Af/Pak & Other News (4/14/2021)

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Fighting kills, injures nearly 1,800 Afghans in first three months of 2021: U.N.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-violence-civilians/fighting-kills-injures-nearly-1800-afghans-in-first-three-months-of-2021-u-n-idUSKBN2C11MF



Biden Throws Down The Gauntlet On Pulling Troops Out Of Afghanistan Ahead Of 9/11 Anniversary

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40164/biden-throws-down-the-gauntlet-on-pulling-troops-out-of-afghanistan-ahead-of-9-11-anniversary



Will Afghanistan Become a Terrorism Safe Haven Once Again?

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/13/us/politics/afghanistan-terrorism-threat.html



US coordinates Afghanistan pullout with NATO withdrawal

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-lloyd-austin-antony-blinken-afghanistan-national-security-c11c5620cd0830f40e5ece7f4d189012



Troops are Leaving Afghanistan. Can the U.S. Still Advise Afghan Security Forces?

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/04/14/troops_are_leaving_afghanistan_can_the_us_still_advise_afghan_security_forces_772717.html



US Intelligence Raises Concerns About Afghanistan Pullout

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/us-intelligence-raises-concerns-about-afghanistan-pullout



CIA head says Afghanistan withdrawal 'will diminish' US intelligence efforts

https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/548189-cia-head-says-afghanistan-withdrawal-will-diminish-us-intelligence



Has The Taliban Changed? Afghans Living Under Militant Group Say It Still Rules Using Fear, Brutality

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghan-living-under-taliban-say-it-still-rules-with-fear-brutality/31201897.html



Has the US just handed over Afghanistan to the Taliban?

https://www.dw.com/en/us-military-afghanistan-taliban/a-57197531



What it's like to live in a town where everything is controlled by the Taliban

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/14/middleeast/afghanistan-life-under-the-taliban-musa-qala-intl/index.html



Biden’s Afghanistan Plan: 4 Tough Questions That Need Answers

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/afghanistan-withdrawal-september-questions-1155236/



Taliban to boycott peace talks until U.S. leaves Afghanistan: spokesman

https://www.axios.com/taliban-boycott-istanbul-conference-afghanistan-fe0a053c-4b33-4b04-af87-c9c78aa3cbbc.html



Petraeus Trashes Biden Decision to Quit Afghanistan

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/04/petraeus-trashes-biden-decision-quit-afghanistan/173359/



Pakistan to outlaw violent Islamist group that rails on blasphemy

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-pakistan-protest-blasphemy/pakistan-deploys-paramilitary-forces-to-quell-deadly-islamist-protests-idUSKBN2C1157









India, China Tensions ‘Skyrocket’ As PLA Deploys HQ-9 SAMs To Control Border Airspace — Reports

https://eurasiantimes.com/india-china-tensions-skyrocket-as-pla-deploys-hq-9-sams-to-control-border-airspace-reports/



India's conflicts with China, Pakistan likely to become more intense: US intel report

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/indias-conflicts-with-china-pakistan-likely-to-become-more-intense-us-intel-report/744841



Nuclear Sub Club: Do Rising Powers Like India Really Need Nuclear Attack Submarines?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpeck/2021/04/13/nuclear-sub-club-do-rising-powers-like-india-really-need-nuclear-attack-submarines/



India, Pakistan held secret talks to try to break Kashmir impasse

https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN2C12E1









UN nuclear watchdog inspects Iran’s Natanz plant after explosion

https://www.timesofisrael.com/un-nuclear-watchdog-inspects-irans-natanz-plant-after-explosion/



New Warship At IRGC's Expanded Shipyard On The Strait Of Hormuz

http://www.hisutton.com/Iran-IRGC-Navy-Yard-On-Qeshm-Island.html









Kurds officially deny pro-Iran media claim of attack on Mossad base in Iraq

https://www.timesofisrael.com/kurds-officially-deny-pro-iran-media-claim-of-attack-on-mossad-base-in-iraq/









