Af/Pak & Other News (6/21/2021)

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Taliban take key Afghan district, adding to string of wins

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-taliban-2b1f92ab572a905521fab2644922c307



Taliban Advances Test Afghan Forces’ Morale as the U.S. Leaves

https://www.wsj.com/articles/taliban-advances-test-afghan-forces-morale-as-the-u-s-leaves-11624209389



Taliban Mock Hasty U.S. Withdrawal: ‘Losers Never Look Back’

https://www.thedailybeast.com/taliban-gears-up-to-militarily-astonish-in-afghanistan-as-us-forces-withdraw









India to retire MiG-21 in three years, stands up second Rafale squadron

http://alert5.com/2021/06/21/india-to-retire-mig-21-in-three-years-stands-up-second-rafale-squadron/









Iran’s System Keeps Its Grip, Despite the Chaos (or Because of It)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/20/world/middleeast/iran-revolutionary-election.html



Iran Stops Pretending

https://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2021/06/iran-stops-pretending/174835/



Iran Appears To Have Western Pluto Plus Underwater Vehicle

http://www.hisutton.com/Iran-Pluto-Plus-Minehunting-ROV.html









End of Yemen quagmire? Saudi-led coalition, Houthis near peace deal

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/end-yemen-quagmire-saudi-led-coalition-houthis-near-peace-deal-2021-06-21/








US weighs options as Lebanon’s allies move to assist military

https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2021/06/us-weighs-options-lebanons-allies-move-assist-military









In test, Defense Ministry shoots down drone with plane-mounted laser

https://www.timesofisrael.com/defense-ministry-shoots-down-drone-with-plane-mounted-laser-in-latest-test/



Decapitation Diplomacy

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20210621.aspx



BlueBird Delivers 100 WanderB-VTOL UAVs To An Unnamed European Country

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/06/21/bluebird-delivers-100-wanderb-vtol-uavs-to-an-unnamed-european-country/









Car bomb targets France's Barkhane force in Mali, several soldiers injured

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210621-car-bomb-hits-france-s-barkhane-force-in-central-mali-several-soldiers-injured-france-24









Germany Arrests Russian University Researcher On Suspicion Of Espionage

https://www.rferl.org/a/germany-arrests-russian-university-researcher-espionage/31318449.html




MoD confirm aircraft carriers may be fitted with catapults

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/mod-confirm-aircraft-carriers-may-be-fitted-with-catapults/



New BAE ‘pseudo satellite’ can remain aloft at 70,000 feet for a year

https://dronedj.com/2021/06/21/new-bae-pseudo-satellite-can-remain-aloft-at-70000-feet-for-a-year/



Disinformation being ‘weaponised at levels nobody imagined’

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/disinformation-being-weaponised-at-levels-nobody-imagined/









Australia grounds MRH90 Taipan fleet

https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopters/australia-grounds-mrh90-taipan-fleet/144234.article










Former Obama counselor wants to declassify UFO intel

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/06/21/john-podesta-ufo-government-intelligence-newday-vpx.cnn



The Air Force Knew It Had an Ejection Seat Problem, But Didn't Speed Up a Fix. Then a Pilot Died

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/06/19/air-force-knew-it-had-ejection-seat-problem-didnt-speed-fix-then-pilot-died.html



UVision to provide Hero-120 Organic Precision Fires-Mounted Aerial Loitering Munition Systems to US Marine Corps

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_june_2021_global_security_army_industry/uvision_to_provide_hero-120_organic_precision_fires-mounted_aerial_loitering_munition_systems_to_us_marine_corps.html



B-52 re-engining program will require $11 billion, a 9% jump over previous estimate

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/b-52-re-engining-program-will-require-11-billion-a-9-jump-over-previous-estimate/



B-52H bombers fly over the Arctic from Spain to Louisiana

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/06/18/b52h-bomber-stratofortress-barkdale/5511624040241/



What It’s Really Like to Fly the F-35 Stealth Fighter

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/06/what-its-really-like-to-fly-the-f-35-stealth-fighter/



Frankenship Farewell

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20210621.aspx