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

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Afghan Air Force Won't be Combat Effective 'Within Months' if Advisers Leave, IG Report Says

https://www.aviationpros.com/aircraft/defense/news/21212575/afghan-air-force-wont-be-combat-effective-within-months-if-advisers-leave-ig-report-says



The Afghan Deputy And The Mystery Of The Smuggled Gold Bars

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/katawazai-afghanistan-tajikistan-smuggling-cash-gold/31129997.html









Indian ISTAR spy plane deal remains on track

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2021/03/indian-istar-spy-plane-deal-remains-on-track/



Indian Air Force to participate in Desert Flag in UAE

http://alert5.com/2021/03/03/indian-air-force-to-participate-in-desert-flag-in-uae/









Facebook took down fake Iranian, Russian networks pushing political messages around the globe

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/social-media/facebook-took-down-fake-iranian-russian-networks-pushing-political-messages-n1259441









Rockets strike Iraqi base housing US troops ahead of Pope Francis visit

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2021/03/03/rockets-strike-iraq-pope-francis-visit-united-states-troops/6900529002/



Longer-Range Rockets Used In New Attack On Al Asad Air Base In Iraq Point To Iran

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39579/longer-range-rockets-used-in-new-attack-on-al-asad-air-base-in-iraq-points-to-iran



U.S. contractor dies of "cardiac episode" after rockets hit Iraq airbase

https://www.axios.com/rockets-hit-iraq-air-base-hosting-us-troops-00e4a5bb-c37e-4463-8359-85d8a1bc55fb.html



Rockets hit Iraqi base with US troops less than a week after Biden officials said Syria strikes would 'de-escalate' tensions in the region

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-troops-iraq-biden-admin-said-syria-strikes-deescalate-2021-3



Militias in Iraq Provide Security, Wield Political Power, and May Be Tearing the Country Apart

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/03/militias-iraq-provide-security-wield-political-power-and-may-be-tearing-country-apart/172390/



EXPLAINER: Pope’s risky Iraq trip aims to boost Christians

https://apnews.com/article/pope-iraq-trip-explained-c12a15c5cce65c6edd4856567fcc7e7f









Israeli-owned cargo ship back at sea after suspected attack

https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-dubai-iran-united-arab-emirates-persian-gulf-tensions-35df345ef7dab13809381048e0d48e60




Court docs reveal Saudi wealth fund courted by Hollywood and Wall Street owned planes used in Jamal Khashoggi's killing

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/court-docs-reveal-saudi-wealth-fund-courted-by-hollywood-and-wall-street-owned-planes-used-in-jamal-khashoggis-killing/ar-BB1ecx2b



Houthis say they've seized majority control of key city in Yemen

https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/03/middleeast/houthis-marib-yemen-intl/index.html









Biden still hasn’t briefed top senators on Syria airstrike as Dems fume

https://nypost.com/2021/03/03/biden-still-hasnt-briefed-top-senators-on-syria-airstrike/



U.S. Likely To Deploy Avenger Air Defense Systems In Syria And Iraq To Combat Drones

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2021/03/03/us-likely-to-deploy-avenger-air-defense-systems-in-syria-and-iraq-to-combat-drones/



Criminal Inquiries Loom Over al-Assad’s Use of Chemical Arms in Syria

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/02/world/europe/syria-chemical-weapons-assad.html



Attacks on health care in Syria take ‘catastrophic’ toll: IRC

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/3/attacks-on-health-care-in-syria-take-catastrophic-toll-irc









'M-346 is very similar to fighters,' says Israeli Air Force

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/03/israeli-m346-lavi-trainer-jet.html



Mediterranean oil spill is ‘eco-terrorism’ by Iran, Israel says

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/the-ship-behind-oil-spill-found-environmental-protection-minister-says-660817









Additional Lurssen patrol boats joins Egypt’s Naval fleet

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/03/additional-lurssen-patrol-boats-joins-egypts-naval-fleet




