Af/Pak & Other News (7/22/2021)

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Half of all Afghan district centers under Taliban control - U.S. general

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/half-all-afghan-district-centers-under-taliban-control-us-general-2021-07-21/



Taliban seek to cut off Afghan population centres: Top US general

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/21/taliban-seek-to-cut-off-population-centres-top-us-general



Gen. Milley says Taliban appear to have ‘strategic momentum’

https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-taliban-88251a1eac731bce259165968bdf0155



U.S. military official says a ‘complete Taliban takeover’ is possible in Afghanistan.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/21/us/politics/afghanistan-taliban.html



A ‘Life and Death Fight’ Against the Taliban in Central Afghanistan

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/07/22/taliban-central-afghanistan-fighting-local-militias-bamiyan/



Taliban battles Afghan military for control of Kandahar City

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/07/taliban-battled-afghan-military-for-control-of-kandahar-city.php



US launched several airstrikes in support of Afghan forces

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-middle-east-government-and-politics-2d0921f3922dfc5db1981e5879308da3



Number of Private Contractors in Afghanistan Drops Precipitously as Biden Pushes Withdrawal Plan

https://www.usnews.com/news/world-report/articles/2021-07-21/number-of-private-military-contractors-in-afghanistan-drops-precipitously-as-biden-pushes-withdrawal-plan



Why is Australia talking about going back to Afghanistan when we only just left?

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/why-is-australia-talking-about-going-back-to-afghanistan-when-we-only-just-left/



Afghanistan Withdrawal Raises Questions About Future Wars

https://www.newsweek.com/afghanistan-withdrawal-raises-questions-about-future-wars-opinion-1611543



Afghanistan after the US withdrawal: The Taliban speak more moderately but their extremist rule hasn’t evolved in 20 years

https://theconversation.com/afghanistan-after-the-us-withdrawal-the-taliban-speak-more-moderately-but-their-extremist-rule-hasnt-evolved-in-20-years-164221




Afghanistan-Pakistan Ties Fray Further Over Abduction of Afghan Ambassador’s Daughter

https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/afghanistan-pakistan-ties-fray-further-over-abduction-of-afghan-ambassadors-daughter/



Pakistan’s Pyrrhic Victory in Afghanistan

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/afghanistan/2021-07-22/pakistans-pyrrhic-victory-afghanistan



China puts hold on multiple projects in Pakistan

https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/270405413/china-puts-hold-on-multiple-projects-in-pakistan



Tajikistan Holds Massive Combat-Readiness Check Amid Rising Instability In Afghanistan

https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-readiness-drill-afghanistan/31371536.html









Is satellite footage of attacked Iran facility being blocked?

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/exclusive-is-satellite-footage-of-attacked-iran-facility-being-blocked-674525



Iran opens oil terminal to bypass strategic Strait of Hormuz

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/22/iran-opens-oil-terminal-to-bypass-strategic-strait-of-hormuz



Iran’s Largest Warship Now in the Baltic Sea Bound for Russia

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/22/exclusive-photo-irans-largest-warship-now-in-the-baltic-sea-bound-for-russia









Why Are U.S. Forces Still in Iraq and Syria?

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/why-are-u-s-forces-still-in-iraq-and-syria/









Kuwaiti airbase upgrade revealed

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/kuwaiti-airbase-upgrade-revealed









Israeli jets said to strike inside Syria for second time in days

https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-jets-said-to-strike-inside-syria-for-second-time-this-week/



Three dead in Syria from American aerial attacks - report

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/three-dead-in-syria-from-american-aerial-attacks-report-674541









The IDF cannot let Lebanon become like Gaza - analysis

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/the-idf-cannot-let-lebanon-become-like-gaza-674594



Israeli Air Force international Blue Guardian drone drill comes to a close

https://www.jpost.com/international/israeli-air-force-international-blue-guardian-drone-drill-comes-to-a-close-674601



Iran, terror concerns are changing France’s ties with Israel, say visiting MPs

https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-terror-concerns-are-changing-frances-ties-with-israel-say-visiting-mps/









Will Russian forces really leave Libya?

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/menasource/will-russian-forces-really-leave-libya/




Nigeria: Obsession Confronts Reality

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/nigeria/articles/20210722.aspx



Nigeria secures release of 100 kidnapped mothers and children

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57910833




Several Suspects in Custody in Plot to Assassinate Madagascar’s President

https://www.voanews.com/africa/several-suspects-custody-plot-assassinate-madagascars-president




Cyber attack disrupts major South African port operations

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/exclusive-south-africas-transnet-hit-by-cyber-attack-sources-2021-07-22/









Ukraine to form new patrol boat squadron with former US Coast Guard boats

https://defbrief.com/2021/07/22/ukraine-to-form-new-patrol-boat-squadron-with-former-us-coast-guard-boats/



