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24 Oct 24. Hensoldt expects Luftwaffe to increase PEGASUS buy. Hensoldt expects the Luftwaffe to increase the number of signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft it intends to buy under the Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System (PEGASUS) programme, following a general deterioration in the global geopolitical picture.
Speaking to Janes and other media, a representative of the prime contractor on the project said that the currently contracted three aircraft will not be enough to fulfil future taskings, and that a follow-on order is anticipated.
“The initial contract is for three aircraft, and we are proud to be in a position to deliver those. If you look at the current geopolitical situation, even though any [one] aircraft can persistently monitor a vast area, there are unfortunately too many hot spots globally. So, we expect an additional rise [in aircraft numbers] to be coming eventually,” Jürgen Halder, vice-president, Airborne SIGINT at Hensoldt, said on 23 October.
In outlining his expectation that the Luftwaffe will acquire additional PEGASUS airframes, Halder cited the aborted Euro Hawk project that preceded it, saying, “Discussions are starting in a very early phase, but it’s apparent that three aircraft are not sufficient, especially if you consider that the Euro Hawk programme had already included much higher numbers of aircraft.” Based on the Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the RQ-4E Euro Hawk procurement was pegged at five air vehicles at the time of its cancellation due to airspace certification issues in 2013. (Source: Janes)
24 Oct 24. AUKUS Partners Complete Successful Tests of Autonomous and Networked Systems in Maritime Experimentation.
In a significant development for maritime security, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom (AUKUS) have completed successful tests of several autonomous and networked systems during a three-week maritime experimentation called Autonomous Warrior 24 in Australia. The event was part of the Maritime Big Play (MBP) initiative and ongoing efforts to develop AUKUS Pillar II capabilities, a trilateral collaboration to improve maritime awareness through networked autonomy, decision advantage, and enhanced strike.
The Maritime Big Play is a series of integrated trilateral experiments and exercises that are enhancing capability development, improving interoperability, and increasing the sophistication and scale of autonomous systems in the maritime domain. Australia led the Autonomous Warrior event, the signature MBP event in 2024. Other events associated with Maritime Big Play included the Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping Augmented by Maritime Unmanned Systems (REPMUS); and Technology Readiness Experimentation (T-REX).
Through these experiments and exercises, AUKUS partners are further testing and refining the ability to jointly operate uncrewed maritime systems, share and process maritime data from all three nations, and provide real-time maritime domain awareness to support decision-making.
“Autonomous Warrior/Maritime Big Play creates a unique opportunity for our three countries to work together, which will ultimately improve operational efficiency and allow us to work more cohesively against common threats,” said Heidi Shyu, Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering. “This collaborative approach enables us to reduce acquisition, maintenance, and training cost by creating economies of scale.”
The technologies tested during the October event support operations from deep under water to the edge of space. This included software-defined acoustic modems, multi-model autonomous underwater and surface vessels, and low-cost attritable unmanned surface vehicles. The tests also featured a low-cost gondola, which supports operations in the upper stratosphere with minimum manpower or logistics requirements, and T-200 high-altitude balloons, which provide resilient communications in denied environments from the stratosphere.
A versatile and robust software-defined network architecture called Multi-Domain Uncrewed Secure Integrated Communications (MUSIC) was tested for its ability to enable seamless communication and coordination across diverse unmanned systems and operational environments. The Common Control System (CCS) was also featured in the exercise, built on an open architecture to provide uncrewed vehicles hardware and software that works across several different systems. This effort supports future work to create an AUKUS-wide Common Control System, fusing best elements of the three countries’ existing systems.
