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03 Sep 25. Spectra Group completes latest round of successful GENSS trials. Spectra Group, a specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems, has announced for DSEi 25, the successful completion of their latest user trials for their next generation tactical radio GENSS. The concept for GENSS was announced last year and since then Spectra Group has successfully completed full product development and now field testing with select user groups. Spectra Group will be showcasing GENSS (pronounced genesis /jĕn′ĭ-sĭs), their award-winning tactical satellite SlingShot system and their recent addition to the Troposcatter Family of Systems, Troposcatter on the Move (TOTM), at DSEi, Excel, London (9-12 September 2025) at stand N2-430.
GENSS builds on the foundations created by the award-winning SlingShot system, embodying Spectra Group’s vision of producing ultimate radio systems that capitalise on technological advances, adapt to the evolving demands of military operations and simplify the user experience. It has been designed and developed through a collaborative effort of tactical communication experts, seasoned military specialists and top-tier U.K. scientists and engineers. GENSS is a significant advancement in the field of tactical radio communications, due to its modular core framework and software-defined flexibility, heralding a new era in communication technology and along with the other Spectra Group products delivers a robust layered communications network to support mission critical headquarters and uncrewed systems over the horizon.
These latest field trials further validated the success and user benefits of GENSS, delivering a single tactical radio capable of meeting the extensive secure data, voice and application demands of modern military users. GENSS is a modular, hardware-agnostic radio system designed and now proven to be exceptionally agile, providing ultimate interoperability through straightforward software reprogramming allowing it to adapt quickly and easily to diverse user needs. GENSS is backwards compatible with SlingShot and has the benefit it will automatically tune to the L-TAC frequency, converting any military or civilian HF, VHF or UHF FM radio into a mobile global satellite communications system.
GENSS is also a multi-mode and multi-mission software defined radio in its own right, designed for agility and interoperability whilst focusing on cognitive simplicity for the operator. As well as a bespoke radio firmware package, Spectra Group has developed an integrated software data management package that allows Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) bridging capability for closed/remoted MANET networks. Integrating and managing MANET data feeds into ATAK mission software, Spectra has ensured that wide band mission critical data, such as Personal Location Information (PLI) and Cursor on Target (CoT), can be transmitted over narrowband L-TAC channels, with recent trials also proving streaming video over L-TAC services is possible. By maximising the capability and flexibility that L-TAC offers, GENSS overcomes all traditional BLOS barriers and delivers true Communications on the Move (COTM) for individuals and platforms and by design has a low probability of detection or interception, enhancing its security and operational effectiveness. GENSS is therefore a robust and agile solution for voice and data transmission across all domains and platforms, whether on land, sea or in the air.
Simon Davies, Chief Executive at Spectra Group said, “As a veteran led organisation, my mission has been to craft the ultimate radio system — user-friendly, light, modular and supremely flexible to adapt to the evolving demands of military operations and technological advances. I am immensely proud and excited of what the GENSS team have managed to achieve, and these trials represent the pinnacle of our collective efforts to provide the user with simple and effective solutions. With this latest round of trials, and the rigorous process of full military specification certification to 801/461G complete, we remain on track to bring GENSS to market in the very near future.”
