Af/Pak & Other News (7/9/2021)

[dump...@hotmail.com]

Special Report-Afghan Pilots Assassinated by Taliban as U.S. Withdraws

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-07-09/special-report-afghan-pilots-assassinated-by-taliban-as-us-withdraws



Taliban says it controls '85 percent' of Afghan territory, made no ceasefire promise to US

https://www.france24.com/en/asia-pacific/20210709-taliban-says-it-controls-85-percent-of-afghan-territory-made-no-ceasefire-promise-to-us



Taliban sweep through Herat province as Afghan advance continues

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/09/taliban-sweep-through-herat-province-as-afghan-advance-continues



Afghan Soldiers Retreat Into Iran as Taliban Take Control of Border Crossing

https://www.newsweek.com/afghan-soldiers-retreat-iran-taliban-take-control-border-crossing-1608055



Taliban squeezes Afghan government by seizing key border towns

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/07/taliban-squeezes-afghan-government-by-seizing-key-border-towns.php



Once the hub of America's longest war, Afghanistan's Bagram Airfield is now barren and empty

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/once-hub-america-s-longest-war-afghanistan-s-bagram-airfield-n1273328



Once A Bastion Of Taliban Resistance, Afghanistan’s Badakhshan On Brink Of Falling To Militants

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-badakhshan-taliban/31350706.html



Taliban Resurgence Raises Terrorism Fears From Moscow to Beijing

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-07-09/taliban-resurgence-raises-terrorism-fears-from-moscow-to-beijing



US withdrawal from Afghanistan will be chaotic and bloody — but it’s the right call

https://taskandpurpose.com/opinion/us-military-afghanistan-pullout-biden-call/



Afghans Own Whatever Comes Next, Biden Says

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/07/afghans-own-whatever-comes-next-biden-says/183608/



Pentagon mulls options for Afghan interpreters fearing Taliban revenge

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/8/pentagon-mulls-options-afghan-interpreters-fearing/



Afghanistan and US ‘over the horizon’ capability

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/afghanistan-and-us-over-the-horizon-capability/



US to conclude military mission in Afghanistan on 31 August, Biden confirms

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-to-conclude-military-mission-in-afghanistan-on-31-august-biden-confirms



Joe Biden Sees Afghanistan as a PowerPoint Slide. That’s Why the Taliban Will Prevail.

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/joe-biden-sees-afghanistan-as-a-powerpoint-slide-thats-why-the-taliban-will-prevail/



Iran and Russia move to fill diplomatic vacuum in Afghanistan

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/09/iran-and-russia-move-to-fill-diplomatic-vacuum-in-afghanistan



Expert predicts failure as China eyes a move into Afghanistan: 'This is going to be fun to watch'

https://www.foxnews.com/world/china-afghanistan-america-withdrawal



Panel: U.S. Began Afghanistan War with Unrealistic Expectations

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/08/panel-u-s-began-afghanistan-war-with-unrealistic-expectations



Pakistan, After Rooting for Afghanistan’s Taliban, Faces a Blowback

https://www.wsj.com/articles/pakistan-after-rooting-for-afghanistans-taliban-faces-a-blowback-11625822762



Pakistan hires Leonardo, Paramount Group for aircraft conversion program

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2021/07/08/pakistan-hires-leonardo-paramount-group-for-aircraft-conversion-program/









Indian Air Force Orders Akash Missiles

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29986/Indian_Air_Force_Orders_Akash_Missiles#.YOhtmkxlBaQ









Iran Rebels See Hardliner Ebrahim Raisi as Chance to Bring Down Regime

https://www.newsweek.com/iran-raisi-mek-tehran-ncri-1608250









As US forces in Iraq and Syria face increasing attacks, fissures form between Iran and militias it backs

https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/2021/07/09/as-us-forces-in-iraq-and-syria-face-increasing-attacks-fissures-form-between-iran-and-militias-it-backs/



