Defense`s Feeds

Americas Lockheed Martin won a $39 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-incentive-fee, fixed-price incentive contract. This modification increases the contract ceiling to procure material and sustainment services to support depot stand-up and repair capabilities for the electrical power management system, electro hydrostatic actuation system, aircraft memory system, electro optical distributed aperture system, fuselage remote interface unit, missile remote interface units, suspension and release and landing to support the F-35 aircraft for the Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, non-U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) partners, and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and is expected to be completed in June 2027. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Canada has introduced a program to develop 12 conventionally powered submarines to bolster its security in the Arctic Ocean. The fleet will take over the role of the nation’s aging Victoria-class submarines in service since the early 1990s. Although no specifications have been declassified, the Canadian defense agency revealed that the systems will incorporate an “under-ice” capability to match conditions across the Arctic and other oceans surrounding the country. Middle East & Africa Airbus has secured a contract to supply four A330 […]

Americas The US Navy has accepted the 72nd Arleigh Burke-class destroyer from Bath Iron Works as part of a deal awarded in 2013. The USS John Basilone is a Flight IIA guided missile destroyer incorporating an advanced mine countermeasure solution, helicopter hangars, blast-hardened bulkheads, and additional electronic and networked systems. A keel-laying ceremony for the ship was held in 2020, followed by its christening two years later. In June 2024, during a joint training exercise at RAAF Base Tindal, Australia, two United States Marine Corps (USMC) F-35B pilots from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 214 successfully flew Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-35A aircraft. This accomplishment signifies a significant step towards interchangeable operations between the two forces. Lt. Col. Robert Guyette, VMFA-214’s commanding officer, emphasizes the distinction between interoperability, where forces can work together, and interchangeability, where resources like pilots and aircraft can be freely shared. This pilot exchange program represents a key step towards achieving the latter. Middle East & Africa Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Wednesday that 60 percent of Hamas fighters had been “eliminated or wounded” in the Gaza war since the militant group’s October 7 attacks. Gallant reaffirmed in a statement to parliament on the first nine months of […]

Americas AAR Supply Chain Inc.won a $46 million contract for V-22 Osprey Black Hawk aircraft repair and replacement parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 US Code 3204 (a)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-year base contract with three three-year option periods. The performance completion date is June 29, 2027. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Richmond, Virginia. Sierra Nevada won a $11 million for a firm-fixed-price, spares delivery order under a previously awarded basic ordering agreement for the purchase of four communication interface units used in support of the F/A-18 aircraft. The delivery order does not include an option period. All work will be performed in Sparks, Nevada, and work is expected to be completed by July 2026. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa A Pentagon watchdog announced on Thursday it would investigate the effectiveness of the Gaza pier mission in delivering humanitarian aid. The Pentagon’s Office of the Inspector General will coordinate with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s watchdog on two independent investigations, according to a statement from the Office of the Inspector General. Europe According to Defense […]

Americas The US Marine Corps has equipped its MQ-9 Reaper drone with an electronic warfare pod that makes the aircraft nearly invisible to enemy eyes. Called the T-SOAR (Scalable Open Architecture Reconnaissance), the pod mimics an enemy’s radar and communication emissions and sends them back to the source. “What they bring with them is a sensing and making sense capability,” Seapower quoted Commandant of the Marine Corps General Eric M. Smith as saying at a Brookings Institution event last week. Mistral Inc. has started the production of the Thor vertical takeoff and landing mini drone at its Nottingham, Maryland, facility. The Thor unmanned aerial system is part of the US Department of Defense’s Medium Range Reconnaissance effort, which seeks Group 2 drones weighing between 21 to 55 pounds (9.5 to 25 kilograms) for the army. Middle East & Africa US troops have completed a withdrawal from their base in Niger’s capital of Niamey and will fully depart from Agadez in the north before a September 15 deadline set by the country’s military rulers, both countries said Sunday. Niger’s military leaders scrapped a military cooperation deal with Washington in March after seizing power in a July 2023 coup. Europe The Danish Armed Forces tested the PULS rocket launcher […]

