Af/Pak & Other News (3/9/2021)

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The Biden administration’s leaked Afghanistan peace plan, explained

https://www.vox.com/2021/3/8/22319420/afghanistan-blinken-letter-leak-peace-plan



Russia to host another round of talks on Afghanistan

https://apnews.com/article/world-news-afghanistan-qatar-doha-moscow-fe6f384b959ff4e4b9fb82698b90c31c



The Pakistani Taliban is Back

https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/the-pakistani-taliban-is-back/



Deadly threats persist: deaths from terrorist activity up 20%, says Janes

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/deadly-threats-persist-deaths-from-terrorist-activity-up-20-says-janes









What prompted India-Pakistan ceasefire pact along Kashmir border?

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/9/will-the-india-pakistan-ceasefire-pact-along-kashmir-border-hold



As Indian DRDO Aims For Hypersonic Missiles, Expert Predicts Three Complications In The New-Gen Missiles

https://eurasiantimes.com/indian-missile-expert-predicts-three-complications-from-hypersonic-weapons/



India’s Fuel Cell based AIP System Crosses Important Milestone

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/03/indias-fuel-cell-based-aip-system-crosses-important-milestone/



Indian Navy Submarines Move Closer To AIP Game Changer

http://www.hisutton.com/Indian-Navy-DRDO-AIP-Submarines.html









Iran: Bracing For Another Revolution

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/iran/articles/20210309.aspx



Analysis: Iran slips record volume of oil into China, reaches out to Asian clients for trade resumption

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-oil-iran-asia-analysis-idUKKBN2B00OL



Iran Enriching Uranium With 'More Advanced Centrifuges' At Natanz

https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-enriching-uranium-advanced-centrifuges-natanz/31140239.html



Top Pentagon strategist says Iran nukes 'probable'

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/mar/9/james-h-baker-pentagon-strategist-says-iran-nukes-/



Iran's Hardline Generals Line up to Replace Hassan Rouhani as President

https://www.newsweek.com/iran-hardline-generals-line-replace-hassan-rouhani-president-irgc-1574794



How Mossad turned the IAEA around on Iran with evidence - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/the-iaea-mossad-iran-dance-analysis-661468









Airstrike kills 10 Daesh militants in Nineveh, north of Iraq

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1822441/middle-east









Omani Lynx helicopters landed on a U.S. warship for the first time

http://alert5.com/2021/03/09/omani-lynx-helicopters-landed-on-a-u-s-warship-for-the-first-time/




Biden wants the Yemen war to end. One expert says his actions may be making it worse

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/biden-wants-the-yemen-war-to-end-one-expert-says-his-actions-may-be-making-it-worse/ar-BB1eoIrt



Why are the Houthis Stepping Up Attacks Against Saudi Arabia?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/middle-east-watch/why-are-houthis-stepping-attacks-against-saudi-arabia-179723









Shock and Awe: The air war against the Islamic State

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/shock-and-awe-the-air-war-against-the-islamic-state/



The Women Who Helped Topple the Caliphate

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/02/15/daughters-of-kobani-review-female-kurdish-fighters-isis/




Lebanese commander warns of funding crisis

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/lebanese-commander-warns-of-funding-crisis









Israeli Defense Minister Surreptitiously Reveals Hezbollah Locations in Lebanon

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/03/israeli-defense-minister-surreptitiously-reveals-hezbollah-locations-in-lebanon.php









Stabilizing Libya remains a ‘strategic priority’ for Italy

https://warisboring.com/stabilizing-libya-remains-a-strategic-priority-for-italy/




Remote C.I.A. Base in the Sahara Steadily Grows

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/08/us/politics/cia-drones-sahara-niger-libya.html




AFRICOM: airstrikes will now require White House approval

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/03/africom-airstrikes-will-now-require-white-house-approval




Nigerian A-29 Super Tucano in jungle paint scheme debut

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/09/nigerian-a-29-super-tucano-in-jungle-paint-scheme-debut/




Kripri For Kenya

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htun/articles/20210309.aspx









Soviet Russia's forgotten high-speed AIP submarine

http://www.hisutton.com/Pr617_AIP_submarine.html



Kremlin alarmed by report on planned US cyberattack on Russia

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/9/kremlin-alarmed-by-nyt-report-on-planned-us-cyberattack-on-russia



Russia and China agree to build joint lunar space station

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210309-russia-and-china-agree-to-build-joint-moon-space-station



Russian Hackers Currently Targeted In Mysterious Cyberwar

https://thedebrief.org/russian-hackers-currently-targeted-in-mysterious-cyberwar/




