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14 Aug 25. In everyone’s interests. How do you ensure robust, dependable, secure and capable telecommunications connectivity across a country while safeguarding national security? This is a vexing question for many governments around the world. National and individual prosperity and wellbeing is increasingly dependent on internet connectivity. Companies pay suppliers and take orders via online platforms. People chat with their nearest and dearest on messaging applications. Birthday presents are purchased, fashion disasters are returned, all through a software app. Trying to imagine a world before this connectivity is like trying to imagine the world before motorcars and mass transportation. Militaries need the spectrum not only for connectivity but to ensure sensors like radar can do their job. The radio spectrum is a finite resource as physics dictates there is only so much to go around. The more people, businesses and organisations rely on this spectrum, the more congested it becomes. Some of the bandwidths fifth generation (5G) cellular communications protocols rely on are where some radars perform their mission, notably the two-to-four gigahertz S-band waveband. L-band (one-to-two gigahertz) and C-band (four-to-eight gigahertz) are under similar pressure from the onward march of 5G. Good news then that a group of Senators is close to securing legal protection to safeguard parts of the S-band from being auctioned off by the United States’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC). FCC auctions are planned to provide additional bandwidth for 5G and other uses. The safeguards are enshrined in the Budget Reconciliation Text of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. Led by the committee’s chair Ted Cruz, a group of Republican senators drafted the reconciliation bill which looks set to protect key sections of the band. In a show of bipartisanship several Democrats threw their support behind the initiative. Nobody wants prosperity to suffer, but a compromise must be struck. For a nation to flourish, she must be protected, and for her to be protected, bandwidth must be available. The senators should be commended for their actions. (Source: Armada)
14 Aug 25. ACCESS All Areas. The Artificial Intelligence Multifunction Aperture and Transceiver project is situated within the European Union’s Arctic Command and Control Sensor and Effector System Permanent Structured Cooperation programme. The European Union’s AIMA programme will develop a prototype software defined aperture and transceiver for inhabited and uninhabited platforms. In May a consortium led by Patria, known as Artificial Intelligence Warfare Adaptive Swarm Platform, was selected to provide the Artificial Intelligence Multifunction Aperture and Transceiver (AIMA) initiative. AIMA is a project financed by the European Defence Fund (EDF). The EDF forms a pillar of the European Union’s (EU) Common Security and Defence Policy. According to the EU, the fund can be used by member states for defence and security research, development and acquisition. The fund was activated in 2016 with the intention of improving defence research and increasing member state military interoperability. The EU continues that the AIMA initiative is worth circa $59 m. Around $53 m of these funds have been allocated to date. Finland is leading the project with Estonia, Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden as participants.
ACCESS PESCO
Work began on the AIMA initiative in 2020. The project was folded into the Arctic Command and Control Sensor and Effector System (ACCESS) Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) launched in 2023. PESCO projects are EU multinational defence research and development programmes supported by the EDF. An EU factsheet says that the ACCESS project will enhance information superiority and cross-domain capabilities. Specifically, the project aims to create “a knowledge base for the development of new concepts and battlefield solutions making use of technological convergence.” Key to this is the examination of the extent to which multifunction systems can provide simultaneous sensor, effector and Command and Control (C2) support. Regarding outputs, ACCESS will develop technological solutions for combined wireless, software-defined C2 and sensor systems. Requirements for the ACCESS PESCO outputs include the ability of the solutions to operate in Arctic conditions, and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denied environments.
Difficult environments
According to a written statement from the Finnish Ministry of Defence (MOD), the AIMA project will “will study and develop a new generation scalable and cognitive artificial intelligence-controlled multifunctional software defined aperture and transceiver for military use in manned and unmanned platforms.” Deliverables include prototype hardware and software for demonstrations in representative environments. To this end, laboratory, functional and field testing will be performed. The goal of the AIMA initiative is for the deliverables to reach Technology Readiness Level Six (TRL-6). According to EU definitions, TRL-6 denotes that the technology has been demonstrated in a relevant environment.