Americas The Thor unmanned aerial system is part of the US Department of Defense’s Medium Range Reconnaissance effort, which seeks Group 2 drones weighing between 9.5 to 24.9 kilograms for the army. Thor is designed with targeting, dropping, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities for multi-domain operations. It is capable of lifting 22 pounds (10 kilograms) of cargo, can be folded, transported via backpack storage, and deployed in under two minutes. Thor can fly autonomously for up to 70 minutes with its integrated electro-optical infrared sensor enabled. Mitsubishi Electric has signed a pilot contract with Raytheon to repair transmitters used in APG-63 (V)1 F-15 fighter radars operated by the US Air Force and allied forces. Raytheon will verify Mitsubishi Electric’s repair capabilities under the pilot contract, deciding whether to contract it for such services in the future. The contract has been signed on the basis of Mitsubishi Electric’s experience producing and repairing the APG-63 (V)1s operated by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Middle East & Africa According to Defense News, the US will have fully cleared out of one air base in Niger as it continues to move personnel and equipment from the African country ahead of a September […]

Americas Kratos Defense & Security Solutions demonstrated a trolley-based launch system for the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial system recently. A Kratos Trolley Launch System (KTLS)-assisted XQ-58A can take off from runways or traditional roads without reducing its payload or the fuel required for conventional retractable launching gear. Bell Textron has completed the first flight of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s modified CH-146 Griffon multirole utility helicopter as part of a 2022 modernization contract. The Griffon Limited Life Extension (GLLE) project is a continuing effort to deliver upgrades for the aircraft, which has been in service since the early 1990s. This effort includes revamps of avionics, sensors, engines, and cockpit displays, enabling the vehicles’ operability through the 2030s. Middle East & Africa The US has transferred a C-130H Hercules military transport aircraft to Botswana as part of a $30-million gift to the African nation. The aircraft arrived in Gaborone on May 24 but was only officially handed over to the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) last week. According to the US Embassy, the Lockheed Martin-manufactured plane is expected to bolster Botswana’s ability to conduct defense, humanitarian, and emergency response missions. Europe German arms maker Rheinmetall and Italian defense group Leonardo said Wednesday they planned […]

Americas The 8th Fighter Squadron (FS) at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, recently unveiled a striking new addition to their fleet – an F-16 Viper flagship painted in a sleek matte black color scheme, reminiscent of the legendary F-117 Nighthawk. This unique paint job serves as a powerful tribute to the squadron’s history and the groundbreaking capabilities of the retired stealth aircraft. The “Black Sheep” nickname reflects the squadron’s proud history, and this new paint scheme specifically honors their time flying the F-117. “We were one of the Holloman fighter units to fly the F-117 Nighthawk,” explained Major Daniel Thompson, an instructor pilot with the 8th FS. “This decision highlights a unique chapter in our history that aligns perfectly with the Black Sheep identity.” Italy has seized Chinese military drones disguised as wind turbines that were heading to Libya in violation of a U.N. embargo, Italian authorities said. Components making up the two drones were concealed in six containers sent on two container ships from China to the Port of Gioia Tauro in Italy, where they were impounded before they could be loaded onto vessels heading for Libya, according to officials. Middle East & Africa Boeing has delivered the […]

Americas Sierra Nevada Co. won a $400 million contract for the Airborne Mission Networking System. The contract provides for Airborne Mission Networking system kits for the MC-130 aircraft, as well as engineering services, contractor logistics support, program management, field service representative support, and over and above. The locations of performance are Centennial, Colorado; Colorado Springs, Colorado; Englewood, Colorado; Hagerstown, Maryland; Robins Air Force Base, Georgia; Eglin AFB, Florida, and Hurlburt Field, Florida. The work is expected to be completed by June 27, 2029. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Robins AFB, Warner Robins, Georgia, is the contracting activity. The US Army has received two T901 engines from General Electric (GE) Aerospace for integration and testing aboard the force’s UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The engines were delivered to Sikorsky’s facility in West Palm Beach, Florida, as part of the country’s Improved Turbine Engine Program, an initiative to develop a more durable, fuel-efficient engine for the army’s Black Hawk and Apache aircraft. Middle East & Africa Naval Group has handed over the second Gowind-class multi-mission corvette to the UAE Navy in Lorient, western France. The ship, Al Emarat, will house its crew in France in July as Naval Group provides training to ensure […]

Americas Raytheon won a $27 million modification, which adds scope and increases ceiling to procure 24 mid-body range safety subsystem kits and flight test kits in support of Tactical Tomahawk missiles for the Navy, Army, and Marine Corps. Work is expected to be completed in May 2027. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin has landed a $5.2-billion contract to supply the US Army with Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles. The US Department of Defense (DoD) did not say how many missiles will be delivered as part of the contract. However, it said the work for the deal will be performed at Lockheed facilities in Alabama, Florida, New York, and nine other states. Deliveries will run through 2027. Middle East & Africa The pier built by the US military to bring aid to Gaza has been removed due to weather to protect it, and the US is considering not reinstalling it unless the aid begins flowing out into the population again, US officials said Friday. While the military has helped deliver desperately needed food through the pier, the vast majority of it is still sitting in the adjacent storage yard and that area is almost full. […]

