Afghan 1st vice president says negotiating with Taliban, still "shoulder-to-shoulder with al Qaeda," was a mistake

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-war-us-withdrawal-1st-vice-president-amrullah-saleh-taliban-al-qaeda/

Taliban Victory in Afghanistan 'Not a Foregone Conclusion'

https://www.voanews.com/usa/taliban-victory-afghanistan-not-foregone-conclusion

Can the Afghan Military Defeat the Taliban? The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Thinks So

https://sofrep.com/news/can-the-afghan-government-prevail-against-the-taliban-chairman-of-the-joint-chiefs-gen-milley-thinks-so/

Pentagon Chief Says Removal of All Contractors From Afghanistan Under Way

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-05-06/removal-of-all-contractors-from-afghanistan-underway-pentagon-chief

US sends more warplanes to Afghanistan to protect troop pullout

https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2021/05/06/us-sends-more-warplanes-to-afghanistan-to-protect-troop-pullout/

Pentagon Struggles to Wean Afghan Military Off American Air Support

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/06/us/politics/afghanistan-withdrawal-biden-milley-austin.html

Afghanistan Is Being Overrun by Crystal Meth

https://www.businessinsider.com/afghanistan-is-being-overrun-by-crystal-meth-2021-5

Afghanistan’s Wildcard Warlords

https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/afghanistans-wildcard-warlords/

‘Hope’ Has Become the U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-05-06/hope-has-become-the-us-strategy-in-afghanistan

As U.S. leaves, fear of civil war leads Afghans to plan "organized resistance against the Taliban"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/afghanistan-war-us-withdrawal-ahmed-massoud-organized-resistance/

Indian Air Force Airlifts Oxygen Containers From Bangkok

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2021/05/indian-air-force-airlifts-oxygen-containers-from-bangkok/

UK to support India's Tejas MK2 development

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/05/uk-to-support-indias-tejas-mk2.html

Talks ‘intensify’ on bringing US back to Iran nuclear deal

https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-europe-middle-east-iran-iran-nuclear-052b38f2bdafeb232de1445ea5a77728

Iraqi Prank Show Pulled After Stunt With Fake ISIS Ambush on Celebrities

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/iraqi-prank-show-pulled-fake-isis-stunt-1234949655/

Iraq’s F-16 program stalls after US contractors evacuate Balad Air Base, report says

https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/iraq-s-f-16-program-stalls-after-us-contractors-evacuate-balad-air-base-report-says-1.672349

Facing the Storm: The PKK’s DIY AA Guns

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/05/facing-storm-pkks-diy-aa-guns.html

Mean, Green, And Unseen: Saudi Arabia’s BTR-3s

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2021/05/mean-green-and-unseen-saudi-arabias-btr.html

Turkey and China disrupt the multibillion-dollar armed drone market

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/07/turkey-and-china-disrupt-the-multibillion-dollar-armed-drone-market-.html

‘A dirty business’: how one drug is turning Syria into a narco-state

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/07/drug-captagon-turning-syria-into-narco-state

New reports map out Hezbollah’s missile arsenal, expose new military sites

https://www.jns.org/new-reports-map-out-hezbollahs-missile-arsenal-expose-new-military-sites/

The Countdown to an Israeli War With Iran Has Begun

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/06/iran-nuclear-deal-jcpoa-biden-israel-talks-washington-war/

US-Israel Team To Battle Iran Missiles

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/05/us-israel-team-to-battle-iran-missiles/

Hamas creating new equation in conflict with Israel, and concern over two-front outburst grows

https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/49748

Libyan Coast Guard Shoots At Two Italian Fishing Boats: Italian Frigate And P-72A Surveillance Plane On The Scene

https://theaviationist.com/2021/05/06/libyan-coast-guard-incident/

How US Helped French Rafales ‘Outflank’ Russian Su-35 Jets To Win Egyptian Fighter Jet Contract?

https://eurasiantimes.com/how-us-helped-french-rafales-outflank-russian-su-35-jets-to-win-egyptian-fighter-jet-contract/

Opposition forces leave Somali capital after deadly clashes

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/opposition-forces-leave-somali-capital-after-deadly-clashes/ar-BB1gtkwM

German army increases Heron drones use in Mali

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/may/7296-german-army-increases-heron-drones-use-in-mali.html

Special Operations: Diagnosing Mozambique

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsf/articles/20210507.aspx

Mozambique insurgency: 20,000 still trapped near gas plant six weeks after attack

https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/may/07/mozambique-insurgency-20000-still-trapped-near-gas-plant-six-weeks-after-attack

EU considers new rapid entry force and military training in Mozambique

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/eu-considers-new-rapid-entry-force-and-military-training-in-mozambique

Biden doesn't like Russia's meddling in Ukraine. But he's not prepared to stop it.

