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

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Afghan first vice president welcomes U.S. drawdown, says country is ready to face Taliban

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/afghan-first-vice-president-welcomes-us-drawdown-says-country-is-ready-to-face-taliban/



Taliban captures district in northern Afghanistan; attacks increasing as US pulls out

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210505-taliban-captures-district-in-northern-afghanistan-attacks-increasing-as-us-pulls-out



US report: Taliban will likely curtail Afghan women’s rights

https://apnews.com/article/taliban-womens-rights-government-and-politics-d3ced0ded161b380decfa1c8f012f0f5



60 planeloads of US military equipment leave Afghanistan as drawdown begins, CENTCOM says

https://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/60-planeloads-of-us-military-equipment-leave-afghanistan-as-drawdown-begins-centcom-says-1.672257



US warplanes help Afghan forces fend off Taliban offensive

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210505-us-warplanes-help-afghan-forces-fend-off-taliban-offensive



More B-52 bombers arrive in Middle East to support Afghanistan drawdown

https://defbrief.com/2021/05/05/more-b-52-bombers-arrive-in-middle-east-to-support-afghanistan-drawdown/









India, UK commit to 2030 roadmap for defence co-operation

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/india-uk-commit-to-2030-roadmap-for-defence-co-operation



5 Years Of Submarine Secrecy: India’s Unique Arihant Class Is Still In Hiding

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/05/5-years-of-submarine-secrecy-indias-unique-arihant-class-is-still-in-hiding/









Iranian Forces Blow Up 'U.S. Capitol' in New Video Clip as Nuclear Deal Negotiations Continue

https://www.newsweek.com/iranian-forces-blow-us-capitol-new-video-clip-nuclear-deal-negotiations-continue-1588575



The Nuclear Talks in Vienna are a Sham–And Iran is Winning Them

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/nuclear-talks-vienna-are-sham%E2%80%93and-iran-winning-them-184419



Allied Nations Are Sounding Alarms Over Iran. Will Biden Hear Them?

https://sofrep.com/news/allied-nations-are-sounding-alarms-over-iran-will-biden-hear-them/









Iranian-backed rocket attacks on US increase in Iraq

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iranian-backed-rocket-attacks-on-us-increase-in-iraq-667205



American Troops in Iraq Have Been Pummeled by 3 Attacks in 3 Days. Will Biden Strike Back?

https://www.thedailybeast.com/american-troops-in-iraq-have-been-pummeled-by-3-attacks-in-3-days-will-biden-strike-back



Crash In Iraq Helps Unmask Secretive Ultra-Quiet Special Operations Drone Program

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40255/crash-in-iraq-helps-unmask-secretive-ultra-quiet-special-operations-drone-program



Kurdish leader says he fears Islamic State comeback in Iraq

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-islamic-state/kurdish-leader-says-he-fears-islamic-state-comeback-in-iraq-idUSKBN2CM0XC



Disgraced Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher claims entire platoon agreed to kill captured ISIS fighter: ‘We killed that guy. Our intention was to kill him. Everybody was on board’

https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/ny-eddie-gallagher-navy-seal-podcast-appearance-20210505-3jld5os6rvdrzbvppz7h7qg2pq-story.html









Meeting between Saudi and Syrian intelligence chiefs hints at detente

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/04/meeting-between-saudi-and-syrian-intelligence-chiefs-hints-at-detente




Turkey tests indigenous Hisar-A+ missile from unmanned launch platform

https://defbrief.com/2021/05/05/turkey-tests-indigenous-hisar-a-missile-from-unmanned-launch-platform/



TF-X: Turkey’s Big Plan to Build a Next-Generation Stealth Fighter Jet

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/tf-x-turkey%E2%80%99s-big-plan-build-next-generation-stealth-fighter-jet-184422



Turkey Now Has A High-Speed Missile-Like Drone That’s Launched From A Larger Drone

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40451/turkey-now-has-a-high-speed-missile-like-drone-thats-launched-from-a-larger-drone









One Dead in Israeli Air Strikes Targeting Assad Home Region: Syrian Media

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/05/one-dead-israeli-strikes-latakia-syria/



Syria Says Israeli Raids Target Mediterranean Port Region of Latakia

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-05-04/syria-intercepts-israeli-attacks-near-latakia-on-mediterranean-coast-state-media









On board a small Ukrainian patrol boat challenging Russian naval might

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/04/europe/ukraine-russia-sea-of-azov-tension/index.html



