Af/Pak & Other News (6/17/2021)

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Afghanistan: District after district falls to the Taliban

https://www.dw.com/en/afghanistan-district-after-district-falls-to-the-taliban/a-57939556



More than 20 commandos killed by Taliban during an ambush in Afghanistan

https://warisboring.com/more-than-20-commandos-killed-by-taliban-during-an-ambush-in-afghanistan/



Austin: Al-Qaida could regroup in Afghanistan in 2 years

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-islamic-state-group-al-qaida-afghanistan-government-and-politics-f84b51dfcc39b15fef9b9a4f89002547



Asian powers plot to fill US vacuum in Afghanistan

https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Asian-powers-plot-to-fill-US-vacuum-in-Afghanistan



China’s Afghanistan Challenge and the Central Asian Dilemma

https://thediplomat.com/2021/06/chinas-afghanistan-challenge-and-the-central-asian-dilemma/



Pakistan’s New Type 054 A/P Frigate Started Sea Trials in China

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/06/pakistans-new-type-054-a-p-frigate-started-sea-trials-in-china/









Four wild Iran nuclear standoff developments

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/four-wild-iran-nuclear-standoff-developments-671224



Iran Moves Toward a One-Party State

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/iran-moves-toward-a-one-party-state



Iranian ships once believed to be headed toward Venezuela change course, U.S. officials say

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/17/iran-ships-venezuela-495013









Saudi air defences intercept drone launched by Yemen's Houthis - Al Arabiya TV

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/saudi-air-defences-intercept-drone-launched-by-yemens-houthis-al-arabiya-tv-2021-06-17/









IDF destroys Syrian outpost used by Hezbollah

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/idf-destroys-hezbollah-outpost-in-syria-report-671280









No Israeli Response To Second Day Of Incendiary Balloon Launches From Gaza

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/06/17/no-israeli-response-to-second-day-of-incendiary-balloon-launches-from-gaza/



Israel: Feel The Burn

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/israel/articles/20210617.aspx



Al-Qassam Brigades announces military training camp for children and teenagers

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/06/al-qassam-brigades-announces-military-training-camp-for-children-and-teenagers.php









Libya: ‘Haftar is one of the time bombs on Libya’s road ahead’ says analyst

https://www.theafricareport.com/98550/libya-haftar-is-one-of-the-time-bombs-on-libyas-road-ahead-says-analyst/




US B-52H strategic bomber conducts mission across Africa

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2021/06/us-b-52h-strategic-bomber-conducts-mission-across-africa









Lockheed Martin offers Ukraine F-16 fighter jet

https://defence-blog.com/lockheed-martin-offers-ukraine-f-16-fighter-jet/



Ukraine arrests ransomware gang in global cyber criminal crackdown

https://finance.yahoo.com/m/1740d9f3-ef4a-3fd6-bf89-f7f044a8e34e/ukraine-arrests-ransomware.html



Ukraine to receive first French-made fast patrol boat by end of year

https://defence-blog.com/ukraine-to-receive-first-french-made-fast-patrol-boat-by-end-of-year/



Ukraine unveils advanced version of Soviet-era tank destroyer

https://defence-blog.com/ukraine-unveils-advanced-version-of-soviet-era-tank-destroyer/



Kremlin says NATO membership for Ukraine would be 'red line'

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kremlin-says-it-is-worried-by-talk-ukraine-road-map-nato-2021-06-17/



Russia to Develop Export Version of Su-57 Fighter

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/06/17/russia-export-version-su57/



Two Russian Tu-160s And Four Flankers Intercepted By Italian F-35s, Danish F-16s and Swedish Gripens Over The Baltic

https://theaviationist.com/2021/06/15/tu-160-italian-f-35/





NATO leaders extend Article 5 mutual defence clause to space domain

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/nato-leaders-extend-article-5-mutual-defence-clause-to-space-domain




USAF KC-135 Stratotanker Aircraft Suffered Runway Excursion In Finland

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/usaf-kc-135-stratotanker-aircraft-suffered-runway-excursion-in-finland/26056/




What will the Royal Navy’s new Vixen jets look like?

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/what-will-the-royal-navys-new-vixen-jets-look-like/









Brazilian Navy orders MBDA’s Sea Ceptor air defence missile

https://navalpost.com/brazilian-navy-orders-mbdas-sea-ceptor-missile/









New Images Of Chinese Navy's Latest Type-039C Yuan Class Submarine

http://www.hisutton.com/Chinese-Navy-Type-039C-Submarine.html



Chinese astronauts board space station module in historic mission

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-launches-crewed-spacecraft-shenzhou-12-historic-mission-2021-06-17/



EXPLAINER: The significance of China’s new space station

https://apnews.com/article/explaining-signifigance-china-new-orbiting-space-station-f0cd17b13489b318837a0cea306415a2



Global Concerns And Questions Grow As China Admits Fuel Rods At Nuclear Plant Are Damaged

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41116/global-concerns-and-questions-grow-as-china-admits-fuel-rods-at-nuclear-plant-are-damaged



There's still no evidence of a Chinese lab leak. But here’s what's changed, scientists say.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/there-s-still-no-evidence-of-a-chinese-lab-leak-but-here-s-what-s-changed-scientists-say/ar-AAL7sw9





A Bloodless Air Battle Raged Around Taiwan This Week As U.S. And Chinese Forces Trained For War

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/06/17/a-bloodless-air-battle-raged-around-taiwan-this-week-as-us-and-chinese-forces-trained-for-war/