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/biden-doesn-t-russia-s-meddling-ukraine-he-s-not-ncna1266535

US considers boost to security aid for Ukraine, says Blinken

https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2021/05/07/us-considering-security-aid-boost-for-ukraine-says-blinken/

Jamming Strikes OSCE Drones Tracking Russian Forces

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/05/jamming-strikes-osce-drones-tracking-russian-forces/

Huey Made In Ukraine

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20210507.aspx

Russia Just Accepted Its New Super-Quiet, Cruise Missile-Packed Submarine Into Service

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40503/russia-just-accepted-its-new-super-quiet-cruise-missile-packed-submarine-into-service

Russian Navy to receive about 30 Project 12700 minehunters through 2050

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/05/russian-navy-to-receive-about-30-project-12700-minehunters-through-2050/

Russia’s MiG-35 Fighter Is Almost Ready for Battle

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/05/russias-mig-35-fighter-is-almost-ready-for-battle/

Russian Su-57 fighters cause mysterious sound that frightened Moscow residents

https://defence-blog.com/news/russian-su-57-fighters-cause-mysterious-sound-that-frightened-moscow-residents.html

Russian Spy Team Left Traces That Bolstered C.I.A.’s Bounty Judgment

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/us/politics/russian-bounties-nsc.html

ROSS, the new Russian space station: when and why?

https://www.aerotime.aero/27872-ROSS-the-new-Russian-space-station-when-and-why

Sweden signs contract to procure new trainer aircraft for Swedish Air Force

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/05/sweden-signs-contract-new-trainer-aircraft.html

Who Will Win Finland’s Fighter Contest?

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/who-will-win-finlands-fighter-contest

Germany: DLR develops an unmanned stratospheric aircraft

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/may/7291-germany-dlr-de-vel-ops-an-un-manned-strato-spher-ic-air-craft.html

Leonardo nets ‘major export order’ for M-346 trainer

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/leonardo-nets-major-export-order-for-m-346-trainer/143636.article

The U.K. Still Knows How to Punch Above Its Weight

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/04/united-kingdom-integrated-review-cyber-space/

Britain’s New Tempest Stealth Fighter Has a Big Problem: Cost

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/britain%E2%80%99s-new-tempest-stealth-fighter-has-big-problem-cost-184572

Britain awards $1 billion contract to upgrade Challenger 2 tanks

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2021/05/07/britain-awards-1-billion-contract-to-upgrade-challenger-2-tanks/

British Navy Crowsnest-equipped Merlins deploy on first carrier voyage

https://verticalmag.com/news/british-navy-crowsnest-equipped-merlins-first-carrier-voyage/

Mexico's cartels are experimenting with control of another part of the cocaine trade

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mexico-s-cartels-are-experimenting-with-control-of-another-part-of-the-cocaine-trade/ar-BB1gt2lF

China's Chengdu Aircraft to build UAV industry park

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinas-chengdu-aircraft-to-build-uav-industry-park

China’s Deep-Sea Motivation for Claiming Sovereignty Over the South China Sea

https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/chinas-deep-sea-motivation-for-claiming-sovereignty-over-the-south-china-sea/

Why China’s New Refueler Y-20U Sends Ominous Signals To India & Others In The Indo-Pacific?

https://eurasiantimes.com/why-chinas-new-refueler-y-20u-sends-ominous-signals-for-india-the-indo-pacific/

China Is Building Entire Villages in Another Country’s Territory

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/07/china-bhutan-border-villages-security-forces/

China Makes Third Incursion Into Taiwan ADIZ This Week

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/07/china-makes-third-incursion-into-taiwan-adiz-this-week/

China sends ‘warning shot to Australia’ as patience wears thin

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3132687/china-sends-warning-shot-australia-patience-wears-thin

Concern at Australian 'submarine gap' amid rising China tensions

https://www.9news.com.au/national/submarine-gap-risk-to-australia-defences-senator-warns/de858c8e-65a2-443f-9187-7223ca610059

Australia faces ‘potential military crisis’ with China over Taiwan within years

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/australia-faces-potential-military-crisis-with-china-over-taiwan-within-years/news-story/4550379869f38c7de6da69facb3717da

Indonesia’s New X18 Combat Boat begins on-water tests

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/05/indonesias-new-x18-combat-boat-begins-on-water-tests/

Indonesian Navy's KSM 32 Midget Submarine

http://www.hisutton.com/Indonesia-KSM-32-Submarine.html

Philippines Committed To Fighter Program, Shows Off Up-Armed FA-50

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/philippines-committed-fighter-program-shows-armed-fa-50

Multi-role jet fighters acquisition program on track: Lorenzana

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1139439

Soviet-Designed An-2 Biplanes Are South Korea’s Secretive Aggressors

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40492/an-2-biplanes-are-south-koreas-secretive-aggressors

Japan steps up defence capabilities in new domains, with eye on China and Russia

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3132528/japan-steps-defence-capabilities-new-domains-eye-china-and

US Navy to Deploy MQ-4C Triton HALE Drone to Japan for the First Time

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/05/us-navy-to-deploy-mq-4c-triton-hale-drone-to-japan-for-the-first-time/

No replacement for RCAF Snowbirds, the Tutor to be kept until 2030

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/05/no-replacement-for-rcaf-snowbirds.html

