Af/Pak & Other News (12/9/2020)

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Afghan Security Forces Hit By Surge Of Taliban Suicide Car Bombings

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/taliban-suicide-car-bombings-afghanistan/30992099.html



How US wasted billions on absurd errors in Afghanistan war

https://www.foxnews.com/world/afghanistan-us-taxpayer-dollars-squandered-war-on-terror



I Commanded NATO Forces in Afghanistan. Here’s How We Could End this “Forever War”

https://time.com/5919070/afghanistan-how-end-war/









Submarine Day: Indian Navy releases video of Subamariners' stellar efforts

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/submarine-day-indian-navy-releases-video-of-subamariners-stellar-efforts-watch/692202



DRDO successfully demonstrates quantum communication between two labs

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2020/12/drdo-successfully-demonstrates-quantum-communication-between-two-labs/









Iran official claims several arrested over nuclear scientist’s killing

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-official-claims-several-arrested-over-nuclear-scientists-killing/



Iran Is Already Stalking Israelis Visiting the UAE. Mossad Is Bracing for the Worst

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-iran-is-already-lurking-for-israelis-visiting-the-persian-gulf-1.9357844



Iran vows to build two new nuclear facilities, alarming observers

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/12/iran-vows-build-two-new-nuclear-facilities-alarming-observers



Iran Is Moving Key Facility at Nuclear Site Underground, Satellite Images Show

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/09/world/natanz-nuclear-facility-iran.html









Two small Iraqi oil wells set ablaze in 'terrorist attack', ministry says

https://www.reuters.com/article/iraq-oil-security/two-small-iraqi-oil-wells-set-ablaze-in-terrorist-attack-ministry-says-idUSKBN28J0LA



China bails out Iraq with long-term, upfront cash deal for oil

https://www.worldoil.com/news/2020/12/8/china-bails-out-iraq-with-long-term-upfront-cash-deal-for-oil









Israel launches second bid to put a lander on the moon; UAE may join

https://www.timesofisrael.com/beresheet-2-israel-launches-plan-for-second-moon-shot-in-2024-uae-may-join/



Israel's Former Space Security Chief Says Aliens Have Prevented Nuclear War

https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgzg97/israels-former-space-security-chief-says-aliens-have-prevented-nuclear-war



Rafael hopes quantum technology can help in GPS-denied environments

https://www.c4isrnet.com/industry/2020/12/08/rafael-hopes-quantum-technology-can-help-in-gps-denied-environments/



Israeli Offering Could Meet U.S. Navy's Requirements For A New Submarine Launched Drone

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38056/israeli-offering-could-meet-u-s-navys-requirements-for-a-new-submarine-launched-drone



NATO Trains With Israel in Eastern Mediterranean

https://defpost.com/nato-trains-with-israel-in-eastern-mediterranean/









IS Steps up Sinai Fight With Bombs in Civilian Homes

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/12/09/is-steps-up-sinai-fight/




Libya: Turkey condemns seizure of vessel by Hifter forces

https://www.dw.com/en/libya-turkey-condemns-seizure-of-vessel-by-hifter-forces/a-55874366



Anti-tank missile in Libya looks like Iran-produced weapon - U.N.

https://www.reuters.com/article/iran-arms-libya-un-int-idUSKBN28I2SG




Algerian Army adopts Gladius Future Soldier System, joins Africa’s elite club

https://www.africanmilitaryblog.com/2020/12/algerian-army-adopts-gladius-future-soldier-system-joins-africas-elite-club




Ethiopia’s forces shoot at, detain UN staffers in Tigray

https://apnews.com/article/africa-ethiopia-united-nations-kenya-f945a81239325a418ee22f123058f39f



Tigray Fighting is Spiraling Out-of-Control, UN Rights Chief Warns

https://www.voanews.com/africa/tigray-fighting-spiraling-out-control-un-rights-chief-warns




Russia to establish navy base in Sudan for at least 25 years

https://apnews.com/article/international-news-sudan-moscow-africa-russia-0e1932a384bba427e13e590a4ac7a1f8









UN General Assembly Passes Nonbinding Resolution Urging Russia To Withdraw From Crimea

https://www.rferl.org/a/un-general-assembly-passes-nonbinding-resolution-urging-russia-to-withdraw-from-crimea/30989310.html



Ukraine Receives Modernized MiG-29 Jet

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/28500/Ukraine_Receives_Modernized_MiG_29_Jet



