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04 Apr 24. Raytheon increases tech readiness of CADRE for US Navy Next Gen Jammer. The objective is to advance its ‘Controlled, Advanced, Distributed Radio Frequency Effects’ from TRL three to TRL six for NGJ integration. Raytheon, a US defence prime and RTX subsidiary, will develop its ‘Controlled, Advanced, Distributed Radio Frequency Effects’ (CADRE) enough to integrate them with the US Navy’s Next Generation Jammer (NGJ). The US Department of Defense allocated $40.59m to the supplier on 3 April 2024, to advance CADRE from technology readiness level (TRL) three to TRL six. The work will be divided into three phases: System Design and Risk Reduction; Detailed Design, Integration and Verification; and Ground Test and Flight Demonstration. These phases aim to achieve measurable progress toward the long-term Future Naval Capabilities objective of multi-aircraft flight demonstration. Work will be performed in McKinney, Texas, and the base effort is expected to be completed in November 2025. NGJ is the next step in Airborne Electronic Attack (AEA). It is needed to meet emerging electronic warfare (EW) threats. The system will augment, and ultimately replace, the legacy ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System that is currently used on the Navy’s EA-18G Growler Electronic Attack aircraft. Using the latest digital software and Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technologies, NGJ provides enhanced AESA capabilities to disrupt, deny, and degrade enemy air defence and ground communication systems. It brings increased power and jamming capability at longer ranges. Additionally, the system allows for rapid hardware and software updates to counter improving and evolving threat capabilities. A little over a year ago, the DoD awarded Raytheon a $650m contract for the production of 15 low-rate initial production Lot III NGJ mid-band ship sets, 11 of which were to be used by the US Navy and four for the Royal Australian Navy. At the time, a GlobalData Defence Analyst commented that these sets will be “more powerful, have open-source systems for software and hardware upgrades, and use AESA technology themselves sometimes. Details on jamming tech like this can be sparse but consider it a likely upgrade in most or all ways.” Now, Raytheon will enhance the NGJ further with CADRE capabilities in its evolution to continually outmatch emerging EW capabilities. The global EW market, valued at $13.9bn in 2023, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 4.6% over the next decade. GlobalData anticipates the market will reach $21.8bn by 2033 and cumulatively value $194.2bn over the forecast period. (Source: naval-technology.com)
02 Apr 24. Cobra Shows its Fangs. Iran’s Cobra-V8 EW system has strong similarities with Russia’s IRL257E Krasukha-4 jammer as can be seen from the antenna arrangement on the top of the vehicle. Iran claims to have new jamming capabilities in the form of the Cobra-V8, but is this simply a re-badged Russian Krasukha-4 electronic attack system, and how capable might it be? Is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Cobra-V8 Electronic Warfare (EW) system an indigenised version of Russia’s 1RL257E Krasukha-4 EW platform? It certainly looks that way. News came to light on social media in mid-March that Cobra-V8 systems had supported a recent Iranian military exercise. At first blush, Iran’s equipment bears a strong resemblance to its Russian counterpart. This is arguably most visible in the antenna ensemble atop the container on the rear of the vehicle. On the 1RL257E two circular antennas are positioned either side of two large horizontal plates. These plates presumably prevent the sidelobes spreading out around the main jamming beam interfering with beams from the other antennas. A closer look at the antennas assembly reveals that they point inwards. This configuration may help ensure that jamming beams are focused on the target. Whether Iran has purchased the 1RL257E directly from Russia or manufactures it under licence is unknown. The fact that the system is designated as the Cobra-V8 seems to suggest local or licenced manufacture.
Targets
Information in the public domain says that that 1RL257E attacks airborne emitters using frequencies of eight gigahertz/GHz to 18GHz. This waveband would be sufficient for the 1RL257E to target airborne X-band (8.5GHz to 10.68GHz) radars and Satellite Communications (SATCOM). Airborne Ku-band (13.4GHz to 14GHz/15.7GHz to 17.7GHz) radars and SATCOM (14GHz uplink/10.9-12.75GHz downlink) could also be targeted. Public information continues that Krasukha-4 can engage airborne targets at between one degree and 60 degrees’ elevation across a 360-degree radius.
