Af/Pak & Other News (3/11/2021)

[dump...@hotmail.com]

The leaked U.S. plan to end the war in Afghanistan

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/03/10/afghanistan-us-draft-plan/



Departure of foreign contractors from Afghanistan may be ‘devastating' for ANDSF effectiveness, warns SIGAR

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/departure-of-foreign-contractors-from-afghanistan-may-be-devastating-for-andsf-effectiveness-warns-sigar



AP Interview: Karzai says US plan catalyst for Afghan peace

https://apnews.com/article/afghanistan-qatar-kabul-taliban-hamid-karzai-2d26265d0aacf25dfc21873d631b03d8



Even After a Peace Agreement, Afghanistan’s Future Unclear

https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/even-after-a-peace-agreement-afghanistans-future-unclear/



‘I Was On The Taliban’s Hit List’: Journalists Flee Afghanistan Amid Targeted Killings

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/journalists-flee-afghanistan-assassinations-taliban/31143999.html



Fixing Afghanistan Might Be 'a Bridge Too Far,' US Watchdog Warns

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/fixing-afghanistan-might-be-bridge-too-far-us-watchdog-warns









Tanzania President John Magufuli ‘in India with COVID-19’

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/3/11/tanzania-opposition-leader-says-magufuli-in-india-with-covid-19









Iraq Praises West's Fight Against ISIS, Syria Says It Only Made Things Worse

https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-praises-west-fight-isis-syria-says-things-worse-1575235









Saudi-led coalition destroys Houthi 'hostile aerial target' in Yemen's Marib

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-marib-coalition-idUSKBN2B22MP



Saudi military fends off surge in Houthi attacks

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/saudi-military-fends-off-surge-in-houthi-attacks









Turkey, Russia, Qatar to push for political resolution in Syria

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-qatar-aid/turkey-russia-qatar-to-push-for-political-resolution-in-syria-idUSKBN2B31QH



Syria: This Will Not End Well

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/syria/articles/20210311.aspx



UN Chief: 10 Years Into Conflict, Syria Remains ‘A Living Nightmare’

https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/un-chief-10-years-conflict-syria-remains-living-nightmare









Gaza fishermen killed by Israeli drone caught in nets, Hamas says

https://www.reuters.com/article/israel-palestinians-fishermen/gaza-fishermen-killed-by-israeli-drone-caught-in-nets-hamas-says-idUSL8N2L93BH









State Department designates Islamic State in DRC, Mozambique

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/03/state-department-designates-islamic-state-in-drc-mozambique.php




That Time F-15 Eagle Defected to Sudan

https://fighterjetsworld.com/historic-aircraft-and-incident/that-time-f-15-eagle-defected-to-sudan/24640/




Shock and uncertainty after death of Ivory Coast PM Bakayoko

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ivorycoast-bakayoko/shock-and-uncertainty-after-death-of-ivory-coast-pm-bakayoko-idUSKBN2B323W









First modernized Tu-160M bomber handed over to Russian Air Force

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/11/first-modernized-tu-160m-bomber-handed-over-to-russian-air-force/



Russia Says Foiled ‘Terror’ Attack in North Caucasus

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/11/russia-foiled-attack-north-caucasus/




Spanish jets intercept Russian aircraft over Black Sea

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/spanish-jets-intercept-russian-aircraft-over-black-sea/




Denmark’s first F-35 has flown

http://alert5.com/2021/03/11/denmarks-first-f-35-has-flown/




Italian Carriers Upgraded

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htnavai/articles/20210311.aspx




France’s Arquus unveils Scarabée, a hybrid armored vehicle that moves like crab

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/03/11/frances-arquus-unveils-scarabee-a-hybrid-armored-vehicle-that-moves-like-crab/









Peruvian Air Force Plane Veered Off The Runway While Landing At San Lorenzo Airport

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/peruvian-air-force-plane-veered-off-the-runway-while-landing-at-san-lorenzo-airport/24642/









Chinese lawmakers endorse tighter control over Hong Kong

https://apnews.com/article/legislature-beijing-hong-kong-china-asia-pacific-e262c41db9da8bd5324b1eb494c54112





U.S. Military Reveals Where It Challenged China During Record Year of Operations

https://www.newsweek.com/us-reveals-where-challenged-china-record-year-1575203



Taiwan's Pro-China Opposition Suffers Identity Crisis as Chief Admits Beijing Threat

https://www.newsweek.com/taiwans-pro-china-opposition-suffers-identity-crisis-chief-admits-beijing-threat-1575078





Indonesia shortlists four options in follow-on to SIGMA 10514 frigates

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/indonesia-shortlists-four-options-in-follow-on-to-sigma-10514-frigates





US Forces Korea commander was underwhelmed by North Korea's most recent missile display

https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/us-forces-korea-commander-was-underwhelmed-by-north-korea-s-most-recent-missile-display-1.665325