“AUKUS partners have long histories of working together on defense and security issues, and have deep, enduring partnerships based on shared values, said Shyu. “By investing in novel and innovative capabilities directly aligned to AUKUS mission priorities, as well as making future advancements in emerging technologies like AI and Quantum, we support a more stable region — one where all nations are empowered to make their own sovereign decisions free from coercion — a world that centers on hope for the opportunity and prosperity of the future.” (Source: U.S. DoD)
24 Oct 24. 5G COMPAD showcases several 5G network deployment scenarios in a Global Demonstration in Latvia.
On October 17, 2024, in Riga, Latvia, the European Defence Fund project 5G COMPAD (5G Communications for Peacekeeping and Defence) held its first global demonstration, showcasing various 5G network deployment scenarios at sea, in the air, and on land. The demonstration was organized by 5G COMPAD consortium member LMT and took place at the military base “Daugavgrīva.”
During the demonstration, several innovative 5G network deployment options were presented. These included potential network coverage simulations, 5G drone tests, satellite communication integration, and other 5G applications on ships at sea. The 5G COMPAD demonstration in Latvia’s 5G testing environment allowed for the evaluation of 5G performance under various conditions and the exploration of new potential use cases.
The global demonstration was attended by 5G COMPAD project partners, stakeholders, and representatives from the Ministries of Defense of European Union member states participating in the implementation of the consortium project. Several project partners took part in the organization process alongside LMT, including Ericsson, Leonardo, Thales, Nokia, Bittium, Cafa Tech, Inster, CNIT, Eight Bells, Space Hellas SA and Intracom Defense (IDE). Before the project’s demonstration, from October 14 to 16, preparation works were held in Latvia with the participation of the organizing team.
The 5G COMPAD project was kicked off in December 2022 and will run for 36 months. The project consortium partners are Saab, Ericsson, Rheinmetall, Bittium, Nokia, Thales, Leonardo, Inster, Eight Bells, Intracom Defense (IDE), Cafa Tech, Telenor, Sintef, FFI (NO Gov), LMT, AIT, Synkzone, BHE, and APR Technologies, while the Sub-Contractors are CNIT, Fraunhofer FKIE, CEA and Space Hellas SA.
Within the 5G COMPAD project, world-leading partners from the telecom and the European defence industries join forces to enable recurrent integration of 5G and beyond into multi-dimensional robust defence communication systems to sustain effective and efficient information superiority for European armed forces.
Project: 101103519 — 5G COMPAD — EDF-2021-C4ISR-D-2
24 Oct 24. Global: Long-term malware operations raise cyber espionage, financial risks to key sectors. On 23 October, the cyber security company Cisco Talos reported that the cyber threat group ‘TA866’ has been using the backdoor malware ‘WarmCookie’ in a cyber campaign since at least 2023. TA866 typically uses malicious advertisements to gain access to targeted systems, allowing the group to achieve persistence by installing first-stage malware loaders. The actors subsequently deploy several malware variants to collect sensitive information from compromised systems for both financial gain and espionage. Since 2023, TA866 has used WarmCookie to maintain long-term access to infected systems, deploy additional malware, manipulate files and remotely execute code, demonstrating the group’s adaptability and development. TA866 also uses ‘Screenshotter’ to capture screenshots from compromised systems and ‘AHK Bot’ to collect keystrokes and credentials. TA866 has primarily targeted the manufacturing, government and financial sectors across Europe and North America. We assess that this campaign raises information theft and financial risks to these sectors in the medium term. (Source: Sibylline)
23 Oct 24. HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense Celebrate Successful First Flight of PEGASUS Aircraft.
- Bombardier’s Global aircraft, modified for the German armed forces’ Persistent German Airborne Surveillance System (PEGASUS) program, takes to the skies at Bombardier’s Wichita Flight Test Center
- With this new milestone, the first aircraft out of three to integrate the HENSOLDT “Kalætron Integral” signals intelligence (SIGINT) system for airborne surveillance missions is one step closer to entering service
- The aircraft will remain at Bombardier’s Wichita facility for further flight testing before its upcoming systems integration and aircraft certification, to be completed by Lufthansa Technik Defense in Hamburg, Germany
- An official celebration of PEGASUS’ first flight was held in Wichita today, bringing together officials from HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense. This event marked the beginning of the flight testing phases for the next-generation German program
HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense today announced that the PEGASUS aircraft has completed its first flight out of Bombardier’s facility in Wichita, Kansas. Led by HENSOLDT, PEGASUS is an airborne missionized platform that will integrate the Kalætron Integral SIGINT system to perform highly critical signal surveillance missions for the German armed forces. As the aircraft officially enters its next phase and is moving one step closer to the Lufthansa Technik Defense-led systems integration and certification, a celebration was held to mark the PEGASUS aircraft’s first flight. Representatives from HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik and Bombardier Defense as well as representatives from the German Armed Forces traveled from Germany, Canada, and across the United States to gather in Wichita and celebrate this pivotal program milestone.