(Part 2) Ex Pentagon official Luis Elizondo reveals UFO bombshells

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkBsbiaIzqw

Joe Biden Has a Decision to Make about UFOs

https://medium.com/on-the-trail-of-the-saucers/biden-ufo-decision-f58858e47c2b

The US military dropped off its last batch of artillery shells carrying deadly VX nerve agent to be destroyed

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-military-drops-off-last-of-vx-projectiles-for-destruction-2021-5

Are Augmented Humans the Future of War?

https://thediplomat.com/2021/05/are-augmented-humans-the-future-of-war/

Document Shows Cops Flew Spy Plane to Monitor Civil Rights News Conference

https://www.vice.com/en/article/qj88mw/cops-spy-plane-black-lives-matter-protest-aj-crooms-sincere-pierce

Operation Ivy Bells: How the US Stole Russian Secrets

https://sofrep.com/news/operation-ivy-bells-underwater-espionage-and-politics/

That Mysterious Black Target From Kirtland AFB Was Related To A Program Called TDU-X

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40473/that-mystery-black-target-from-kirtland-afb-was-related-to-a-program-called-tdu-x

To Counter China and Russia in the Pacific, US Must Restore Seaplane Capability

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/07/us-restore-seaplane-capability/

Crazy Cool Video Shows In Detail How The A-10 Thunderbolt’s GAU-8/A Avenger Gatling Gun Works

https://theaviationist.com/2021/05/07/gau-8-video/

Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May. 06

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/z/aerospace-defense-roundup-may-06

Air Tractor, L3Harris launch AT-802U Sky Warden light attack aircraft

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/air-tractor-l3harris-launch-at-802u-sky-warden-light-attack-aircraft/143637.article

Silent Arrow 1-Ton Autonomous Cargo Delivery

http://alert5.com/2021/05/07/silent-arrow-1-ton-autonomous-cargo-delivery/

STRATCOM wants smaller role for nuclear weapons in U.S., Russia, China

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/05/06/STRATCOM-nuclear-threat-China-Russia-workforce-STEM/9211620326967/

B-52 Simulated A Hypersonic Weapon Strike During Massive Alaskan War Games

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40494/b-52-simulated-a-hypersonic-weapon-strike-during-massive-alaskan-war-games

Shadow Warriors Pursuing Next-Gen Surveillance Tech

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/5/7/shadow-warriors-pursuing-next-gen-surveillance-tech

US Army awards FLIR Systems contract for Black Hornet 3 palm-sized UAVs

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-awards-flir-systems-contract-for-black-hornet-3-palm-sized-uavs

The Marine Corps Just Said Goodbye To Its Last Legacy C-130 Hercules Transport Plane

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40482/the-marine-corps-just-said-goodbye-to-its-last-kc-130t-hercules-transport-plane

New F-15EX fighters undergo jamming test in Alaska

https://www.aerotime.aero/27879-new-f-15ex-fighters-undergo-jamming-test-in-alaska

B-1Bs Start To Get Back In The Air After Fleet-Wide Grounding

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40487/b-1bs-start-to-get-back-in-the-air-after-fleet-wide-grounding

A Cold, Foggy U.S. Air Force Base Waits Just 200 Miles From Russia

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/05/07/a-cold-foggy-us-air-force-base-waits-just-200-miles-from-russia/

Global Hawk Drones To Be Retired In Favor Of Secretive Penetrating Spy Aircraft

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40505/global-hawk-drones-to-be-retired-in-favor-of-secretive-penetrating-spy-aircraft

The Definitive Answer On Why F-16s Carry AIM-120 AMRAAMs On Their Wingtip Rails

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40382/the-definitive-answer-on-why-f-16s-carry-aim-120-amraams-on-their-wingtip-rails

Next-Generation Air Combat Training System Enters Limited Production

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/next-generation-air-combat-training-system-enters-limited

The F-35 Stealth Fighter Can Soon Fight In the Dark

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/05/the-f-35-stealth-fighter-can-soon-fight-in-the-dark/

US Navy completes another AARGM-ER flight ahead of first live-fire this year

https://defbrief.com/2021/05/07/us-navy-completes-another-aargm-er-flight-ahead-of-first-live-fire-this-year/

Surplus F-16 Vipers Eyed To Replace Navy Aggressor Squadron’s Legacy F/A-18 Hornets

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40508/surplus-f-16-vipers-eyed-to-replace-navy-aggressor-squadrons-legacy-f-a-18-hornets

US Navy Establishes Flight Demonstration for T-44 Replacement Bidders

https://www.bollyinside.com/news/us-navy-establishes-flight-demonstration-for-t-44-replacement-bidders

U.S. Naval Research Lab to Design UUVs with ‘Shark Skin-Like Surfaces’

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29532/U_S__Naval_Research_Lab_to_Design_UUVs_with____Shark_Skin_Like_Surfaces___

US carrier John C. Stennis starting 4-year nuclear refueling overhaul

https://defbrief.com/2021/05/07/us-carrier-john-c-stennis-starting-4-year-nuclear-refueling-overhaul/

Af/Pak & Other News (5/7/2021)

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