Morocco sees Sahel jihadists as magnet for local cells

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-morocco-security/morocco-sees-sahel-jihadists-as-magnet-for-local-cells-idUSKBN2AV1QQ




South Sudan Plane Crash Kills All 10 On Board

https://www.voanews.com/africa/south-sudan-plane-crash-kills-all-10-board




Nigeria: The Game Of Gangsters

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/nigeria/articles/20210303.aspx



Ocea will soon deliver two C-Falcon interceptors to the Nigerian Navy

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/march/9772-ocea-will-soon-deliver-two-c-falcon-interceptors-to-the-nigerian-navy.html



Jihadis attack town, humanitarian posts in northeast Nigeria

https://apnews.com/article/world-news-nigeria-islamic-state-group-7a2edf68f155a9e38d85113886f0a346









Russia’s Mythical MiG-41 Stealth Jet: Does It Really Exist?

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/03/russias-mythical-mig-41-stealth-jet-does-it-really-exist/



Russia's most high-tech multi-purpose nuclear sub further delayed

https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2021/03/russias-most-high-tech-multi-purpose-nuclear-sub-further-delayed



Russian Navy’s Project 23900 LHDs Taking Shape in Kerch

https://navalpost.com/zaliv-kerch-project-23900-udc-amphibous-assault-ship/



Russia Revives Its Coast Defenses

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20210303.aspx



Russia Might Have Lost Over 100 Nuclear Weapons

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/03/russia-might-have-lost-over-100-nuclear-weapons/



Kremlin Huffs, Navalny Allies Fret: How Biden's New Russia Sanctions Are Going Down In Moscow

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-sanctions-navalny-reaction/31131665.html




Azerbaijan: Israeli Barak-8 missile shot down Russian Iskander missile

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2021/03/israeli-barak-8-missile-shot-down-russian-iskander-missile/




Someone bombed a COVID-19 testing site, and Dutch police fear anti-lockdown protesters may have turned to terrorism

https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-testing-bomb-has-netherlands-worried-about-lockdown-terrorism-2021-3




Denmark showcases first F-35A unique livery

https://www.aerotime.aero/27390-denmark-showcases-first-f-35a-unique-livery




Germany's special forces look the other way on missing weapons

https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-special-forces-look-the-other-way-on-missing-weapons/a-56750159



German spies step up surveillance of far-right AfD: Der Spiegel

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-security-afd/german-spies-step-up-surveillance-of-far-right-afd-der-spiegel-idUSKBN2AV1M3



MBDA awarded 1st contract for new Albatros NG missile system

https://navalpost.com/mbda-awarded-1st-contract-for-new-albatros-ng-system/




Macron reveals more torture by French army in Algeria war

https://apnews.com/article/paris-emmanuel-macron-algeria-france-f24981e8a40de1e37ecdc2a4fbdb4335



French agency reports exploits by hackers of Centreon software

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/french-agency-reports-exploits-by-hackers-of-centreon-software




How US nuclear missiles found a base in Scotland

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56124183









Venezuela: Aviación Militar Bolivariana Embraer T-27 Tucano Trainer Aircraft Makes A Force Landing In The Farm

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/aviacion-militar-bolivariana-embraer-t-27-tucano-trainer-aircraft-makes-a-force-landing-in-the-farm/24572/




Colombia Military Attack Kills 10 FARC Guerillas

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/03/colombia-kills-10-farc-guerillas/









China Has A Nuclear-War Schoolhouse—It’s Getting A Lot Bigger

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/03/03/china-has-a-nuclear-war-schoolhouse-its-getting-a-lot-bigger/



More stretched Type 052D destroyers join the PLA Navy

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/more-stretched-type-052d-destroyers-join-the-pla-navy



‘The East Is Rising’: Xi Maps Out China’s Post-Covid Ascent

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/03/world/asia/xi-china-congress.html