Russia’s Best Strategy For Controlling The Black Sea: Divide And Conquer

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpeck/2020/12/08/russias-best-strategy-for-controlling-the-black-sea-divide-and-conquer/



Russian Uran-9 combat UGV to complete trials in 2020

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_december_2020_global_security_army_industry/russian_uran-9_combat_ugv_to_complete_trials_in_2020.html



Russia exercised nuclear triad in the Barents region

https://thebarentsobserver.com/en/security/2020/12/russia-plays-cross-arctic-nuclear-missiles-exercise



Russian police hunt thieves who plundered top secret 'Doomsday Plane'

https://www.reuters.com/article/russia-army-theft/russian-police-hunt-thieves-who-plundered-top-secret-doomsday-plane-idUSKBN28J1Y1



Russia's Rostec is developing new fifth-gen light fighter jet

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2020/12/russia-rostec-developing-new-fifth-gen-fighter-jet.html



Russia hack on FireEye gave them everything they needed

https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-hack-on-fireeye-2020-12




What’s Next For Armenia’s Military After Devastating Nagorno-Karabakh Defeat?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2020/12/09/whats-next-for-armenias-military-after-devastating-nagorno-karabakh-defeat/



First time use of Uran-6 robot by Russian sappers for mine clearance in Nagorno-Karabakh

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_december_2020_global_security_army_industry/first_time_use_of_uran-6_robot_by_russian_sappers_for_mine_clearance_in_nagorno-karabakh.html




Russian citizen charged with espionage in Denmark

https://www.reuters.com/article/denmark-security-russia/russian-citizen-charged-with-espionage-in-denmark-idUSKBN28J10E




Helicopter carrying air rescue crew crashes in French Alps, five killed

https://www.france24.com/en/france/20201209-helicopter-carrying-air-rescue-crew-crashes-in-french-alps-five-killed




Hellenic Navy’s New Frigates Program: The frantic search for a new “AVEROF”

https://navalnews.net/hellenic-navys-new-frigates-program-the-frantic-search-for-a-new-averof/




Here’s France’s Plan For Its New Nuclear Powered Supercarrier

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38033/heres-frances-plan-for-its-new-nuclear-powered-supercarrier




British F-35 buy is still a moving target, defense ministry tells lawmakers

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/12/09/british-f-35-buy-is-still-a-moving-target-defense-ministry-tells-lawmakers/









Chinese air force underground command and control centre at Hotan airbase caught in satellite imagery

https://www.defenceaviationpost.com/2020/12/chinese-air-force-underground-command-and-control-centre-at-hotan-airbase-caught-in-satellite-imagery/



The China-India Standoff in Ladakh: A Relook

https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/the-china-india-standoff-in-ladakh-a-relook/



China’s first Type 075 ship to be based in Hainan amid South China Sea tension

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3113232/chinas-first-type-075-ship-be-based-hainan-amid-south-china-sea



Chinese L-15 advanced trainer jet to get Artificial Intelligence technology

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2020/12/chinese-l15-trainer-jet-artificial-intelligence-technology.html



Chinese Research Team Claims to have Demonstrated “Quantum Supremacy”

https://thedebrief.org/chinese-research-team-claims-to-have-demonstrated-quantum-supremacy/



Report to Congress on Chinese Naval Modernization

https://news.usni.org/2020/12/08/report-to-congress-on-chinese-naval-modernization-6



China’s Huawei Tests Facial-Recognition Software to Identify Uighurs to Authorities

https://freebeacon.com/national-security/chinas-huawei-tests-facial-recognition-software-to-identify-uighurs-to-authorities/



China jailing Uighur Muslims for being born after 1980s: leaked docs

https://www.businessinsider.com/china-detaining-uighur-muslims-being-born-after-1980s-leaked-docs-hrw-2020-12





If China Invades Taiwan, Taipei Plans To Throw A Thousand Tanks At The Beachhead

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2020/12/09/if-china-invades-taiwan-taipei-plans-to-throw-a-thousand-tanks-at-the-beachhead/



What Taiwan’s Military Can Learn From the Armenia-Azerbaijan War

https://thediplomat.com/2020/12/what-taiwans-military-can-learn-from-the-armenia-azerbaijan-war/





Japan suspicious about Chinese, South Korean land buys near bases

https://www.businessinsider.com/japan-suspicious-about-chinese-south-korean-land-buys-near-bases-2020-12