Russian Forces Near Ukraine Are Still a Threat, U.S. Says

https://www.wsj.com/articles/russian-forces-near-ukraine-are-still-a-threat-u-s-says-11620223524



Russia to Test Launch Advanced Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/05/russia-to-test-launch-ballistic-missile/



Russia creates Udar combat ground robot – Part 2

https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/russia_creates_udar_combat_ground_robot_%E2%80%93_part_2.html



Russia Develops AI-Controlled Underwater Swarm Drone System: Source

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/05/russia-underwater-swarm-drone/





EU Seeks Rapid Response Military Force, Two Decades After First Try

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-05-05/eu-seeks-rapid-response-military-force-two-decades-after-first-try



We Have Been To NATO Tiger Meet 2021 And Here Are The Most Interesting Aircraft We Found There.

https://theaviationist.com/2021/05/05/ntm21/




US Army Launches ‘Fires Shock’ Series of Exercises Throughout Europe and North Africa

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/05/05/us-army-launches-fires-shock-series-of-exercises-throughout-europe-and-north-africa/




Sweden’s New Submarine is Probably the World’s Stealthiest

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/sweden%E2%80%99s-new-submarine-probably-world%E2%80%99s-stealthiest-184380




Greece, Saudi Arabia Forge Closer Ties In Shadow of Iran & Turkey

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/05/greece-saudi-arabia-forge-closer-ties-in-shadow-of-iran-turkey/




Iran diplomat's 20-year sentence for France bomb plot confirmed

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210505-iran-diplomat-s-20-year-sentence-for-france-bomb-plot-confirmed



Gadhafi's private jet is back on the move in southern France

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/gadhafi-a340-private-plane-perpignan/index.html




Britain Weaponizes Innovation

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20210505.aspx



British Defence Science and Technology Laboratory Outlines Anti-tank Project Details

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/05/05/british-defence-science-and-technology-laboratory-outlines-anti-tank-project-details/









China plans to revive strategic Pacific airstrip, Kiribati lawmaker says

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-kiribati/exclusive-china-plans-to-revive-strategic-pacific-airstrip-kiribati-lawmaker-says-idUSKBN2CM0IZ



Photos of tanks and armored vehicles in the Himalayas show that China and India's next border showdown could be much deadlier

https://news.yahoo.com/photos-tanks-armored-vehicles-himalayas-124949736.html



China Warplane Violations Near Taiwan Double, Data Shows

https://www.newsweek.com/china-warplane-violations-near-taiwan-double-data-shows-1588476





Washington Weighs Risk of Defending Taiwan Against China

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/05/washington-weighs-risk-defending-taiwan/



U.S. Flew Over Two Spy Planes a Day in South China Sea Throughout April

https://www.newsweek.com/us-flew-over-two-spy-planes-day-south-china-sea-throughout-april-1588730



Pressure and pineapple wars: Taiwan fears quieter Chinese threat as U.S. warns of invasion

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/taiwan-fears-quieter-chinese-threat-u-s-warns-invasion-n1266216





Chinese boats in Yellow Sea alarm South Koreans on island used to spy on North

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3132320/chinese-boats-yellow-sea-alarm-south-koreans-island-used-spy



South Korea Discovers It Can Out-Bully North Korea

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/05/05/south-korea-discovers-it-can-out-bully-north-korea/





Philippines accuses China of ‘dangerous challenges’ near Scarborough Shoal

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3132333/south-china-sea-philippines-accuses-china-dangerous-challenges



Philippines: Going Chinese on the Chinese

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/phillip/articles/20210505.aspx



Japan offers defence tools to Philippines amid China’s claims in South, East China seas

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3132302/japan-offers-defence-tools-philippines-amid-chinas-claims





US eyes using Japan's submarines to 'choke' Chinese navy

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Indo-Pacific/US-eyes-using-Japan-s-submarines-to-choke-Chinese-navy



Type 16: The Future of Japan’s Tank Force Isn’t Really a Tank

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/05/type-16-the-future-of-japans-tank-force-isnt-really-a-tank/






Myanmar coup: Military bans satellite dishes in media crackdown

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/05/05/myanmar-military-bans-satellite-television/7761620215485/



Myanmar’s military disappearing young men to crush uprising

https://apnews.com/article/united-nations-myanmar-technology-e5c0036949f7e7fb8ce1da5884f250a4



Myanmar's anti-junta unity government forms 'defence force'

https://news.trust.org/item/20210505152733-y6cr6/





Why are Australian officials hinting at war with China?

