Sponsored by SPX CommTech (TCI & ECS)
www.tcibr.com
www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk
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06 Oct 23. Infozahyst Announces Technical Cooperation Agreement with SPX CommTech (TCI | ECS). Infozahyst, a leading SIGINT solutions company in Ukraine, has entered into a landmark technical cooperation agreement with radio frequency (RF) solutions manufacturer SPX CommTech.
SPX CommTech, made up of TCI and ECS, enables defence teams to detect, defeat and exploit RF signals to enhance Communications Intelligence (COMINT) and Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems (Counter-UAS). It is renowned for supplying over 100 signal detection and direction-finding systems to Ukraine’s military, as well as other militaries around the world.
The partnership ensures the delivery of specialised technologies within the RF spectrum, adapted to battlefield requirements. Infozahyst will deliver enhanced operator training, and ensure comprehensive service coverage of the equipment in Ukraine.
In addition, Infozahyst will oversee any necessary repair, service, and diagnostics of specific SPX CommTech equipment. The agreement also encompasses the localization of user interfaces and system integration with situational awareness platforms.
“SPX CommTech radio reconnaissance tools are reliable instruments for determining enemy locations. They have long been familiar to our Ukrainian military and significantly strengthen the Ukrainian army. One challenge was the lack of quality technical support and service available in Ukraine. We are pleased that Infozahyst can now assist in addressing this concern. For this purpose, our engineers and other specialists are undertaking training at SPX CommTech to master all the possibilities of the technology.” said Iaroslav Kalinin, the director of the Infozahyst company.
Commenting on the partnership, Iaroslav Kalinin concluded, “This collaboration not only aligns with our core competencies but also further strengthens our commitment to offering advanced solutions and training to our customers. The partnership with SPX CommTech underlines our commitment to our country; we are doing everything to effectively counter all Russian occupation forces and make Ukraine a state strong enough to prevent such invasions in the future.”
06 Oct 23. Thales expands sovereign cybersecurity reach with Tesserent acquisition. GlobalData insights highlight Thales’ strategic move in the Cybersecurity sector as they acquire the Australian cybersecurity firm.
Aerospace and Defence company Thales has successfully closed its acquisition deal with Tesserent, an Australian cybersecurity firm.
This move is poised to bolster Thales’ presence in the cybersecurity sector and aligns with its mission to enhance national and global cyber resilience, in this case, the landscape in Australia and New Zealand. This development is expected to improve the nation’s cyber defences.
The strategic decision to acquire Tesserent, which had a turnover of A$185m (approximately €110m) in 2022 and a workforce of around 500 employees across nine offices, positions Thales well in the global cybersecurity landscape. GlobalData’s patent and cybersecurity job analytics provide insights into this deal’s significance.
Strengthening sovereign cyber capabilities
Thales’ acquisition of Tesserent strengthens sovereign cybersecurity capabilities for sensitive defence programmes and infrastructure operators in Australia and New Zealand. The move signifies a commitment to supporting the government’s ambition for Australia to become one of the most cyber-secure countries by 2030, aligning with the nation’s cybersecurity priorities.
According to GlobalData’s patents analytics database, Thales SA has made substantial progress in cybersecurity, with 109 total publications, 58 applications, and 51 grants, reaffirming its commitment to this sector.
Tesserent offers solutions and services tailored for medium and enterprise-level organisations. (Source: army-technology.com)
06 Oct 23. Italy’s Intesa Sanpaolo says it will invest in SpaceX. Italy’s biggest bank Intesa Sanpaolo (ISP.MI) said on Friday it had decided to invest in US bnaire Elon Musk’s space company SpaceX.
Intesa Sanpaolo recognizes “the aerospace sector as having a particularly important role in the development of world economies and has therefore decided to invest in a player that has demonstrated a cutting-edge vision of the near future”, the bank said in a statement. The size of the investment was not disclosed. (Source: Reuters)
04 Oct 23. Leading UK defence and security electronic system specialist SEA has launched in Canada following its recent acquisition of defence support provider JSK Naval Support Inc (JSK).
The wholly owned subsidiary will now be known as SEA Canada – a unified company that will leverage the collective expertise of both organisations to deliver on the Canadian Surface Combatant (CSC) programme, while also strategically expanding its business operations across the country. SEA Canada will develop its skills and infrastructure resulting from work on CSC and increased legacy support business, and with support from SEA UK, will seek to grow the maritime defence business in Canada.
