Af/Pak & Other News (3/24/2021)

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Taliban Rejects Afghan President's Proposal For New Election

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-rejects-afghan-president-s-proposal-for-new-election/31167135.html



US failed to collect reimbursements from Afghanistan coalition partners for years, IG finds

https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2021/03/24/us-failed-to-collect-reimbursements-from-afghanistan-coalition-partners-for-years-ig-finds/



$88 billion and 20 years later, the Afghan security forces are still no match for the Taliban

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/afghan-security-forces-no-match-taliban/



Yet to see a change in Taliban’s posture: Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib

https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/world/yet-to-see-a-change-in-talibans-posture-afghan-nsa-hamdullah-mohib-229841



Son of slain Afghan commander Massoud warns of 'civil war' if US troops leave hastily

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-interview/20210324-son-of-slain-afghan-commander-massoud-warns-of-civil-war-if-us-troops-leave-hastily



Assassinations Silence Afghanistan’s Intellectuals

https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/assassinations-silence-afghanistans-intellectuals/



US weighs temporary bombing halt in Afghanistan to spur peace talks

https://warisboring.com/us-weighs-temporary-bombing-halt-in-afghanistan-to-spur-peace-talks/









For Navy, 6 nuclear-powered submarines take priority over 3rd aircraft carrier

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/for-navy-6-nuclear-powered-submarines-take-priority-over-3rd-aircraft-carrier-101616564522467.html









The Iran-China Axis Is A Fast Growing Force In Oil Markets

https://www.yahoo.com/now/iran-china-axis-fast-growing-000000318.html



Iran says it made five major military improvements last year

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/iran-says-it-made-five-major-military-improvements-last-year-663035



Iran's IRGC to receive semi-heavy indigenous submarines

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/march/9874-iran-s-irgc-to-receive-semi-heavy-indigenous-submarines.html



Iranian IRGC Navy says it monitors US signals in Gulf

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iranian-irgc-navy-says-it-monitors-us-signals-in-gulf-663028



Iran’s alleged suicide boat plot against Washington DC is far-fetched as hell

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/irans-suicide-boat-attack-washington/









White House confirms new round of talks with Iraq on US troop presence

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/544598-white-house-confirms-new-round-of-talks-with-iraq-on-us-troop-presence









ADASI EDGE unveils UAE-made Scorpio-S multirole small UGV Unmanned Ground Vehicle

https://www.armyrecognition.com/idex_2021_news_official_online_show_daily_media_partner/idex_2021_adasi_edge_unveils_uae-made_scorpio-s_multirole_small_ugv_unmanned_ground_vehicle.html




Saudi Arabia, Greece join forces for Falcon Eye 1 exercise in East Med

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/03/saudi-arabia-greece-joint-exercise-falcon-eye.html



Saudi ceasefire plan unlikely to pause Yemen war: analysts

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210323-saudi-ceasefire-plan-unlikely-to-pause-yemen-war-analysts



Saudi-led coalition clears four fuel ships to dock at Yemen's Hodeidah port -sources

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-ports/saudi-led-coalition-clears-four-fuel-ships-to-dock-at-yemens-hodeidah-port-sources-idUSKBN2BG12N









Ten years on from the Syrian uprising, what has prevented an end to the tragedy?

https://theconversation.com/ten-years-on-from-the-syrian-uprising-what-has-prevented-an-end-to-the-tragedy-156854









Israeli Strikes Hit Hamas Positions in Gaza: Military

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/24/israeli-strikes-hit-hamas-gaza/



Israeli SMART SHOOTER to Prototype Weapon for Pentagon’s Irregular Warfare Directorate

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29204/Israeli_SMART_SHOOTER_to_Prototype_Weapon_for_Pentagon___s_Irregular_Warfare_Directorate









Suez Canal Update as Map Shows How Stuck Container Ship Has Blocked Sea Traffic

https://www.newsweek.com/suez-canal-update-container-ship-ever-given-blocking-traffic-map-1578337




France to reopen Libyan embassy in show of support for interim government

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210324-france-to-reopen-libyan-embassy-in-show-of-support-for-interim-government



Tracking Arms Transfers By The UAE, Russia, Jordan And Egypt To The Libyan National Army Since 2014

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2020/06/types-of-arms-and-equipment-supplied-to.html



Libya’s eastern region hands power to UN-backed interim government

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210324-libya-s-eastern-region-hands-power-to-un-backed-interim-government




Senegal accepts CN235-220 maritime patrol aircraft from Indonesia

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/03/senegal-accepts-cn235-220-maritime-patrol-aircraft-from-indonesia




Somalia: Out Of Many, None

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/somalia/articles/20210324.aspx




Nigeria’s JF-17 Thunder fighter jet arrives home

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/03/nigerias-jf-17-thunder-arrives-home



Analysis: Is the IS group returning to the Niger-Mali border?

