Americas
Bushido Associates won a $7.5 million deal for cyber threat analysis and reporting from the National Cyber Investigative Joint Task Force (NCIJTF). This contract is for forensic analysis reports and recommendations provided by embedded cyber threat forensic and cyber threat intelligence analysts in the NCIJTF. The NCIJTF is a unique multi-agency cyber center, which has the primary responsibility to coordinate, integrate, and share information to support cyber threat investigations, supply and support intelligence analysis for community decision-makers, and provide value to other ongoing efforts in the fight against the cyber threat to the nation. The NCIJTF also synchronizes joint efforts that focus on identifying, pursuing, and defeating the actual terrorists, spies, and criminals who seek to exploit our nation’s systems. To accomplish this, the task force leverages the collective authorities and capabilities of its members and collaborates with international and private sector partners to bring all available resources to bear against domestic cyber threats and their perpetrators. Work will take place at Chantilly, Virginia. Expected completion date is November 20, 2025.
The US government has placed restrictions on software companies on the export of artificial intelligence software used for analyzing satellite imagery, the Washington Post reports. Software that can automatically detect objects such as houses or vehicles are required to have a license starting from January 6 if they are to be sold overseas. The Commerce Department said this could give the US a significant military or intelligence advantage. A special license would be required to sell software outside the US that can automatically scan aerial images to identify objects of interest, such as vehicles or houses. The new export rules are the result of Congress passing a law in 2018 that updated national security-related export controls to protect “emerging and foundational” technology that could end up in the hands of foreign governments.
Middle East & Africa
According to Reuters, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe repeated his plans to deploy the Self-Defense Forces to the Middle East to ensure the safety of its ships, even as tensions in the region erupt in the wake of the United States’ killing of one of Iran’s top military commanders. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose country has a military alliance with the US and good ties with Iran, told a news conference Monday that Tokyo was deeply concerned about rising tensions. The comments were Abe’s first since the attack, and came hours after Iran said it would abandon limits on uranium enrichment, leaving a landmark 2015 nuclear deal dead in all but name. Trump has doubled down on threats to Iran, saying Sunday that cultural sites are among 52 targets he plans to hit if Iran retaliates for Qassem Soleimani’s death. A US strike killed Soleimani on January 3 at Baghdad International Airport, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces. At least six people were killed in the strike. The attack was fired from the MQ-9 Reaper drone of the US Air Force.
Bulgarian Military reports that British military intelligence aircraft Global Express Sentinel R.1 was spotted in the area of the Russian military bases in Syria. according to the news platform this indicates that London decided to try to get closer to the Russian S-400 Triumph air defense systems. The British Global Express Sentinel R.1 electronic intelligence aircraft carried out a long reconnaissance mission along the entire coast of Syria, as well as Lebanon. The Sentinel R.Mk 1 provides long-range, wide-area battlefield surveillance, delivering critical intelligence and target tracking information to British and coalition forces. The aircraft has been operationally deployed in support of operations in Afghanistan, Libya and Mali, and is currently deployed in support of British and Coalition operations in Iraq and Syria.
Europe
Following a competitive evaluation, the German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support selected the MBDA Enforcer weapon system to meet the German Armed Forces’ ‘Leichtes Wirkmittel 1800+’ requirement, which is a lightweight disposable day/night precision-guided shoulder-launched weapon system with an effective range of more than 1,800 m. The other contender for this requirement was reportedly Eurospike, a joint venture between Diehl Defence GmbH, Rheinmetall Electronics GmbH, and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which was competing the 170 mm Spike SR weapon system. Launched in October 2018, Leichtes Wirkmittel 1800+ provides for the eventual acquisition of some 3,100 munitions for the Bundeswehr Special Forces Command. With a lock-on before launch capability, the fire-and-forget Enforcer missile provides precision capabilities against lightly armored static and moving targets, targets behind cover and in urban environments at up to 2,000 m. It can be operated from cover and in enclosed and confined spaces.
Asia-Pacific
Three Royal New Zealand Air Force NH90 helicopters are being transported to Australia to help fight local bushfires. The helicopters will start their journey to Royal Australian Air Force Base Edinburgh from today and are expected to remain there till end of January. The NH90 helicopters will have 55 aircrew and support personnel from RNZAF Base Ohakea. They comprise of aircrew, and staff for maintenance, logistics, communications, medical needs, refueling, security, and analysts. The NH90 is a medium-sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter. It has the distinction of being the first production helicopter to feature entirely fly-by-wire flight controls.
Today’s Video
Watch: U.S. Army Soldiers Deploy To Middle East Hotspot (JAN 2020)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wu1-KV4bzs