Japan Weighs Ships for Aegis Missile Defense System

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2020/12/09/japan-ships-missile-defense/





Philippines: Plague Panic Pause Persists

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/phillip/articles/20201209.aspx



Philippine arm forces chief hints at buying F-16s

http://alert5.com/2020/12/09/philippine-arm-forces-chief-hints-at-buying-f-16s/





Russia, China in race to offer North Korea fighter jets, report says

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/12/09/Russia-China-in-race-to-offer-North-Korea-fighter-jets-report-says/3321607521531/










Leaked Government Photo Shows ‘Motionless, Cube-Shaped’ UFO

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/research/a34908126/leaked-ufo-photo-motionless-cube-shaped-object/



Chuck Yeager's Amazing Life Told Through The Airplanes He Flew

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38029/chuck-yeagers-amazing-life-told-through-the-airplanes-he-flew



Covid19 G0es To War

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htmurph/articles/20201209.aspx



Pentagon officials say the COVID-19 vaccine is going to be 'voluntary' for US troops, but that could change

https://www.businessinsider.com/pentagon-covid-19-vaccines-voluntary-for-us-troops-for-now-2020-12



F-16 Belonging To The Wisconsin Air National Guard Crashes In Michigan

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38045/f-16-belonging-to-wisconsin-air-national-guard-crashes-in-michigan



The Fort Hood report is a damning indictment of the Army’s ‘structurally flawed’ SHARP program

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/fort-hood-sexual-assault-program-report/



Key Democrats Lukewarm On SecDef Nominee; Biden Signals Return To Soft Power

https://breakingdefense.com/2020/12/key-democrats-lukewarm-on-secdef-nominee-biden-signals-return-to-soft-power/



What’s next for the Bonhomme Richard warship?

https://www.defensenews.com/opinion/commentary/2020/12/09/whats-next-for-the-bonhomme-richard-warship/



Chasing Soviet Missiles In The Cobra Ball From A Desolate Rock In The Aleutian Islands

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37957/chasing-soviet-missiles-in-the-cobra-ball-from-a-desolate-rock-in-the-aleutian-islands



Rolls-Royce Delivers Coldfire System to Lockheed Martin for Directed Energy Field Tests

https://defpost.com/rolls-royce-delivers-coldfire-system-to-lockheed-martin-for-directed-energy-field-tests/



Report to Congress on U.S. Special Operations Forces

https://news.usni.org/2020/12/09/report-to-congress-on-u-s-special-operations-forces



US Army greenlights soft-kill APS hunt, eyes 2022 contract award

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-army-greenlights-soft-kill-aps-hunt-eyes-2022-contract-award



U.S. Army to improve VTOL drones during flight transition phase

https://dronedj.com/2020/12/09/u-s-army-to-improve-vtol-drones-during-flight-transition-phase/



CMC Berger Outlines How Marines Could Fight Submarines in the Future

https://news.usni.org/2020/12/08/cmc-berger-outlines-how-marines-could-fight-submarines-in-the-future



Secret Bomber Programs Set For Possible Rollouts In 2021

https://aviationweek.com/aerospace-defense-2021/defense-space/secret-bomber-programs-set-possible-rollouts-2021



The Air Force Really Wants to Kill the A-10 Warthog

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a34907462/air-force-wants-to-retire-a-10-thunderbolt-warthog-congress-opposition/



BAE Systems to provide sensor fusion-based missile seekers for Lockheed Martin LRASM in $60 million contract

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/sensors/article/14188614/missile-seekers-sensor-fusion-lrasm



F-35: The U.S. Air Force Has a Plan to Make It Easier to Fly

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/f-35-us-air-force-has-plan-make-it-easier-fly-174106



US Coast Guard isn't ruling out hunting submarines again in the future

https://www.businessinsider.com/coast-guard-wont-close-door-on-hunting-submarines-in-future-2020-12



US Navy looks to develop integrated carrier strike group air assets

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-navy-looks-to-develop-integrated-carrier-strike-group-air-assets



Two Navy Carriers Are About To Head Out On Grueling "Double Pump" Deployments

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37943/two-navy-carriers-are-about-to-head-out-on-grueling-double-pump-deployments



Costly Navy Frigate Cited by Lawmakers for ‘Significant’ Risks

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-12-08/costly-navy-frigate-cited-by-lawmakers-for-significant-risks?sref=IYQ5mP1s