JSK was originally formed via a joint venture in 2014 between SEA and Kaycom Inc. and has won long-term contracts with the Canadian Government, the Royal Canadian Navy, and other suppliers for projects in Canada. The launch of SEA Canada marks a significant milestone in SEA’s commitment to Canadian defence while strengthening its position in the market. The company is committed to delivering Canadian content for the CSC contract and other legacy contracts, encompassing assembly, testing, integration, and comprehensive support, with a determination to maximize the contract’s value and impact.
SEA Canada will continue to build on JSK’s achievements and focus on expanding its Canadian support and project delivery capabilities to create Canadian value for non-Canadian businesses with contracts in the country. It will also enhance its capabilities by expanding support, repair, and refurbishment services for minor sonars and related equipment on the Victoria class submarines at JSK. This builds on SEA and JSK’s historic partnership and capitalises on SEA’s expertise which mirrors its operations in the UK for the Royal Navy.
Richard Flitton, Managing Director at SEA said, “SEA and JSK have worked together for several years and in that time, we’ve developed skills and expertise in Canada through collaboration. Our creation of a full Canadian SEA subsidiary is aimed at upholding JSK’s legacy and providing the best naval technology to Canadian customers, and our commitment to do so is unwavering. We’re delighted to be bringing an incredibly skilled team under the SEA banner, and we’re looking forward to working for the betterment of Canadian defence.”
Jeff Leonard, General Manager at SEA Canada said, “We are excited to embark on this new chapter, and becoming a full subsidiary of SEA in Canada marks a significant milestone for our team and reaffirms our commitment to excellence in the Canadian defence industry. We look forward to leveraging the combined strengths and resources of both organisations to drive growth, innovation, and continued success for our valued customers and partners.”
04 Oct 23. Pentagon, SBA taking applications for private capital loan program. A Pentagon office created to drive private capital toward national security needs is partnering with the Small Business Administration to offer federally guaranteed loans for investors looking to fund defense-related technologies.
The Office of Strategic Capital announced the rollout of the Small Business Investment Company Critical Technology initiative Sept. 29 and has started taking applications.
“Applications are now being accepted and evaluated by the SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation with support from OSC,” Lt. Cmdr. Tim Gorman told C4ISRNET in an Oct. 3 email. “The program expects to issue its first licenses in 2024.”
The Pentagon and SBA announced the partnership last December and have been working to flesh out the details since then.
The effort is focused on the 14 emerging technologies the department has identified as critical to national security, which includes areas like AI, space, quantum, integrated networks and advanced materials. By partnering with the Small Business Administration, the Pentagon hopes to take advantage of the organization’s experience directing venture capital funding toward high-need areas, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a Sept. 29 statement.
“To maintain our competitive advantage, the United States must continue to harness its unmatched strengths — its private capital markets, national security supplier base, and vibrant technological ecosystem,” Austin said. “In alignment with the National Defense Strategy, the SBICCT Initiative will further enable DoD to work with both government and the private sector to build enduring advantages for the warfighter and for the taxpayer.”
While lending tools like SBICCT are new to Pentagon, federal agencies like the Commerce Department and the Energy Department have a long history of using credit programs to support key industries like microelectronics and renewable energy. According to OSC Director Jason Rathje, loan agreements can be more efficient than traditional DoD spending practices because they assume a return on investment.
“Loans as a tool are extremely efficient,” Rathje said Sept. 6 at the Defense News conference in Arlington, Virginia. “If you think about the defense budget . . . we say investment, but we spend money. There’s no expectation that money is going to come back to the U.S. government or back to the DoD. But loan programs are different.”
As OSC moves forward with the SBICCT effort, it’s evaluating which of the department’s critical technologies might benefit the most from a loan guarantee effort. Rathje said areas like AI, autonomy and microelectronics that have a broader commercial ecosystem are high on the list.
“We’re looking at key industries . . . we’re looking at capital availability, we’re seeing where can OSC tools make a difference in increasing funding to companies that are developing technologies,” he said.
That work will also inform a broader OSC investment strategy, which Rathje said will be finalized in the coming months. Once completed, the office’s strategic advisory council — co-chaired by the undersecretaries of research and engineering and acquisition and sustainment — will consider how those technologies are being integrated into other DoD planning processes. (Source: C4ISR & Networks)
04 Oct 23. Thales closes deal on Tesserent, strengthening its global cybersecurity business. Thales has today finalised the acquisition of Tesserent, one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest cybersecurity companies, following Tesserent shareholders’ approval of the implementation of the binding Scheme and other required regulatory approvals. In a significant win for Australia’s sovereign cyber capability, this acquisition also reflects Thales’s tremendous growth in its international cyber footprint, one of its most dynamic areas of development.