B-1B Bomber Makes Arctic Pit Stop For The First Time

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39675/b-1b-bomber-makes-arctic-pit-stop-for-the-first-time




France to speed up declassification of secret archives on Algeria War

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210309-france-to-speed-up-declassification-of-secret-archives-on-algeria-war



Nexter introduces new ‘Shard’ anti-tank dart ammunition

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/09/nexter-introduces-new-shard-anti-tank-dart-ammunition/



French Rafale Performs First Operational Flight With Live Meteor Beyond Visual Range Air-To-Air Missiles

https://theaviationist.com/2021/03/09/french-rafale-performs-first-operational-flight-with-live-meteor-beyond-visual-range-air-to-air-missiles/



France conducts first military drills in space

https://www.spacewar.com/reports/France_conducts_first_military_drills_in_space_999.html



French nuclear tests infected 'almost entire Polynesian population': report

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210309-french-nuclear-tests-infected-almost-entire-polynesian-population-report




With Its Mix-And-Match Trainer Design, A U.K. Startup Aims To Create Defense Aviation-As-A-Service

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2021/03/09/with-its-mix-and-match-trainer-design-a-uk-startup-aims-to-create-defense-aviation-as-a-service/



UK’s modular trainer ready to soar, says Aeralis boss

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/uks-modular-trainer-ready-to-soar-says-aeralis-boss/142789.article



UK FCAS programme poised to enter concept and assessment phase

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/uk-fcas-programme-poised-to-enter-concept-and-assessment-phase/142802.article



UK Royal Navy trials radar new bathymetry software

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/uk-royal-navy-trials-radar-new-bathymetry-software



British Armed Forces Poised To Make Big Cuts To F-35 Plans And More

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39658/british-armed-forces-poised-to-make-big-cuts-to-f-35-plans-and-more



British overseas territories 'should be used to counter China space threat'

https://www.yahoo.com/news/british-overseas-territories-used-counter-181141820.html









Despite disengagement, Chinese PLA enhancing intelligence, surveillance along Indian borders: Report

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/despite-disengagement-chinese-pla-enhancing-intelligence-surveillance-along-indian-borders-report/729907



China Could Have Sixth-generation Fighter Jets Before America: Top USAF Official

https://fighterjetsworld.com/air/china-could-have-sixth-generation-fighter-jets-before-america-top-usaf-official/24609/



US admiral says China fired its carrier killer missiles last summer to send an 'unmistakable message'

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-admiral-says-china-fired-its-carrier-killer-missiles-last-summer-to-send-an-unmistakable-message/ar-BB1epY4c



Panel: China Copied Silicon Valley’s Model to Outpace the Pentagon in Weapon Development

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/08/panel-china-copied-silicon-valleys-model-to-outpace-the-pentagon-in-weapon-development



China's military is keeping a close eye on the US's development of a new, advanced fighter jet

https://www.businessinsider.com/chinas-military-watching-us-new-advanced-ngad-fighter-jet-2021-3



Chinese hackers targeted SolarWinds customers in parallel with Russian op

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/03/chinese-hackers-targeted-solarwinds-customers-in-parallel-with-russian-op/



China Stole the Designs of the F-22 Stealth Fighter (And More)

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/03/chinas-stole-the-designs-of-the-f-22-stealth-fighter-and-more/



Report: China's treatment of Uighurs breaches U.N. genocide convention

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/03/09/china-report-China-committing-genocide-against-Uighurs/2181615274013/



China Expands Tracking of Online Comments to Include Citizens Overseas

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/china-expands-tracking-online-comments-include-citizens-overseas



Davidson: China Could Try to Take Control of Taiwan In ‘Next Six Years’

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/09/davidson-china-could-try-to-take-control-of-taiwan-in-next-six-years





Pyongyang Prepares for Another Parade

https://www.38north.org/2021/03/pyongyang-prepares-for-another-parade/



French Navy Busts Illegal Oil Transfer during North Korea Embargo Enforcement Mission

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/03/french-navy-busts-illegal-oil-transfer-during-north-korea-embargo-enforcement-mission/





Anger after Indonesia offers Elon Musk Papuan island for SpaceX launchpad

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/10/anger-after-indonesia-offers-elon-musk-papuan-island-for-spacex-launchpad





Royal Malaysian Navy inaugurates UAS squadron

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/royal-malaysian-navy-inaugurates-uas-squadron





Philippines has started training 10 officers to operate the SPYDER air defense missile system

http://alert5.com/2021/03/10/philippines-has-started-training-10-officers-to-operate-the-spyder-air-defense-missile-system/





