Af/Pak & Other News (5/18/2021)

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Afghanistan ‘ready’ for Taliban violence after US withdrawal, Afghan president says

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/afghanistan-ready-for-taliban-violence-after-us-withdrawal-afghan-president-says



US envoy: Fear of Taliban conquering Kabul are overblown

https://apnews.com/article/taliban-kabul-business-government-and-politics-08bb3fc4da4a4c805a8ccb17cf7b779d



The U.S. Looks To Support The Afghan Military From 'Over The Horizon'

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/17/997494815/the-u-s-looks-to-support-the-afghan-military-from-over-the-horizon



China Offers to Host Afghan Peace Talks

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/china-offers-host-afghan-peace-talks









India: Navy seeks amendment to 30-year submarine plan, wants six nuclear boats

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/navy-seeks-amendment-to-30-year-submarine-plan-wants-six-nuclear-boats-101621307478586.html



China’s plans for Himalayan super dam stoke fears in India

https://www.arabnews.com/node/1840976/world









With Iranian support, drones are becoming a larger threat to Israel -analysis

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/with-iranian-support-drones-are-becoming-a-larger-threat-to-israel-analysis-668395









US deploys F/A-18D aircraft in Saudi Arabia

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/may/7318-us-deploys-f-a-18d-aircraft-in-saudi-arabia.html




Turkey to Go Ahead with Russian Weapons Purchases Despite US Objections

https://www.voanews.com/europe/turkey-go-ahead-russian-weapons-purchases-despite-us-objections



US Targets Islamic State Moneymen in Turkey, Syria

https://www.voanews.com/usa/us-targets-islamic-state-moneymen-turkey-syria



Turkey kills PKK terrorist group's Syria head: Erdoğan

https://www.dailysabah.com/politics/war-on-terror/turkey-kills-pkk-terrorist-groups-syria-head-erdogan









Turkish UAV drone stops 1.5 tons of marijuana being smuggled out of Syria

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/turkish-uav-drone-stops-15-tons-of-marijuana-being-smuggled-out-of-syria-668367









Israeli army launches artillery towards Lebanon in response to rocket fire

https://www.france24.com/en/middle-east/20210518-israeli-army-shells-lebanon-in-response-to-rocket-fire



Israeli Warships Fire Missiles At Gaza While Hamas Takes Aim At Offshore Oil Platforms

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40640/israeli-warships-fire-missiles-at-gaza-while-hamas-takes-aim-at-offshore-oil-platforms



Hamas-Israel Confrontation Sees Notable Differences from Past Fights

https://www.voanews.com/middle-east/hamas-israel-confrontation-sees-notable-differences-past-fights



Iran 'wants chaos in Israel,' says retired British military official

https://wjla.com/news/nation-world/iran-wants-chaos-in-israel-says-retired-british-military-official



Army Thwarts Hamas Underwater Drone Attack on Israeli Ships

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-army-thwarts-hamas-automated-submarine-attack-on-israeli-ships-1.9816526



Why does the hard left glorify the Palestinians?

https://thehill.com/opinion/international/553873-why-does-the-hard-left-glorify-the-palestinians



Israel: Hamas Got Played

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/israel/articles/20210518.aspx



Israel Defense Forces Release Bombing Video of Islamic Commander

https://www.newsweek.com/israel-defense-forces-release-bombing-video-islamic-commander-1592172



Key players in the Israel-Palestinian conflict and why peace remains elusive in Gaza

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2021/05/18/israel-hamas-netanyahu-and-biden-key-players-gaza-conflict/5129663001/










U.S. Tripoli visit shows increased Libya focus after fighting

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/u-s-tripoli-visit-shows-increased-libya-focus-after-fighting/ar-BB1gRPN7









Ukrainian Artillery Takes Part in NATO Exercise in Poland

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/05/18/ukrainian-artillery-takes-part-in-nato-exercise-in-poland/



Russian Army Receives Radar for S-500 Air-Defense System

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/18/russia-radar-s500/



Russia’s Mi-28NM “Breakthrough” Gunship Can Launch Drones

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29593/Russia___s_Mi_28NM____Breakthrough____Gunship_Can_Launch_Drones



Latest Russian submarines should carry Lasta antitorpedoes - Part 2

http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/focus-analysis/naval-technology/10159-latest-russian-subs-should-carry-lasta-antitorpedoes-part-2.html



Russia’s northernmost base projects its power across Arctic

https://apnews.com/article/arctic-europe-russia-business-technology-b67c5b28d917f03f9340d4a7b4642790



