Af/Pak & Other News (11/25/2020)

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Dur to Thanksgiving vacation, my net access will range from spotty to non-existent for the next few days. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!


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Donors pledge billions to Afghanistan, but with strings attached

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/24/donors-pledge-billions-to-afghanistan-but-with-strings-attached



Former NATO Commander Expects Biden Administration to Keep Troops in Afghanistan

https://www.voanews.com/extremism-watch/former-nato-commander-expects-biden-administration-keep-troops-afghanistan



Rushed Afghanistan Drawdown Likely to Benefit Al-Qaeda

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2020/11/25/rushed_afghanistan_drawdown_likely_to_benefit_al-qaeda_651007.html









India successfully testfires BrahMos cruise missile land-attack version

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-successfully-testfires-brahmos-cruise-missile-land-attack-version/videoshow/79394921.cms



Indian Navy inducts two American Predator drones, can be deployed on China border: Report

https://www.deccanherald.com/national/indian-navy-inducts-two-american-predator-drones-can-be-deployed-on-china-border-report-919808.html









Iran to commission Moudge-class frigate “Dena” soon

https://navalnews.net/iran-to-commission-moudge-class-frigate-dena-soon/









A Conversation with H.R. McMaster

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/11/ep-33-a-conversation-with-h-r-mcmaster.php









Mine explodes, damaging oil tanker off Saudi Arabia

https://apnews.com/article/dubai-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-jiddah-yemen-79ab505c8576520935bf3e757e2d2b80



Google Plans First Fiber-Optic Network Between Saudi Arabia and Israel

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/google-planning-first-fiber-optic-network-between-saudi-arabia-and-israel/



Yemen: Houthis give UN permission to inspect stranded oil tanker

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/25/yemen-houthis-give-un-permission-to-inspect-stranded-oil-tanker



Iran-backed Houthis say missile that hit Saudi Arabia will also target Eilat

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-backed-houthis-say-missile-that-hit-saudi-arabia-will-also-target-eilat/




Turkish firm develops AI-powered software for drone swarms

https://www.c4isrnet.com/unmanned/2020/11/24/turkish-firm-develops-ai-powered-software-for-drone-swarms/









Syria says Israel carries out strikes near Damascus, Golan Heights border

https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-says-israel-carries-out-strikes-near-damascus-golan-heights-border/









US arranged Israel-Saudi meeting as reward for assassination: sources

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-arranged-israel-saudi-meeting-as-reward-for-assassination-sources-2020-11









Russian-Supplied, Mercenary-Flown Su-24 Combat Jets Appear In Libyan National Army Video

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37817/russian-supplied-mercenary-flown-su-24-combat-jets-appear-in-libyan-national-army-video



Libya's (5+5) joint military commission briefs international community on ceasefire

https://www.libyaobserver.ly/news/libyas-55-joint-military-commission-briefs-international-community-ceasefire




600 civilians were killed in massacre in Tigray, Ethiopia’s rights commission says

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/ethiopia-tigray-mai-kadra-massacre/2020/11/24/2fcb4218-2e76-11eb-9dd6-2d0179981719_story.html




Congo: Accountings

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/congo/articles/20201125.aspx




Analysts warn Ethiopian conflict could become 'entrenched,' spill into neighboring countries

https://theweek.com/speedreads/951873/analysts-warn-ethiopian-conflict-could-become-entrenched-spill-into-neighboring-countries




Zimbabwe Air Force Plane Crashes Near Gweru Killing Both Pilots

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/zimbabwe-air-force-plane-crashes-near-gweru-killing-both-pilots/23968/









Ukraine Forming Joint Venture with Turkey to Produce 48 Bayraktar TB2 Drones

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/11/25/ukraine-turkey-venture-bayraktar-tb2-drones/



Su-35 Jets Delivery to Russian AF Completed, Upgraded Version on Anvil

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28392/Su_35_Jets_Delivery_to_Russian_AF_Completed__Upgraded_Version_on_Anvil



Russia Says It Foiled Islamic State Attacks In Moscow Region

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-says-it-foiled-islamic-state-attacks-in-moscow-region/30968105.html



Russian Baltic Fleet receives fast-speed landing craft for special forces

https://navalnews.net/russian-baltic-fleet-receives-fast-speed-landing-craft-for-special-forces/



Russian Influence Peddlers Carving Out New Audiences on Fringes

https://www.voanews.com/usa/russian-influence-peddlers-carving-out-new-audiences-fringes



Russian Drug Squad Cops Accused of Selling Deadly Batch of ‘Bath Salts’ to Kids

https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-drug-squad-cops-accused-of-selling-deadly-batch-of-bath-salts-to-kids



Russia is offering its experimental COVID-19 vaccine to other countries, but Putin won't take it until it's formally approved

https://news.yahoo.com/russia-offering-experimental-covid-19-111231886.html




Azerbaijani Forces Reclaim Second District Returned By Armenia Under Nagorno-Karabakh Truce

https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijani-forces-enter-second-district-returned-by-armenia-under-nagorno-karabakh-truce/30967755.html



Drones use in Armenia-Azerbaijan war raises doubt about tanks' future

https://www.businessinsider.com/drones-in-armenia-azerbaijan-war-raises-doubt-about-tanks-future-2020-11