Myanmar Protesters Cornered by Military in Attempt to Quash Dissent

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/myanmar-protesters-cornered-military-attempt-quash-dissent



'Shoot till they are dead': Some Myanmar police say fled to India after refusing orders

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics-india-exclusive/exclusive-shoot-till-they-are-dead-some-myanmar-police-say-fled-to-india-after-refusing-orders-idUSKBN2B12U2





Japan open to deploying soldiers to Senkaku Islands, report says

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/03/08/Japan-Senkaku-deploy-soldiers-Japan/8181615228369/











Pentagon extends National Guard presence at Capitol through May 23

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/542445-pentagon-approves-national-guard-presence-at-capitol-through-may-23



Wait, This Mysterious Heavily-Armored Blue Train Caboose Belongs To The Navy?

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39654/wait-this-mysterious-heavily-armored-blue-train-caboose-belongs-to-the-navy



USAF E-4B fleet to receive 'game changing' modifications

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/03/usaf-e-4b-fleet-receive-modifications.html



Nellis Air Force Base begins noisy Red Flag exercises

https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2021/03/08/prc-nellis-air-force-base-begins-noisy-red-flag-exercises/#.YEbjEy1h3zU



Whispers from Wargames About the Gray Zone

https://warontherocks.com/2021/03/whispers-from-wargames-about-the-gray-zone/




Indo-Pacom Seeks Billions to Move Forces ‘West of International Dateline’

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/3/8/breaking-indopacom-seeks-billions-to-move-forces-west-of-international-dateline



Robotic Dog “Zeus” Spotted At Recent SpaceX Crash Site

https://thedebrief.org/robotic-dog-zeus-spotted-at-recent-spacex-crash-site/



Army Trains AI to Identify Faces in the Dark

https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/aerospace/military/army-trains-ai-to-identify-faces-in-the-dark



Strategic Long-Range Cannon effort on hold ahead of report

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/03/09/strategic-long-range-cannon-effort-in-holding-pattern-ahead-of-tech-feasibility-report/



US Army National Guard opens new air ground ‘digital range’ in Idaho

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/09/us-army-national-guard-opens-new-air-ground-digital-range-in-idaho/



The Army’s new ISV is built for speed, not comfort

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-armys-new-isv-is-built-for-speed-not-comfort/



Are U.S. Special Forces Quietly Using Armed Robots?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/03/09/are-us-special-forces-quietly-using-armed-robots/



SOCOM Shows Interest in Hybrid, AI-Enabled Vehicles

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/3/9/socom-shows-interest-in-hybrid-ai-enabled-vehicles



Honeywell Reveals APU-Based Hybrid-Electric Power Plan

https://aviationweek.com/special-topics/sustainability/honeywell-reveals-apu-based-hybrid-electric-power-plan



Laser Weapons Are Here .. What About Laser Communications Sending Drone Video?

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/future-weapons/laser-weapons-are-here-what-about-laser-communications-sending-drone-video-wmXt5qpzbkaMigVIS8P-MQ



This Air Force rifle can fit in an ejection seat (and you can buy one too…sort of)

https://www.wearethemighty.com/popular/air-force-rifle-gau-5a/



US Air Force looks at air-to-air combat technologies for next-generation UAVs

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/us-air-force-looks-at-air-to-air-combat-technologies-for-next-generation-uavs/142780.article



F-35 Under Fire .. Why Thousands of the Stealth Fighter May Fly into 2080s

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/air/f-35-under-fire-why-thousands-of-the-stealth-fighter-may-fly-into-2080s-LsNEU3rZDUKoSjh6a1Twxw



Navy's Whole T-45 Trainer Fleet to Get New Oxygen Systems After Hypoxia-Like Events

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/03/09/navys-whole-t-45-trainer-fleet-get-new-oxygen-systems-after-hypoxia-events.html



Pentagon Scientists Mull A Big Problem—How To Destroy A Whole Lot Of Chinese Ships And Russian Tanks, And Fast

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/03/09/pentagon-scientists-mull-a-big-problem-how-to-destroy-a-whole-lot-of-chinese-ships-and-russian-tanks/



Navy makes big purchase of multistatic sonobuoys for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) against advanced threats

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14198901/antisubmarine-warfare-asw-sonobuoys-multistatic



Debate Over Navy's Zumwalt Destroyer's Seakeeping Abilities Doused After Rough Seas Tests

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39669/debate-over-navys-zumwalt-destroyers-seakeeping-abilities-doused-after-high-seas-tests