Americas
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has awarded $3 million in contracts to two non-profits to hire and educate new digital security personnel from underserved communities. The agency signed agreements with Tennessee-based apprenticeship organization South Memphis Renewal Community Development Corporation (SMRCDC) and New York tech skills instructor Per Scholas.
BAE Systems has received a $211-million contract to deliver 40 additional amphibious combat vehicles (ACVs) to the US Marine Corps. The order is a follow-on to previously awarded contracts, with a total cumulative value of $2.5 billion. According to the US Department of Defense, the 40 vehicles under order will be in the personnel carrier variants, which can carry 16 soldiers, including three crew members.
Kratos Defense and Space has unveiled an image of its Thanatos unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) but declined to provide further information about the concept or its potential uses. “Among the new opportunities we are pursuing, we are in discussions with a customer and hope to be under contract next year related to certain other Kratos tactical drone systems, including Thanatos,” said Kratos president and CEO Eric DeMarco on a 2 November call with investors.
Middle East and Africa
Israel-based Netline Communication Technologies launched its new manportable counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) called C-Guard Modular ManPack on October 31. The radio frequency (RF)-based jammer provides on-the-move, omnidirectional, tactical protection to counter UASs as well as protect forces from improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The Pentagon has confirmed flying unarmed MQ-9 Reaper drones over Gaza to help recover Hamas-held hostages. The confirmation came as open-source flight trackers spotted unmarked aircraft hovering over the Palestinian territory. “These UAV flights began after the Oct 7 attack by Hamas on Israel,” BBC quoted the Pentagon as saying.
Europe
Defense company Anduril has inked a 17-million-pound $21 million contract with the UK Ministry of Defence to develop technologies to improve the country’s protection. The contract was signed under Phase Three of the UK’s TALOS Programme, an initiative to improve threat detection systems with the help of artificial intelligence-assisted software. The products will be integrated alongside TALOS’ network of sentry towers, ground sensors, and drone capabilities to alert defense units of ground or air threats.
Asia-Pacific
Japan will acquire 12 new Mogami-class (FFM) frigates from 2024 to 2028 amid the government’s recent push for a stronger defense posture. The new FFMs are being built at a pace of two ships per year in Nagasaki and Tamano by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and its subsidiary, Maritime Systems. The FFMs are multi-stealth frigates deployed to conduct low crew-size missions that utilize unmanned seacraft as well as augmented reality to navigate waters.
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WATCH: How Air Force Drone Pilots “Fly” The $32 Million MQ-9 Reaper | Boot Camp | Insider Business