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20210323-analysis-is-the-is-group-returning-to-the-niger-mali-border









Russia has begun spaceplane project, says Soviet shuttle designer

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-space-russia/russia-has-begun-spaceplane-project-says-soviet-shuttle-designer-idUSKBN2BG1YR



Shipyard director arrested for embezzling money allocated for the repair of Admiral Kuznetsov

http://alert5.com/2021/03/24/shipyard-director-arrested-for-embezzling-money-allocated-for-the-repair-of-admiral-kuznetsov/



Russian Radar System Counters Small, ‘Silent’ Combat Drones

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/24/russia-radar-system-c-drones/



Augmented reality helmet for Su-57 undergoes trials

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/march/7097-augmented-reality-helmet-for-su-57-undergoes-trials.html



Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Russian Air Power* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) with Guy Plopsky: Part 1- How good is Russian air force training?

https://hushkit.net/2021/03/23/everything-you-always-wanted-to-know-russian-air-power-but-were-afraid-to-ask-with-guy-plopsky-part-1-how-good-is-russian-air-force-training/



Russia's Putin signs bill to lift age limits for top officials

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-politics-putin-age/russias-putin-signs-bill-to-lift-age-limits-for-top-officials-idUSKBN2BG2SO



Navalny Health 'Deteriorating' In Prison

https://www.rferl.org/a/navalny-health-deteriorating-in-prison/31167726.html




Azerbaijan: Russia The Peace Maker

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20210324.aspx




Small But Deadly - Turkish Fast Attack Craft In Service With Turkmenistan

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/03/small-but-deadly-turkish-fast-attack.html




How an alleged Russian spy ring stole NATO and EU secrets from Bulgaria

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/24/europe/bulgaria-russian-spy-ring-cmd-intl/index.html




Germany Freezes TLVS Plans, Opts For Patriot Upgrade

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/germany-freezes-tlvs-plans-opts-patriot-upgrade




French Naval Ships Offered to Greece

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29203/French_Naval_Ships_Offered_to_Greece



France, U.S., others participate in Group Arabian Sea Warfare Exercise

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/03/23/France-Arabian-Sea-Navy-exercise/3821616546814/




The RAF will retire its entire fleet of 76 Hawk T1 trainers but the Red Arrows are saved by sponsorship deals

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/the-raf-will-retire-its-entire-fleet-of-76-hawk-t1-trainers-but-the-red-arrows-are-saved-by-sponsorship-deals/



New UK naval shipbuilding strategy prizes keeping foreign yards out

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/03/23/new-uk-naval-shipbuilding-strategy-prizes-keeping-foreign-yards-out/



MoD Official: U.K. ‘Would be Mad to Ignore’ Working with Allied F-35B Capable Carriers

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/23/mod-official-u-k-would-be-mad-to-ignore-working-with-allied-f-35b-capable-carriers



Marshall ‘surprised' at speed of UK C-130 retirement, warns of job losses

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/marshall-surprised-at-speed-of-uk-c-130-retirement-warns-of-job-losses



Irish Air Corps pilots to be trained in the US

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/irish-air-corps-pilots-to-be-trained-in-the-us



British surface fleet to get land attack missiles

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/british-surface-fleet-to-get-land-attack-missiles/



Inside The UK’s Integrated Defense Review

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/budget-policy-operations/inside-uks-integrated-defense-review









Special Report: Brazil’s military fails in key mission - halting Amazon deforestation

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-environment-military-special-r/special-report-brazils-military-fails-in-key-mission-halting-amazon-deforestation-idUSKBN2BG1OK




US officials say migrants are being told to come to the border. Here's what they're hearing from smugglers and from Russia

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-officials-border-migrants-hear-rumors-from-smugglers-and-russia-2021-3









South China Sea: Beijing has extended another Spratly Islands reef, photos show

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3126656/south-china-sea-beijing-has-extended-another-spratly-islands



Two Chinese Survey Ships are Probing a Strategic Section of the Indian Ocean

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/23/two-chinese-survey-ships-are-probing-a-strategic-section-of-the-indian-ocean



Navy Admiral nominated to lead Pacific forces says China’s nuclear stockpile is “increasing at a rate that is faster than anyone previously believed”

https://warisboring.com/navy-admiral-nominated-to-lead-pacific-forces-says-chinas-nuclear-stockpile-is-increasing-at-a-rate-that-is-faster-than-anyone-previously-believed/



China Is ‘Danger Close’ to US in AI Race, DOD AI Chief Says

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/03/china-danger-close-us-ai-race-dod-ai-chief-says/172872/



