Af/Pak & Other News (2/17/2021)

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Afghanistan peace talks under threat as major Taliban spring offensive takes shape

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-violence-springoffensive/afghanistan-peace-talks-under-threat-as-major-taliban-spring-offensive-takes-shape-idUSKBN2AH0SV?il=0



Did China Build a Spy Network in Kabul?

https://thediplomat.com/2021/02/did-china-build-a-spy-network-in-kabul/



NATO eyes post-Trump reset as Afghanistan call looms

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210217-nato-eyes-post-trump-reset-as-afghanistan-call-looms



Taliban keep close ties with Al Qaeda despite promise to U.S.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/taliban-keep-close-ties-al-qaeda-despite-promise-u-s-n1258033



There have been zero reported US drone strikes since Joe Biden took office

https://www.businessinsider.com/there-have-been-no-reported-drone-strikes-since-joe-biden-took-office-2021-2



Pakistan: Fatah Fades In

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htart/articles/20210217.aspx









U.S., Kurds Blame Iran for Deadly Irbil Attack Despite Tehran’s Denials: Sources

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2021-02-16/us-kurds-blame-iran-for-deadly-irbil-attack-despite-tehrans-denials-sources



Photos Reveal Damage from Deadly Rocket Attack at US Base in Iraq

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/02/exclusive-photos-deadly-rocket-attack-us-base-iraq/172095/



U.S. Base Attack Forces Joe Biden to Juggle Retaliation With Iran Nuclear Deal Hopes

https://www.newsweek.com/us-base-attack-forces-joe-biden-juggle-retaliation-iran-nuclear-deal-hopes-1569887









UAE: Milanion to unveils its new UGV during live demos at IDEX 2021

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/milanion-to-unveils-its-new-ugv-during-live-demos-at-idex-2021.html




Houthi offensive on Yemen's Marib threatens mass displacement, U.N. warns

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-marib/houthi-offensive-on-yemens-marib-threatens-mass-displacement-u-n-warns-idUSKBN2AG1W1




Turkish Drones to Fire Autonomously at Targets in Near Future

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28990/Turkish_Drones_to_Fire_Autonomously_at_Targets_in_Near_Future









U.S. Super Hornet Tracking Russian Su-35 Over Syria had ‘Several’ Technical Issues

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28980/U_S__Super_Hornet_Tracking_Russian_Su_35_Over_Syria_had____Several____Technical_Issues









Egypt to Procure RAM Block 2 Tactical Missiles to Arm its Ships

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28982/Egypt_to_Procure_RAM_Block_2_Tactical_Missiles_to_Arm_its_Ships




Libya marks 10 years since start of protests that overthrew Gaddafi

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210217-libya-marks-10-years-since-overthrow-of-gaddafi



After a Decade of Chaos, Can a Splintered Libya Be Made Whole?

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/16/world/middleeast/libya-government-qaddafi.html




France Maintains Sahel Force to ‘Decapitate’ Al-Qaeda Groups

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/17/france-maintains-sahel-force/




Terrorism trial begins for man who inspired ‘Hotel Rwanda’

https://apnews.com/article/dubai-kigali-trials-genocides-rwanda-8198e9376f5e5728de344c5cfc347473




Guided-missile destroyer Winston Churchill seizes thousands of illicit weapons from dhows off Somalia coast

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2021/02/16/guided-missile-destroyer-winston-churchill-seizes-thousands-of-illicit-weapons-from-dhows-off-somalia-coast/




Gunmen kidnap "hundreds" of schoolboys in central Nigeria, sources say

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/gunmen-kidnap-hundreds-of-schoolboys-in-nigeria-sources-say/




Mali: Europe Gets A Clue

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/mali/articles/20210217.aspx









Here's Our Best Look Yet At Russia's Secretive Space Cannon, The Only Gun Ever Fired In Space

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39277/heres-our-best-look-yet-at-russias-secretive-space-cannon-the-only-gun-ever-fired-in-space



Kalashnikov futuristic MP-155 Ultima Smart Shotgun

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/02/kalashnikov-futuristic-mp-155-ultima-smart-shotgun