Leaked Chinese report suggests it is forcing Uighurs to take jobs thousands of miles away to change the demographics of their homeland

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/leaked-chinese-report-suggests-it-is-forcing-uighurs-to-take-jobs-thousands-of-miles-away-to-change-the-demographics-of-their-homeland/ar-BB1eca9i



Microsoft accuses 'state-backed' Chinese hackers over email cyber attacks

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business-daily/20210303-microsoft-accuses-state-backed-chinese-hackers-over-email-cyber-attacks



China and South Korea open new lines of communication to cut the chance of a military mishap

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3123939/china-and-south-korea-open-new-lines-communication-cut-chance





How France's navy is steering between China and the US in the South China Sea

https://www.businessinsider.com/french-navy-steers-between-china-us-in-south-china-sea-2021-3



Taiwan's T-5 advanced jet trainer to begin operational testing

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/taiwans-t-5-advanced-jet-trainer-to-begin-operational-testing



South China Sea: Taiwan fires up missile tests to coincide with Beijing’s month of military drills

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3123885/south-china-sea-taiwan-fires-missile-tests-coincide-beijings





North Korea is the most isolated country on the planet, but it still finds ways to steal billions of dollars

https://news.yahoo.com/north-korea-most-isolated-country-140411274.html



Pentagon concerned by U.N. report indicating possible North Korea nuclear reprocessing

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-usa-nuclear/pentagon-concerned-by-u-n-report-indicating-possible-north-korea-nuclear-reprocessing-idUSKCN2AU2RZ



Could North Korea Soon Field Advanced Stealth Drones?

https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/could-north-korea-soon-field-advanced-stealth-drones/





KAI and IAI sign deal to offer loitering munitions, MUM-T systems to RoK military

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/kai-and-iai-sign-deal-to-offer-loitering-munitions-mum-t-systems-to-rok-military





Japan launches lead Mogami-class FFM frigate

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/03/japan-launches-lead-mogami-class-ffm-frigate/





Royal Thai Air Force to upgrade Gripen C/D combat aircraft to MS20 standard

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/royal-thai-air-force-to-upgrade-gripen-cd-combat-aircraft-to-ms20-standard





Reports: Myanmar security forces kill at least 34 protesters

https://apnews.com/article/myanmar-security-forces-kill-at-least-33-e378d9bc703f7363c71ca639d47df738





Australia makes another order for Boeing’s Loyal Wingman drones after a successful first flight

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/03/02/australia-makes-another-order-for-boeing-made-loyal-wingman-drones-after-a-successful-first-flight/



Boeing Is Adapting Its Australian Combat Drone For The U.S. Air Force's Skyborg Program

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39560/boeing-is-adapting-its-australian-combat-drone-for-the-u-s-air-forces-skyborg-program





Singapore: World's first supersonic unmanned combat aerial vehicle that reaches speeds of Mach 2.1 officially launches with a $16 million price tag

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-9313025/Worlds-supersonic-unmanned-combat-aerial-vehicle-reaches-speeds-Mach-2-1.html



War Of The Wingmen: New Robot Fighters Weigh In

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/03/03/war-of-the-wingmen-new-robot-fighters-weigh-in/










Spotting UFOs: Do-it-yourself sky surveillance comes online

https://www.space.com/spotting-ufos-sky-hub-surveillance



Behold The Blue Angels And Thunderbirds' New 'Super Delta' Mega Formation

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39561/blue-angels-and-thunderbirds-join-forces-in-a-new-super-delta-mega-formation



Freedom House: Global Decline In Democracy Has 'Accelerated'

https://www.rferl.org/a/freedom-house-annual-report-democracy-declines-/31130731.html



Bellingcat Has Revealed War Crimes in Syria and Unmasked Russian Assassins. Founder Eliot Higgins Says He's Just Getting Started