European Defence Agency (EDA) has launched the third phase of its Modular Lightweight Minesweeping Next Generation (MLM-NG) project. The main objective is to further raise the technology readiness level (TRL) of relevant systems and to demonstrate the use of modular lightweight minesweeping in an operational setting, building upon the developments within the first (2011-2014) and second (2018-2021) phases. This third phase, which has a budget of around € 9.2 million, brings together six Member States: Belgium, Germany, France, Finland, Poland and is led by Norway. 

Across Europe, several nations are planning a replacement or reintroduction of their maritime minesweeping capability. Most concepts for new capabilities are based on a flexible solution with autonomous and remotely operated sweeping systems, but the technology is not mature enough to be adopted by most nations.

The aim for future mine sweeping solutions is to develop and utilise smaller Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) with lightweight sweep sources. These sources can be operated with a single platform or by a formation of several USVs, depending on the operation.

The previous, MLM-II project, developed technology demonstrators and proved the feasibility of the modular and lightweight concept for minesweeping. MLM-NG will use the results from the MLM projects and further develop the relevant technologies. The project will also look into tactics, procedures and the concept of operations for such systems.

MLM-NG aims to culminate with a live demonstration in sea trails, currently foreseen for Summer 2026 in Norway. Those tests are planned to include an operational assessment in addition to the technological and conceptual evaluations. During the demonstration all systems will be controlled from a command center on land, without personnel in the mine danger area. In the build up to the demonstration, the project will also address operational use, procedures, command and control (C2) principles, concept of operations (CONOPS) and functional requirements. All of which should contribute to the main objective of this project; further raising the TRL of relevant systems and to demonstrate the use of modular lightweight minesweeping in an operational setting.

Consortium members

The ten consortium members will come from the six participating Member States, namely;

• BE: Royal Military Academy, Belgian Defence
• DE: WTD 71, MTG Marinetechnik GmbH
• FI: Finnish Naval Academy, Patria
• FR: DGA TN
• NO: FFI (leads), H. Henriksen
• PL: CTM

Americas RIX Industries won a $31 million for a firm-fixed-price, undefinitized contract action for the procurement of 25 Virginia-class high pressure air compressors. All work will be performed in Benicia, California, and is expected to be completed by July 2030. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. L3Harris has accepted two contracts to provide management and control systems for the Royal Canadian Navy’s Surface Combatant (CSC) fleet. The CSC program was conceptualized in 2011 to replace the service’s existing Iroquois-class guided missile destroyers and Halifax-class frigates. Nova Scotia-based Irving Shipbuilding won the deal to construct up to 15 CSC ships starting in 2024. Middle East & Africa Nigeria has announced plans to further boost its counter-terrorism capabilities by procuring 50 new military aircraft. Speaking at the opening of two new aircraft hangars in northwestern Nigeria, Chief of the Air Staff Hassan Bala Abubakar said the country will acquire 12 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters and a dozen more AW109 multi-purpose helicopters. Europe Saab, a leading Swedish defense and aerospace company, has signed a new contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the delivery of a third GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft (AEW&C). This agreement, valued at approximately $270 […]

Americas Raytheon won a $10 million order, which provides for sustainment of delivered block fleet releases, as well as ongoing development of flight test and fleet releases and analysis in support of implementation of future sustainment block fleet releases for the V-22 avionics systems for the Navy, Marines, and Air Force. Work will be performed in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is expected to be completed in March 2026. Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Raytheon won a $26 million modification to exercise options for engineering and technical support for the Evolved SeaSparrow Missile and NATO SeaSparrow Missile Systems programs. Work is expected to be completed by December 2025. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Middle East & Africa Syria plans the phased demobilization of tens of thousands of reservists from next month, a defense ministry official said, as fighting in the civil war has wound down in recent years. “Tens of thousands will be demobilised by the end of the current year, and the same next year, while maintaining combat readiness and acting in the interests of the people,” Major General Ahmed Sleiman told Syrian state television late Wednesday. Syria’s conflict has killed more than […]