Blinken says Russia has advanced unlawful maritime claims in the Arctic

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-has-advanced-unlawful-maritime-claims-arctic-blinken-2021-05-18/



Russia's Foreign Minister Shrugs Off Concerns of Military's Arctic Expansion: 'It's Our Territory'

https://www.newsweek.com/russias-foreign-minister-shrugs-off-concerns-militarys-arctic-expansion-its-our-territory-1592491



Russia's intelligence chief suggested without evidence that the US and UK orchestrated the SolarWinds hack that breached US government agencies

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/russia-s-intelligence-chief-suggested-without-evidence-that-the-us-and-uk-orchestrated-the-solarwinds-hack-that-breached-us-government-agencies/ar-BB1gREsY



Russian MPs move a step closer to banning Navalny allies from elections Access to the comments

https://www.euronews.com/2021/05/18/russia-seeks-to-ban-navalny-supporters-from-running-in-elections



Intimidation and repression of Russian opposition steps up a gear

https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20210518-intimidation-and-repression-of-russian-opposition-steps-up-a-gear





Georgia to Begin Producing M4 Rifles, Drones in 2022

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/18/georgia-to-produce-m4-rifles-drones/




U.S. Voices Concern After Military Movements Near Armenia-Azerbaijan Border

https://www.rferl.org/a/us-armenia-azerbaijan-concern/31260486.html




Raytheon, Kongsberg complete first AMRAAM-ER live-fire tests

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/raytheon-kongsberg-complete-first-amraam-er-live-fire-tests




Hungary to receive new Lynx fighting vehicles with active protection system

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/hungary-to-receive-new-lynx-fighting-vehicles-with-active-protection-system.html




Romania-built plane used by Ceausescu going up for auction

https://apnews.com/article/europe-romania-business-government-and-politics-f3b9e42d764553784d9b229cb30ee6d9




Germany arrests businessman over dual-use exports to Russia

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/05/18/germany-arrests-businessman-over-dual-use-exports-to-russia/




Spain vows to restore order after thousands swim into Ceuta from Morocco

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/spanish-troops-deploy-in-ceuta-after-thousands-break-in-from-morocco/ar-BB1gR2Lb



Four U.S. B-52 Bombers Have Just Landed In Spain For A Bomber Task Force Deployment

https://theaviationist.com/2021/05/17/b-52-bombers-spain/




RAF stands up new ISTAR Air Wing

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/raf-stands-up-new-istar-air-wing



Russian spy ship shadowing carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/russian-spy-ship-shadowing-carrier-hms-queen-elizabeth/



Will the UK block the Chinese fighter offer to Argentina?

https://www.aerotime.aero/27945-will-the-uk-block-the-chinese-fighter-offer-to-argentina









New Photos Reveal Details of Cuba’s Tiny, Lethal Attack Submarine

https://news.usni.org/2021/05/17/new-photos-reveal-details-of-cubas-tiny-lethal-attack-submarine









Chinese Military Helicopters Spotted Flying in the Shape of '100'

https://www.newsweek.com/chinese-military-helicopters-spotted-flying-shape-100-1592446



China’s navy in live-fire drills across three theatre commands, hinting at moves to counter US

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3133893/chinas-navy-live-fire-drills-across-three-theatre-commands



China Planning 'Unprecedented' Tiananmen Memorial Crackdown: Report

https://www.newsweek.com/china-planning-unprecedented-tiananmen-crackdown-hong-kong-report-1592366





China Makes Tenth Incursion Into Taiwan ADIZ in May

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/18/china-incursion-taiwan-adiz/





North Korea expected to test new weapons soon, analysts say

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/05/18/North-Korea-weapons-tests-2021/5541621344034/



North Korea: Road Warriors

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20210518.aspx





South Korea to Test Low-Noise Drones for Surveillance

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/17/south-korea-low-noise-drones/










Leaked Navy video appears to show UFO off California

https://www.yahoo.com/news/leaked-navy-video-appears-show-211241985.html



Retired US Navy Chief explains tech witnessed in UFO aircraft sighting

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/05/18/government-report-ufo-cuomo-intv-cpt-vpx.cnn



When it comes to UFOs, the U.S. has a ‘massive intelligence failure on our hands,’ says former defense official

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/17/when-it-comes-to-ufos-us-has-a-massive-intelligence-failure-says-ex-defense-official.html