The statement continued that the “project will study different technological approaches (and) materials.” End-user specifications will be examined including applicable criteria like North Atlantic Treaty Organisation standards. The latter is particularly important for northern and arctic environments along with high temperature, high humidity climates. Work completed via AIMA will have relevance to other pan-European military communications programmes like ESSOR.
Higher TRLs
The Finnish MOD statement said that AIMA is currently in the contracting phase with the consortium expected to commence research and development work in January 2026. Formal contracts are expected to be signed by late 2025. Following contract signature, a project roadmap will be made public. The work is expected to take three and a half years. Over the long term the statement notes that Finland and some of the other nations involved in AIMA and ACCESS have proposed taking the AIMA technology to a higher TRL level. This evolution would be achieved via a future project dubbed AIMA-2. AIMA-2 could be included in the EDF’s 2027 or 2028 workplan. (Source: Armada)
14 Aug 25. Signs of the Zodiac. The British Army’s Project Zodiac is overhauling the force’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance data gathering, processing and dissemination mechanisms. Zodiac forms a key part of the UK’s emerging Digital Targeting Web architecture. The British Army’s Project Zodiac is delivering a digital intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance architecture to the force designed to work in electromagnetically congested and contested environments. Roke was named as the initiative’s prime contractor in September 2023. Subcontractors include Systematic which provides its SitaWare battle management software. Zodiac will merge disparate intelligence feeds from a plethora of sources to create rich common operating picture. In 2024, the Zodiac so-called Minimum Viable Product was delivered to the British Army’s 3rd (United Kingdom) Division according to reports. This formation is headquartered at Bulford Camp, southwest England. The Zodiac architecture was taken to the United States for Exercise Warfighter 2025 which took place at Fort Cavazos, Texas in May. The 3rd (UK) Division participated alongside the Armée de Terre (French Army’s) 1st Division, the Heer (German Army’s) 10th Panzer Division and the US Army’s 3rd Armoured Corps. Reports said that Zodiac supported the British division’s finding, fixing and destruction of hostile targets. Zodiac does not replace any specific British Army ISR capabilities. Instead, it amalgamates several processes “that have not been able to talk to each other before through a sovereign data fabric”, Chris Squier, Roke’s defence director told Armada. The architecture is “digitising processes and procedures that have historically taken place (using) whiteboards, voice communications, maps, spreadsheets, and an assortment of disconnected (command and control/C2) and planning tools.
Zodiac and Digital Deterrence
Zodiac forms a key part of the British Army’s overall digitisation of the force’s sensor-decider-effector cycle. These improvements are intended to enhance the pace and quality of decision-making and action at all levels of war across the entire spectrum of conflict. According to a Roke press release, the Zodiac architecture will provide a platform on which artificial intelligence can be introduced into army ISR processes. The architecture will link outwards to share ISR data with other British military, UK government and allied stakeholders.
Zodiac defined
Although initial versions of Zodiac have entered army service the programme will not have a final in-service date. Zodiac’s introduction is iterative and the architecture “will likely never be ‘finished’”, Mr. Squier adds; “it’s a true spiral development.” The system has been designed to be network agnostic and operate across whatever links are available, he continues. These networks can be “military radios or ‘bearers of opportunity’ such as high bandwidth commercial satellite communications terminals like Starlink”. Mr. Squier says that “Zodiac has been designed to be able to work seamlessly on the army’s existing communications systems, including Bowman, rather than needing dedicated or new high bandwidth internet protocol links on day one of the project.” Zodiac provides ISR convergence from operational level corps/divisional headquarters to the tactical edge, he notes. The realisation of Zodiac, and its implementation into British Army service, comes at an opportune moment. The UK Ministry of Defence announced last month the development of the Digital Targeting Web (DTW). The DTW is discussed in more detail in this article. It forms a key part of the UK’s embrace of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s Multi-Domain Operations concept. Moreover, the Digital Targeting Web, and by default systems like Zodiac, form a key strand of the UK’s Digital Deterrence concept. This stresses the sophistication and connectivity of British C2 systems as a deterrent via the pace at which UK forces will be able to navigate the famed observe, orient, decide and act decision-making cycle. (Source: Armada)
14 Aug 25. August Radio Roundup. Sentrycs released Version 6.0 of its counter-uninhabited aerial vehicle software in early July. Using a cyber-over-radio frequency approach the software lets air defenders take control of an errant uncrewed aircraft and remove it from an area where it should not be flying, or make it land safely, for example. Armada’s monthly roundup of all the latest news in the military communications product, programme and operational domains.