Americas Australia has sent its first team to Pearl Harbor to train in sustainment for the government’s upcoming AUKUS submarines. The AUKUS program is a trilateral cooperation between Australia, the UK, and the US to protect allies and interests across the Pacific with a dedicated underwater fleet. For the maintenance training, Canberra sourced around 30 skilled workers from Western and South Australia affiliated with local shipbuilder ASC Pty Ltd. This group includes electricians, mechanical fitters, safety engineers, and battery crew specialists, most of which have “decades of combined experience” with the Royal Australian Navy’s existing Collins-class submarines. Oshkosh Defense has received a $27.3-million contract to deliver 57 medium equipment trailers (METs) for the US Army. The MET is a six-axle drop deck trailer measuring 21.3 meters specifically designed to deploy with the company’s M1300 enhanced heavy equipment transporter system tractor. It can transport tactical vehicles up to 60 tons and is certified under European Highway Network Accessibility for 45-ton payloads. The vehicle can navigate under overpasses with a 13-foot (4-meter) clearance and is equipped with hydraulically adjustable suspension to address varying requirements across obstacles and water crossings. Middle East & Africa India has reportedly been exporting weapons and military equipment to Israel […]

Americas Boeing won a $210 million ceiling-priced delivery order under previously awarded basic ordering agreement (N00383-22-G-YY01) for procurement of nine various configurations of flight control surface spares used on the F/A-18E/F and E/A-18G aircrafts. The delivery order does not include an option period. Work will be performed in Hazelwood, Missouri (85%); and St. Louis, Missouri (15%), and work is expected to be completed by July 2032 with no options. The announcement contains purchases under the Foreign Military Sales Program. Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the contracting activity. Boeing has revealed the construction of a new engineering center in Daytona Beach, Florida, to boost support for military aircraft programs. The center will be built within the Cici & Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology area of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. It will encompass 65,000 square feet (6,038 square meters) of space at the campus, including a 40,000-square-foot (3,716-square-meter) zone for a hangar. Middle East & Africa According to Defense News, the US will have fully cleared out of one air base in Niger as it continues to move personnel and equipment from the African country ahead of a September deadline to complete its withdrawal, according to the […]

Americas Austal USA, Mobile won a $47 million cost-plus-fixed-fee, firm-fixed-price, and cost-only modification for Littoral Combat Ships class design support, and integrated data and product model environment support. Work will be performed in Mobile, Alabama  and Pittsfield, Massachusetts and is expected to be completed by June 2025. Fiscal 2019 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funding in the amount of will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks will deliver over 1,500 Zetros logistics trucks to the Canadian Armed Forces. The delivery includes 1,000 light Zetros (two-axle vehicles with all-wheel drive, 4×4) and approximately 500 heavy Zetros (four-axle vehicles with all-wheel drive, 8×8). The vehicles will be used for off-road transportation of goods and personnel.  “This contract reflects the level of confidence one of the largest NATO countries has in our partner network – in our experience, reliability and technical competence,” Head of Mercedes-Benz Special Trucks Franziska Cusumano said. Middle East & Africa According to Defense News, Virginia-based defense contractor Artis is forming a joint venture with the United Arab Emirates’ company Bin Hilal Enterprises to offer its system overseas. Artis and BHE signed a memorandum of understanding the Eurosatory international […]

Americas The US Coast Guard has taken delivery of its 57th Sentinel-class fast response cutter from Bollinger Shipyards in Key West, Florida. The USCGC Florence Finch (WPC-1157) is part of a US Department of Defense effort begun in 2008 to replace the service’s Island class commissioned in the 1980s. WPC-1157 will sail as the second of three Sentinel ships to be homeported in Sector Columbia River, a coast guard division responsible for security, maritime law enforcement, environmental protection, and rescue along the Oregon Coast.   Top Aces Inc., a leading provider of advanced adversary air (ADAIR) training, has successfully completed its first training mission in Canada utilizing the newly introduced A-4 Advanced Aggressor Fighter (AAF). This milestone marks the official commencement of AAF service delivery under an amendment to Top Aces’ Contracted Airborne Training Services (CATS) contract with the Canadian government, announced in December 2023. Middle East & Africa Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday the country needs ammunition from the United States in “the war for its existence,” directly addressing the White House after it criticized him for complaining about arms deliveries related to the Gaza war. “I am prepared to suffer personal attacks provided that Israel receives the […]