Thales announced its proposed acquisition of Tesserent in June this year. With a 2022 turnover of A$185m (circa €110m) and ~500 employees across 9 offices, Tesserent is a leading player in cybersecurity in Australia, providing a full suite of cybersecurity solutions and services to medium and enterprise-level organisations.
The combination of Thales and Tesserent in Australia and New Zealand will significantly strengthen the critical sovereign cyber capabilities for some of Australia and New Zealand’s most sensitive defence programs and critical infrastructure operators, whilst also contributing to the global strengthening of Thales in the cybersecurity sector.
Jeff Connolly, CEO Thales Australia and New Zealand said, “We’ve seen the significant pipeline of cyber-security work coming in Australia, and it makes sense as a provider of sovereign solutions to scale up in cyber security.” Mr. Connolly added, “The marriage of Thales and Tesserent creates a sovereign cyber security provider like no other because it links Thales as a trusted partner with Government with Tesserent’s outstanding capability in cyber, especially in the defence, security and critical infrastructure sectors. We will be very well positioned to help Government achieve its ambition of Australia being one of the most cyber-secure countries by 2030”.
Pierre-Yves Jolivet, Vice-President, Cyber Defense Solutions, Thales said, “As part of Thales’ development strategy on one of its core businesses – cybersecurity- the Group is further anchoring its managed services expertise locally through the acquisition of Tesserent, while promoting the sharing of know-how and common solutions that will benefit all Thales cyber teams worldwide. We are proud that Thales cyber solutions, guided by the sovereign interest of States, are helping build a more resilient world.”
With the closing of the Tesserent acquisition and Thales’s agreement to acquire Imperva, a leading US-based data and application cybersecurity company announced in July 2023, Thales is taking its cybersecurity business to the next level, with more than € 2.4bn revenues1 from cybersecurity expected in 2024.
Thales’ offer is focused on three families of cybersecurity products and services:
- Global security products around the broader cloud protection & licensing offerings and the following products’ areas:
o Identity
o Data security
o Application security
- Sovereign protection products including encryptors and sensors to protect governmental, and institutional critical information systems.
- A complete suite of cybersecurity services around Cybels solutions portfolio, including threat and risk evaluation, training and simulation, detection and response, and integration projects. Tesserent is part of this business.
03 Oct 23. Safran Acquires Thales’ Aeronautical Electrical Systems Activities. Safran Electrical & Power today completed the acquisition of Thales’ aeronautical electrical systems business, which covers electric conversion, power generation, and motors for civil and military aircraft. Safran Electrical & Power’s growing expertise, particularly in conversion, strengthens its position as a leader in the entire aircraft electrical chain. This buyout follows exclusive negotiations announced in September 2022.
Thales’s aeronautical electrical systems business employs nearly 600 people and generated revenues of €145m in 2022.
This acquisition includes Thales Avionics Electrical Systems and Thales Avionics Electrical Motors in France, with sites in Chatou, Meru, and Conflans-Sainte Honorine. It also includes the support, maintenance and production activities for aeronautical electrical equipment in Orlando (USA) and Singapore. Business activities in France are integrated into Safran Electrical & Power with immediate effect.
Business activities in the USA and Singapore will be absorbed at the end of a transition period, during which the necessary certification approvals will be obtained.
“Thanks to these new electrical skills, particularly in conversion, we are adding a new string to the bow of our business portfolio and consolidating Safran Electrical & Power’s leading position across the entire electrical chain. This acquisition will enable us to bring even more relevant and effective solutions to the market. We look forward to working with the new teams on decarbonizing aviation through electric power,” comments Stéphane Cueille, CEO of Safran Electrical & Power. (Source: ASD Network)
03 Oct 23. The Boeing Company to Pay $8.1m to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that The Boeing Company, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has agreed to pay $8,100,000 to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting false claims and making false statements in connection with contracts with the U.S. Navy to manufacture the V-22 Osprey, a tiltrotor military aircraft. The settlement resolves allegations that from approximately 2007 through 2018, Boeing failed to comply with certain contractual manufacturing specifications in fabricating composite components for the V-22 at its facility in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania. Specifically, the government contends that Boeing failed to perform required monthly testing on autoclaves used in the composite cure process and was not in compliance with additional requirements related to the testing. The civil settlement includes the resolution of claims brought under the qui tam or whistleblower provisions of the False Claims Act by former employees of Boeing who worked in composites fabrication and autoclave operations with the V-22 program. Under the qui tam provisions, a private party can file an action on behalf of the United States and receive a portion of any recovery. The qui tam case is captioned U.S. ex rel. Roath et al. v. The Boeing Company, No. 16-cv-6547 (E.D. Pa.). The Relators will receive $1,539,000 in connection with the settlement. (Source: glstrade.com)
02 Oct 23. Booz Allen Hamilton invests in AI security startup HiddenLayer. Booz Allen Hamilton, one of the largest U.S. defense contractors, said it invested in HiddenLayer, a smaller company specializing in digital defenses of artificial intelligence and sensitive networks.