How a Chinese missile turned US military strategy on its head

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-chinese-missile-turned-us-military-strategy-on-its-head-2021-3





China threat to invade Taiwan is 'closer than most think', says US admiral

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/23/taiwan-china-threat-admiral-john-aquilino



Military Takeover of Taiwan Is Top Concern for INDOPACOM Nominee Aquilino

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/23/military-takeover-of-taiwan-is-top-concern-for-indopacom-nominee-aquilino





North Korea conducted new missile tests, ignoring US overtures

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210323-north-korea-conducted-short-range-missile-test-white-house-says





South Korea: LIG Nex1 delivers EW self-protection system prototype for KF-X fighter aircraft

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lig-nex1-delivers-ew-self-protection-system-prototype-for-kf-x-fighter-aircraft





Japan commissions JS Toryu, its Second Submarine Running on Li-Ion Batteries

https://navalpost.com/japan-jmsdf-soryu-class-js-toryu-commissioned/





Five companies shortlisted for Australian naval UAV deal

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/five-companies-shortlisted-for-australian-naval-uav-deal/143009.article





Rocket Lab launches Army satellite

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/03/23/rocket-lab-launches-army-satellite/









Martin UAV V-Bat's maritime success continues with Canada DRDC programme

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/martin-uav-v-bats-maritime-success-continues-with-canada-drdc-programme










Ex-UFO Pentagon program chief outlines 'compelling' UFO theories and 'unique' vehicle characteristics

https://www.foxnews.com/tech/ufo-theories-pentagon-chief-report



Elon Musk's Controversial Take on Aliens Has Started a Blurry UFO Footage War on Twitter

https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/elon-musks-controversial-take-on-aliens-has-started-a-blurry-ufo-footage-war-on-twitter-3567980.html



National Guard troops ambushed at gunpoint while transporting coronavirus vaccine, police say

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/03/24/texas-guard-ambush-covid/



Recent Cyber Attacks Show Increased Nation State Activity, Says Former NSA Director

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210323005992/en/Recent-Cyber-Attacks-Show-Increased-Nation-State-Activity-Says-Former-NSA-Director



Pentagon's Joint AI Center Director Urges Faster Adoption of Technology

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/3/23/just-in-defense-department-should-accelerate-ai-adoption-joint-ai-center-director-says



Multiple Destroyers Were Swarmed By Mysterious 'Drones' Off California Over Numerous Nights

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39913/multiple-destroyers-were-swarmed-by-mysterious-drones-off-california-over-numerous-nights



Mystery Drones Kept Buzzing U.S. Destroyers During Exercises Off California

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/03/24/mystery-drones-kept-buzzing-us-destroyers-during-exercises-off-california/



U.S., China Engaged in 'Superpower Marathon'

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/3/23/us-china-engaged-in-superpower-marathon



‘Land Forces Are Hard To Kill’: Army Chief Unveils Pacific Strategy

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/land-forces-are-hard-to-kill-army-chief/



Army Develops New Plasma-Treated Nanoparticles For Future Weapons

https://thedebrief.org/army-develops-new-plasma-treated-nanoparticles-for-future-weapons/



A Marine F-35B Fighter Jet Accidentally Shot Itself With Its Own Gun Pod

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39920/a-marine-f-35b-fighter-jet-accidentally-shot-itself-with-its-own-gun-pod



F-16XL: The F-16 with hardpoints for 27 weapons

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/f-16xl-the-f-16-that-could-carry-27-bombs-into-the-fight/



US is spending $15B on hypersonic weapons, report reveals

https://www.aerotime.aero/27526-US-is-spending-15B-on-hypersonic-weapons-report-reveals



This is the New High-Speed Propulsion System the DoD and Norway are Working On

https://thedebrief.org/this-is-the-new-high-speed-propulsion-system-the-dod-and-norway-are-working-on/



Here’s who will compete head-to-head to build the next homeland missile defense interceptor

https://www.defensenews.com/breaking-news/2021/03/23/heres-who-will-compete-head-to-head-to-build-the-next-homeland-missile-defense-interceptor/



Northrop-Grumman’s Sky Viper Chain Gun May Get A Shot At The Army’s FARA Helicopter

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2021/03/24/northrop-grummans-sky-viper-chain-gun-may-get-a-shot-at-the-armys-fara-helicopter/



Report to Congress on Gerald R. Ford Carrier Program

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/24/report-to-congress-on-gerald-r-ford-carrier-program-6



The Navy Recovered This Sunken Seahawk Helicopter From Three-And-A-Half Miles Below The Sea

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39911/the-navy-recovered-this-sunken-seahawk-helicopter-from-three-and-a-half-miles-below-the-sea