CORF to Counter Drones
On 10th July Sentrycs announced it had released Version 6.0 of its Cyber Over Radio Frequency (CORF) Counter-Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (CUAV) software. The company said in a press release that this software update “brings significant upgrades across detection, mitigation and (its) user interface”. The press release continued that the improved software extends CUAV mitigation ranges to a ten-kilometre (6.2-mile) diameter. Mitigation tools to tackle DJI drones using the OcuSync 4.0 protocol have also been added letting users counter threats from DJI’s Air-3, Mini-4 Pro and Matrice-4 UAVs. According to the company, Version 6.0 allows “not only detection and mitigation, but complete protocol-level takeover.” Other additions include an improved command and control interface. All these improvements are delivered through software enhancements without any changes necessary for hosting hardware. Sentrycs told Armada, via a written statement, that its CORF approach “manipulates the communications protocol between the (UAV) and its operator.” As opposed to using conventional jamming or kinetic effects “real-time protocol analysis down to the bit level (allows the user) to identify, disconnect and assume control of the (UAV), ultimately enabling safe landing or redirection without collateral damage”. The company added that Version 6.0 is already in service “and deployed across operational environments”. Sentrycs said that additional enhancements for its CUAV CORF software will be released in the near future.
Battle of the Bands
Kymeta’s new multi-band, multi-orbit antenna handles Ka-band and Ku-band traffic using four subarrays heralding savings in size, weight and power consumption for platforms and capabilities depending on satellite communications. Kymeta has announced it has developed a compact Satellite Communications (SATCOM) antenna that can simultaneously operate across Ku-band (14GHz uplink/10.9GHz to 12.75GHz downlink) and Ka-band (26.5GHz to 40GHz uplink/18GHz to 20GHz downlink) links. The company has claimed in a press release that this innovation is a world first. It continued that the new Kymeta KuKa Multi-Band/Multi-Orbit Antenna lets users interoperate across SATCOM networks with different wavebands and orbits. Benefits heralded by this innovation include “higher bandwidths, faster data rates and more bits per second”. The press release continued that the antenna’s realisation was possible by using so-called metamaterials. The document continued that the technology was successfully demonstrated and validated on 22nd April. The antenna combines four interleaved subarrays with Ku-band transmit/receive (Tx/Rx) and Ka-band Tx/Rx apertures. This approach, when combined with artificial intelligence-enabled algorithms, provides full duplex communications while alleviating spectrum contention.