Biden administration to approve F-35 sale to the UAE

https://www.aerotime.aero/27681-biden-administration-to-approve-f-35-sale-to-the-uae




Belgian Frigate's Movements Lend Credence To Reports Of Another Attack On An Israeli Ship

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40167/belgian-frigates-movements-lend-credence-to-reports-of-another-attack-on-an-israeli-ship




Turkey's air-to-air missile Bozdoğan successfully hits target

https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/turkeys-air-to-air-missile-bozdogan-successfully-hits-target









Assad Regime Continues Stonewalling U.S. Aid to Syria

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/13/syria-us-assad-humanitarian-aid/



Assad’s Long Reach; The Syrian Arab Air Force at War

https://chemicalweapons.gppi.net/analysis/assads-long-reach-syaaf-pt-1/#start



The Syrian Air Force Today

https://chemicalweapons.gppi.net/analysis/assads-long-reach-syaaf-pt-2/









Jordan’s powerful tribes on collision course with monarchy over alleged royal plot

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2021-04-14/jordan-royal-sedition-plot-tribesmen-arrested-raids









Analysis | Israel Is Walking Straight Into an Iran Crisis With Eyes Wide Open

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.HIGHLIGHT-israel-is-walking-into-a-crisis-with-open-eyes-1.9710264



Israel won’t retaliate over suspected Iranian attack on ship – report

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-said-not-planning-to-respond-to-suspected-iranian-attack-on-ship/









The Ever Given is fit to sail again, official report concludes - but it still can't go anywhere because Egypt impounded it

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-ever-given-is-fit-to-sail-again-official-report-concludes-but-it-still-cant-go-anywhere-because-egypt-impounded-it/ar-BB1fDTfT



Companies that have containers on the Ever Given could have to help pay the up to $1 billion Egyptian authorities are demanding before the ship leaves the Suez Canal

https://www.yahoo.com/news/companies-containers-ever-given-could-171259341.html




First-time use of drone by Moroccan army highlights Polisario’s vulnerability

https://thearabweekly.com/first-time-use-drone-moroccan-army-highlights-polisarios-vulnerability




Mali: Running From Something

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/mali/articles/20210414.aspx




Somalia's president signs law extending his term, 15 killed in attack

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-somalia-politics/somalias-president-signs-law-extending-his-term-15-killed-in-attack-idUSKBN2C10UD









Ukrainian forces wary of Russian troop movements near eastern front line

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210414-ukrainian-forces-wary-of-russian-troop-movements-near-eastern-front-line



Meme humor helps Ukrainians cope with fears of possible Russian offensive

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/meme-humor-helps-ukrainian-cope-with-fears-of-a-possible-russian-offensive.html



Ukraine flies its first Turkish-made armed drone over Donbas

https://www.aerotime.aero/27677-ukraine-flies-its-first-turkish-made-armed-drone-over-donbas



Ukraine rehearses repelling tank attack near Russian-annexed Crimea

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-drills/ukraine-rehearses-repelling-tank-attack-near-russian-annexed-crimea-idUSKBN2C115V



Ukraine’s Unconventional Warfare Plan to Resist a Russian Invasion

https://coffeeordie.com/ukraine-unconventional-warfare/



Russia seeking to ‘provoke’ Ukraine conflict, Germany says

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/4/14/russia-seeking-to-provoke-ukraine-conflict-germany-says



Secretary of Russian Security Council fears Ukrainian invasion

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/secretary-of-russian-security-council-fears-ukrainian-invasion.html



Russia deploys bombers near Ukraine

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/russia-deploys-bombers-near-to-ukraine/



MiG-35: The Russian Fighter Jet That Is More Hype Than Fight

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/mig-35-the-russian-fighter-jet-that-is-more-hype-than-fight/



Russian Strike Drone Okhotnik to be Deployed in 2024

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/04/14/russia-strike-drone-deployed-2024/



Russia's Secret T-60S Stealth Bomber: Why Did It Never Fly?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/russias-secret-t-60s-stealth-bomber-why-did-it-never-fly-182680