Iraq's Hezbollah Forbids Fighters from Attacking U.S. Embassy Amid Worsening Conflict

https://www.newsweek.com/iraqs-hezbollah-forbids-fighters-attacking-us-embassy-amid-worsening-conflict-1608039









In Pictures: The grim battle for key Yemeni city of Marib

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2021/7/8/yemen-227



Yemen: Some Retreat, No Surrender

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/yemen/articles/20210709.aspx




Turkey’s Roketsan develops missile to replace Raytheon weapon

https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2021/07/09/turkeys-roketsan-develops-missile-to-replace-raytheon-weapon/



Akıncı flew at 38,000ft for the first time

http://alert5.com/2021/07/09/akinci-flew-at-38000ft-for-the-first-time/










Russia proposes six-month extension of Syria crossing but US seeks year

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210708-russia-proposes-six-month-extension-of-syria-crossing-but-us-seeks-year



West and Russia head to showdown over aid to northwest Syria

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-europe-middle-east-russia-syria-c8f03beeea101c318393ef00651c38a1









Israel says it’s targeting Hamas’ cryptocurrency accounts

https://apnews.com/article/hamas-middle-east-israel-cryptocurrency-business-5fe4e70d357545ffd22a152eb4358980









France to Start Closing Military Bases in Mali by Year-End: Macron

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/07/09/france-mali-bases/




Rwanda to deploy 1,000 troops to insurgency-hit Mozambique

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210709-rwanda-to-deploy-1-000-troops-to-insurgency-hit-mozambique









Russian firm Starts Testing Parachute System to Air Drop Heavy Armored Vehicles

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29991/Russian_firm_Starts_Testing_Parachute_System_to_Air_Drop_Heavy_Armored_Vehicles#.YOhti0xlBaQ



The Thing Under This Tarp Could Save Russia’s Struggling Navy

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/07/09/this-giant-russian-marine-engine-is-a-really-big-deal-for-moscows-struggling-fleet/



Uralvagonzavod starts the supply of serial production of BMPT-72 Terminator 2 fire support vehicle

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_july_2021_global_security_army_industry/uralvagonzavod_starts_the_supply_of_serial_production_of_bmpt-72_terminator_2_fire_support_vehicle.html



Unmanned Armata Tank Tested in Russia

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29985/Unmanned_Armata_Tank_Tested_in_Russia#.YOhtoExlBaQ





Presidential Presser Cut Short After Typhoon Jets Have To Scramble To Intercept Russian Planes

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41459/presidential-presser-cut-short-after-typhoon-jets-have-to-scramble-to-intercept-russian-planes




Poland could purchase M1 Abrams tanks from US

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/07/09/poland-could-purchase-m1-abrams-tanks-from-us/




Norway, Germany Team Up On Submarine, Missile Buy

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/norway-germany-team-up-on-submarine-missile-buy/




The British Army doesn’t make much sense anymore

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/the-british-army-doesnt-make-much-sense-anymore/









Assassination of Haitian president becomes complex international web

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/09/probe-into-haitian-presidents-assassination-reaches-beyond-nations-borders/









China Sure Is Building a Bunch of Nuclear Missile Silos

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/weapons/a36904695/china-expands-nuclear-missile-silo-count/



China Interested in Developing Nuclear-Powered Drones, Cruise Missiles Like Russia's

https://www.newsweek.com/china-interested-developing-nuclear-powered-drones-cruise-missiles-like-russias-1608060



Chinese Army recruiting Tibetan youth for operations along LAC

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/chinese-army-recruiting-tibetan-youth-for-operations-along-lac-india-1825975-2021-07-09



ZTQ-15 light tank to increase amphibious capabilities of Chinese armed forces

https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/ztq-15_light_tank_to_increase_amphibious_capabilities_of_chinese_armed_forces.html



China’s New Unmanned Attack Sub May Not Be What It Seems

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/07/09/chinas-new-unmanned-attack-sub-may-not-be-what-it-seems/



China Upgrading Fifth-Gen Fighter Capabilities

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/7/9/china-upgrading--fifth-gen-fighter-capabilities