Ryan Stevenson, Kymeta’s senior vice president and chief scientist, told Armada that the new antenna “provides significant advantages in size, weight, and power consumption over conventional phased array approaches, thereby bringing this level of connectivity to highly mobile, tactical edge platforms” such as uninhabited air and surface vehicles. Having two bands available in one antenna “not only optimises space efficiency, low power consumption and low cost, but also serves as a network hub and backhaul for downstream communication using mobile ad-hoc networking, mesh and cellular networks that will enable autonomous system operations at scale.” Mr. Stevenson added that “there is tremendous interest in the technology within the US Department of Defence and allied countries around the world.” Customer technology demonstrations are commencing imminently. (Source: Armada)
13 Aug 25. Europe: Russian actors will sustain security, cyber espionage risks to CNI, government entities. On 12 August, the software company BitDefender reported that a Russia-linked group (‘Curly COMrades’) has targeted government and critical national infrastructure (CNI) entities in a cyber espionage campaign since at least mid-2024. While the initial attack vector is unknown, the group deployed a new backdoor variant (‘MucorAgent’) onto compromised systems to maintain prolonged persistence and execute additional payloads. Curly COMrades uses a Windows component (‘NGEN’) hidden within MucorAgent to covertly activate the malware at random times to enhance detection evasion, highlighting the group’s sophistication. It then installs proxy tools and other payloads to monitor compromised systems and exfiltrate sensitive information while mimicking legitimate traffic to remain obfuscated. The operation has primarily targeted entities in Eastern Europe with a specific focus on Georgia and Moldova due to geopolitical hostilities. This underscores the strategic nature of Russia’s cyber strategy. Consequently, we assess that this development showcases sustained security and cyber espionage risks. (Source: Sibylline)
12 Aug 25. Global: Growing exploitation of legitimate tools underscores increased security risks to businesses. On 11 August, the security company Varonis reported that threat actors are increasingly exploiting legitimate tools to infiltrate targeted systems. In one incident, threat actors exploited the Microsoft file-sharing service OneDrive to send an email notification and trick victims into clicking on an embedded link. The link was created using the note-taking application OneNote and redirected victims to the organisation’s genuine OneDrive environment to enhance legitimacy. This highlights the pervasive adoption of legitimate Microsoft tools during campaigns, as well as actors’ stealth and detection evasion capabilities. Threat actors then displayed a fake login portal to coerce victims into disclosing their credentials and to subsequently spread the infection. The actors reportedly used artificial intelligence (AI)-powered website builders to create the phishing portals, also underscoring the continued incorporation of AI in cyber attacks. We assess this highlights the increased security risks to global businesses stemming from the continuous evolution of cyber tactics. (Source: Sibylline)
11 Aug 25. Havelsan Integrates National Artificial Intelligence Into ADVENT Combat Management System. HAVELSAN, a leading provider of advanced software-based solutions in the Turkish defense industry, is enhancing the capabilities of its Network-Enabled Data Integrated Combat Management System (ADVENT) with cutting-edge national artificial intelligence technology. This integration aims to meet the complex demands of modern naval operations and provide a decisive strategic advantage for the Turkish Naval Forces and allied navies worldwide. Developed in partnership with the Naval Research Center Command, ADVENT is recognized as one of the world’s leading combat management systems, designed to address the interoperability needs of joint and multinational task forces. Currently deployed in nine countries, including Türkiye, ADVENT enables advanced real-time decision-making, command, and control, positioning HAVELSAN as a trusted and effective player in global defense technology. As part of its AI innovation strategy, HAVELSAN has developed the Corporate Artificial Intelligence Platform (MAIN), an enterprise-grade solution built with a unique language architecture. MAIN can be trained on organization-specific data, operates securely in closed networks or via the internet, and offers role-based access control, data privacy, and user-friendly interfaces for efficiency in complex workflows.
MAIN is now being integrated into ADVENT as a Maintenance Support Assistant. This AI-driven capability assists operators by:
- Determining and guiding maintenance steps
- Locating and providing maintenance instructions
- Offering system-wide question-and-answer support
- Enhancing operational safety and verification through natural language interaction
Following the successful completion of Phase 1 testing in a laboratory environment, Phase 2 integration activities are underway across various systems. In addition to maintenance support, MAIN will also contribute directly to operational decision-making, offering recommendations and assisting commanders in real time.
AI-Driven Capabilities for Modern Naval Operations
Through the integration of MAIN with ADVENT, HAVELSAN is advancing AI-driven decision mechanisms to deliver:
- Identification and classification of threats
- Anomaly detection
- Enhanced navigation safety
- Improved situational awareness
- Intelligent training and simulation support
These capabilities are powered by advanced technologies including big data analytics, machine learning, image recognition, and large language models (LLM). By leveraging AI, HAVELSAN aims to accelerate decision-making, improve accuracy, and optimize human–machine collaboration in the defense and security domain. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Aug 25. Cyber Update Key points.