The 1RL257E is advertised as being capable of attacking airborne emitters at up to 162 nautical miles/nm (300 kilometres/km) range. According to Russian language documents seen by Armada, Krasukha-4 can transmit up to 64 decibels/dB of jamming energy. The system may have an antenna gain of 96.5dB based on the circa one metre (3.3 feet) diameter of the circular antennas. Gain is basically a measurement of how much energy an antenna can focus onto a target, much like how a magnifying glass can focus sunlight.
Performance
For this discussion, we will assume that the 1RL257’s target is a combat aircraft with a ten square metre Radar Cross Section (RCS). RCS is a measurement of how large, or small, a target appears to a radar. Let us assume the Krasukha-4 is transmitting a jamming signal on a frequency of 8.2GHz. The signal is travelling across its full advertised range of 162nm against a target with a seven square metre RCS.
According to our own rough back-of-the-envelope calculations, the jamming signal would leave the 1RL257E with 64dB of strength. Nonetheless, it would lose 77.4dB of strength during its journey. Thus, the jamming signal would have a strength of -13.4dB when it reaches the target. This is not the whole story as the jamming signal must move through the atmosphere which also causes it to lose energy, in this case up to 160.3dB. Taken on its own, the jamming signal may now have a strength of -96.3dB when it reaches the target. We must also add the 77.4dB signal loss, meaning that the jamming signal may have a combined strength of -173.7dB. Decibels are a tricky thing to explain, but a basic rule says that the closer the figure is to zero the stronger the signal. It is possible that at such ranges jamming signals this weak may not be able to ‘wash out’ the signal strength of the radar or SATCOM system they are trying to attack.
Iran’s deployment of the Cobra-V8 is a cause for concern and something that allied powers, who may have to face the country’s military in any future conflict, should take seriously. Nonetheless, the capabilities of such systems can sometimes be exaggerated for propaganda purposes. (Source: Armada)
03 Apr 24. April Spectrum SitRep.
Kvertus is supplying the company’s AD Counter FPV jamming system to the Ukrainian military to provide protection against tactical FPV UAVs.
Armada’s monthly round-up of all the latest electronic warfare news in the product, programme and operational domains.
New CUAV Systems for Ukrainian Military
In early March Kvertus announced it was equipping the Ukrainian Army’s 3rd Assault Brigade with new electronic warfare systems. Specifically, the force is being supplied with the company’s AD Counter FPV jamming equipment. The AD Counter FPV jams radio signals across a waveband of 850 megahertz/MHz to 940MHz; frequencies commonly used by First Person View Uninhabited Aerial Vehicles (FPV UAV). Signals on these frequencies are employed to connect the aircraft to its pilot. The company said that the AD Counter FPV can achieve jamming ranges of up to 0.2 nautical miles (300 metres). The system is available in static and backpack configurations, and can be installed on vehicles. The company told Armada that the AD Counter FPV “can prove useful when employed during assault attacks, when shorter distances between the enemy’s drones and their pilot allows the disruption of radio communications between the aircraft and its control station.” Currently, these systems are only being supplied to the Ukrainian armed forces to ensure that the ongoing threat presented by Russian tactical UAVs can be countered.
Ready Mercury
Mercury Systems has won a $243.7m contract to supply Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM) subsystems to the US Navy. According to a press release announcing the news the DRFMs are to support AN/ULQ-21(V) electronic attack systems. Details of the AN/ULQ-21(V)’s manufacturer do not appear in the public domain. It is thought the system is used to simulate hostile jamming waveforms. The DRFMs will be installed on AN/ULQ-21(V) systems employed by the Naval Air Warfare Centre Weapons Division. Specifically, they are expected to be used by training aircraft flown by the US military. Mercury Systems told Armada that DRFM deliveries will commence in circa August 2025. The company expects to complete the work by February 2029.