Obama Says Government Doesn't Have Alien Specimens, But UFOs Are Real

https://www.vice.com/en/article/5dbg8b/obama-says-government-doesnt-have-alien-specimens-but-ufos-are-real



What we know about UFOs: How the Pentagon has handled reported sightings, mysterious videos and more

https://abc7.com/ufo-capabilities-60-minutes-interview-uss-nimitz-uap-task-force/10652053/



How ‘Rear Adm. Jack Meehoff’ fooled a bunch of real retired generals and admirals

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/military-retired-generals-admiral-jack-meehoff/



Two US Navy T-45 Goshawk Jet Trainers Collide In Mid-Air Over Texas

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40655/two-us-navy-t-45-goshawk-jet-trainers-collide-in-mid-air-over-texas



Military jet intercepted small plane over Delaware airspace during Biden visit

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/military-plane-restricted-airspace-delaware-biden/



Crew Ejects From Qatari F-15QA Fighter While On The Ground At Airport Near St. Louis

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40667/crew-ejects-from-qatari-f-15qa-fighter-while-on-the-ground-at-airport-near-st-louis



What We Know About The High-Altitude Balloons Recently Lingering Off America's Coastlines

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40638/what-we-know-about-the-high-tech-balloons-lingering-off-the-coasts-of-the-u-s-recently



Pentagon weighs keeping Trump-era change to ‘psychological operations’

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3133847/pentagon-weighs-keeping-trump-era-change



How the Air Force turns a combat-ready F-16 into a high-flying Thunderbirds act

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-thunderbird-f-16-conversion/



General Electric’s “Transformational” Adaptive Cycle Jet Engine Completes Testing

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/05/17/general-electrics-transformational-adaptive-cycle-jet-engine-completes-testing/



Aerospace & Defense Roundup: May. 17

https://aviationweek.com/aerospace-defense-roundup-may-17



DARPA And Northrop Grumman Working On Blackjack Network’s Payload To Reduce Impact Of GPS Jamming

https://theaviationist.com/2021/05/17/blackjack-constellation/



Atlas V rocket launch carrying Space Force missile-warning satellite delayed to Tuesday

https://www.space.com/atlas-v-rocket-sbirs-geo-flight-5-satellite-launch-delayed



The strangest Spec-Ops firearms in SOCOM’s armory

https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/the-strangest-spec-ops-firearms-in-socoms-armory/



Secretive Army Suicide Drone Smashed Mock Air Defenses During Advanced War Games

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40650/secretive-army-suicide-drone-smashed-mock-air-defenses-during-advanced-war-games



Robot Black Hawk To Fly In Project Convergence 21: MOSA Key

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/05/robot-black-hawk-to-fly-in-project-convergence-21-mosa-key/



Army seeks to move power of laser weapons from kilowatts to terawatts to destroy targets with quick pulses

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/power/article/14203371/laser-weapons-power-terawatts



Industry, SOCOM Gearing Up for 'Armed Overwatch' Demo

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/5/17/sofic-news-socom-industry-gearing-up-for-armed-overwatch-demo



SOCOM’s Armed Overwatch To Fly Grueling New Test

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/05/socoms-armed-overwatch-to-fly-grueling-new-test/



Desperate For Firepower, The U.S. Air Force Loads Cruise Missiles On Cargo Planes

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/05/18/desperate-for-firepower-the-us-air-force-loads-cruise-missiles-on-cargo-planes/



"Fox 3!"—Inside The Air Force's Live Air-To-Air Missile Shoots

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40614/fox-3-inside-the-air-forces-live-air-to-air-missile-shoots



USAF conducted final flight test of F-15C Eagle Infrared Search and Track Legion Pod at Ex. Northern Edge 21

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/usaf-conducted-final-flight-test-of-f-15c-eagle-infrared-search-and-track-legion-pod-at-ex-northern-edge-21/



F-15EX To Carry New Oversized Air-To-Air Missile

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40660/f-15ex-to-carry-new-oversized-air-to-air-missile



What exactly is the Low Probability of Intercept Radar (LPI)?

https://navalpost.com/what-exactly-is-the-low-probability-of-intercept-radar/



US Navy Orders 18 Coyote Supersonic Sea-Skimming Targets

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/05/18/us-navy-orders-18-coyote-targets/



Navy to Decommission Littoral Combat Ships USS Freedom, USS Independence Later This Year

https://news.usni.org/2021/05/17/navy-to-decommission-littoral-combat-ships-uss-freedom-uss-independence-later-this-year