Af/Pak & Other News (3/31/2021)

[dump...@hotmail.com]

Taliban signal they have already won: report

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/545565-taliban-signal-they-have-already-won-report



Afghanistan Warns of Civil War If US Pulls Out Without Peace Deal

https://www.voanews.com/episode/afghanistan-warns-civil-war-if-us-pulls-out-without-peace-deal-4642586



Report to Congress on U.S. Policy Toward Afghanistan

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/31/report-to-congress-on-u-s-policy-toward-afghanistan









India's future 6 SSNs over 3rd Carrier: Internal Leverage.

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/03/india-prioritizing-6-ssns-over-3rd.html









Iraqi Militia Attacks Against Kurdish Peshmerga Benefit The Islamic State

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2021/03/31/iraqi-militia-attacks-against-kurdish-peshmerga-benefit-the-islamic-state/



A growing challenge for Iraq: Iran-aligned Shiite militias

https://apnews.com/article/iran-middle-east-baghdad-tehran-iraq-ebcc325e288b8dad431c713283eab70c









Watch A Saudi F-15 Fighter Swoop In Low To Blast A Houthi Rebel Drone Out Of The Sky

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39992/watch-a-saudi-f-15-fighter-swoop-in-low-to-blast-a-houthi-rebel-drone-out-of-the-sky



Houthis Step Up Long-Range Drone Attacks On Saudi Oil Facilities

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/03/31/houthis-step-up-long-range-drone-attacks-on-saudi-oil-facilities/



Yemeni govt intelligence report reveals Houthis work closely with al-Qaeda, ISIS

https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/03/31/Yemeni-govt-intelligence-report-reveals-Houthis-work-closely-with-al-Qaeda-ISIS









Who's Leaking About the Israel-Iran Brawl at Sea?

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-who-s-leaking-about-the-israel-iran-brawl-at-sea-1.9668054









Suez Canal: 'Ever Given' crew may be under house arrest, face charges

https://www.jpost.com/international/suez-canal-ever-given-crew-may-be-under-house-arrest-face-charges-663709



In stark warning, Egypt leader says Nile water ‘untouchable’

https://apnews.com/article/sudan-egypt-cairo-middle-east-ethiopia-5180b6b12ebfa8cdaa087c97a158856d



Egypt decides to open new naval base near Libya

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/march/9913-egypt-decide-to-open-new-naval-base-near-libya.html




M60 tanks transferred to Libya

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/m60-tanks-transferred-to-libya




Mali: Reusability Makes A Difference

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htinf/articles/20210331.aspx




U.N. experts alarmed by Russian security contractors' 'abuses' in Central Africa

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-centralafrica-security-russia/u-n-experts-alarmed-by-russian-security-contractors-abuses-in-central-africa-idUSKBN2BN288




Niger government confirms military coup attempt thwarted

https://apnews.com/article/africa-niamey-niger-41a923fe7fde8ff8f24c61c3f749155a




Congo: Return Of The Kings

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/congo/articles/20210331.aspx









Fighting Escalates in Eastern Ukraine, Signaling the End to Another Cease-Fire

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/30/world/europe/ukraine-russia-fighting.html



U.S. official calls buildup of Russian forces near Ukraine border "concerning"

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-troops-ukraine-border-concerning-united-states/



Putin plots Ukraine peace talks without Ukraine

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/putin-plots-ukraine-peace-talks-without-ukraine/



Il-112V completes second flight

http://alert5.com/2021/03/31/il-112v-completes-second-flight/



Russia suspected of stealing thousands of State Department emails

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/30/russia-suspected-emails-478541



Putin's spies are getting sloppy: 'America isn't sending a guy to your house to kill you with a hammer, but the Russians will,' NATO official says

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/putins-spies-are-getting-sloppy-america-isnt-sending-a-guy-to-your-house-to-kill-you-with-a-hammer-but-the-russians-will-nato-official-says/ar-BB1fanQW



Putin’s pipeline of aggression: How the Nord Stream 2 threatens the West

https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/03/31/putins-pipeline-of-aggression-how-the-nord-stream-2-threatens-the-west/



Navalny announces hunger strike after accusing Russian prison of torture

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210331-navalny-announces-hunger-strike-after-accusing-russian-prison-of-torture




NATO Interceptors Scrambled 10 Times In 6 Hours To Shadow Russian Bombers And Fighters Near Alliance Airspace

https://theaviationist.com/2021/03/30/nato-interceptors-scrambled-10-times-in-6-hours-to-shadow-russian-bombers-and-fighters-near-alliance-airspace/




Saab Has Begun Testing 3D Printing To Repair Battle-Damaged Fighter Jets

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39997/saab-has-begun-testing-3d-printing-to-repair-battle-damaged-fighter-jets




Type 212CD: A Stealth Submarine That Could Sink Anything?