New RWRs for US Army Apaches
On 11th March Northrop Grumman revealed it had been awarded a contract to produce AN/APR-39E(V)2 Radar Warning Receivers (RWRs) for the US Army. James Conroy, Northrop Grumman’s vice president for navigation, targeting and survivability, told Armada that “the AN/APR-39E(V)2 is the next step in the evolution of the AN/APR-39, the radar warning receiver and suite controller that has been protecting aircraft for decades.” The AN/APR-39E(V)2 is fully digital and “uses Northrop Grumman’s ultra-wideband architecture that provides greater instantaneous bandwidth, higher sensitivity, and improved digital signal processing algorithms to handle advanced threats.” Mr. Conroy continued that deliveries of these RWRs are scheduled to take place in 2026. These systems will equip US Army Boeing AH-64E Guardian attack helicopters. The exact number of AN/APR-39E(V)2s to equip these aircraft will be determined by the force. Nonetheless, Mr. Conroy stated that “the army has more than 2,000 fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft which the AN/APR-39E(V) was designed to support.”
(Source: Armada)
03 Apr 24. DOD Cyber Officials Detail Progress on Zero Trust Framework Roadmap. The Defense Department is on track to implement its zero trust cybersecurity framework by the end of fiscal year 2027, senior Pentagon information technology officials said this week.
David McKeown, who serves as the DOD’s deputy chief information officer, underscored the significant progress the department has made in implementing what he said will be a transformational change in how the department approaches cybersecurity.
“Zero trust integration offers the most robust and reliable approach to cybersecurity, ensuring that our systems are resilient against evolving threats, while safeguarding our nation’s interests,” McKeown said today during his keynote address as part of a virtual two-day Zero Trust Symposium hosted by the Defense Acquisition University.
“It is not just a program, or a new application, zero trust is an evolution of our entire security landscape,” he said. “By embracing it, we not only protect our data, but we strengthen our defenses and preserve our way of life.”
Once implemented, the zero trust framework will move the DOD beyond traditional network security methods with capabilities designed to reduce exposure to cyberattacks, enable risk management and data sharing and quickly contain and remediate adversary activities.
The department released its strategy for achieving its vision for a zero trust architecture in 2022. The strategy outlines four high-level goals including cultural adoption, security and defense of DOD information systems, technology acceleration and zero trust enablement.
Since unveiling the strategy, McKeown, who also serves as the department’s senior information security officer, said his office has remained laser focused on making it a reality.
“As the DOD’s lead for zero trust, we have made great progress,” he said, detailing the department’s efforts to align resources and capabilities at the component level, review implementation plans submitted by DOD agencies and work with industry to build solutions.
John Sherman, DOD’s chief information officer, said implementing the framework has been an “absolute top priority.”
“If you look at our funding, and if you look at our cyber investments we’re making and the time we’re spending, zero trust is first and foremost among what we’re doing,” Sherman said yesterday, the first day of the symposium.
He said what once seemed unachievable just a few years ago is now becoming a reality.
“We are looking really good, on track, to get target-level zero trust in place by the end of fiscal 2027,” he said.
Both officials underscored the importance of implementing the framework as adversaries continue to improve their offensive cyber capabilities.