While Booz Allen did not specify how much it spent, or exactly when the deal was completed, it did say the move was made to bolster its adversarial AI portfolio, which aims to shield the increasingly popular algorithms and applications from malign manipulation.
“Our clients operate in complex environments that require AI models be highly specialized, rapidly deployable, and secure,” Matt Keating, who leads Booz Allens’ adversarial AI efforts, said in a statement. “The HiddenLayer investment by Booz Allen Ventures better positions us to integrate startup, commercial, and open-source innovation to rapidly augment our existing capabilities.”
The U.S. Department of Defense and the intelligence community are leaning into AI, autonomy and the like to gain advantages on the battlefield and more effectively parse mountains of national-security information.
Increased adoption, though, can open the door for vulnerabilities, such as data poisoning or code tampering. Systems or equipment with pattern-recognition capabilities require significant amounts of exposure — plentiful, verified information upon which they are trained — to get the job done.
“HiddenLayer’s powerful platform and expert team has proven effective in securing AI from a broad range of threats, so we quickly identified them as a partner that can support and protect our AI deployments,” Travis Bales, managing director at Booz Allen Ventures, said in a statement.
The commitment to HiddenLayer, which in September announced a $50 m funding round, is the latest made by Booz Allen in the AI arena.
The company previously invested in Shift5 and Synthetaic. The former concerns itself with cybersecurity and predictive maintenance. The latter made headlines when it used its AI tools to independently track the Chinese spy ballon that zigzagged across the U.S. earlier this year. Synthetaic in August also announced a cloud-computing partnership with Microsoft.
Booz Allen in 2022 earned nearly $6 bn in defense revenue, securing it the No. 18 spot on the Defense News “Top 100,” a list of the world’s largest defense contractors. The company reaped $5.5bn the year prior. (Source: Defense News)
03 Oct 23. Gooch & Housego (GHH) reported “strong” second-half trading, leading to it make an adjusted pre-tax profit in the year to September that was ahead of market expectations. The photonics specialist reported good organic growth across all of its major divisions and added that the integration of recent acquisitions – of US-based life sciences specialist GS Optics in June and UK-based Artemis Optical a month later – was progressing well. Its order book fell by around 2.5 per cent in the second half of the year, but the company said that while destocking was continuing in some parts of the business, its aerospace & defence and life sciences arms were still growing. Around 75 per cent of its £125mn order book was expected to be delivered during its current financial year. House broker Investec increased its adjusted pre-tax profit forecast by 4 per cent to 9.5p a share. Gooch & Housego’s shares were up by 5 per cent. (Source: Investors Chronicle)
14 Sep 23. Smaller defence stocks will get more help, minister says. James Cartlidge also pledges to be more agile and to support the £14bn export market. The UK’s defence procurement minister, James Cartlidge, has pledged to adopt “more agile acquisition processes” in response to the pace of change in defence technology currently being witnessed in Ukraine.
Cartlidge told the DSEI defence industry trade fair that a greater focus was needed on innovation, and on sourcing “the £100 solution that can stop a £100m threat”.
He also called on banks and other financial institutions to show defence SMEs more “respect”. “ESG rules aren’t bad, per se, but have been applied wholly, misguidedly in relation to defence,” he said. “[Banks are] penalising defence companies in a multitude of ways – from facing more expensive finance to being denied basic banking facilities.”
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is also bringing forward a strategy to rapidly equip the military with uncrewed systems for use on land, sea and air, and Cartlidge, in the post since April, stressed speed was of the essence. Weapons systems may need to be upgraded “on the fly”, and military bosses are more willing to accept that an “80 per cent solution is better than a 100 per cent solution delivered too late to make a difference”, he said.
A new supplier development programme will “make it easier for UK-based SMEs inside the defence sector or outside to participate in MoD projects”, and companies of all sizes will benefit from a renewed focus on defence exports, he argued.
An inter-ministerial group to oversee the UK’s £14bn defence exports market is being resurrected, and a new UK Defence Partnerships body will seek to form more collaborations with friendly nations at a government-to-government level “with exports at their core” but also working on areas such as supply chain integration or strengthening joint industrial capacity, Cartlidge said.
Defence has become a heightened area of government focus following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and in March the government pledged a further £5bn to the sector over the next two years – £2bn of which was earmarked for replenishing stockpiles of munitions that have been depleted through supplies to Ukraine and to increase munitions capacity.