Ukrainian Special Forces integrate with U.S. Forces during exercise in Germany

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/ukrainian-special-forces-integrate-with-u-s-forces-during-exercise-in-germany.html



Luftwaffe’s new ACJ350-900 just flew around the world

http://alert5.com/2020/11/25/luftwaffes-new-acj350-900-just-flew-around-the-world/



German parliament approves funding for new frigate helicopter, tank ammunition, upgraded torpedoes and IT

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/german-parliament-approves-funding-for-new-frigate-helicopter-tank-ammunition-upgraded-torpedoes-and-it




Iran diplomat on trial over plot to bomb opponents in France

https://apnews.com/article/iran-paris-trials-antwerp-france-468475da611c76267a499b0c19c6c990









U.S. B-52s participate in back-to-back exercises led by Colombia, Ecuador

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2020/11/24/US-B-52s-participate-in-back-to-back-exercises-led-by-Colombia-Ecuador/2541606252606/




FAB and Avibras sign partnership to develop long-range cruise missiles

https://www.inceptivemind.com/fab-avibras-sign-partnership-develop-long-range-cruise-missiles/16345/?amp









Chinese military testing home-made engines for Y-20 transport planes that will allow them to carry most advanced 99A tanks to battlefield

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3111322/chinese-military-testing-home-made-engines-y-20-transport



Chinese media show Wing Loong-series UAV being used to airdrop supplies

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/chinese-media-show-wing-loong-series-uav-being-used-to-airdrop-supplies



China Seeks A License To Kill

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htintel/articles/20201125.aspx





Taiwan Starts Construction of New IDS Submarine for ROC Navy

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2020/11/taiwan-starts-construction-of-new-ids-submarine-for-roc-navy/





The Japan Air Self-Defense Force Retires Its Last F-4EJ Phantom Fighters After 48 Years Of Service

https://theaviationist.com/2020/11/24/the-japan-air-self-defense-force-retires-its-last-f-4ej-phantom-fighters-after-48-years-of-service/





Philippine Navy Receives ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System

https://defpost.com/philippine-navy-receives-scaneagle-unmanned-aircraft-system/










The major flaws in the Air Force justice system that let generals go unpunished

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/william-cooley-air-force-sexual-assault



Boeing Stirs Pentagon’s Ire With More Dings, Damage to Aircraft

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-11-24/boeing-dinged-and-damaged-military-aircraft-pentagon-complains?sref=IYQ5mP1s



Could soldiers silently communicate using brain signals in the future?

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2020/11/25/could-soldiers-silently-communicate-using-brain-signals-in-the-future/



Want to be a fighter pilot? Here's what you'll need on your application

https://www.businessinsider.com/qualifications-you-need-to-be-an-air-force-fighter-pilot-2020-11



Air Force Embracing New Tech to Solve Pilot Shortage

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2020/11/25/air-force-embracing-new-tech-to-solve-pilot-shortage



Department of Defense Taps Immervision to Develop Wide Angle Camera for Drone Applications

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/11/24/immervision-wide-angle-camera-drones/



SpaceX launches 60 more Starlink satellites on 100th Falcon 9 flight

https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/11/25/spacex-launches-60-more-starlink-satellites-on-100th-falcon-9-flight/



SpaceX prepares Starship SN8 prototype for high-altitude test flight

https://www.engadget.com/spacex-starship-test-flight-022801900.html



Soldiers are finally getting their hands on the Army's killer new missile-hauling Stryker

https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/army-stryker-shorad-testing-fielding



Pentagon Develops Self-Guiding, "Autonomous" Hypersonic Weapons

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/air/pentagon-develops-self-guiding-autonomous-hypersonic-weapons-XKy87znLc0mYNEMVP-WOEQ



NAVAIR Down-Selects Martin UAV for MI2 Expeditionary Tech Demo

https://seapowermagazine.org/navair-down-selects-martin-uav-for-mi2-expeditionary-tech-demo/



This Is Our First Look At A B-1 Bomber Carrying A Stealthy Cruise Missile Externally

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37828/this-is-our-first-look-at-a-b-1-bomber-carrying-a-stealthy-cruise-missile-externally



US Navy trials use of drones for laser weapon testing

https://defbrief.com/2020/11/25/us-navy-trials-use-of-drones-for-laser-weapon-testing/



Lockheed Martin to integrate the AARGM-ER on the F-35A

http://alert5.com/2020/11/25/lockheed-martin-to-integrate-the-aargm-er-on-the-f-35a/



F-35 JPO says action to correct hardware problems that contributed to the crash of a USAF F-35A on May 19 Must Remain Secret

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/f-35-jpo-says-action-to-correct-hardware-problems-that-contributed-to-the-crash-of-a-usaf-f-35a-on-may-19-must-remain-secret/



Navy Orders Two Hellfire SSMM Systems for LCS

https://seapowermagazine.org/navy-orders-two-hellfire-ssmm-systems-for-lcs/



U.S. Navy Denies Russian Warship Forced Its Destroyer Out Of Disputed Pacific Waters

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37805/navy-denies-a-russian-warship-forced-one-of-its-destroyers-out-of-disputed-pacific-waters



US Navy Deploys Submarine-Launched Combat Drones

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/11/25/us-navy-submarine-launched-drones/