- Reports of stealthy infiltration techniques underscore long-term security risks from the North Korean state-sponsored group ‘Lazarus’ (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 4 August 2025).
- The expansion of a remote access trojan (RAT) known as ‘PlayPraetor’ highlights sustained security and financial risks to Spanish and French-speaking Android users (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 5 August 2025 and our Technical analysis below).
- Increased co-ordination between Iranian cyber threat actors will elevate long-term security risks to Israeli entities (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 6 August 2025).
- A new spyware variant (‘LunaSpy’) highlights increased surveillance and data-theft risks facing global Android users (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 7 August 2025).
- Reports of a cyber operation highlight ongoing security risks to Ukraine’s defence sector from the cyber threat group ‘UAC-0099’ (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 8 August 2025 and our Technical analysis below).
Technical analysis of weekly stories
The threat group UAC-0099 is reportedly conducting a cyber operation against Ukraine’s defense sector. The group distributes phishing emails containing keywords such as ‘court summons’ in the subject line to trick victims into clicking on an embedded link. The link then redirects the victim to a legitimate file-hosting service that contains a double archive and a malicious .HTA file. The file runs an obfuscated VBScript to establish persistence and prepare compromised systems for the deployment of a malware loader (‘MATCHBOIL’) and subsequently two additional payloads (‘MATCHWOK’ and ‘DRAGSTARE’). MATCHWOK is a backdoor that enables UAC-0099 to execute encrypted PowerShell commands on compromised systems. It also contains several anti-analysis features and avoids and/or terminates its execution if security tools are detected, underscoring its stealth. DRAGSTARE is a information-stealer that collects archives, cookies and login credentials, highlighting the continuous development of the group’s toolset.
Unnamed threat actors are using a remote access trojan (RAT) known as PlayPraetor to target Spanish and French-speaking Android users. PlayPraetor is reportedly managed via a shared command-and-control (C2) infrastructure. This enables affiliates to conduct independent campaigns, highlighting the actors’ sophistication. PlayPraetor affiliates are divided into three categories based on their operations’ targets. The first category (principal affiliates) primarily target Arabic, English, French and Portuguese speakers. The second, (regional specialists) focus on Arabic, French and Spanish users. In contrast, the third group displays a far more diversified target pool. PlayPraetor was first detected in April and has already displayed five different versions, underscoring the rapid expansion and evolution of this operation. It comprises around 16,000 fake domains and impersonates at least 200 financial institutions, emphasising the operation’s scale. Threat actors use fake domains to trick users into downloading a malicious application that emulates a legitimate financial and/or cryptocurrency organisation. The RAT then exploits accessibility services to facilitate data exfiltration and real-time device control (as well as other monitoring activities), before likely using stolen information to hijack user accounts for financial profit. The malware establishes a persistent WebSocket connection to its C2 infrastructure to allow for real-time management and command execution. It also uses the Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) for live video streaming, further showcasing the actors’ advanced capabilities.
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 systems to detect potentially malicious samples on the network; configure firewalls to block outbound communications to malicious IP addresses associated with any known malware.
- Adopt behaviour-based end-point detection and response (EDR) solutions, prioritising the detection of the initial stages of a compromise.
