Af/Pak & Other News (2/18/2021)

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NATO puts holds on Afghanistan decision, expands in Iraq

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210218-nato-puts-holds-on-afghanistan-decision-expands-in-iraq









All About India’s 160 Km Range Astra Mark-II Missile, Which Could Soon Be Tested For The First Time

https://swarajyamag.com/news-brief/all-about-indias-160-km-range-astra-mark-ii-missile-which-could-soon-be-tested-for-the-first-time



Gaganyaan manned mission not before 2023: Minister

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/gaganyaan-manned-mission-not-before-2023-minister/articleshow/81013233.cms



"COVID Nationalism" Simplifies Much More Complex Picture

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/02/covid-nationalism-simplifies-much-more.html



India boosting defences along north-eastern border with China

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/india-boosting-defences-along-north-eastern-border-with-china









Blame Game Intensifies Over Iranian Accomplice To Assassination Of Top Nuclear Scientist

https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nuclear-scientist-assassination-blame-game-accomplice-fakhrizadeh/31108106.html



U.S. and Europe allies stress Iran must not get nuclear weapons, UK says

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-nuclear/u-s-and-europe-allies-stress-iran-must-not-get-nuclear-weapons-uk-says-idUSKBN2AI2OL









To save Iraq from economic collapse and fight ISIS, contain Iran’s proxies

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/order-from-chaos/2021/02/17/to-save-iraq-from-economic-collapse-and-fight-isis-contain-irans-proxies/



Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters strike at Daesh forces in Iraq

https://defence-blog.com/news/royal-air-force-typhoon-fighters-strike-at-daesh-forces-in-iraq.html



U.S. vows consequences for group behind Iraq rocket attack

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/02/17/US-vows-consequences-for-group-behind-Iraq-rocket-attack/3781613612749/



NATO boosts Iraq mission with thousands of personnel

https://apnews.com/article/islamic-state-group-armed-forces-baghdad-jens-stoltenberg-iraq-ba066a55404d7ffcfcebf8b01b93ed1d



U.S., Iran Both Lean on Europe As Iraq Attack Sharpens Nuclear Deal Standoff

https://www.newsweek.com/us-iran-both-lean-europe-iraq-attack-sharpens-nuclear-deal-standoff-1570160



Iraq: The Fears Factor

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/iraq/articles/20210218.aspx



Iran’s use of Iraq as a missile base: Threats and logistics - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/irans-use-of-iraq-as-a-missile-base-threats-and-logistics-analysis-659416









UAE dismantles Eritrea base as it pulls back after Yemen war

https://apnews.com/article/eritrea-dubai-only-on-ap-united-arab-emirates-east-africa-088f41c7d54d6a397398b2a825f5e45a




Saudi-led coalition in Yemen moves troops to Marib to repel Houthi assault - sources

https://www.reuters.com/article/yemen-security-marib-int/saudi-led-coalition-in-yemen-moves-troops-to-marib-to-repel-houthi-assault-sources-idUSKBN2AI2AB




Turkish Roketsan increases power of TRG-300 Kaplan missile

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_february_2021_global_security_army_industry/turkish_roketsan_increases_power_of_trg-300_kaplan_missile.html



Turkish Officials Seek U.S. Compromise Over Russian S-400 Missiles

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/turkish-officials-seek-us-compromise-over-russian-s-400-missiles-178375









Killings surge in Syria camp housing Islamic State families

https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-islamic-state-group-coronavirus-pandemic-syria-iraq-1aef71d9c11cc4b9f77ac22fa205601b









Israel and US begin Arrow-4 development

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/techwatch/2021/02/18/israel-and-us-begin-arrow-4-development/



The Abraham Accords

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/02/ep-44-the-abraham-accords.php



Why Israel Wants More F-35 Stealth Fighters from America

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/02/why-israel-wants-more-f-35-stealth-fighters-from-america/









US approves Rolling Airframe Missiles for Egypt’s fast missile craft

https://defbrief.com/2021/02/17/us-approves-rolling-airframe-missiles-for-egypts-fast-missile-craft/




Can Libya move on? New plan to end ten years of fighting

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20210217-can-libya-move-on-new-plan-to-end-ten-years-of-fighting




The state of America’s military presence in Africa

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-state-of-american-presence-in-africa/









Russia Claims Its Su-57 Felon Fighter Has Been Testing A New Hypersonic Missile

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39312/russia-claims-its-su-57-felon-fighter-has-been-testing-a-new-hypersonic-missile



Russia Working To Integrate S-70 Okhotnik UCAVs In Su-57 Felon Squadrons

https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/17/russia-working-to-integrate-s-70-okhotnik-ucavs-in-su-57-felon-squadrons/