Russia’s Northern Fleet increases military activities in the Arctic Region

https://navalpost.com/russia-increases-activities-in-the-arctic-region/



Russian Su-57 Test-flies Hypersonic Missile Mock-up in Internal Bay

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28988/Russian_Su_57_Test_flies_Hypersonic_Missile_Mock_up_in_Internal_Bay



Russia, China to sign agreement on international lunar research station

https://spacenews.com/russia-china-to-sign-agreement-on-international-lunar-research-station/



Russia and Iran: A Growing Navy Alliance?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russia-and-iran-growing-navy-alliance-178334




Vodafone develops new high-accuracy tech to track drones

https://dronedj.com/2021/02/17/vodafone-develops-new-high-accuracy-tech-to-track-drones/




Georgian Aircraft Manufacturer Announces Country’s First Combat Drone

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/02/17/georgia-first-combat-drone/




Estonia report: Russia bets on COVID-19 weakening the West

https://apnews.com/article/europe-estonia-coronavirus-pandemic-covid-19-pandemic-europe-fbfc55618c3c26fecb5c966cf979f53d




Swedish defense leaders push Saab’s Gripen offer for Finland

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/02/17/swedish-defense-leaders-push-saabs-gripen-offer-for-finland/




Novadem to deliver about 50 more micro-drones NX70 to the French Army

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/february/6954-novadem-to-deliver-about-50-more-micro-drones-nx70-to-the-french-army.html



UMISAS synthetic aperture sonar trialled ahead of integration for BE/NL MCM programme

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/umisas-synthetic-aperture-sonar-trialled-ahead-of-integration-for-benl-mcm-programme



France ties Russia’s Sandworm to a multiyear hacking spree

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/02/france-ties-russias-sandworm-to-a-multiyear-hacking-spree/



Cyber attacks hit two French hospitals in one week

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210216-cyber-attacks-hit-two-french-hospitals-in-one-week




Firms invited to trial tech on autonomous British submarine

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/firms-invited-to-trial-tech-on-autonomous-british-submarine/









Developing Nations Are Accelerating Cruise Missile Evolution

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/missile-defense-weapons/developing-nations-are-accelerating-cruise-missile-evolution









Satellite images show China emptying military camps at border flashpoint with India

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-china/satellite-images-show-china-emptying-military-camps-at-border-flashpoint-with-india-idUSKBN2AH0WC



PLAAF is starting to produce better trained fighter pilots and at a faster rate

http://alert5.com/2021/02/17/plaaf-is-starting-to-produce-better-trained-fighter-pilots-and-at-a-faster-rate/#more-86887



Chinese Warplanes Continue Sorties Near Taiwan During Lunar New Year

https://www.newsweek.com/chinese-warplanes-sorties-taiwan-lunar-new-year-1569856





Beijing May Have Scuppered Taiwan's Vaccine Roll-Out, Hints Health Minister

https://www.newsweek.com/beijing-may-have-scuppered-taiwans-vaccine-roll-out-hints-health-minister-1569807





South China Sea: US challenges China’s claims with Spratly mission

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3122042/south-china-sea-us-challenges-chinas-claims-spratly-mission





North Korea ramped up missile research, Seoul's military says

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/02/17/North-Korea-ramped-up-missile-research-Seouls-military-says/2311613568873/



Reports: North Korea ignored China, Russia COVID-19 vaccine offers

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/02/17/Reports-North-Korea-ignored-China-Russia-COVID-19-vaccine-offers/2741613582073/



Reports: U.S. spy plane, missile tracking ship deployed near North Korea

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/02/16/Reports-US-spy-plane-missile-tracking-ship-deployed-near-North-Korea/2521613498087/





Japan’s new Aegis ships can only be on duty 126 days a year

http://alert5.com/2021/02/17/japans-new-aegis-ships-can-only-be-on-duty-126-days-a-year/





COVID coup: how Myanmar’s military used the pandemic to justify and enable its power grab

https://theconversation.com/covid-coup-how-myanmars-military-used-the-pandemic-to-justify-and-enable-its-power-grab-155350



Myanmar coup protesters mass to reject army claim of support

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics/myanmar-coup-protesters-mass-to-reject-army-claim-of-support-idUSKBN2AH03K