- 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: Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP) (Source: Sibylline)
08 Aug 25. Formez vos Battalions! France’s President Emmanuel Macron has had his share of tribulations. Some of these have emanated from an arguably needless snap parliamentary election he called in June and July 2024. The results of this poll caused his party to lose its majority in the Assemblée Nationale (National Assembly), France’s lower house of parliament. As a result, the country has a minority government whose ability to pass legislation is at the mercy of opposition députés (members of parliament). Led by prime minister François Bayrou, the government has a sword of Damocles over its head: It can potentially be dissolved by a vote of no confidence in parliament. Such a move would trigger fresh parliamentary elections. As commander-in-chief of France’s military Mr. Macron exercises major influence over the country’s defence and foreign policy. The President took the opportunity of the annual Bastille Day celebrations on 14th July to support an increase in defence spending. He struck a hawkish tone mirroring the spirit of the insurgents who stormed the Bastille prison on that fateful day in 1789. This momentous event signalled the start of the French Revolution. Mr. Macron told members of the country’s armed forces in a speech the evening before commemorations that “(E)veryone must be present at their battle stations”. Reflecting on the threat faced by Europe from a belligerent Russia, the president added that “if you want to be feared, you must be powerful”. Words are being reinforced by actions. France’s annual defence budget was worth $37.6 bn in 2017 and increased to $50.5 bn for this financial year. The budget will grow further to $67 bn in 2030. Although France needs to reduce its national debt of $72bn, the good news is that Mr. Bayrou has said the defence budget will be “sacrosanct” from cuts. These spending increases, in line with similar increases ongoing in other European North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members, include money for Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities. To be fair, France has made some significant EW investments in recent years. A new Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) gathering aircraft will soon equip the Armée de l’Air (French Air Force). All the country’s armed forces, and her intelligence services, are receiving a joint SIGINT processing capability. France’s EW funding commitment shows that the government values and supports the discipline. Like the military parades and fireworks that characterise Bastille Day, this is also something to celebrate. (Source: Armada)
07 Aug 25. Waveform Wizard. NATO has tested its GANDALF-4 sensor which can be deployed across a large area to ascertain sources of jamming, with the resulting signals intelligence helping to populate the tactical and/or operational recognised electromagnetic picture. NATO is moving forward with its GANDALF electromagnetic threat and direction-finding system which has reached prototype stage. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) commenced development of its Ground Based Asset for Direction and Location Finding (GANDALF) sensor in 2013. The initiative is being led by NATO’s Communications and Information Agency’s (NCIA’s) Joint Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JISR) centre, according to a statement provided to Armada by the NCIA. The JISR’s Electronic Warfare and Surveillance branch is directly responsible for GANDALF. The initiative began as an effort to develop a ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) signal jamming and spoofing detection capability, according to a NATO Joint Air Power Competence Centre article. The current version of the architecture is known as GANDALF-4 which NATO sources informed Armada is an electromagnetic threat and direction-finding system. The NCIA statement says that work began on GANDALF-4 two years ago. The initiative is being performed as part of an “effort aimed at expanding NCIA’s understanding of both operational and technical requirements through real-world deployments” the statement continued. GANDALF-4 has not been identified as a programme of record, the NCIA document underscored. Nonetheless, the architecture could “eventually be industrialised and become a NATO Common Funded Capability”. This would mean that the asset may be owned by the alliance, or by one or more alliance members, but made available to NATO as and when required. The initiative is funded by NATO’s membership.