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/03/type-212cd-a-stealth-submarine-that-could-sink-anything/




Italy expels Russians after allegedly busting spies with secret files

https://warisboring.com/italy-expels-russians-after-allegedly-busting-spies-with-secret-files/



Naval Officer Busted Selling Top NATO Secrets to Russia for Just $6K

https://www.thedailybeast.com/italian-navy-officer-nabbed-while-selling-nato-secrets-to-russian-agent?ref=home



Astral Knight 2021 to take place at Aviano Air Base in Italy

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/03/30/Astral-Knight-2021-Italy/9751617149197/




How Significant Is Greece’s Growing Military Cooperation With The UAE And Saudi Arabia?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2021/03/31/how-significant-is-greeces-growing-military-cooperation-with-the-uae-and-saudi-arabia/




RAF retires Sentinel

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/raf-retires-sentinel



British Ministry of Defence announces plans to address climate change

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/03/30/uk-British-military-climate-change-report/8571617146414/









Brazilian Heads of Army, Navy and Air Force Resign as President Jair Bolsonaro Tightens Control

https://www.newsweek.com/brazilian-heads-army-navy-air-force-resign-president-jair-bolsonaro-tightens-control-1579948









What a Change in China’s Officer Rank and Grade System Tells Us About PLA Reform

https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/what-a-change-in-chinas-officer-rank-and-grade-system-tells-us-about-pla-reform/



Shenyang hints at a carrier-based version of FC-31 fighter jet

https://www.aerotime.aero/27581-shenyang-hints-carrier-based-version-of-fc-31-fighter-jet



PLA Chinese army commissions new type robot for bomb disposal

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_march_2021_global_security_army_industry/pla_chinese_army_commissions_new_type_robot_for_bomb_disposal.html



China Launches A New Long-Range Anti-Submarine Detection Ship

http://www.hisutton.com/Chinese-Navy-Type-927-Anti-Submarine-Sonar-Ship.html



China's Military Preparing for U.S. Intervention in Taiwan Strait

https://www.newsweek.com/chinas-military-preparing-us-intervention-taiwan-strait-1579788





Philippines Says Chinese Ships ‘Swarming’ Area Around Disputed Spratly Islands

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/31/philippines-says-chinese-ships-swarming/





North Koreans routinely witness fatalities during military service, survey says

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/03/30/nkorea-North-Korea-military-death-witness/7081617124128/



Satellite image shows renewed activity at North Korean nuclear lab

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/satellite-image-shows-renewed-activity-at-north-korean-nuclear-lab/ar-BB1f8vMq





Hanwha preparing its new ground robot for big military test

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/hanwha-preparing-its-new-ground-robot-for-big-military-test.html





‘Myanmar Military a Terrorist Group,’ Says Advisory Council

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/30/myanmar-military-terrorist-group/





The World’s Weirdest Aircraft Carrier Just Reappeared Near Singapore

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/03/31/the-worlds-weirdest-aircraft-carrier-just-reappeared-near-singapore/





Australia unveils A$1B plan to develop own guided missiles

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/31/australia-unveils-a1b-plan-to-develop-own-guided-missiles/










We Are in a Shadow Cyberwar With China: Adm. Stavridis

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/we-are-in-a-shadow-cyberwar-with-china-adm-stavridis/vi-BB1f86BM



New Warp Drive Model Requires No ‘Exotic Matter,’ Scientists Say We Can Build It

https://thedebrief.org/new-warp-drive-model-requires-no-exotic-matter-scientists-say-we-can-build-it/



Child Unknowingly Tweets From US Nuclear Command’s Account

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/31/us-nuclear-commands-tweet/



G. Gordon Liddy, Watergate mastermind, dead at 90

https://apnews.com/article/g-gordon-liddy-dead-d64dac896ea0c73e19079b19e171cf21



U.S. Special Operations Command Paid $500,000 to Secretive Location Data Firm

https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3vjxj/anomaly-6-six-special-operations-command



Should USSOCOM be its own military branch? A Navy SEAL weighs in

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/should-ussocom-be-its-own-military-branch-a-navy-seal-weighs-in/



The World's Most Secretive 737 Just Showed Its Bizarre Self Over The Mojave Desert

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40003/the-worlds-most-secretive-737-just-showed-its-bizarre-self-over-the-mojave-desert



Citadel secures a $5 million counter-drone contract from the US DoD

https://dronedj.com/2021/03/31/citadel-secures-a-5-million-counter-drone-contract-from-the-us-dod/



Martin UAV unveils V-BAT 128

https://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/unmanned/article/14200434/martin-uav-unveils-vbat-128



US Army lab and University of Central Florida optimize 3D printing process

https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/us_army_lab_and_university_of_central_florida_optimize_3d_printing_process.html



US Army to Undertake Final Testing of ‘Robotic Mule’ Unmanned Vehicle

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/30/us-army-testing-robotic-mules/



The Army is buying thousands of the 'awesome' new rifle that is fast becoming the sniper weapon of choice for the US military

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-army-buying-thousands-of-awesome-new-sniper-rifles-2021-3



Navy Ships, F-35s, Missiles & Robots Planned for Army Project Convergence '21

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/land/navy-ships-f-35s-missiles-robots-planned-for-army-project-convergence-21-NYmjQdtaQke1KcBymjHv-A



US Air Force proves it can transport a ‘flying car’ on a C-130. Now for the fun part.