04 Sep 25. Named and Shamed. Pity the Russian air defender. It is getting ever harder to shoot down a civilian airliner without your identity being unmasked and splashed all over the internet. Neither is this a phenomenon of the digital age. On 1st September 1983, Soviet air defenders shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 using a Soviet Air Defence Force Su-15TM (NATO reporting name Flagon-F) combat aircraft. The Boeing 747-230B airliner was engaged after it strayed into Soviet airspace by K-8 (AA-3 Anab) air-to-air missiles fired from the SU-15TM above the Sea of Japan. All 269 souls onboard perished. General Anatoly Kornukov, commander of the 40th Fighter Division of the Soviet Far East Air Defence Forces, was responsible. It was Gen. Kornukov who ordered the airliner’s destruction. The trigger was pulled by Major Gennadiy Osipovich, the Su-15TM’s pilot. Fast forward to 17th July 2014 and Malaysian Airlines Flight 17 was shot down while overflying Ukraine by a Russian Army Buk 9M38 (SA-11 Gadfly) medium-range/medium altitude Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM). As with the loss of Flight 007, all 298 souls died. Dogged work by the open-source investigative journalism organisation Bellingcat unmasked the perpetrators. Bellingcat determined that two Russian nationals, Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinskiy, were responsible. Leonid Kharchenko, a Ukrainian collaborator, was also blamed. All three men were later convicted by a Dutch court of murder. The Netherlands led the investigation into the killings. The subsequent trial was held in absentia in a Dutch court. All three men have chosen to take the coward’s way out and not face sentencing. They are thought to remain at large in Russia. On 25th December 2024, Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 crashed near Aktau international airport in western Kazakhstan after being hit by a Russian SAM. 38 of the 67 people on board died in the crash. An investigation by Azerbaijan blamed a Russian Army Pantsir-S1 (SA-22 Greyhound) short-range air defence system for firing the 23YA6 SAM at the aircraft. The missile caused catastrophic damage to the jet as it overflew Grozny, southern Russia. In late July, Dmitry Paladychuk was named following investigative work by the Minval Politika media organisation. It was Mr. Paladychuk who gave the order to fire the missile. The Azeri government is currently preparing lawsuits against its Russian counterpart in relation to the incident. Naming names in such cases is especially important: It gives the perpetrators of such actions public visibility and hopefully makes them look over their shoulders. They are marked men, and their ability to travel outside Russia now limited. Forget going to any nation that would enact the Netherlands’ arrest warrant. Secondly, revealing identities helps to subject such individuals to international sanctions if they have financial interests or bank accounts outside Russia. Thirdly, revealing identifies tells the Russian government that its actions will have consequences. Moscow will deny everything, but Moscow is not known for pravda. Finally, telling the world who is responsible means the culprits cannot hide from their actions. Perhaps they will not face justice, but forever they will carry their guilt, living their lives with the Mark of Cain upon them. (Source: Armada)
01 Sep 25. Spectrum Aware. An example of 3dB Labs’ Spectrum Situational Awareness System, which the company is developing for the US Army, seen here deployed in a stand-alone configuration. Another piece of the US Army’s manoeuvre force tactical Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities capability jigsaw is falling into place. On 20th August, the US Army announced that troops from the 11th and 25th Infantry Divisions, 101st Airborne Division and Special Operations Command had performed an assessment of 3dB Labs’ Spectrum Situational Awareness System (S2AS). The army had announced on 2nd April that the company had been selected to develop the S2AS prototype. As revealed in a US Army press release, the S2AS prototype contract is worth $6.1 m and has a 14-month duration. Few technical details have appeared in the public domain, but the press release did say the S2AS will “detect and identify signals of interest”. Photographs of the system show it being used in backpack, stand-alone and vehicle-mounted configurations. This implies that the S2AS is designed to equip dismounted troops operating at, or near, the tactical edge. Likewise, several systems could be deployed in an unattended fashion, providing spectrum situational awareness across a specific area. Vehicle-mounted systems could be used to gather Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) at the halt, or while mobile. The latter task could help enhance real time electromagnetic situational awareness as mechanised units manoeuvre.