Americas Lockheed Martin has achieved a significant milestone in tactical airlift with the delivery of the 2,700th C-130 Hercules aircraft. This landmark aircraft, a KC-130J Super Hercules tanker variant, joins the U.S. Marine Corps Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 252 (VMGR-252) stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina. Notably, this delivery coincides with the C-130’s 70th anniversary of first flight this year, further highlighting the enduring legacy of this versatile military transport aircraft. The C-130 Hercules, first introduced in 1954, has become a ubiquitous workhorse in military aviation circles. Renowned for its unmatched versatility and rugged performance, the C-130 operates in over 70 countries, supporting a diverse array of missions ranging from troop transport and cargo delivery to aerial assault and medical evacuation. The US Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) is asking industry partners to provide a kinetic defeat solution for medium-sized hostile unmanned aerial systems (UAS).  According to a solicitation published earlier this week, the expected counter-UAS solution should integrate with various naval platforms to support expeditious deployment. It should also be compatible with existing sensors and combat systems onboard US Navy vessels. Middle East & Africa The White House has convinced two key Democrats on Capitol Hill to […]

The European Centre for Manual Neutralisation Capabilities (ECMAN) has successfully concluded an intense two-week exercise dedicated specifically for MNT (Manual Neutralization Techniques) operators. The EUROPEAN GUARDIAN 2024 exercise gathered 14 MNT operators from the army, air force, navy and special police units from Austria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland and Italy.

Manual neutralisation techniques are the most advanced improvised device disposal proficiencies, which enable experienced and specially trained operators to access, diagnose, and manually dispose of hazardous material. These tactics, techniques and procedures need to be applied where the use of regular explosive ordnance procedures or of energetic weapons are inappropriate, and manual improvised explosive devices’ neutralisation capabilities are the last resort.

During the two-week course, operators were confronted with sophisticated improvised explosive devices (IEDs). These IEDs were embedded in realistic scenarios based on past, current and potential operations at home and abroad, including minor CBRN incidents. The aim of this Field Training, which culminated in a live exercise was to maintain and further improve the skills and techniques of the trained operators and thereby meet the national and international requirements of the participating nations in dealing with complex IEDs, which may also contain CBRN payloads.

Distinguished Visitor’s Day – Staying one step ahead

The Commander of the Austrian Logistics School, Brigadier General Stefan Lampl, and the Director ECMAN, Colonel Jürgen Pirolt, welcomed all guests and invited them to experience first-hand what an MNT operator is capable of, during the distinguished visitor’s day on June 4 in Vienna.

EDA, which is responsible for the ECMAN project, was represented by the Director of the Capabilities, Armament and Planning Directorate, Stefano Cont, who took the opportunity to share his thoughts on the ECMAN project with the participating guests. In particular, he emphasised that “ECMAN is a visible product of each country's commitment to multinational cooperation. It enhances operational capability through training in the procedures and techniques used in the manual neutralization of complex IEDs.”

Looking at lessons from Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Director Cont stated that C-IEDs are more relevant than ever in recent history and encouraged the Director ECMAN, on behalf of the entire project, to continue all efforts to train these sophisticated MNT operators and explore new techniques and procedures to always stay one step ahead.

• Learn more about EDA’s efforts in Counter-IED in this article Synchronized Counter-IED Threat in Europe,Counter-IED Report Spring-Summer 2024 by Delta Business Media Limited - Issuu

The European Defence Agency (EDA) is delighted to announce the three winners of its Research, Technology, and Innovation Papers Award 2024. This year, the competition focused on innovative technologies, processes, and applications for enhanced future defence capabilities. The three winners were presented with their awards at Eurosatory in Paris by EDA Research, Technology and Innovation Director, Nathalie Guichard. 

EDA’s award seeks to increase the visibility and impact of tomorrows innovators and aims to promote and support the work of early career researchers by introducing their work to the defence community, stimulate engagement of innovators to widen their access to emerging and potentially disruptive research, and identify areas in which additional investment is needed to address future defence capability needs. Each of the three prize presented their papers at a dedicated EDA event hosted at the Eurosatory Innovation Lab, which is the dedicated area of the exhibition dedicated to start-ups and young innovators. 

“With this initiative EDA supports young talents with the aim to retain unique skills in the defence and security sectors”, said Nathalie Guichard at the event. “This is the second edition of this award, set up in the context of the Hub for European Defence Innovation (HEDI), and we have seen an increasing interest from academia in competing at European level which is a sign of the thriving R&T ecosystem in Europe.”