Myanmar: despite appearances the country’s military might is waning

https://theconversation.com/myanmar-despite-appearances-the-countrys-military-might-is-waning-154770





Australian army plans new amphibious landing craft for fleet

https://www.upi.com/Defense-News/2021/02/16/Australian-army-plans-new-amphibious-landing-craft-for-fleet/3481613519321/





Air Force F-35 Stealth Fighters Are Now Operating From Guam’s Austere Airfield

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39278/air-force-f-35-stealth-fighters-are-now-operating-from-guams-austere-airfield










How to Escape the Confines of Time and Space According to the CIA

https://www.vice.com/en/article/7k9qag/how-to-escape-the-confines-of-time-and-space-according-to-the-cia



A hacker claims to have breached a law firm used by Trump and dumped legal files on the dark web, report says

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hacker-claims-breached-law-firm-130857883.html



Pentagon report reveals inroads white supremacists have made in military

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/02/pentagon-report-reveals-inroads-white-supremacists-have-made-in-military/



DOJ announces charges against North Korean hacker spies accused of conspiring to steal more than $1.3 billion in cash and cryptocurrency

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/north-korea-hackers-banks-theft/2021/02/17/3dccf0dc-7129-11eb-93be-c10813e358a2_story.html



Report to Congress on U.S.-Vietnam Relations

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/17/report-to-congress-on-u-s-vietnam-relations



Chinese tanks will be the main target for Javelin?

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/chinese-tanks-will-be-the-main-target-for-javelin.html



Army looks beyond land targets with new electronic warfare system

https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-warfare/2021/02/17/army-looks-beyond-land-targets-with-new-electronic-warfare-system/



The Army Is Seeking Firms to Build Highly Mobile Light Tanks for Infantry Brigades

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/02/16/army-seeking-firms-build-highly-mobile-light-tanks-infantry-brigades.html



SOCOM Could Purchase 'Armed Overwatch' Aircraft in 2022

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/2/16/socom-could-purchase-armed-overwatch-aircraft-next-year



Special ops still bullish on new armed overwatch plane

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/02/16/special-ops-still-bullish-on-new-armed-overwatch-plane/



AFSOC aims to consolidate multiple aircraft roles into Armed Overwatch

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/usaf-to-consolidate-multiple-aircraft-roles-into-armed-overwatch/142448.article



Kaman announces new order for the K-MAX helicopter

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/february/6957-kaman-announces-new-order-for-the-k-max-helicopter.html



The U.S. Marines’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle Is a Beast

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/02/the-u-s-marines-amphibious-combat-vehicle-is-a-beast/



AI for security: Autonomous surveillance at Marine base has warzone potential

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/it-networks/2021/02/16/ai-for-security-autonomous-surveillance-at-marine-base-has-warzone-potential/



Red Flag 21-1 Kicked Off This Year’s Training Exercises Focusing On “Great Power Competition”

https://theaviationist.com/2021/02/16/red-flag-21-1-kicked-off-this-years-training-exercises-focusing-on-great-power-competition/



The Air Force Finally Has Its First New AT-6E Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/39302/the-air-force-finally-has-its-first-new-at-6e-wolverine-light-attack-aircraft



U.S. Navy Seeks Bulletproof Survival Suits For Aircrew

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/02/17/us-navy-seeks-better-bulletproof-survival-suits/



RAM Block 2A missiles made by Raytheon ready for the US Navy

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2019/june/7215-ram-block-2a-missiles-made-by-raytheon-ready-for-the-us-navy.html



‘Like A Kids’ Soccer Game’: U.S. Navy Planners Leave The Field To Iran

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/02/17/like-a-kids-soccer-game-us-navy-planners-leave-the-field-open-for-iran-to-advance/



Northrop Grumman Pitching Fire Scout Helicopter Drone for ASW Missions

https://news.usni.org/2021/02/16/northrop-grumman-pitching-fire-scout-helicopter-drone-for-asw-missions



How the U.S. Navy Could Use Drones to Kill Submarines

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/02/how-the-u-s-navy-could-use-drones-to-kill-submarines/