Attributes
It is likely that the S2AS detects, identifies and locates blue and red force Signals-of-Interest (SOIs) in wavebands of at least 30 megahertz to three gigahertz. This waveband would let the system collect SIGINT, primarily Communications Intelligence (COMINT), from very/ultra-high frequency emitters. Such emitters include tactical radios, and their networks, on the battlefield. US Army video of a prototype S2AS show its antennas mounted on a mast circa two-metres (six-feet) high. At this height, the antenna could detect and process surface emitters at a range of almost six kilometres (3.7 miles). The S2AS forms part of the army’s emerging tactical CEMA posture alongside other capabilities like Raytheon’s Electronic Warfare Planning and Management Tool (EWPMT) and Terrestrial Layer System (TLS). The EWPMT is the army’s CEMA manoeuvre force battle management system. COMINT will flow into the EWPMT and populate the commander’s tactical Recognised Electromagnetic Picture (REMP). The REMP is vitally important. The picture depicts all detected emitters, and their characteristics, including those of the blue and red force. Knowing the location of blue force emitters will ensure these are left undisturbed by cyber and electronic attack. Cyber and electronic attacks will be performed at the tactical level by the Terrestrial Layer System (TLS) architecture. Three TLS capabilities are being developed: Stryker Brigade Combat Teams (SBCTs) will receive the TLS Brigade Combat Team (TLS BCT) platform. This capability is housed onboard the medical evacuation variant of a General Dynamics M-1126 wheeled armoured fighting vehicle. According to the US Army, the M-1133 variant was chosen due to the abundance of power sockets within the vehicle’s interior. Lockheed Martin was chosen by the US Army to build a prototype TLS-BCT in August 2022. TLS-BCT systems will be produced in two sub-variants: One variant will be restricted to SIGINT collection and processing, and the other will also have cyber/electronic attack capabilities. The decision to split the programme was based on feedback from US Army operational prototype TLS-BCT demonstrations in 2023. The army says it will perform operational demonstrations of the SIGINT TLS-BCT variant in June 2026. Similar demonstrations of the full TLS-BCT variant “will follow sometime later” the force disclosed in an official document. Armoured BCTs (ABCTs) will have their TLS architectures equipping BAE Systems Armoured Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) variants which are tracked platforms. Whether the ABCTs will receive two AMPV TLS variants, one of which will be confined to SIGINT and the other of which will also perform electronic attack, has not been revealed. Infantry BCTs will be equipped with the TLS backpack which is the responsibility of Mastodon Design. Deliveries of the TLS backpack to the US Army commenced in 2024. The US Army’s Mastodon Design TLS backpack provides cyber and electronic attack capabilities to infantry brigade combat team manoeuvre formations. Ongoing TLS backpack deliveries commenced in 2024.
Continued experimentation
The assessment of the S2AS with the formations mentioned above has been dubbed by the army as a chance for troops to get a ‘first touch’ of the system, alongside training with it. During the assessment, the S2AS was deployed with two companies. The system shared its SIGINT upwards to a brigade headquarters during the evaluations. The army expects to perform its first operational demonstration of the S2AS in 2026 with initial deliveries following shortly afterwards before the end of that year. The EWPMT is already in service with US Army manoeuvre force units, notably BCT signals companies which are tasked with the CEMA mission. The TLS backpack has followed suit, and the S2AS appears well on the way to deployment, thanks to this recent assessment. Despite the reorientation of the programme, the vehicular TLS-BCT variants will probably enter service too over the coming two years. The army has taken an incremental approach to revitalising its electronic warfare capabilities. Nonetheless, this approach has resulted in a gradual, yet steady, improvement in the manoeuvre force’s ability to win and sustain electromagnetic spectrum superiority and supremacy.(Source: Armada)