Russia says Ukraine blocking water supply to Crimea in European lawsuit

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-europe/russia-says-ukraine-blocking-water-supply-to-crimea-in-european-lawsuit-idUSKBN2ES1EO



Russia Unveils New Hybrid ‘ZALA VTOL’ Drone

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/07/22/russia-zala-drone/



MiG Shows Model of Single-engine Light Fighter, Possible MiG-21 Replacement

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30083/MiG_Shows_Model_of_Single_engine_Light_Fighter__Possible_MiG_21_Replacement#.YPmGPkBlBaQ



Russia to test-fire Tsirkon hypersonic missile to maximum range soon

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/07/russia-to-test-fire-tsirkon-hypersonic-missile-to-maximum-range-soon/



Russia’s Mighty S-500 Anti-Aircraft System is No Joke

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/russias-mighty-s-500-anti-aircraft-system-is-no-joke/



UAC-Shvabe to Develop Electro-Optical Sighting for New Russian Jet, LTS Checkmate

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/30081/UAC_Shvabe_to_Develop_Electro_Optical_Sighting_for_New_Russian_Jet__LTS_Checkmate#.YPmGS0BlBaQ



Russia’s new “Checkmate” ripped from Northrop’s Low Cost Fighter concept

https://defence-blog.com/russias-new-checkmate-ripped-from-northrops-low-cost-fighter-concept/



Russia’s ‘Checkmate’ Fighter Jet to Be AI-Enabled

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/07/22/russia-checkmate-ai/



What Happens to the Su-57 Now That the Su-75 Stealth Fighter Is Here?

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/what-happens-su-57-now-su-75-stealth-fighter-here-190176





Lockheed Martin rolls out first C-130J slated for German Air Force

https://defence-blog.com/lockheed-martin-rolls-out-first-c-130j-slated-for-german-air-force/



German Navy orders new generation of experimentation and test support ships

https://defbrief.com/2021/07/22/german-navy-orders-new-generation-of-experimentation-and-test-support-ships/




Italy: Give The Customer What They Want

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htwin/articles/20210722.aspx




France weighs cybersecurity moves after spyware reports

https://apnews.com/article/technology-europe-france-spyware-3ca4099dd34911de2723461b4f3dc166




Belgium Military Intelligence Chief Controversially Sacked in Fallout of Conings Manhunt

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/07/22/belgium-military-intelligence-chief-controversially-sacked-in-fallout-of-conings-manhunt/




JPALS deployed on UK’s HMS Queen Elizabeth and Italy’s Cavour aircraft carriers

https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/jpals-deployed-on-uks-hms-queen-elizabeth-and-italys-cavour-aircraft-carriers/144701.article



UK Faces Tough Choices To Fix Troubled Ajax Vehicle

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/uk-faces-tough-choices-to-fix-troubled-ajax-vehicle/



United Kingdom signs a contract to acquire 13 Protector remotely-piloted aircraft

https://www.airrecognition.com/index.php/news/defense-aviation-news/2021/july/7443-united-kingdom-signs-a-contract-to-acquire-13-protector-remotely-piloted-aircraft.html



Russia Threat Could See U.K. Fighter Jets Operating From Highways Once Again

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41634/russia-threat-could-see-u-k-fighter-jets-operating-from-highways-once-again



UK should be concerned at Chinese gene data harvesting, lawmaker says

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-should-be-concerned-chinese-gene-data-harvesting-lawmaker-says-2021-07-22/



Royal Navy To Field New FC/ASW Missile From 2028

https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2021/07/royal-navy-to-field-new-fc-asw-missile-from-2028/



Britain will permanently deploy 2 warships in Asian waters after aircraft carrier visits in September

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3141890/britain-will-permanently-deploy-two-warships-asian-waters-after









Cuba censored the Internet amid protests. Florida leaders want Biden to respond with balloon-based wireless.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/22/cuba-internet-balloons/



Cuba Becomes Battlefield in Fake News War

https://www.newsweek.com/cuba-becomes-battlefield-fake-news-war-twitter-facebook-1611433




Colombia arrests 10 over bombing, shooting of president's helicopter

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/colombia-arrests-10-over-bombing-shooting-presidents-helicopter-2021-07-22/



Colombia says attack on president was planned from Venezuela

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210722-colombia-says-attack-on-president-was-planned-from-venezuela




Violence flares in Haiti ahead of slain president’s funeral

https://apnews.com/article/caribbean-haiti-90349836c46f86a2e96841d38dfc8634









China recruits young Tibetans in PLA, militias along border

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/china/china-woos-young-tibetans-to-join-pla/articleshow/84624395.cms



China Has New Man for Afghanistan and Plan to Avoid Civil War Across Border

https://www.newsweek.com/china-has-new-man-afghanistan-plan-avoid-civil-war-across-border-1611970