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/05/china/australia-china-war-military-mic-intl-hnk/index.html










Probe Into Handling Of UFO Encounters Launched By Pentagon's Inspector General

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40456/inspector-general-launches-review-of-pentagons-handling-of-ufo-encounters



US Space Force Chief Scientist Says Human Augmentation ‘Imperative’

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/05/us-space-chief-human-augmentation/



NSA, Army Launch ‘Qubit Collaboratory’ to Advance Quantum Information Science

https://www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/2021/05/nsa-army-launch-qubit-collaboratory-advance-quantum-information-science/173808/



Cyberattacks on U.S. Police Departments Are a Huge Overlooked National Security Threat

https://thedebrief.org/cyberattacks-on-u-s-police-departments-are-a-huge-overlooked-national-security-threat/



Top U.S. general warns of 'potential international instability'

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/top-u-s-general-warns-of-potential-international-instability/ar-BB1go0Hg



Report to Congress on State Sponsored Terrorism

https://news.usni.org/2021/05/04/report-to-congress-on-state-sponsored-terrorism



Doxxed Army leaders, spokesmen with no plan, and other details from the latest report on Vanessa Guillén’s disappearance

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/details-army-report-vanessa-guillen/



‘It’s an act of war’: Trump’s acting Pentagon chief urges Biden to tackle directed-energy attacks

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/05/03/acting-pentagon-chief-miller-attacks-485236



KC-10 Tanker Crew Uses 'Pickle Rick' Call Sign, Air Force Not Amused

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a36320755/air-force-crew-uses-rick-and-morty-call-sign-pickle-rick/



Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May. 04

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/z/aerospace-defense-roundup-may-04



New Directed Energy Weapon May Transform Medicine and Warfare

https://thedebrief.org/new-directed-energy-weapon-may-transform-medicine-and-warfare/



Air Force aborts Minuteman III ICBM test

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/05/05/abort-minuteman-ICBM-test-USAF-Vandenberg/3211620230257/



Space National Guard Coming Soon

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/05/05/space-national-guard-coming-soon/



Dream Chaser cleared to land at former Shuttle Landing Facility

http://alert5.com/2021/05/05/dream-chaser-cleared-to-land-at-former-shuttle-landing-facility/



Army to Ditch Legacy Training System for New Simulation Tech

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/5/5/army-to-ditch-legacy-training-system-for-new-simulation-tech



USMC's AAV fleet still sidelined as fixes continue, service leaders say

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/usmcs-aav-fleet-still-sidelined-as-fixes-continue-service-leaders-say



Marines Seeking Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle Prototypes After Unsuccessful Attempts to Replace LAV

https://news.usni.org/2021/05/04/marines-seeking-advanced-reconnaissance-vehicle-prototypes-after-unsuccessful-attempts-to-replace-lav



AeroVironment lays out vision for teaming aerial drones and robotic vehicles

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/aerovironment-lays-out-vision-for-teaming-aerial-drones-and-robotic-vehicles/143596.article



First Human Flight under U.S.A.F.’s Vertical “Flying Cars” Project Okayed

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29512/First_Human_Flight_under_U_S_A_F____s_Vertical____Flying_Cars____Project_Okayed



Colour LITENING targeting pod enters service

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/colour-litening-targeting-pod-enters-service/



Raytheon to build lot-seven StormBreaker air-to-ground missiles with tri-mode seekers for F-35 combat jets

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14202535/airtoground-missiles-trimode-seekers



Air Force testing new capabilities for MQ-9 drone during exercise

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/05/04/MQ9-Reaper-new-capabilities-Alaska-exercise/9751620173872/



New Air Force F-15EX Takes to Sky in Massive War Attack Prep Wargame

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/air/new-air-force-f-15ex-takes-to-sky-in-massive-war-attack-prep-wargame--CFUO823aUmVSW3i9I63SA



US Air Force’s Skyborg “loyal wingman” program hits first flight milestone

https://defbrief.com/2021/05/05/us-air-forces-skyborg-loyal-wingman-program-hits-first-flight-milestone/



Incredible Footage Shows Simulated Pilots Blasting Out Of A T-7A Red Hawk

https://www.hotcars.com/watch-incredible-footage-shows-two-pilots-blasting-out-of-a-t-7a-red-hawk/



Navy reaches out to industry for next-generation electronic warfare technologies for surface warships

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14202614/electronic-warfare-ew-nextgeneration-surface-warships



The Future of Naval Warfare?: Get Ready for Flying Mines

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/future-naval-warfare-get-ready-flying-mines-184317