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bellingcat-has-revealed-war-crimes-in-syria-and-unmasked-russian-assassins-founder-eliot-higgins-says-hes-just-getting-started/ar-BB1eabZh?ocid=BingNews



U.S. ‘Not Prepared To Defend Or Compete’ With China On AI According To Commission Report

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39559/national-security-commission-warns-u-s-is-not-prepared-to-defend-or-compete-with-china-on-ai



Pentagon Report Assessed Lasers and Radar to Detect 'Deception'

https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3v9k5/pentagon-report-assessed-lasers-and-radar-to-detect-deception



Lockheed Martin, Google in DARPA Team for Automatic Identification of Falsified Media

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29093/Lockheed_Martin__Google_in_DARPA_Team_for_Automatic_Identification_of_Falsified_Media



Senate Intel unanimously approves Burns to be CIA director

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/02/senate-approves-burns-cia-472685



US militia group draws members from military and police, website leak shows

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/mar/03/us-militia-membership-military-police-american-patriot-three-percenter-website-leak



Air Force shifts to operational camouflage, allows shorts on hot days

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/03/02/air-force-uniform-changes/6731614710712/



Here Are The First Photos Of The US F-35B (With Special Tail Marking) Operating Aboard Italy’s Aircraft Carrier Cavour

https://theaviationist.com/2021/03/03/here-are-the-first-photos-of-the-us-f-35b-with-special-tail-marking-operating-aboard-italys-aircraft-carrier-cavour/



Podcast: Interview with Inspiration4’s Civilian Commander

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/space/podcast-interview-inspiration4s-civilian-commander



The Marines' New CH-53K Helicopter Isn't Allowed To Spend More Than 70 Seconds In A Dust Cloud

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39528/the-marines-new-ch-53k-helicopter-isnt-allowed-to-spend-more-than-70-seconds-in-a-dust-cloud



Numerica develops new 3D radar for Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/numerica-develops-new-3d-radar-for-counter-unmanned-aircraft-systems.html



The Pentagon Fears That Deadly Microwave Weapons Are Undetectable

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpeck/2021/03/02/the-pentagon-fears-that-deadly-microwave-weapons-are-undetectable/



Scientists Want to Destroy Zombie Satellites With Lasers. What Could Go Wrong?

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/a35561884/scientists-want-to-destroy-space-junk-satellites-with-lasers/



FTUAS: Army Blown Away By New Drones (In Rain)

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/ftuas-army-blown-away-by-new-drones-in-rain/



Air Force F-15Es Train To Launch Cruise Missiles Over The Baltic Sea

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39551/air-force-f-15es-trained-to-launch-cruise-missiles-in-the-baltic-region-during-major-exercise



BAE Systems Receives $58M Contract to Start LRIP of F-15 EPAWSS for U.S. Air Force

https://defpost.com/bae-systems-receives-58m-contract-to-start-lrip-of-f-15-epawss-for-u-s-air-force/



MDA says Alaska-based missile defense radar will be operational in 2021

https://www.defensenews.com/pentagon/2021/03/02/mda-says-alaska-based-missile-defense-radar-will-be-operational-in-2021/



The U.S. Marine Corp Wants Kamikaze Bombs To Battle China in a War

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/us-marine-corp-wants-kamikaze-bombs-battle-china-war-179190



F-15E Strike Eagles May Have Yet Another Role: Smart Bomb Transporter

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39553/f-15e-strike-eagles-may-have-yet-another-role-smart-bomb-transporter



Coast Guard Ship Modernization Under Full Steam

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/3/3/coast-guard-ship-modernization-under-full-steam



Navy Builds Expeditionary Fast Transport Ships To Move Tanks, Weapons and Troops

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/sea/navy-builds-expeditionary-fast-transport-ships-to-move-tanks-weapons-and-troops-NeGFWMMvIE2dDE-L6sQORg



DARPA selects L3Harris for NOMARS autonomous ship program

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/02/darpa-selects-l3harris-for-nomars-autonomous-ship-program/