Inside the KQ-200

http://alert5.com/2021/07/22/inside-the-kq-200/



China Rejects Second Probe Into Coronavirus Origin

https://www.voanews.com/covid-19-pandemic/china-rejects-second-probe-coronavirus-origin





A Taiwan Contingency and Japan’s Counterstrike Debate

https://thediplomat.com/2021/07/a-taiwan-contingency-and-japans-counterstrike-debate/





Explained: How North Korea Made Its Nuclear Missiles Mobile

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/07/explained-how-north-korea-made-its-nuclear-missiles-mobile/





Philippines Considering Addendum to U.S. Visiting Forces Agreement

https://news.usni.org/2021/07/21/philippines-considering-addendum-to-u-s-visiting-forces-agreement





Australia: Buying military hardware from the US: wish list or shopping list?

https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/buying-military-hardware-from-the-us-wish-list-or-shopping-list/










Havana Syndrome Task Force to Be Led by Veteran of Hunt for Bin Laden

https://www.wsj.com/articles/havana-syndrome-task-force-to-be-led-by-a-veteran-of-hunt-for-bin-laden-11626885816



National Reconnaissance Office wants a more distributed architecture

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/07/21/the-national-reconnaissance-office-wants-a-more-distributed-architecture/



F-117 Aggressors Photographed Low Over The Nevada Desert During Red Flag War Games

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41642/f-117-aggressors-photographed-low-over-the-nevada-desert-during-red-flag-war-games



Lockheed’s CEO Wants His Company to Connect All the Pentagon’s Weapons

https://www.defenseone.com/business/2021/07/exclusive-interview-lockheeds-ceo-wants-his-company-connect-all-pentagons-weapons/183957/



Former A-10 pilot: ‘Yes, you can fire the GAU-8A Avenger gun while the Warthog is inverted but you’d better not do it. And here’s why.”

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/former-a-10-pilot-yes-you-can-fire-the-gau-8a-avenger-gun-while-the-warthog-is-inverted-but-youd-better-not-do-it-and-heres-why/



Four more Israeli F-16s transferred to Top Aces

http://alert5.com/2021/07/22/four-more-israeli-f-16s-transferred-to-top-aces/



Air Force Directed Energy Report Argues Defensive Force Fields May Be "Just On The Horizon"

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41624/air-force-directed-energy-report-argues-defensive-force-fields-may-be-just-on-the-horizon



Ratheon’s Revolutionary Radar Could Extend the Life of Older Aircraft

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/ratheon%E2%80%99s-revolutionary-radar-could-extend-life-older-aircraft-190191



Aerospace & Defense Roundup: July 21

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/z/aerospace-defense-roundup-july-21



US Army working with academia on dust-proofing aircraft engines

https://defbrief.com/2021/07/21/us-army-working-with-academia-on-dust-proofing-aircraft-engines/



These Marines were the first to try new infantry training range in SoCal with a million-dollar view

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/marine-corps-camp-pendleton-infantry-range-800/



Bell restarts UH-1Y Venom helicopter production for first international operator

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/bell-restarts-uh-1y-venom-helicopter-production-for-first-international-operator/



Marine UH-1Y Venom Helicopters Have Been Assisting In The Hunt For Submarines

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41644/marine-uh-1y-venom-helicopters-have-been-assisting-in-the-hunt-for-submarines



To afford next-gen combat aircraft, the US Air Force will make cuts to ISR inventory

https://www.c4isrnet.com/air/2021/07/21/to-afford-next-gen-combat-aircraft-the-us-air-force-will-make-cuts-to-current-isr-inventory/



Rapid Dragon demonstrates BLOS command and control of Palletized Weapon System

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/rapid-dragon-demonstrates-blos-command-and-control-of-palletized-weapon-system_19111



Beyond KC-46: Air Force Exploring ‘Advanced’ Tech On Next Tanker

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/beyond-kc-46-air-force-exploring-advanced-tech-on-next-tanker/



US Navy’s Shipbuilding Plan Doesn’t Meet Congress’ Needs, Lawmakers Say

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/07/us-navys-shipbuilding-plan-doesnt-meet-congress-needs-lawmakers-say/183922/



America's Newest Carrier Is a Fiasco. The Navy Just Admitted Why.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/a37093943/uss-gerald-ford-aircraft-carrier-problems/



The Case For Stripping The P-8 Poseidon Down Into An RB-8 Multi-Role Arsenal Ship

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/40859/the-case-for-stripping-the-p-8-poseidon-down-into-an-rb-8-multi-role-arsenal-ship



Submarine leaders want to tap into JADC2 network without giving away their position

https://www.c4isrnet.com/naval/2021/07/21/submarine-leaders-want-to-tap-into-jadc2-network-without-giving-away-their-position/



SSN(X) Will Be ‘Ultimate Apex Predator’

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/07/ssnx-will-be-ultimate-apex-predator/