Why are the decks of Russian ships red?

https://navalpost.com/why-are-the-decks-of-russian-ships-red/



How Soviet Union Published F-14 Tomcat Booklet For Their Fighter Pilots

https://fighterjetsworld.com/weekly-article/how-soviet-union-published-f-14-tomcat-booklet-for-their-fighter-pilots/24536/



Take A Rare Look Inside Russia’s Doomsday Ballistic Missile Warning System

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39264/take-a-look-inside-russias-doomsday-ballistic-missile-warning-system



Russian Predator Appears

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairw/articles/20210218.aspx



Video: Supercavitating Torpedo – The fastest torpedo ever

https://navalpost.com/video-supercavitating-torpedo-the-fastest-torpedo-ever/



Russian fighters make unsafe intercept of French Air Force aircraft over Black Sea

https://defence-blog.com/news/russian-fighters-make-unsafe-intercept-of-french-air-force-aircraft-over-black-sea.html



Putin’s Alleged Daughter Joins the Chaos as Russia Goes Wild on Clubhouse

https://www.thedailybeast.com/putins-alleged-daughter-joins-the-chaos-as-russia-goes-wild-on-clubhouse?ref=home




Bulgaria: Freshvale releases Heavy VTOL UAV 150H

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/february/6963-freshvale-releases-heavy-vtol-uav-150h.html




Saab Offering 2 Types of Sub to the Dutch: L/D Ratios.

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/02/saab-offering-2-types-of-sub-to-dutch.html




The U.S. Air Force’s Norwegian Bomber Jaunt Has Got The Russians All Worked Up

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/02/18/the-us-air-forces-norwegian-bomber-jaunt-has-got-the-russian-air-force-all-worked-up/




US sells Extended Range Guided MLRS - Alternative Warhead to Finland

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_february_2021_global_security_army_industry/us_sells_extended_range_guided_mlrs_-_alternative_warhead_to_finland.html




Spain: Largest order for Aeronáutica SDLE anti-drone system

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/02/largest-order-for-aeronautica-sdle-anti-drone-system




Are electric planes the future of aviation?

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20210216-are-electric-planes-the-future-of-aviation









How Colombia’s drug cartels almost bought a Soviet submarine

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/how-colombias-drug-cartels-almost-bought-a-soviet-submarine/









New satellite images show Chinese troops have dismantled camps on disputed India border

https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/18/asia/india-china-border-disengagement-intl-hnk/index.html



China's Coast Guard Can Fire on Foreign Vessels, Complicating Security in South Sea

https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/chinas-coast-guard-can-fire-foreign-vessels-complicating-security-south-sea



China: advancement on AG600 large amphibious aircraft

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/february/6965-china-advancement-on-ag600-large-amphibious-aircraft.html



Satellite images suggest China’s new tanker aircraft is under production

https://www.defensenews.com/global/asia-pacific/2021/02/18/satellite-images-suggest-chinas-new-tanker-aircraft-is-under-production/



China influences social media with nationalistic narratives

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/china-influences-social-media-nationalistic-narratives



The FC-31, China’s ‘Other’ Stealth Fighter

https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/the-fc-31-chinas-other-stealth-fighter/





Video: Taiwan’s Teng Yun UAV crashes

http://alert5.com/2021/02/18/video-taiwans-teng-yun-uav-crashes/



Taiwan to produce more indigenous missiles in 2021

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_february_2021_global_security_army_industry/taiwan_to_produce_more_indigenous_missiles_in_2021.html





Guided-missile destroyer Russell conducts FONOP in South China Sea by Spratly Islands

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/02/17/guided-missile-destroyer-russell-conducts-fonop-in-south-china-sea-by-spratly-islands/





Australian Army Black Hawk Helicopter Made An Emergency Landing In Park After A Rotor Blade Was Damaged

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/australian-army-black-hawk-helicopter-made-an-emergency-landing-in-park-after-a-rotor-blade-was-damaged/24542/





Philippine Air Force commissions ex-USAF C-130H transport aircraft

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/philippine-air-force-commissions-ex-usaf-c-130h-transport-aircraft





U.S. Calls North Korean Hackers ‘World’s Leading Bank Robbers’

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-calls-north-korean-hackers-worlds-leading-bank-robbers/ar-BB1dLDIJ



T-AGM-25 and RC-135S being readied for possible North Korean missile test next month

http://alert5.com/2021/02/18/t-agm-25-and-rc-135s-being-readied-for-possible-north-korean-missile-test-next-month/





HHI begins construction on South Korea’s first KDX-III Batch II Aegis destroyer

https://defbrief.com/2021/02/18/hhi-begins-construction-on-south-koreas-first-kdx-iii-batch-ii-aegis-destroyer/