This stage of aircraft testing is conducted by the Bombardier Flight Test Centre (BFTC) team, located in Wichita, where Bombardier’s highly skilled pilots validate key aspects of the program. These successful tests demonstrate the high capability of the Bombardier Global aircraft to complete the German air force’s critical missions. This represents a significant milestone for the first of three modified Global 6000 aircraft destined to be delivered to the German Bundeswehr.
“Germany’s next generation signal intelligence aircraft is flying high,” said Steve Patrick, Vice President, Bombardier Defense. “This successful first flight is the result of the strong collaboration and shared knowledge between HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense, Bombardier Defense and our suppliers to get the modified, high-performing Global 6000 aircraft for the Pegasus program in the air. With flight testing regularly underway from Bombardier’s Wichita base, the aircraft continues to gather essential certification data to improve and perfect the platform before it moves to the next stage.”
“Today marks an important milestone for the PEGASUS programme,” said Dietmar Thelen, Head of Spectrum Dominance Division at HENSOLDT. “With the integration of our Kalætron-Integral system, we are delivering key components that are essential for the ‘reconnaissance of tomorrow’. This achievement underscores the excellent cooperation between HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense.”
“Seeing the first PEGASUS aircraft taking to the skies bearing the Lufthansa Technik Defense logo fills me with pride and also joyful anticipation, as it brings us one decisive step closer to welcoming this aircraft back at our site,” says Michael von Puttkamer, Vice President Special Aircraft Services at Lufthansa Technik. “I’d like to congratulate and thank the outstanding Bombardier Defense team for their great performance in reaching this important project milestone, and I look forward to the upcoming flight test activities as well as the ongoing cooperation with HENSOLDT in the subsequent integration and certification of their highly sophisticated signals intelligence system.”
In June 2021, HENSOLDT was awarded the contract to supply an airborne system for electronic signals intelligence on board three Bombardier Global jets based on its Kalætron Integral system. Since that award, HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier have collaborated closely on a joint design activity. Extensive structural modification work has been performed to prepare the first aircraft at Bombardier Defense’s U.S. base in Wichita, Kansas, which houses an important contingent of the company’s experienced and skilled defense workforce. This is the site of the initial ground and flight test activities.
Upon completion of initial testing, each aircraft will be transferred to Lufthansa Technik Defense’s facilities in Hamburg for further integration work. The company is moreover responsible for the regulatory certification of PEGASUS on the overall aircraft level. So far, Lufthansa Technik has completed its design activities for the integration of the mission system, the additional civil and military avionics systems as well as the aircraft cabin. The production process of interior parts has also already started in order to ensure the components’ readiness for immediate installation when the aircraft arrives in Hamburg. In the meantime, HENSOLDT has adapted the systems architecture to the operational needs of the German Bundeswehr. The corresponding hardware and software developments are currently in progress, various demonstrations have shown the immense potential and capabilities of the upcoming solution.
HENSOLDT is acting as general contractor and bears overall responsibility for the realization of the project. Lufthansa Technik Defense will act as a subcontractor, procuring the modified aircraft from Bombardier and fitting and integrating the reconnaissance system developed by HENSOLDT into the platform. Many small and medium sized enterprises from all over Germany, Canada and the U.S. are involved in the project as part of the supply chain for all companies bringing PEGASUS to the finish line.
