Af/Pak & Other News (3/26/2021)

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Biden: U.S. Will Miss Deadline for Afghanistan Pullout; All Troops Likely Out by 2022

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-03-25/biden-us-will-miss-deadline-for-afghanistan-pullout-all-troops-likely-out-by-2022



The Forever War in Afghanistan Drones On: Biden Won’t Leave on May 1

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/03/the-forever-war-in-afghanistan-drones-on-biden-wont-leave-on-may-1/



Sticky bombs latest weapon in Afghanistan’s arsenal of war

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-afghanistan-lloyd-austin-kabul-taliban-c497354cd76c2e0fc9dc21bb6d908794



Top U.S. General: Afghan Army Could Not Survive on Its Own

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-03-25/top-us-general-afghan-army-could-not-survive-on-its-own



Was Germany's military mission in Afghanistan worth it?

https://www.dw.com/en/was-germanys-military-mission-in-afghanistan-worth-it/av-57003790



50 Years of Mirage Fighter Aircraft In Pakistan Air Force

https://fighterjetsworld.com/air/50-years-of-mirage-fighter-aircraft-in-pakistan-air-force/24952/









Iran showing increasing nerve as fight with Israel spreads to the sea

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-showing-increasing-nerve-as-fight-with-israel-spreads-to-the-sea/









Yemen's Houthis warn of stronger attacks after drone strikes on Saudi Arabia

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-saudi/yemens-houthis-warn-of-stronger-attacks-after-drone-strikes-on-saudi-arabia-idUSKBN2BI184



Shadowy Drone Program Gives Yemen Rebels Regional Reach

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/26/yemen-houthis-drone-program/



Saudi-led coalition says it destroys several Houthi drones launched at kingdom

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-saudi-security-houthis/saudi-led-coalition-says-it-destroys-several-houthi-drones-launched-at-kingdom-idUSKBN2BH37F



The UN leaked a Saudi threat to assassinate an official to make sure the killing didn't happen

https://www.businessinsider.com/saudi-threat-to-kill-agnes-callamard-leaked-by-un-2021-3



Why Yemen’s Houthis turned down Saudi Arabia’s ceasefire offer

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20210324-why-yemen-s-houthis-turned-down-saudi-arabia-s-ceasefire-offer




Turkish Navy launches first Type 214TN submarine

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/turkish-navy-launches-first-type-214tn-submarine



Turkey's Defense Agency Starts Drone-based Electronic Warfare Project

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29217/Turkey_s_Defense_Agency_Starts_Drone_based_Electronic_Warfare_Project









Analysis: Lebanon frozen by political intransigence as it hurtles towards collapse

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-lebanon-crisis-scenario/analysis-lebanon-frozen-by-political-intransigence-as-it-hurtles-towards-collapse-idUSKBN2BI1YY









Israel’s Shadow War With Iran Moves Out to Sea

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/26/world/middleeast/israel-iran-shadow-war.html



Pollard: Jews ‘will always have dual loyalty’ & should consider spying for Israel

https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/pollard-jews-will-always-have-dual-loyalty-and-should-consider-spying-for-israel-663285









Titanic Traffic Jam of Cargo Ships Growing Around Blocked Suez Canal Can Be Seen From Space

https://www.thedrive.com/news/39943/satellite-images-show-huge-traffic-jam-of-180-cargo-ships-growing-around-blocked-suez-canal



Shipping Companies Stuck Near Suez Are Reportedly Alerting U.S. Navy Over ‘Piracy Risks’

https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2021/03/26/shipping-companies-stuck-near-suez-are-reportedly-alerting-us-navy-over-piracy-risks/




Strike Kills Six in Mali in Disputed Circumstances

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/26/strike-mali-disputed-circumstances/




Ethiopia says Eritrea has agreed to withdraw forces from Tigray region

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210326-ethiopia-says-eritrea-has-agreed-to-withdraw-forces-from-tigray-region









Russia trolls Suez Canal with northern 'alternative'

https://www.yahoo.com/news/russia-trolls-suez-canal-northern-161315237.html



Russian hackers target German parliament again -Der Spiegel

https://news.trust.org/item/20210326130025-9mtxn/



Kremlin 'Won't React' To Plea For Navalny's Release Due To Health

https://www.rferl.org/a/kremlin-wont-react-plea-navalny-release/31171122.html




So…Can you actually buy a fighter jet? Royal Norwegian Air Force could soon sell its F-16 Fighting Falcon fleet