Russian anti-hypersonic missile radar to enter combat duty in Arctic by July 2021

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_april_2021_global_security_army_industry/russian_anti-hypersonic_missile_radar_to_enter_combat_duty_in_arctic_by_july_2021.html



Why Alexey Navalny Returned to Russia

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/why-alexey-navalny-returned-to-russia




Poland Signs Excess Defense Article Deal Procuring Five Extra C-130Hs (Resurrected From The “Boneyard”)

https://theaviationist.com/2021/04/14/poland-signs-excess-defense-article-deal-procuring-five-extra-c-130hs-resurrected-from-the-boneyard/




Germany backs 3 billion euro contract for European military drone

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-defence-euro-drone/germany-backs-3-billion-euro-contract-for-european-military-drone-idUSKBN2C120S



Bell UH-1D has been retired from Bundeswehr after 53 years of service

https://defence-blog.com/news/bell-uh-1d-has-been-retired-from-bundeswehr-after-53-years-of-service.html




Airbus VSR700 Rotary-Wing Drone Moves Toward 2022 Sea Trials

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/airbus-vsr700-rotary-wing-drone-moves-toward-2022-sea-trials



Naval Group-Airbus Helicopters expands VSR700 flight envelope ahead of sea demo

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/naval-group-airbus-helicopters-expands-vsr700-flight-envelope-ahead-of-sea-demo




Belgium: F-16s Survive Hinge Pin Failure

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htatrit/articles/20210414.aspx




Tempest: Europe’s 6th Generation Fighter Armed with Laser Guns?

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/04/tempest-europes-6th-generation-fighter-armed-with-laser-guns/



UK official: American warhead decision won’t impact British nuclear plans

https://www.defensenews.com/smr/nuclear-arsenal/2021/04/13/uk-official-nuclear-plans-wont-be-impacted-by-american-warheads-future/



IAI, Thales team up to offer Sea Serpent anti-ship missile for UK I-SSGW requirement

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/iai-thales-team-up-to-offer-sea-serpent-anti-ship-missile-for-uk-i-ssgw-requirement









Air Combat Is Hard, Air Combat Over Water Is Harder—So The Chinese Air Force Is Practicing

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/04/14/air-combat-is-hard-air-combat-over-water-is-harder-so-the-chinese-air-force-is-practicing/



China has Achieved Total Global Drone Supremacy

https://thedebrief.org/china-has-achieved-total-global-drone-supremacy/



Yuan-submarine (LABs & LIBs) propulsion estimates

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/04/yuan-submarine-labs-libs-propulsion.html



China aims to weaponize space, says intel community report

https://www.defensenews.com/congress/2021/04/14/china-aims-to-weaponize-space-says-intel-community-report/



China Warns It'll Use Military Action to 'Stop Taiwan Independence' as U.S. Officials Visit Island

https://www.newsweek.com/china-warns-itll-use-military-action-stop-taiwan-independence-us-officials-visit-island-1583568



China’s military to hold live-fire drills off Taiwan as US delegation visits the island

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3129534/chinas-military-hold-live-fire-drills-taiwan-us-delegation





US intel report says North Korea could resume nuclear tests this year

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210413-us-intel-report-says-north-korea-could-resume-nuclear-tests-this-year



North Korea’s new target ship

http://alert5.com/2021/04/14/north-koreas-new-target-ship/





South Korea's KF-21 Boramae Up Close

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/south-koreas-kf-21-boramae-close





Officials: the Philippines Expanding South China Sea Patrols Near Disputed Reef

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/13/officials-the-philippines-expanding-south-china-sea-patrols-near-disputed-reef





UN rights chief fears Myanmar heading to 'full blown conflict' with echoes of Syria

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/14/asia/myanmar-un-conflict-syria-intl-hnk/index.html





