101613088444899.html



China Reveals its First Assessment of Biden as President

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-02-12/china-reveals-its-first-assessment-of-biden-as-president





France wades into the South China Sea with a nuclear attack submarine

https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210212-france-wades-into-the-south-china-sea-with-a-nuclear-attack-submarine





KAI releases new images of its armed MUH-1 helicopter variant

https://defence-blog.com/news/kai-releases-new-images-of-its-armed-muh-1-helicopter-variant.html





Philippines' Duterte tells U.S. 'you have to pay' if it wants to keep troop deal

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-usa-defence-idUSKBN2AC1K2





Japan's sub collision with Chinese ship: Increasing Tensions

http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/02/japans-sub-collided-with-chinese-ship.html



Japan-South Korea dispute may get worse

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/japan-south-korea-dispute-may-get-worse.html



Submarine Lithium batteries may be safer than Lead-acid

http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/02/submarine-lithium-batteries-may-be.html









Canadian Coast Guard to deploy MartinUAV’s V-BAT drone

https://dronedj.com/2021/02/12/kongsberg-geospatial-software-and-v-bat-to-be-tested-by-canadian-coast-guard/










What flies in the air, zips through the ocean, and splits in two? Investigating the Aguadilla UFO incident

https://www.yourcentralvalley.com/news/what-flies-in-the-air-zips-through-the-ocean-and-splits-in-two-investigating-the-aguadilla-ufo-incident/



UFOs over Utah? Elon Musk project mistaken for extraterrestrial visitors

https://wgntv.com/news/ufos-over-utah-elon-musk-project-mistaken-for-extraterrestrial-visitors/



Impeachment trial moves into Senate questions: How to watch and stream now

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/impeachment-trial-moves-into-senate-questions-how-to-watch-and-stream-now/



Mike Pence’s Close Shave With Nuclear Football at Capitol Only Realized by Military When They Saw It on TV

https://www.thedailybeast.com/mike-pences-close-shave-with-nuclear-football-at-capitol-only-realized-by-military-when-they-saw-it-on-tv



How Biden is allowing Chinese govt. to quietly creep onto U.S. college campuses

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/feb/11/how-biden-allowing-chinese-govt-quietly-creep-us-c/



State Department Declassified a Report About Cuba’s ‘Sonic Weapon’

https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7aw3b/state-department-declassified-a-report-about-cubas-sonic-weapon



Let the good times roll: A Marine lieutenant is getting kicked out for trying to sell Ecstasy at Camp Lejeune

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-lieutenant-court-martial-ecstasy/



Army deploying 222 soldiers to LA to support COVID-19 vaccine effort

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/02/11/Army-deploying-222-soldiers-to-LA-to-support-COVID-19-vaccine-effort/7771613085918/



The Iconic Learjet Will Come To An End After Six Decades Of Defining Private Air Travel

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39229/the-iconic-learjet-will-come-to-an-end-after-six-decades-of-defining-private-air-travel



X-20 Dyna-Soar: America’s hypersonic space bomber

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/x-20-dyna-soar-americas-hypersonic-space-bomber/



Confederate Military Base Names Just Met Their Gettysburg

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/02/confederate-military-base-names-just-met-their-gettysburg/172045/



U.S. Air Force to stand down, review extremism in its ranks

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/02/12/US-Air-Force-to-stand-down-review-extremism-in-its-ranks/5411613153646/



Former NSA director, retired top officers ask Supreme Court to declare military draft unconstitutional

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2021/02/12/former-nsa-director-retired-top-officers-ask-supreme-court-to-declare-military-draft-unconstitutional/



Major Breakthrough in Quantum Electronic Warfare Achieved by Army Research

https://thedebrief.org/major-breakthrough-in-quantum-electronic-warfare-achieved-by-army-research/



Super Bowl Flyover Offered A Glimpse Of A Future Where Multiple Bomber Types Join Forces In Combat

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39225/super-bowl-flyover-offered-a-glimpse-of-future-where-multiple-bomber-types-join-forces-in-combat