TRL-6 and TRL-7
According to the NCIA, GANDALF-4 has been tested in a live environment with representative real-world threats. As matters stand at present, the architecture has been developed to Technology Readiness Level Six (TRL-6). United States Department of Defence TRL-6 stipulates that a prototype system has been verified and demonstrated in an operational environment. NCIA says that plans are afoot to move the GANDALF-4 technology to TRL-7. Should this occur, it will mean that an integrated pilot system has been demonstrated in an operational environment. One concept of operations envisaged for GANDALF-4 is for a network of monitoring stations to be deployed over a specific area. These stations could feed signals intelligence data into command and control and/or battle management systems to enrich the local recognised electromagnetic picture. Mounting the GANDALF-4 architecture on a vehicle could improve the sensor’s mobility still further. NCIA continues that learning outcomes from the GANDALF-4’s development and capabilities will be valuable. These could be fed into future NATO Standardisation Agreements/Standard Recommendations regarding navigation warfare. Alliance members continue to experience significant GNSS PNT disruption in the Baltic and Black Sea regions. The eastern Mediterranean is also experiencing the scourge, as are parts of the Persian Gulf. The latter regions are out of NATO’s traditional area of concern. Nonetheless they could affect NATO militaries operating in these areas. Having a capability that can pinpoint the location of PNT signal jamming and spoofing will be useful for the alliance from tactical and operational standpoints: In peacetime, areas where PNT jamming could cause disruption could be avoided. In wartime, determining sources of GNSS PNT disruption could help provide target aimpoints which can then be engaged with kinetic effects. That NATO is developing such a capability may have important deterrent effects: Actors maybe dissuaded from deploying GNSS jammers given that GANDALF will aid the avoidance or destruction of such capabilities. (Source: Armada)
06 Aug 25. Damned if You Do, Damned if You Don’t. MBDA’s One-Way Effector was designed as a response to the French government’s Drone Pact initiative which aims to deepen Europe’s uninhabited aerial vehicle industrial base. This year’s Paris Air Show, held in the city between 16th and 22nd June, saw MBDA unveil its One-Way Effector anti-radar weapon. According to the company, the One-Way Effector (OWE) is a ground-launched Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed to overwhelm Ground-Based Air Defences (GBAD) and Integrated Air Defence Systems (IADS). MBDA’s literature says the OWE’s concept of operations is for it to be launched in salvos. Equipped with a 40 kilogram (88 pound) kinetic warhead, the effector can saturate and target red force IADS and GBAD. This tactic is intended to fully occupy hostile air defences while conventional aircraft, air- and surface-launched weapons, and other UAVs head towards their targets in contested airspace. The effector could prove to be a powerful capability for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD). Hence the OWE could play an important part in the Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) mission.
One Way System
The OWE’s saturation tactic is akin to that used by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to overwhelm Syria’s GBAD and IADS during IAF operations above the Bekaa Valley, eastern Lebanon. Operation Mole Cricket 19 was launched by the Israeli Air Force on 9th June 1982. Massed UAV flights into the lethal engagement envelopes of Syrian GBAD were used to simulate incoming strike packages of Israeli combat aircraft. Syrian air defenders took the bait. By firing Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) at these UAVs the Syrians revealed the positions of their SAM batteries. With the SAM batteries’ launchers now exhausted of missiles, and needing reloads, the IAF attacked in relative safety inflicting a mortal blow on Syria’s deployed GBAD.
Open sources note that the OWE is equipped with a jet engine, can achieve a range of 270 nautical miles (500 kilometres) and has a top speed of 216 knots (400 kilometre-per-hour). Reports have stated that MBDA plans to achieve a monthly production rate of 1,000 weapons. The company has partnered with an unnamed automotive manufacturer, believed to be Renault, to develop and produce the UAV. Weapons guidance is provided by an integral global navigation satellite system position, navigation and timing signal receiver. The flight planning process is relatively simple: Waypoints and rallying zones are programmed and indicated to the One-Way Effectors to create swarm effects and ensure that salvoes arrive precisely on time and on target.
According to a statement provided to Armada by MBDA, the OWE is designed to place an adversary in a tactical dilemma. The weapon “exhausts enemy resources. It exerts constant pressure on the adversary’s air defences, thanks to its warhead, which is sufficiently large to require its destruction by the enemy defences.” Engaging the effector “forces even the most sophisticated air defences to leave themselves exposed, making them easier to detect and neutralise, in coordination with other long-range strike systems.” In essence, choose not to engage the weapon, and GBAD/IADS capabilities risk being destroyed. Choose to engage the weapon, and GBAD/IADS targets can be determined and engaged.
The Drone Pact
MBDA told Armada that the company developed the One-Way Effector as a response to the 2024 Drone Pact launched by France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (General Armament Directorate). The DGA is France’s defence procurement agency. Reports state that the Drone Pact was established to improve the research, development and production of UAVs in France for the French and European militaries. The weapon itself is a “compromise solution between the need for mass and performance and the principle of least cost, meeting the challenges of the war economy.”