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/03/31/us-air-force-proves-it-can-transport-a-flying-car-on-a-c-130-now-for-the-fun-part/



Three New F-35 Squadrons To Be Based At Florida's Previously Storm-Ravaged Tyndall Air Force Base

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39991/now-its-official-three-new-f-35-squadrons-for-floridas-tyndall-air-force-base



US Navy to Establish Unmanned Vessel Division

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/31/us-navy-unmanned-vessel-division/



Navy’s Plans Call For New Drones To Shoot, Spy, Jam

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/03/navys-emerging-plans-call-for-new-drones-to-shoot-spy-jam/



The Navy’s plan to replace the Super Hornet by the 2030s

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-navys-plan-to-replace-the-super-hornet-by-the-2030s/



Navy’s Next-Generation Air Dominance Program to Mix Manned, Unmanned Systems

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/3/30/navys-next-generation-air-dominance-program-to-be-family-of-manned-unmanned-systems



Navy: NGAD Will be Family of Systems, Super Hornet Replacement Likely a Manned Fighter

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/30/navy-ngad-will-be-family-of-systems-super-hornet-replacement-likely-a-manned-fighter



USN says new small aircraft carrier unnecessary, L-class ships sufficient

http://alert5.com/2021/03/31/usn-says-new-small-aircraft-carrier-unnecessary-l-class-ships-sufficient/

[a425couple]

On 3/31/2021 10:54 AM, a425couple wrote:

> On 3/31/2021 10:38 AM, dump...@hotmail.com wrote:
>> Taliban signal they have already won: report
>>

> SNIP

>>
>> Watch A Saudi F-15 Fighter Swoop In Low To Blast A Houthi Rebel Drone
>> Out Of The Sky
>>
>> https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39992/watch-a-saudi-f-15-fighter-swoop-in-low-to-blast-a-houthi-rebel-drone-out-of-the-sky
>>
>>
>

> "The Qasef-1, a suicide drone derived from the Iranian Ababil-2, and the
> improved Qasef-2K, are Houthi staples that the Yemeni rebels have been
> actively using for years now. The exact differences between the Qasef-1,
> which has an estimated range of around 124 miles, and the Qasef-2K are
> not entirely clear."
>
> from
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HESA_Ababil
>
> General characteristics
>
> Crew: none
> Capacity: 40 kg payload
> Length: 2.88 m (9 ft 5 in)
> Wingspan: 3.25 m (10 ft 8 in)
> Height: 0.91 m (3 ft 0 in)
> Wing area: 1.76 m2 (18.9 sq ft)
>
> Combat range: 120 km (75 mi, 65 nmi)
> Endurance: 1 ¼ – 2 hr

>
>> Houthis Step Up Long-Range Drone Attacks On Saudi Oil Facilities
>>
>> https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/03/31/houthis-step-up-long-range-drone-attacks-on-saudi-oil-facilities/
>>
>>
>> Yemeni govt intelligence report reveals Houthis work closely with
>> al-Qaeda, ISIS
>>
>> https://english.alarabiya.net/News/gulf/2021/03/31/Yemeni-govt-intelligence-report-reveals-Houthis-work-closely-with-al-Qaeda-ISIS
>>
>>

"Of course, this problematic cost differential is not new. In 2017, a
U.S. Army general had publicly talked about this issue, describing how
an unspecified U.S. ally, possibly Israel, had shot down a
quadcopter-type drone of the kind anyone can purchase online for
hundreds of dollars with a Patriot missile worth millions.

More recently, U.S. Marine Corps General Frank McKenzie, the current
head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), has said on multiple occasions
he believes that small drones represent a growing, outsized threat
relative to their cost and that the U.S. military is presently on the
"wrong side" of that equation. The U.S. military is very likely watching
closely how Saudi Arabia deals with Houthi drones, as well as their
cruise missiles, as it works to refine and expand its own capabilities
to engage similar threats, especially in airspace over and around the
United States.

Those developments aside, the U.S. military, among many others, is still
very much grappling now with how to counter these very real threats in a
cost-effective manner. This, together with the relatively low monetary
and skill barriers to the employment of lower-end drones, including
hobbyist types modified to carry improvised munitions, to begin with,
makes them very attractive to non-state actors, including terrorists and
organized criminal enterprises. Spending millions of dollars to defeat a
steady stream of drones that cost thousands of dollars is just not a
sustainable proposition in the long term.

This is certainly a reality that Saudis will only have increasingly
contend with, especially as the Houthis have been notably stepping up
drone and missile attacks on the Kingdom in recent months. "