CMMC: Stopping Cyber Espionage Like Chinese Theft of F-35 Data

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/cmmc-stopping-cyber-espionage-like-chinese-theft-of-f-35-data/



Space Force begins adding cyber warriors

https://www.c4isrnet.com/cyber/2021/02/12/space-force-begins-adding-cyber-warriors/



MDA Reopens Search For Powerful Laser Interceptor

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/mda-reopens-search-powerful-laser-interceptor



SDA to launch several demonstration satellites in 2021

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/02/11/sda-to-launch-several-demonstration-satellites-in-2021/



DARPA Space Manufacturing Project Sparks Controversy

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/darpa-space-manufacturing-project-sparks-controversy/



The tiny tech lab that put AI on a spyplane has another secret project

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/02/11/the-tiny-tech-lab-that-put-ai-on-a-spyplane-has-another-secret-project/



JLTV can be configured as self-propelled mortar carrier with SPEAR 120mm

https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/jltv_can_be_configured_as_self-propelled_mortar_carrier_with_spear_120mm.html



IM-SHORAD system completes testing on White Sands Missile Range

http://alert5.com/2021/02/12/im-shorad-system-completes-testing-on-white-sands-missile-range/



Army Bolstering Weapons Portfolio

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/2/12/army-bolstering-weapons-portfolio



Marines Want Lighter Anti-Tank Weapons: M1A1 Abrams Replacements

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a35482679/marines-looking-for-new-anti-tank-weapons/



Why the U.S. Marines Want to Ditch Their Tanks

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/02/why-the-u-s-marines-want-to-ditch-their-tanks/



Kaman plans flight tests of optionally piloted K-Max in first half of 2021

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/kaman-plans-flight-tests-of-optionally-piloted-k-max-in-first-half-of-2021/142398.article



The Air Force Wants Throwable 'Micro-Robots' for Room Reconnaissance

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/02/11/air-force-wants-throwable-micro-robots-room-reconnaissance.html



All-female crew flies KC-46 tanker for first time

https://defbrief.com/2021/02/12/all-female-crew-flies-kc-46-tanker-for-first-time/



U.S. Air Force ponies up $1B to upgrade new HH-60W rescue helicopter

https://verticalmag.com/news/us-air-force-pays-1b-new-hh-60w-rescue-helicopter-upgrades/



Large Drones Find New Tactics to Avoid Being Shot Down

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/air/large-drones-find-new-tactics-to-avoid-being-shot-down-9fj4SC774UST65vzS56Png



Secretive New Skunk works UAS Set For Ground Testing Soon

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/secretive-new-skunk-works-uas-set-ground-testing-soon



The Five Most Important Facts About The F-35 Fighter

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2021/02/12/the-five-most-important-facts-about-the-f-35-fighter/



An engine shortage is the newest problem to hit the F-35 enterprise

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/02/12/an-engine-shortage-is-the-newest-problem-to-hit-the-f-35-enterprise/



Q&A with a former F-14 Tomcat RIO: Dave "Bio" Baranek answers your questions

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/qa-with-a-former-f-14-tomcat-rio-dave-bio-baranek-answers-your-questions/



Obscure 23-Year Old Navy SAM Was So Ahead Of Its Time That It's Still In High Demand Today

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38500/obscure-23-year-old-navy-sam-was-so-ahead-of-its-time-that-its-still-in-high-demand-today



US Navy Wants AI-Assisted Sonar System for Improved Submarine Tracking

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/12/us-navy-ai-sonar-system/



Navy Finally Confirms Its Trident Missile Test Was What People Saw Off Florida This Week

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39215/navy-confirms-its-trident-missile-test-was-what-everyone-saw-off-the-florida-coast-this-week



Report to Congress on John Lewis-class Oiler Program

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/12/report-to-congress-on-john-lewis-class-oiler-program



DARPA Building An Energy-Harvesting Submarine That Never Runs Out Of Power

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/02/12/darpas-new-energy-harvesting-manta-ray-is-a-submarine-like-no-other/