The maiden flight of the One-Way Effector is expected in the third quarter of 2025, the company continued, adding that this will be less than one year since the programme commenced. MBDA self-funded development and expects to have a production lead time of circa 18 months for the first batch of weapons. (Source: Armada)
07 Aug 25. August Spectrum SitRep. The US Navy is expected to formally contract Leonardo to deliver its BriteCloud expendable RF decoys by November 2026, following a procurement notice issued in April. Deliveries will commence in 2027 and should conclude in 2031. Armada’s monthly round-up of all the latest electronic warfare news in the product, programme and operational domains.
Brite Idea
The United States Navy is close to ordering examples of Leonardo’s BriteCloud expendable Radio Frequency (RF) decoys. Official US government documents seen by Armada say the US Navy’s Naval Air Systems Command issued a procurement notice on 28th April for “Active Expendable Decoy Procurement and Support”. The notice announced that the decoys will furnish the navy’s Lockheed Martin F-35C Lightning-II and McDonnell Douglas/Boeing F-18 Hornet/Super Hornet series combat aircraft. Other unnamed types may also receive the decoy, the notice continued. An initial 6,000 decoys could be procured by the navy for the first two years of the contract, followed by a further 6,000. Deliveries are expected to commence in 2027 and conclude in 2031, the notice continued. The contract is expected to be awarded in November 2026. In US service, the BriteCloud decoy is designated as the AN/ALQ-260(V)1. Open sources say the AN/ALQ-260(V)1 equips US Air National Guard General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 series combat aircraft. Other platforms deploying the decoy include General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper series uninhabited combat aerial vehicles flown by US forces. BriteCloud is thought to cover X-band (8.5 gigahertz/GHz to 10.68GHz) to K-band (24.05GHz to 24.25GHz) frequencies. This waveband enables the decoy to jam and spoof fire control/ground control interception radars and air-to-air/surface-to-air missile active radar homing seekers. Both these radar types commonly use such frequencies.
Terma to Refurbish Argentine Vipers
On 2nd July, Terma announced that the company had signed a support agreement with Argentina’s Ministry of Defence regarding the General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin F-16 series combat aircraft the latter is buying. The Fuerza Aérea Argentina (FAA/Argentine Air Force) is acquiring 24 of the jets from Flyvevåbnet (Royal Danish Air Force) stocks. The aircraft are a mixture of F-16A/B models. Reports note that deliveries of the aircraft are due to commence in December 2025. Terma’s press release said the company “has been selected to provide key upgrades and support services related to the aircraft’s Electronic Warfare (EW) systems.” The jets are being refurbished by Lockheed Martin prior to their delivery to the FAA. The press release continued that Terma will provide “software and hardware enhancements, mission planning tools, ground support equipment and engineering assistance”. The company would not be drawn on precisely what electronic warfare capabilities it would be supplying to the FAA F-16s. Nonetheless, it did share in a statement that Terma “is a long-standing supplier of EW systems for F-16” aircraft. These products include the company’s AN/ALQ-213 EW management system, Advanced Countermeasures Dispenser System and Pylon Integrated Dispenser System. (Source: Armada)
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Curtiss-Wright Corporation (NYSE: CW) has a long history with its roots dating back to Orville and Wilbur Wright’s first flight in 1903, and Mr. Glenn Curtiss, the father of naval aviation. In 1929, the companies founded by these three great aviation pioneers, the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company and Wright Aeronautical Corporation, merged to form the largest aircraft company at the time, Curtiss-Wright Corporation.
We have continued on the path of innovation and advanced engineering, and have applied that expertise to a number of critical applications in high-performance markets. Our success has resulted in a world-renowned reputation for performance, long-standing customer relationships and significant growth and profitability in the markets in which we compete.
Today, we are a global, integrated provider of highly engineered, technologically advanced products and services. Our revenues are generated by providing our critical solutions through three segments: Aerospace & Industrial, Defense Electronics and Naval & Power, which support several of the largest, most vital industries in the world.
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