“Our protection and detection methodologies absolutely need to change in order to defend against today’s adversaries,” McKeown said. “Because of this, zero trust is my top cybersecurity initiative. I absolutely believe zero trust will greatly improve our ability to defend our networks against sophisticated attacks.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
03 Apr 24. Global: New malware distribution campaign points to threats posed by financially motivated groups. On 2 April, the software company Mcafee unveiled the discovery of a new ‘Pikabot’ campaign. Pikabot is a trojan attributed to ‘Water Curupira’, a financially motivated threat group. It is typically distributed via thread-jacking phishing emails, wherein threat actors hijack existing email threads to trick a user into downloading a malicious file. This file then enables the threat actors to execute code remotely on the infected system. This allows them to deploy the ‘Black Basta’ ransomware and to garner illicit profit. However, the new campaign distinguishes itself from previous iterations as a result of the wider variety of file formats and links used for distribution; these significantly bolster the group’s success rates. This highlights the sophistication of Water Curupira’s tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), as well as its knowledge of modern IT systems. Additionally, the recent rise in Pikabot distribution via multi-stage operations further underscores the growing security and financial threats posed by financially motivated groups. (Source: Sibylline)
02 Apr 24. Palantir to Deliver EMBM-J DS Prototype to the DISA. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) today announced that it was selected by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to deliver an Electromagnetic Battle Management – Joint Decision Support (EMBM-J DS) Prototype. This effort will provide the Department of Defense with a cutting-edge software capability to support Joint Electromagnetic Spectrum Operations (JEMSO). The award of prototype Other Transaction Authority (OTA) Agreement is worth $9.8 m over twelve months. Palantir will work closely with the DISA PEO Spectrum as well as USSTRATCOM, the operational sponsor, and Combatant Commands to enable enhanced mission analysis, course of action (COA) and scheme of maneuver development, COA analysis and scoring, wargaming, and product production. This Impact Level 6, web-based EMBM-J DS prototype will also integrate with Service tools and processes for Electromagnetic Battle Management, maximizing interoperability and coordination across the joint force.
“The next iteration of the program addresses the need for a decision support capability by providing joint force commanders with a first-of-its-kind planning tool that can automate key operational electromagnetic spectrum planning processes,” said Donny Williams, PEO Spectrum chief of spectrum information systems.
“We are excited to continue our work with DISA PEO Spectrum and deliver our technology to accelerate the Department of Defense’s achievement of spectrum dominance,” said Dr. Miriam Marwick, SVP of Emerging Technologies at Palantir USG. “Through our extensive work with the operational community, we have learned a great deal about the impact of electromagnetic spectrum on recent conflicts and are working diligently to apply these lessons to meet the challenges of contested battlespaces.”
“DISA should be commended for their leadership in enabling warfighter decision-making in future battlefields,” said Akash Jain, President of Palantir USG. “We are proud to have been selected through DISA’s competitive procurement process and look forward to rapidly delivering a minimum viable capability to integrate EMBM-J DS into all aspects of mission planning.”
EMBM-J DS represents the next phase of Palantir’s ongoing investment in spectrum operations capabilities and will support joint planning efforts through JEMSO planning processes. The capability is being designed to integrate with service-provided Electromagnetic Battle Management tools and processes, maximizing interoperability between combatant command and Joint Task Force JEMSOCs and their counterparts at the component level.
“The ability to ingest component-level courses of action and schemes of maneuver into an overall joint plan and evaluate the associated electromagnetic spectrum opportunities and risks will be a significant technological leap forward for EMS operational planners,” said Betsy Park, EMBM-J program manager. “EMBM-J will play a critical role in ensuring that our forces are able to achieve EMS superiority across every warfighting domain.” (Source: ASD Network)
02 Apr 24. BAE Systems’ Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System for F-15 aircraft completes operational testing. The U.S. Air Force recently completed Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) of the Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS), validating the game-changing capabilities BAE Systems’ advanced system brings to the F-15. EPAWSS provides critical electronic warfare (EW) capabilities for the F-15E Strike Eagle and F-15EX Eagle II aircraft.
“EPAWSS was designed for upgradeability and rapid capability insertion,” said Amy Nesbitt, EPAWSS program manager at BAE Systems. “We’re using agile software development to provide iterative upgrades to fielded EW systems—allowing our customers to defeat future electromagnetic threats.”