South Korea to buy more attack helicopters

https://defence-blog.com/news/south-korea-to-buy-more-attack-helicopters.html





Manila aims to acquire one BrahMos missile battery

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/manila-aims-to-acquire-one-brahmos-missile-battery



Philippine Air Force officers start training on Israeli air defense system SPYDER

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_march_2021_global_security_army_industry/philippine_air_force_officers_start_training_on_israeli_air_defense_system_spyder.html





Japan scrambles jets to intercept nuclear-capable Russian bombers - Interfax

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-japan-flight/japan-scrambles-jets-to-intercept-nuclear-capable-russian-bombers-interfax-idUSKBN2B312A





Australia requests EoIs for forward operating base on Cocos Islands for MC-55A Peregrine EW aircraft

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/australia-requests-eois-for-forward-operating-base-on-cocos-islands-for-mc-55a-peregrine-ew-aircraft










At least 10 hacking groups using Microsoft software flaw: researchers

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-microsoft/at-least-10-hacking-groups-using-microsoft-software-flaw-researchers-idUSKBN2B224O



One Of America's Most Capable Submarines Has Been In An Ongoing Battle Against Bed Bugs

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39705/wait-one-of-americas-most-capable-submarines-has-been-in-a-battle-against-bed-bugs



Racial, political divides in military grow as services try to weed out extremists

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/03/09/military-vmi-racism-extremist-recruitment-racial-divide-pentagon/9321615322999/



A 35-year-old Capitol riot suspect is a Marine Corps veteran who served in the presidential helicopter squadron

https://www.businessinsider.com/capitol-riot-suspect-john-daniel-andries-former-marine-one-crew-chief-2021-3



U.S. Extradites Thai GDMA Associate in Ongoing ‘Fat Leonard’ Corruption Probe

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/11/u-s-extradites-thai-gdma-associate-in-ongoing-fat-leonard-navy-corruption-probe



Orange Flag, Black Flag exercises collaborate to accelerate change

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/march/7038-orange-flag-black-flag-exercises-collaborate-to-accelerate-change.html



U.S. intelligence agency to buy three heavy-lift drones to install LiDAR sensors

https://defence-blog.com/news/u-s-intelligence-agency-to-buy-three-heavy-lift-drones-to-install-lidar-sensors.html



US Army wants to enable air dropped unmanned vehicles to “self deploy”

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/10/us-army-wants-to-enable-air-dropped-unmanned-vehicles-to-self-deploy/



New U.S. Army Laser Machinegun Fires ‘Bullets’ Of Light

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/03/11/us-army-develops-laser-machinegun-firing-light-bullets/



Marine Corps purchasing too many CH-53Ks while still testing its capabilities, GAO finds

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-marine-corps/2021/03/10/marine-corps-purchasing-too-many-ch-53ks-while-still-testing-its-capabilities-gao-finds/



The Pentagon Is Using the SR-71's Legendary Engine for ... Something

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a35786347/pentagon-hypersonic-engine-pratt-whitney-j58-sr-71-blackbird/



Northrop Grumman Reveals Sky Viper Chain Gun And New Suicide Drone For Future Helicopters

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39696/northrop-grumman-reveals-sky-viper-chain-gun-and-new-suicide-drone-for-future-helicopters



Retired B-1B to serve as USAF integration lab

https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/retired-b-1b-to-serve-as-usaf-integration-lab/142841.article



This Close Up Video Shows B-2 Stealth Bomber’s Control Surfaces During Pre-Flight Checks In Stunning Detail

https://theaviationist.com/2021/03/10/this-close-up-video-shows-b-2-stealth-bombers-control-surfaces-during-pre-flight-checks-in-stunning-detail/



Sabrewing Aircraft nears first flight of Rhaegal UAV half-scale protoype

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/sabrewing-aircraft-nears-first-flight-of-rhaegal-uav-half-scale-protoype



USAF changes height standards, opens doors for women

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/usaf-changes-height-standards-opens-doors-for-women/



The heavy-duty ship the US needs to protect its thawing border with Russia 'is just falling apart,' captain says

https://www.businessinsider.com/coast-guard-icebreaker-polar-star-running-out-of-spare-parts-2021-3



Report to Congress on Amphibious Warship Programs

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/11/report-to-congress-on-amphibious-warship-programs-4



The U.S. Navy’s Submarine-Launched Aerial Drone Capacity Is Set To Greatly Expand

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39700/the-u-s-navys-submarine-launched-aerial-drone-capacity-is-set-to-greatly-expand



Pentagon Mulling Aircraft Carrier Reduction as Part of FY 2022 Budget Review

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/10/pentagon-mulling-aircraft-carrier-reduction-as-part-of-fy-2022-budget-review