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/socan-you-actually-buy-a-fighter-jet-royal-norwegian-air-force-could-soon-sell-its-f-16-fighting-falcon-fleet/




Czech Air Force Aero L-159 Trainer Loses Canopy During Flight

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/czech-air-force-aero-l-159-trainer-loses-canopy-during-flight/24965/




Leonardo Celebrates 50th Anniversary Since First Flight Of Iconic Lynx Helicopter

https://theaviationist.com/2021/03/25/leonardo-celebrates-50th-anniversary-since-first-flight-of-iconic-lynx-helicopter/



Sea Trials Successfully Completed: Italian Navy Aircraft Carrier Achieves F-35B Airworthiness Certification

https://theaviationist.com/2021/03/26/sea-trials-successfully-completed-italian-navy-aircraft-carrier-achieves-f-35b-airworthiness-certification/




Aircraft Carrierbnb? Without Enough F-35Bs To Fill Its Carrier Decks, The UK MoD Suggests Other Nations Come Aboard

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2021/03/25/aircraft-carrierbnb-without-enough-f-35bs-to-fill-its-carrier-decks-the-uk-mod-suggests-other-nations-come-aboard/



Britain’s Royal Navy is testing new robotic submarine tech in deep water trials

https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-tactical/britains-royal-navy-testing-new-robotic-submarine/



Hawk T1 fleet temporarily grounded after crash

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/hawk-t1-fleet-temporarily-grounded-after-crash/









Cartels Are Using ‘Narco-Drones’ to Smuggle Drugs Across US Border

https://thedebrief.org/cartels-are-using-narco-drones-to-smuggle-drugs-across-us-border/









China’s Dam Building Is a Security Risk for India’s Northeast

https://thediplomat.com/2021/03/chinas-dam-building-is-a-security-risk-for-indias-northeast/



Chinese Foreign Minister Heads to Iran As Clash Brews Over U.S. Oil Sanctions

https://www.newsweek.com/chinese-foreign-minister-heads-iran-clash-brews-us-oil-sanctions-1578733



Unwanted Company

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htamph/articles/20210326.aspx



Why China Could Decide to Invade Taiwan, and Soon

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/03/why-china-could-decide-to-invade-taiwan-and-soon/





Taipei, Washington seal coastguard deal ‘to counter Beijing’s grey zone threats’

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3127169/taipei-washington-seal-coastguard-deal-counter-beijings-grey



Taiwan Tripwire: A New Role For The U.S. Army In Deterring Chinese Aggression

https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2021/03/26/taiwan-tripwire-a-new-role-for-the-us-army-in-deterring-chinese-aggression/



USAF Deters War Game Taiwan Invasion With Updated Tactics

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/03/25/usaf-war-game-taiwan-invasion/



Taiwan reports largest ever incursion by Chinese air force

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwna-china-security/taiwan-reports-largest-ever-incursion-by-chinese-air-force-idUSKBN2BI24D





North Korea Carried Out The First Known Test Of Its Newest Ballistic Missile

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39944/north-korea-carried-out-the-first-known-test-of-its-newest-ballistic-missile





New US sanctions target military conglomerates in Myanmar

https://apnews.com/article/politics-antony-blinken-myanmar-united-states-890394675629de8c404aabf64adaba4d





Japan's Lithium Battery Submarines Becoming Operational

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/03/japans-lithium-battery-submarines.html









Canada’s CF-105 Arrow Interceptor Is The Cold War Legend That Refuses To Die

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39927/canadas-cf-105-arrow-interceptor-is-the-cold-war-legend-that-refuses-to-die










Rubio on Pentagon's UFO report: 'There's stuff flying over military installations'

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/544933-rubio-on-pentagons-ufo-report-theres-stuff-flying-over-military-installations



Why is the Pentagon releasing a UFO report, anyway?

https://www.inverse.com/science/ufo-report-june-2021



Military and spy agencies accused of stiff-arming investigators on UFO sightings

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/03/25/ufo-sightings-report-478104



FBI Warns Imminent Deepfake Attacks “Almost Certain”

https://thedebrief.org/fbi-warns-imminent-deepfake-attacks-almost-certain/



US military conducted 2 dozen cyber operations to head off 2020 election meddling

https://www.c4isrnet.com/cyber/2021/03/25/us-military-conducted-2-dozen-cyber-operations-to-head-off-2020-election-meddling/



Report on U.S.-China Competition in East, South China Sea

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/25/report-on-u-s-china-competition-in-east-south-china-sea-7