EPAWSS provides instantaneous full-spectrum EW capabilities—including radar warning, geolocation, situational awareness, and self-protection. The system enables freedom of maneuver and deeper penetration into battlespaces protected by modern integrated air defense systems.
“EPAWSS is a leap in technology, improving the lethality and combat capabilities of the F-15E and F-15EX in contested, degraded environments against advanced threats,” said Maj Bryant “Jager” Baum, EPAWSS Test Director for the Air Force Operational Test & Evaluation Center (AFOTEC). “EPAWSS has set the baseline for EW within the fighter community.”
BAE Systems supported AFOTEC in executing EPAWSS IOT&E and is now in the process of producing and fielding one of the world’s most advanced EW systems, improving the F-15’s ability to conduct combat missions. The company is working closely with Boeing and the U.S. Air Force to enhance the system’s discriminating EW capabilities, including the use of cognitive EW as demonstrated during the Northern Edge 2023 (NE23) large force exercise test event.
“Our close collaboration with the U.S. Air Force allows us to mature EPAWSS cognitive processing capabilities,” said Chip Mosle, program director at BAE Systems. “By incrementally testing and fielding cognitive EW solutions to proven systems such as EPAWSS, we are enabling tactical spectrum overmatch against advanced threats that are unpredictable, evolving, and adaptable.”
The NE23 event tested EPAWSS’ ability to rapidly respond to previously unencountered electromagnetic threats. The tests challenged the system’s ability to process in-mission sensor data, create exquisite techniques, and optimize waveforms in real time. Furthermore, the NE23 environment challenged the system to execute the tasks in a dense, unpredictable electromagnetic spectrum at a theater-exercise level. BAE Systems executes the EPAWSS program at its facilities in Nashua, New Hampshire and Austin, Texas, actively producing EPAWSS hardware in support of F-15EX new-aircraft production and F-15E aircraft fleet modifications. For additional information about EPAWSS, visit http://www.baesystems.com/epawss. (Source: News Now/PR Newswire)
02 Apr 24. Global: New vulnerability points to sustained information-theft risks via software supply chain. On 1 April, security researchers at Microsoft discovered a new vulnerability affecting the Linux open-source software ‘liblzma’ (versions 5.6.0 and 5.6.1). The vulnerability comprises a backdoor hidden in the liblzma source code, which is often used in authentication processes (such as Secure Shell, SSH). The backdoor intercepts legitimate SSH connections, effectively authenticating unauthorised threat actors on the system. Subsequently, threat actors can remotely execute malicious code on a compromised machine, enabling them to steal sensitive data, install malware, disrupt critical operations and/or launch further attacks. The software supply chain often presents a significant security challenge for organisations, especially as these organisations are increasingly reliant on third-party services and struggle to protect the growing attack surface adequately. Chinese-affiliated actors recently exploited vulnerabilities in third-party virtual private network (VPN) software to steal sensitive information from the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD). Consequently, we assess that this highlights the sustained information-theft risks stemming from third-party software, especially as supply chain attacks become an increasingly productive attack vector. (Source: Sibylline)
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Spectra Group (UK) Ltd
Spectra Group (UK) Ltd, internationally renowned award-winning information security and communications specialist with a proven record of accomplishment.
Spectra is a dynamic, agile and security-accredited organisation that offers secure Hosted and Managed Solutions and Cyber Advisory Services with a track record of delivering on time, to spec and on budget.
With over 15 years of experience in delivering solutions for governments around the globe, elite militaries and private enterprises of all sizes, Spectra’s platinum and gold-level partnerships with third-party vendors ensure the supply of best value leading-edge technology.
Spectra was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation) in 2019 for SlingShot.
In November 2017, Spectra Group (UK) Ltd announced its listing as a Top 100 Government SME Supplier by the UK Crown Commercial Services.
Spectra’s CEO, Simon Davies, was awarded 2017 Businessman of the Year by Battlespace magazine.
Founded in 2002, the Company is based in Hereford, UK and holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2013 and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.
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