23 Oct 24. Global: Uptick in cloud-based cyber attacks points to raised security, financial risks for organisations. On 22 October, the security company Sysdig reported that threat actors are increasingly adopting new tactics to conduct cyber attacks against cloud environments. Sysdig highlighted the uptick in the use of open-source tools as well as the exploitation of cloud-based software vulnerabilities to facilitate unauthorised access and credential theft. Notably, the threat group ‘Crystalray’ used the open-source tool ‘SSH-snake’ to steal over 1,500 credentials between July and October, underscoring the threat actors’ ability to incorporate new tools quickly in order to scale up cyber campaigns. Botnets have also played a significant role in cloud-based cyber attacks in 2024; they have allowed threat actors to automate and propagate infections. Additionally, threat actors often target cloud environments within cryptocurrency firms to deploy crypto-miners so as to garner illicit profit, highlighting the financial and security risks facing this industry. We assess this trend will likely continue in the long term as organisations seek to grapple with a broadening attack surface. (Source: Sibylline)
22 Oct 24. Hanwha Defense USA and BlueSpace.ai announced their collaboration to bring to market BlueSpace’s advanced autonomous software solutions integrated into current and future HDUSA offerings. BlueSpace.ai leverages next-gen 4D sensing to provide verifiable and explainable AI solutions to provide ADAS and full autonomy solutions for defense and commercial applications, including mining and fleet operations, where the operational environments are challenging and often GPS-denied.
The two technology leaders will work together to bring enhanced capabilities to equip our warfighters with AI-powered solutions for the modern battlefield. The signing ceremony held during the Association of the U.S. Army’s (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C. formalizes the strategic collaboration in providing an attritable and scalable AI-powered solution to further enhance lethality, survivability, and agility for the battlefield of tomorrow.
In 2023 BlueSpace.ai was awarded a $1.6 m contract by the Army to enhance the perception sensing for future US Army unmanned ground vehicles. Led by the Army’s Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) program, the effort is in support of vehicles for reconnaissance, surveillance, and other high-risk missions.
“In our ongoing work with the Army, we are helping to enhance capabilities enabled by next-gen autonomy software in ground vehicles. Partnering with HDUSA will help accelerate the deployment and adoption of cost-effective and combat-proven autonomous capabilities in the market.” Christine Moon, Co-Founder and President of BlueSpace.ai
“HDUSA is constantly looking to build meaningful partnerships with US companies that bring complementary strengths. In the area of dual-use software, we’ve found an ideal partner in BlueSpace. Pairing BlueSpace’s robust autonomy solutions with our proven ground vehicle and munitions technologies will make our joint offerings stronger and ultimately help our customers stay ahead of an evolving and increasingly complex threat environment.” Mike Smith, President and CEO Hanwha Defense USA
(Source: PR Newswire)
22 Oct 24. BAE Systems (LON:BA) has announced a strategic partnership with Aerospike to develop future data-driven capabilities for the U.S. Army and other Department of Defense (DoD) programs. Aerospike joins BAE Systems’ Mission Advantage™ technology partnership program, which provides mission-critical solutions for defense.
BAE Systems’ collaboration with Aerospike will advance the development of data mesh solutions that would maximize the utility of the Army’s Unified Network, Army Data Platform, and other data-centric mission requirements.
The collaboration with Aerospike will advance the development of data mesh solutions that would maximize the utility of the Army’s Unified Network, Army Data Platform, and other data-centric mission requirements. Aerospike’s real-time database, already proven in large-scale commercial applications, will be a key enabler for these data-driven objectives, offering high-performance data processing with the lowest latency.
“Aerospike is foundational to our data-centric solutions for the U.S. Army and DoD, as our customers push towards managing massive amounts of disparate data while leveraging advanced AI tools,” said Daniel Perkins, director of Strategy & Technology Partnerships for BAE Systems’ Intelligence & Security sector. “This strategic partnership will help us deliver real-time, mission-critical data at scale and help ensure technological advantage on the battlefield.”