And the winners are:

- Michele MAESTRINI from the POLITECNICO DI MILANO for a paper titled “SPACEGUARD: How space law enforcement can enhance space security through comprehensive monitoring and response to threats” - award collected by co-author Niccolo’ FARACO. 

- Isabel CARNOTO AMAT, from the University Carlos III of Madrid for a paper titled “Towards small object detection in space: photonic integrated quantum illumination”.

- Giulio MEUCCI from the National Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications for a paper titled “AI-generated threats to maritime navigation using deceptive ISAR images”. 

Abstracts

SpaceGuard: How Space Law Enforcement can Enhance Space Security through Comprehensive Monitoring and Response to Threats

"SpaceGuard: How Space Law Enforcement can Enhance Space Security through Comprehensive Monitoring and Response to Threats" by Michele Maestrini and colleagues proposes an innovative solution for space law enforcement. 

The paper addresses the need for robust monitoring and response capabilities to manage the growing threats from unknown and potentially hostile space objects. SpaceGuard integrates guidance, navigation, and capabilities identification modules to inspect and characterize these objects autonomously. 

The approach leverages existing technologies from Active Debris Removal (ADR) and On-Orbit Servicing (OOS), aiming to enhance space security and resilience. The dual-use nature of the technology also opens commercial opportunities, potentially positioning the EU as a leader in space security and commercial space services   


AI-Generated Threats to Maritime Navigation using Deceptive ISAR Images
The paper "AI-Generated Threats to Maritime Navigation using Deceptive ISAR Images" by Giulio Meucci, Francesco Mancuso, and Alessandro Cantelli-Forti explores the vulnerabilities of ship radar systems to cyber-attacks. Specifically, it examines how Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) can be used to create fake Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR) images that closely resemble real targets. 

This technique can manipulate radar data, causing navigational problems such as collisions or delays by presenting false images of ships or objects. The study highlights the significant risks posed by such cyber threats, especially by Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), which are sophisticated, long-term attacks often backed by state actors. 

The research underscores the need for robust cybersecurity measures in maritime operations to counter these potential threats.
 
Towards Small Object Detection in Space: Photonic Integrated Quantum Illumination
In "Towards Small Object Detection in Space: Photonic Integrated Quantum Illumination," Isabel Carnoto Amat and her colleagues present a novel approach for detecting faint space debris and small satellites using quantum illumination. 

The proposed system leverages a Photonic Integrated whispering gallery mode resonator utilising thin film lithium niobate technology. This resonator serves as an entanglement source and frequency upconversion stage, designed for space applications due to its reduced size, weight, and power consumption. 

The paper discusses the potential of quantum technologies to enhance detection capabilities by improving sensitivity and reducing noise levels. Although the technology is not yet mature for immediate deployment, the authors emphasize its promising future in providing comprehensive coverage and increased reliability for space debris detection.
 
About HEDI 
The EDA Research, Technology, and Innovation Papers Award is done under the ‘’umbrella’’ of HEDI (Hub for EU Defence Innovation), which is the new platform for innovation, led by EDA, that was established in March 2022 as an action derived from "Strategic Compass for EU Defence and Security’’.

HEDI has the objective of fostering innovative technological solutions following a systemic approach towards cutting-edge military capabilities. Furthermore, HEDI serves as a platform to stimulate and facilitate cooperation on defence innovation while ensuring synergies with related European Commission activities, notably the EU defence innovation scheme, coherence of output with NATO innovation and other EU Defence Innovation organizations.
 

 

 

 

Americas Progeny Systems won an $11.9 million modification to exercise options to provide engineering and technical support including modernizing Virginia Class Block I/II submarines to include the common weapon launcher. Work will be performed in Manassas, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by July 2026. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, DC, is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall have introduced the product of their year-long collaboration: the Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS). Unveiled at Eurosatory 2024 in Paris, the highly-mobile missile artillery system leverages Rheinmetall’s renowned HX 8×8 truck and Lockheed’s two-pod multiple rocket launcher. It can fire a variety of combat-proven weapons, such as the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) family of munitions, the long-range Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), and the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). Middle East & Africa Missiles launched by Hezbollah hit an Israeli defense factory last week, according to the Lebanon-based militant group. The Plasan firm makes vehicle-protection products and components, and it also operates factories in France and the United States. The company reports that a large majority of its wares are exported to the US military. Middle East & Africa The Kingdom of Belgium has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters to […]