Australia: Twerking Dancers at Warship Launch Compared to Scenes From 'The Dictator'

https://www.newsweek.com/twerking-dancers-warship-launch-scenes-dictator-1583495










Report on Capitol Hill riot criticizes police preparation, response

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210414-report-on-capitol-hill-riot-criticizes-police-preparation-response



Aerospace & Defense Roundup: April. 13

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/z/aerospace-defense-roundup-april-13



National Defense Strategy 'unrealistic,' says House Armed Services chairman

https://www.stripes.com/news/us/national-defense-strategy-unrealistic-says-house-armed-services-chairman-1.669554



Navy Releases Seventh Round of USS Thresher Inquiry Documents

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/14/navy-releases-fourth-round-of-uss-thresher-inquiry-documents-2



Quantum computing, machine learning to help military commanders gain battlefield situational awareness

https://www.militaryaerospace.com/computers/article/14201265/quantum-computing-situational-awareness-machine-learning



Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Warfare

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2021/04/14/artificial_intelligence_and_the_future_of_warfare_772646.html



Meet the Ransomware Gang Behind One of the Biggest Supply Chain Hacks Ever

https://www.vice.com/en/article/wx5eyx/meet-the-ransomware-gang-behind-one-of-the-biggest-supply-chain-hacks-ever



Disney Helped The Thunderbirds Create Their New Shortened Air Show Routine

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40169/thunderbirds-brought-in-disney-to-help-create-new-shortened-air-show-routine



China, other countries now top U.S. intel's global threat list, not terror groups

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/china-other-countries-now-top-us-intels-global-threat-list-not-terror-groups/ar-BB1fC1s4



The KC-46 has a messy problem with its palletized toilet

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/04/14/the-kc-46-has-a-messy-problem-with-its-palletized-toilet/



Drone Swarms Could Be Too Fast to Handle. Is AI the Answer?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/drone-swarms-could-be-too-fast-handle-ai-answer-182659



US military to blend electronic warfare with cyber capabilities

https://www.c4isrnet.com/electronic-warfare/2021/04/14/us-military-to-blend-electronic-warfare-with-cyber-capabilities/



Elon Musk's SpaceX satellite comes within 60m of crash with another owned by British-backed firm

https://www.yahoo.com/news/elon-musks-spacex-satellite-comes-180835683.html



RotorX demonstrates Palledrone heavy-lift UAV at US Army AEWE

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/rotorx-demonstrates-palledrone-heavy-lift-uav-at-us-army-aewe



V-22 Upgrades in Works as Aircraft Passes Milestones

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/4/14/v-22-upgrades-in-works-as-aircraft-passes-milestones



USMC’s Ground-Based Anti-Ship Missile

http://alert5.com/2021/04/14/usmcs-ground-based-anti-ship-missile/



US Air National Guard tests LITENING pod for precision airdrops

https://airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/april/7187-us-air-national-guard-tests-litening-pod-for-precision-airdrops.html



The Air Force is getting rid of B-1B bombers, but it's keeping one around for a different kind of mission

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-air-force-is-getting-rid-of-b-1b-bombers-but-its-keeping-one-around-for-a-different-kind-of-mission/ar-BB1fE4WO



Navy Developing Land-Based Unmanned Vehicle Testing Sites as Early Design Work Continues

https://news.usni.org/2021/04/13/navy-developing-land-based-unmanned-vehicle-testing-sites-as-early-design-work-continues



US navy uses MQ-8B Firescout unmanned helicopters to counter illicit drug traffics

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/naval-news/naval-news-archive/2021/april/9983-us-navy-uses-mq-8b-firescout-unmanned-helicopters-to-counter-illicit-drug-traffics.html



Navy P-8A Maritime Patrol Planes To Get Pods Loaded With Radar Jamming 'Little Buddies'

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40149/navy-p-8a-maritime-patrol-planes-to-get-pods-loaded-with-radar-jamming-little-buddies



Is A Ballistic Missile Submarine Shortage Leaving the U.S. Navy Vulnerable?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/ballistic-missile-submarine-shortage-leaving-us-navy-vulnerable-182685