On Tuesday, the MoD increased the size of a munitions contract first awarded to BAE Systems (BA.) last year by £130mn, to £410m. BAE Systems said more than 200 new jobs are being created as a result of the overall contract, with a new machining line being added to a factory in the north-east for 155mm shells and a new explosive filling facility being added at its Glascoed plant in South Wales. Chemring’s (CHG) Roke arm also won a two-year, £40mn deal advising the British Army on one of its intelligence platforms. Its order intake this year is £536mn, up 47 per cent compared to last year. “The order book remains high, which underpins demand in future years with value creation likely to accelerate,” said Shore Capital analyst Jamie Murray. (Source: Investors Chronicle)
29 Sep 23. Datron World Communications, Inc. Announces Acquisition by Cyberlux Corporation. Datron World Communications, Inc., a U.S. based supplier of tactical communications products, is happy to announce its recent acquisition by Cyberlux Corporation (OTC: CYBL), a leading provider of innovative defense technology systems. This milestone marks the union of two industry pioneers, creating a powerhouse of integrated technologies to meet the complex needs of modern defense and communication landscapes.
“We are delighted to become part of the Cyberlux family,” commented Art Barter, President & CEO of Datron World Communications, Inc. “We’ve deployed thousands of Datron built radios in over 80 countries, a testament to our unwavering commitment to advancing U.S. Security Assistance objectives and meeting host-country defense requirements. Each radio represents a vital connection that strengthens global security and cooperation. I have full confidence in the Cyberlux team to carry our exceptional record into the future.”
The acquisition reinforces Cyberlux Corporation’s dedication to advancing mission critical solutions within the Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), security, and tactical communications markets. By leveraging Datron’s 52-year legacy and proven track record of designing tactical communications products for the U.S. Partner Nation and FMS / FMF markets – including over 100,000 HF and VHF radios deployed during the company’s tenure as the primary supplier of tactical communications to the Afghan National Defense and Security Force (ANDSF) – the acquisition aims to enhance the global interconnectedness and overall effectiveness of tactical operations across the world.
“This strategic acquisition is a game-changer for both Cyberlux and Datron,” said Mark Schmidt, CEO of Cyberlux Corporation. “We are eager to build upon Datron’s 52-year legacy and are steadfast in our commitment to driving growth as we unite these two exceptional teams. Together, we embark on a journey to build a stronger, more integrated company that sets new benchmarks in innovation and excellence.”
Cyberlux Corporation’s track record of delivering state-of-the-art Unmanned Aircraft Systems aligns seamlessly with Datron’s reputation of providing robust, reliable, and mission-critical solutions to customers in austere, demanding environments.
As both companies share a commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction, this acquisition is poised to deliver unparalleled value to customers worldwide. By uniting the Cyberlux defense technology expertise with Datron’s tactical communications prowess, the stage is set for an exciting future of synergy, progress, and success.
About Cyberlux Corporation
Cyberlux Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: CYBL) is “Harnessing the Future” by developing, acquiring, and deploying critical defense technology capabilities across the global Defense Industry. By driving operational growth through acquisitions and joint ventures, the Company continuously fuels its growth with ongoing technology developments, including fundamental organic growth from the Company’s four business units – Unmanned Aircraft Solutions, Advanced Communications Solutions, Advanced Lighting Solutions, and Special Activities & Solutions, targeting U.S. government agencies, Foreign Military Sales, and targeted commercial markets. For more information, please visit www.cyberlux.com. For investor information, please contact:
About Datron World Communications, Inc.
Datron World Communications, Inc. delivers communications products and systems worldwide. The company’s product offerings enable governments, security forces, and commercial users to establish and maintain mission-critical voice, data, and video connectivity. Known for their ease-of-use and reliability, Datron’s products and systems are currently deployed in over 80 countries worldwide. Datron World Communications, Inc. was established in 1971 and is headquartered in San Diego, California, USA. For more information visit: www.dtwc.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
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SPX CommTech, part of SPX Technologies Inc, innovates specialised technologies within the Radio Frequency (RF) spectrum to ensure a smarter, more secure future for all. Formed by TCI and ECS, SPX CommTech’s Battlespace portfolio enables defence and security teams to detect, defeat and exploit RF signals to enhance communications intelligence (COMINT) and counter unmanned aerial systems (Counter-UAS). Additionally, its Tactical Data Link portfolio allows intelligence gathering agencies, special forces, emergency response, and security teams to securely and reliably transfer video and data between enabled-aircraft and ground teams over long distances for airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR). For more information visit www.tcibr.com and www.enterprisecontrol.co.uk
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