Low probability of China trying to seize Taiwan in near term -top U.S. general

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/low-probability-china-tries-seize-taiwan-militarily-near-term-top-us-general-2021-06-17/



A tiny Taiwan island could be trigger for US-China clash

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3137700/tiny-taiwan-island-could-be-trigger-us-china-clash





Myanmar: Keeping A Coup Alive With UAVs

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20210617.aspx





South Korea Simultaneously Participates in Exercises With and Against Japan

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/06/16/south-korea-simultaneously-participates-in-exercises-with-and-against-japan/



South Korean KF-21 fighter jet assembly line unveiled to the public

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/june-2021/7393-south-korean-kf-21-fighter-jet-assembly-line-unveiled-to-the-public.html



South Korea to deploy rail-mounted robot, AI-based surveillance systems to enhance border security

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/south-korea-to-deploy-rail-mounted-robot-ai-based-surveillance-systems-to-enhance-border-security










Navy and FBI giving U.S. House committee classified UFO briefing today

https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/navy-and-fbi-giving-u-s-house-committee-classified-ufo-briefing-today/



That Pentagon UFO report is coming soon. Everything you need to know

https://www.cnet.com/news/that-pentagon-ufo-report-is-coming-soon-everything-you-need-to-know/



J.J. Abrams Producing a UFO Docuseries for Showtime

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/j-j-abrams-ufo-1234969084/



Experts weigh in as Pentagon is set to release UFO report

https://warisboring.com/experts-weigh-in-as-pentagon-is-set-to-release-ufo-report/



Questions Remain After Report That F-22s Scrambled Due To Major Russian Naval Exercise Near Hawaii

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41124/questions-remain-after-report-that-f-22s-were-scrambled-due-to-major-russian-naval-exercise-near-hawaii



30-year CIA veteran to run espionage operations

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/cia/558905-30-year-cia-veteran-to-run-espionage-operations-report



Raytheon to Provide Advanced Cameras and Processing Systems under DARPA’s FENCE Program

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29829/Raytheon_to_Provide_Advanced_Cameras_and_Processing_Systems_under_DARPA___s_FENCE_Program



Video: Autonomous missile launcher destroys enemy threats

https://www.defensenews.com/video/2021/06/16/autonomous-missile-launcher-destroys-enemy-threats/



This New ‘Metamaterial’ Lens Technology Will Change Aerospace

https://thedebrief.org/this-new-metamaterial-lens-technology-will-change-aerospace/



USAF demos converting commercial-grade jet fuel into military fuel for ‘Agile’ operations

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/usaf-demos-converting-commercial-grade-jet-fuel-into-military-fuel-for-agile-operations/144192.article



Aerospace & Defense Roundup: June 16

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/z/aerospace-defense-roundup-june-16



The Space Force wants to use directed-energy systems for space superiority

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/06/16/the-space-force-wants-to-use-directed-energy-weapons-for-space-superiority/



SpaceX plans to launch new GPS satellite for Space Force

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2021/06/17/SpaceX-GPS-launch/6441623874293/



Could Soldier Uniforms Detect Injuries, UAVs or Incoming Fire And Share That Data? The Army Is Looking Into It

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2021/06/17/could-soldier-uniforms-detect-injuries-uavs-or-incoming-fire-and-share-that-data-the-army-is-looking-into-it/



Army asks Raytheon to build Excalibur Ib GPS-guided artillery smart munitions in deals worth $38.6 million

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14205349/smart-munitions-gpsguided-artillery



USMC to receive two Clippers

https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/usmc-to-receive-two-clippers



Air Force Plans To Buy A New Tanker As Problems Persist With The One It's Already Buying

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41125/air-force-plans-to-buy-a-new-tanker-as-problems-persist-with-the-one-its-already-buying



Brown: NGAD Will be a Multirole Fighter

https://www.airforcemag.com/ngad-multirole-fighter-f-35-block-4/



DARPA Gremlin Swarm Will Carry Weapons Or Sub-Drones And Re-Arm Mid-Air

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/06/17/darpa-gremlin-swarm-drones-to-carry-weapon-and-re-arm-mid-air/



US Air Force Develops Bird-Like Flapping-Wing Micro Drones

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/06/17/usaf-bird-like-micro-drones/



More cost overruns are coming down the line for Boeing as the KC-46 program logs another two technical deficiencies

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/06/17/more-cost-overruns-are-coming-down-the-line-for-boeing-as-the-kc-46-program-logs-another-two-technical-deficiencies/



Wing rock issue and other technical problems delay T-7A Red Hawk full-rate production decision from 2022 to 2023

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/wing-rock-issue-and-other-technical-problems-delay-t-7a-red-hawk-full-rate-production-decision-from-2022-to-2023/



Navy Weighing How to Include More Capabilities on MQ-25A Beyond Tanking

https://news.usni.org/2021/06/15/navy-weighing-how-to-include-more-capabilities-on-mq-25a-beyond-tanking



The U.S. Navy’s Railgun Is Dead (But a Mach 3 ‘Bullet’ Is Coming)

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/06/the-u-s-navys-railgun-is-dead-but-a-mach-3-bullet-is-coming/



Raytheon Integrates New SPY-6 Radar On US Navy’s First Flight III Destroyer

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/06/raytheon-integrates-spy-6-radar-arrays-onto-first-u-s-navy-flight-iii-destroyer/



Navy Awards 5 Companies Light Amphibious Warship ‘Concept Design’ Contracts

https://news.usni.org/2021/06/17/navy-awards-5-companies-light-amphibious-warship-concept-design-contracts