Pentagon asked if it has UFO crash materials – here’s their cryptic 154-page response

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/02/pentagon-asked-if-it-has-ufo-crash-materials-heres-their-cryptic-154-page-response/



With Trump in debt, intelligence and security sources fear foreign spies may target him with offers of money

https://www.businessinsider.com/intelligence-officials-donald-trump-debt-foreign-cash-2021-2



Promotions for Female Generals Were Delayed Over Fears of Trump’s Reaction

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/us/politics/women-generals-promotions-trump.html



Nearly 5,000 National Guard troops to stay in DC over concerns of potential violence in March

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/539328-nearly-5000-national-guard-troops-to-stay-in-dc-over-concerns-of-potential



Pentagon: One Third of Service Members Offered COVID-19 Vaccines Have Refused

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/17/pentagon-one-third-of-service-members-offered-covid-19-vaccines-have-refused



How the Internet Has Turned Into the Modern-Day Battlefield

https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgzpea/internet-modern-day-battlefield-cyberwar



Newly released documents shed light on 1983 nuclear war scare with Soviets

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/newly-released-documents-shed-light-on-1983-nuclear-war-scare-with-soviets/ar-BB1dM4FX



Requirements For New Air Force Doomsday Planes Seem To Preclude Anything But 747s

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39313/requirements-for-new-air-force-doomsday-planes-seem-to-preclude-anything-but-747s



Dismantling of USS Bonhomme Richard to begin in April

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/02/17/Dismantling-of-USS-Bonhomme-Richard-to-begin-in-April/8881613592371/



Machine autonomy makes small unmanned aircraft more dangerous, as military eyes laser weapons defenses

https://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/military/article/14197734/military-laser-weapon-defense-uas-uav-drone



Pentagon Sees AI-Enabled Weapons Attacking on Defense

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/sea/pentagon-sees-ai-enabled-weapons-attacking-on-defense-A1y8nIAna0WEKePy5lsx-A



DARPA Builds AI To Avoid Army, AF Fratricide

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/darpa-builds-ai-to-avoid-army-af-fratricide/



Skunk Works Is About to Test a Secret New Aircraft Called 'Speed Racer'

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a35524610/skunk-works-testing-speed-racer-secret-new-aircraft/



Space Development Agency asks industry to build encrypted optical network to link low-Earth-orbit satellites

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/communications/article/14197728/satellite-optical-network-encrypted



Space Lasers Will Revolutionize Military Communications, If They Work

https://www.defenseone.com/technology/2021/02/space-lasers-will-revolutionize-military-communications-if-they-work/172134/



Space Force says new anti-jamming upgrade coming in 2022

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/02/18/space-force-says-new-anti-jamming-upgrade-coming-in-2022/



Northrop Grumman to build eight gallium nitride-based G/ATOR air-defense radar systems in $236.9 million deal

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14197800/radar-gallium-nitride-airdefense



Special Forces to build ‘influence artillery’ for online campaigns

https://www.c4isrnet.com/information-warfare/2021/02/18/special-forces-to-build-influence-artillery-for-online-campaigns/



U.S. Special Forces’ Secret Hand-Launched Jammer Drone

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/02/18/us-special-forces-new-hand-launched-jammer-drone/



US Air Force tests anti-drone laser weapons

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/february/6966-us-air-force-test-anti-drone-laser-weapons.html



The U.S. Air Force Has Started To Divest the B-1 Bomber Fleet With First BONE Retired At The Boneyard

https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/18/the-air-force-has-started-to-divest-the-b-1-bomber-fleet-with-first-bone-retired-at-the-boneyard/



U.S. Air Force Entertains New Design To Replace F-16

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/us-air-force-entertains-new-design-replace-f-16



‘Clean Sheet’ F-16 Replacement In The Cards: CSAF Brown

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/02/clean-sheet-f-16-replacement-in-the-cards-csaf-brown/



The Air Force Finally Has Its First New AT-6E Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39302/the-air-force-finally-has-its-first-new-at-6e-wolverine-light-attack-aircraft



Silent Arrow awarded US Air Force contract for cargo delivery UAS

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/february/6968-silent-arrow-awarded-us-air-force-contract-for-cargo-delivery-uas.html



IKE Carrier Strike Group Commands SEALs, Marine Missile Teams in First-of-a-Kind, Large-Scale Drill

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/17/ike-carrier-strike-group-commands-seals-marine-missile-teams-in-first-of-a-kind-large-scale-drill



With the submarine threat on the rise, the US Navy looks to autonomous water sensor drones

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/02/17/with-the-submarine-threat-on-the-rise-the-us-navy-looks-to-autonomous-water-sensor-drones/