Endless U.S.-China Contest Risks 'Catastrophic' Conflict, Henry Kissinger Warns

https://www.newsweek.com/endless-us-china-contest-catastrophic-conflict-henry-kissinger-1579010



The Air Force Spent $134M To Repair 39 Hail-Damaged T-1 Jet Trainers It’s About To Retire

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39945/the-air-force-spent-134m-to-repair-39-hail-damaged-t-1-jet-trainers-its-about-to-retire



The Pentagon is investigating whether special operators have committed war crimes, and if their commanders have even been checking

https://www.businessinsider.com/pentagon-probes-potential-special-operations-war-crimes-and-oversight-2021-3



US troops had to use their phones as flashlights to try to escape a sinking assault amphibious vehicle that killed 9 of them

https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-troops-had-phones-flashlights-231336791.html



Investigation: 7-Month-Long ‘Chain of Failure’ Led to 9 Killed in AAV Sinking

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/25/investigation-7-month-long-chain-of-failure-led-to-9-killed-in-aav-sinking



Fewest number of special ops forces deployed since 2001 as Pentagon reviews decisions to draw down troops

https://warisboring.com/fewest-number-of-special-ops-forces-deployed-since-2001-as-pentagon-reviews-decisions-to-draw-down-troops/



VH-92As being tested at Joint Base Charleston

http://alert5.com/2021/03/25/vh-92as-being-tested-at-joint-base-charleston/



Man-Machine Interactions

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htsurf/articles/20210326.aspx



Space Force begins loaning anti-jamming GPS tech to allies

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/03/25/space-force-begins-loaning-anti-jamming-gps-tech-to-allies/



Relativity Space printed its Terran 1 rocket’s second stage in a few weeks

https://arstechnica.com/science/2021/03/relativity-space-printed-its-terran-1-rockets-second-stage-in-a-few-weeks/



SOCOM Shifting To Great Power Competition Strategy, But Needs More ISR Capabilities, Commander Says

https://news.usni.org/2021/03/25/socom-shifting-to-great-power-competition-strategy-but-needs-more-isr-capabilities-commander-says



American Special Operators Set To Get New Advanced Computerized Sights For Their Rifles

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39937/american-special-operators-set-to-get-new-advanced-computerized-sights-for-their-rifles



Special Operations team in Pacific will confront Chinese information campaigns

https://www.c4isrnet.com/information-warfare/2021/03/25/special-operations-team-in-pacific-will-confront-chinese-information-campaigns/



US Army to transform over the next 14 years to be able to dominate adversaries in large-scale combat operations

https://warisboring.com/us-army-to-transform-over-the-next-14-years-to-be-able-to-dominate-adversaries-in-large-scale-combat-operations/



SNC delivers modernized RC-12X SIGINT aircraft to US Army

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/25/snc-delivers-modernized-rc-12x-sigint-aircraft-to-us-army/



Attacking In Milliseconds: Army "Aided Target Recognition" IDs Enemies

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/land/attacking-in-milliseconds-army-aided-target-recognition-ids-enemies-MWnhd1on0kKltk6vE4tG7A



U.S. Army is blowing up this low-cost threat emitter built by the Navy

http://alert5.com/2021/03/26/u-s-army-is-blowing-up-this-low-cost-threat-emitter-built-by-the-navy/



Dozens Of AH-1Z And UH-1Y Helicopters Will Be Retired As Part Of The USMC's Force Redesign

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39925/marines-set-to-retire-dozens-of-ah-1z-and-uh-1y-helicopters-as-part-of-force-redesign



NORAD Fighters Are Using Arresting Gear For Year-Round Ops At Greenland’s Thule Air Base

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39938/norad-fighters-are-using-arresting-gear-for-year-round-ops-at-greenlands-thule-airbase



Almost Overnight, New Ships Make U.S. Coast Guard A Big Geopolitical Player

https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2021/03/26/almost-overnight-new-ships-make-us-coast-guard-a-big-geopolitical-player/



US Navy receives first Block V Tomahawk missile

https://defbrief.com/2021/03/26/us-navy-receives-first-block-v-tomahawk-missile/



GDMS delivers first LRIP Knifefish SMCM UUV system to USN

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/gdms-delivers-first-lrip-knifefish-smcm-uuv-system-to-usn



Navy lays out plans for rapid acquisition of unmanned surface ships and submarines to augment manned fleet

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/unmanned/article/14200138/unmanned-surface-ships-submarines