The integration of Aerospike’s massively scalable, millisecond-latency database solutions will also support the transformation of legacy systems, enhancing warfighters’ ability to access precise, actionable data in real time. These solutions will provide the Army and DoD with an edge in decision-making during critical missions, improving operational efficiency and response times.
“Aerospike’s multi-model database offers the lowest-latency, highest-throughput system to enable accurate, real-time decisioning even in contested environments,” said Cuong Nguyen, vice president, Public Sector for Aerospike. “As a vital component of the UNO technology stack, we’re proud to partner with BAE Systems to help them optimize and demonstrate the effectiveness of their data solutions.” (Source: PR Newswire)
23 Oct 24. Silvus Technologies Unveils StreamCaster LITE 5200 External Inbox. Silvus Technologies, Inc., a global supplier of advanced wireless networking communication systems, has announced its next-generation MANET radio OEM module: the StreamCaster LITE 5200 (SL5200).
Designed for leading-edge unmanned systems, the SL5200 unifies C2, sensor, and telemetry data with communications relay capabilities in an ultra-low SWaP (52g), easy-to-integrate MANET radio module. With up to 2 Watts of native output power (4W effective power, thanks to TX Eigen-Beamforming) and up to 100 Mbps data rate, the SL5200 delivers class-leading power, high-bandwidth throughput, and tactical mobility.
Compact and versatile, with multiple I/O interface options, the SL5200 is designed for seamless integration into a wide range of tactical unmanned systems, and other Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) constrained embedded applications. Systems operators can now experience Group 2 UAV level radio performance in a compact form factor engineered for Group 1 sized platforms.
At the heart of the SL5200 is Silvus’ proprietary MN-MIMO waveform, capable of linking hundreds of nodes in any operational environment. With the SL5200, operators can connect multiple UAVs, UGVs, USVs, sensors, personnel, and manned/unmanned platforms, to actualize a common operating picture through one massively scalable mesh network. The SL5200 is seamlessly compatible with 4000-series StreamCaster MANET radios, ensuring interoperability across a diverse range of applications.
“Redefining C2 and comms mesh networking, the SL5200 delivers on Silvus’ promise of class-leading range, data throughput, scalability, and EW resilience, in an ultra-low SWaP OEM module providing robust network connectivity for multi-domain operations at the tactical edge,” said Jimi Henderson, Vice President of Sales for Silvus Technologies. “To fast-track enhanced capabilities to end-users, the SL5200 is designed for easy integration into a wide range of unmanned sub-systems, reducing development costs and speeding time to market for today’s leading-edge manufacturers.”
In addition to AES256 and FIPS 140-3 encryption for secure operations, the SL5200 provides available access to Silvus’ Spectrum Dominance expansive suite of LPI/LPD and Anti-Jamming resiliency capabilities. Silvus is the only tactical MANET radio provider that delivers Spectrum Dominance secure and protected communications in complex, congested and contested environments, without compromising performance.
About Silvus Technologies, Inc.
As the world’s leading provider of advanced MANET and MIMO communications systems, Silvus Technologies is reshaping mesh network technology for mission-critical applications – on the ground, in the air, and at sea. Its battle proven StreamCaster family of MANET radios and proprietary MN-MIMO waveform provides the vital communications link for defense, law enforcement, and public safety agencies around the world, and in the toughest operational environments. Developed by a team of top PhD scientists and design engineers, Silvus Technologies continues to innovate communications technology for the tactical edge with unmatched range, data throughput, EW resiliency, and scalability. Silvus Technologies is privately held with world headquarters located in Los Angeles, CA. (Source: UAS VISION)
21 Oct 24. South Korea: Exploitation of zero-day vulnerability elevates security, supply chain risks. On 19 October, international news outlets reported that the North Korean state-sponsored group ‘APT37’ exploited a zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2024-38178) to target users in South Korea before being patched. The vulnerability affects any application using an outdated version of the Internet Explorer WebView feature to display advertisements. APT37 infiltrated a South Korean online advertising agency to exploit CVE-2024-38178 by injecting malicious code into advert content scripts. This enabled the group to automatically launch malicious content, resulting in a zero-click supply chain attack. The group then displayed malicious pop-up advertisements, prompting users to unknowingly download malware onto compromised systems. This provided APT37 with the ability to remotely execute code, likely to conduct malicious activities including exfiltrating sensitive data. This incident underscores security and supply chain risks stemming from the exploitation of zero-day vulnerabilities by North Korean state-sponsored groups. We assess that this will sustain elevated risks to South Korean entities in the long term. (Source: Sibylline)