Beijing eyes networked approach for AEW&C mission

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/beijing-eyes-networked-approach-for-aewandc-mission/144524.article





How Taiwan reverse-engineered the Israeli Gabriel Mk 1

http://alert5.com/2021/07/09/how-taiwan-reverse-engineered-the-israeli-gabriel-mk-1/



U.S. Pacific intel chief: Coming Chinese attack on Taiwan could target other nations

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/jul/8/us-pacific-intel-chief-coming-chinese-attack-taiwa/





New Kim Jong Un Purge Suggests North Korea Is in Deep Shit

https://www.thedailybeast.com/new-kim-jong-un-purge-suggests-north-korea-is-in-deep-shit



South Korean army to test Hyundai Rotem multi-purpose UGV

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_july_2021_global_security_army_industry/south_korean_army_to_test_hyundai_rotem_multi-purpose_ugv.html





JMSDF to conduct joint training with British Carrier Strike Group in Gulf of Aden

http://alert5.com/2021/07/09/jmsdf-to-conduct-joint-training-with-british-carrier-strike-group-in-gulf-of-aden/





How Vietnam's 'Influencer' Army Wages Information Warfare on Facebook

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-07-09/how-vietnams-influencer-army-wages-information-warfare-on-facebook





Philippine Air Force Super Tucano Damaged In Landing Incident

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/07/09/philippine-air-force-super-tucano-damaged-in-landing-incident/










A brief cultural history of UFOs, from secret Soviet weapons to alien visitors

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/a-brief-cultural-history-of-ufos-from-secret-soviet-weapons-to-alien-visitors



Why America could lose its next war

https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2021/07/09/why-america-could-lose-its-next-war/



The Last Airworthy S-3B Viking Is Set To Fly Off Into The Sunset

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41468/the-last-airworthy-s-3b-viking-is-set-to-fly-off-into-the-sunset



Launching a Ransomware Attack Against a Nation Is Far Easier Than You Think

https://www.newsweek.com/launching-ransomware-attack-against-nation-far-easier-you-think-1608108



Navy Releases Latest Round of USS Thresher Inquiry Documents

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/09/navy-releases-latest-round-of-uss-thresher-inquiry-documents



Maneuver warfare in space: The strategic imperative for nuclear thermal propulsion

https://www.c4isrnet.com/opinion/commentary/2021/07/08/maneuver-warfare-in-space-the-strategic-imperative-for-nuclear-thermal-propulsion/



ICEYE Eyes DoD, IC With New Daily SAR-Sat Capability

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/iceye-eyes-dod-ic-with-new-daily-sar-sat-capability/



This Is What A Black Hawk Helicopter Looks Like Through The Army's New Night Vision Goggles

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41460/this-what-a-black-hawk-helicopter-looks-like-through-the-armys-new-night-vision-goggles



What Is Old Is New Again

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htintel/articles/20210709.aspx



The Marines are getting their first new(ish) recoilless rifle in more than 3 decades

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-maaws-new-recoilless-rifle/



First USMC F-35C Lightning II squadron ready to deploy aboard US Navy Aircraft Carriers

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/first-usmc-f-35c-lightning-ii-squadron-ready-to-deploy-aboard-us-navy-aircraft-carriers/



Why the US Air Force plans to make a digital replica of the F-16 fighter

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/why-the-us-air-force-plans-to-make-a-digital-replica-of-the-f-16-fighter/144517.article



US Coast Guard orders five more MH-60T helicopters

https://defbrief.com/2021/07/09/us-coast-guard-orders-five-more-mh-60t-helicopters/



Navy Outlines Planning, Execution Failures in Cruiser Modernization Program

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/08/navy-outlines-planning-execution-failures-in-cruiser-modernization-program



Ballistic Missile Submarine USS Tennessee Emerges From Refit Sporting A Flank Sonar Array

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41452/bulges-on-ballistic-missile-submarine-uss-tennessee-after-refit-point-to-new-flank-sonar-array