18 Oct 24. Cyber Update Key points.
- Disruptive attacks against Iranian government branches and critical national infrastructure (CNI) will heighten cyber security risks amid regional escalation.
- A new variant of the ‘Astaroth’ banking trojan is targeting users in Brazil, increasing financial risks from the cyber criminal group ‘Water Makara.’
- Evolving tactics will raise security and financial risks from state-sponsored groups affiliated with China, Iran and Russia.
- The North Korean state-sponsored group ‘Lazarus’ is targeting ATMs and point-of-sale (PoS) systems in financially motivated operations, elevating financial risks.
Technical analysis of weekly stories
The cyber criminal group Water Makara is targeting users in Brazil with a new version of the Astaroth banking trojan. The group primarily targets users in the manufacturing, retail, government and healthcare sectors, The group gains access to targeted systems via highly-tailored spear phishing emails impersonating legitimate financial institutions to trick potential victims into downloading a malicious .ZIP file. The .ZIP file contains an additional .LNK file and obfuscated JavaScript. These are disguised as official financial documents to appear legitimate, prompting victims to open the documents and execute the main payload. This then establishes communication with the actors’ command-and-control (C2) infrastructure, achieving persistence on compromised systems. Additionally, the embedded JavaScript contains a malicious URL generated via domain generation algorithms (DGA); this is likely used by Water Makara to execute additional malicious activities. Astaroth allows the group to steal banking credentials from victims, likely to exploit them directly or sell them on the dark web to garner illicit profit. The new variant contains novel obfuscation techniques, underscoring Water Makara’s continuous malware development as well as the sophistication of its evasion tactics.
The North Korean state-sponsored group Lazarus is using a newly discovered Linux variant of the ‘FASTCash’ malware in a likely ongoing financially motivated operation. The group is infiltrating Linux-based payment systems to garner illicit profit by interjecting communications between ATMs, PoS systems and a bank’s central system. We assess that Lazarus likely used social engineering attacks to obtain access to targeted payment switches. Upon obtaining initial access, Lazarus deploys the FASTCash payload, re-routing and manipulating transaction requests using the ISO8583 communication protocol. The malware specifically targets messages concerning declined transactions, converting them into approved transactions and charging them an additional amount between TRY 12,000 and 30,000 (USD 350 and USD 876). The manipulated message, containing the necessary approval codes, is then sent back to the bank for approval, enabling money mules acting on behalf of Lazarus to collect cash from an ATM. This FASTCash variant underscores the continuous development of malware by North Korean state-sponsored groups as they continue their efforts to garner illicit profit to bolster North Korea’s economy and weapons programmes.
Some non-exhaustive recommendations to mitigate against these threats include:
- Monitor devices and networks for suspicious activity.
- Add available Indicators-of-Compromise (IoCs) to your organisation’s security detection systems to detect potentially malicious samples on the network.
- Adopt behaviour-based end-point detection and response (EDR) solutions, prioritising the detection of the initial stages of a compromise.
- Ensure adequate security monitoring and detection capabilities, particularly for all external-facing services and devices, including personal devices connected to corporate networks or applications.
- Conduct cyber hygiene awareness courses for users, enabling them to recognise and report phishing and other types of social engineering.
Our cyber word(s) of the week: Domain generation algorithm (DGA)
(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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