02 Sep 25. Georgia Satellites. Unknown suspected Russian EW units are seen in this picture shrouded behind green awnings which have not prevented them being spotted from the air. What type of electronic warfare platform these are remain unknown although they appear to be deployed onboard BTR wheeled armoured vehicles. In July Finland’s CheckFirst research group published a new report on the signals intelligence capabilities of Russia’s FSB intelligence service. CheckFirst’s Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) report specifically focused on the FSB’s 16th Centre which is tasked with gathering, interpreting and disseminating Signals Intelligence (SIGINT). The report stated that the 16th Centre’s responsibilities include communications interception, cryptanalysis and cyber operations. Usefully, the Finnish researchers have pinpointed several SIGINT stations deployed around Russia which are detailed in the table below: Interestingly, Unit 03110 is located 25 kilometres/km (15.5 miles) south of Sochi in southwestern Russia. CheckFirst’s work claims that Unit 03110’s SIGINT collection facilities are just 0.5km (0.3 miles) from Russia’s border with Georgia, close to the region of Abkhazia. Abkahzia is a northwest region of Georgia that has been under Russian occupation since 2008. Russia also occupies the Georgian region of South Ossetia in the central part of the country adjacent to the Georgian-Russian border. The FSB’s Unit 03110 headquarters can be located easily on Google Maps. Its coordinates are 43.391751, 40.002668 according to CheckFirst’s report. The SIGINT base near Georgia is particularly significant: In November 2023 Armada published an article which examined the deployment of Russian Electronic Warfare (EW) assets to Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Sources in Georgia had informed Armada that EW units from the 74th Radio Engineering Regiment and 14th Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion had been deployed into these parts of the country. The 14th Separate EW Battalion forms part of Russia’s 58th Combined Arms Army. This formation is part of Russia’s Southern Military District. The 74th Radio Engineering Regiment, sources suggest, is part of the GRU presence in the occupied regions. The GRU is Russia’s military intelligence service. The sources continued that these EW units would regularly deploy close to the frontiers between Georgia and her occupied areas. Large radomes and radio frequency arrays can be clearly seen at the Unit 03110 facility using Google StreetView. The radomes may house antennas used for collection satellite communications intelligence. Such deployments are almost certainly intended for the collection of Communications Intelligence (COMINT) from inside Georgia. The units often take advantage of elevated terrain to extend their COMINT collection line-of-sight into Georgian territory. Signals of interest probably include radio traffic from Georgian military, border police and law enforcement units on south of the de-facto borders. Russian EW units may also have some interest in civilian communications in border areas.
Capabilities
Our November 2023 article noted two Russian electronic warfare vehicles, that we had not previously encountered in our research on such capabilities, active in these regions. Sources in Georgia told Armada that these systems, both equipping BTR wheeled armoured vehicles, are used for cellphone COMINT. The sources continued that the platforms are deployed by GRU military intelligence units. Unmarked civilian vehicles are known to be operating in Russian-occupied areas carrying the Artikul-M COMINT system. Artikul-M is also probably used for covert cellphone traffic COMINT collection.
Unknown suspected Russian EW units are seen in this picture shrouded behind green awnings which have not prevented them being spotted from the air. What type of electronic warfare platform these are remain unknown although they appear to be deployed onboard BTR wheeled armoured vehicles.
Assessment
The work of CheckFirst has revealed the existence of Unit 03110, and its potential role in collecting, processing and disseminating SIGINT from Georgia. The question must be asked whether this unit is tasked with handling the SIGINT collected by the GRU and Russian Army EW systems discussed in our article? It would be unsurprising if COMINT collected these EW platforms is flowing into Unit 03110. This facility may act as the clearing house for all SIGINT arriving from Abkhazia and South Ossetia. There, the intelligence is likely to be analysed if arriving in raw form. If some processing has been done at the collection level, further analysis maybe performed. It is then likely that Unit 03110 disseminates the intelligence to consumers including FSB headquarters and the GRU’s Unit 54777, both in Moscow. One of the key roles of Unit 54777 is psychological and information operations, according to open sources. Despite the strenuous efforts of Russia’s defence and intelligence communities to keep their SIGINT operations in these Georgian regions under wraps, their activities are increasingly visible. It appears ever more difficult for Moscow to mask its covert activities from the gaze of the OSINT world. (Source: Armada)
04 Sep 25. September Spectrum SitRep. Quadsat have successfully installed the company’s radio frequency sensing and geolocation system onboard an uninhabited aerial vehicle. The company is now looking towards making the payload platform agnostic to expand the assets that it can equip. Armada’s monthly round-up of all the latest electronic warfare news in the product, programme and operational domains.
Pinpointing GNSS Disruption Sources
Late July saw HawkEye 360 announce new upgrades to the company’s Global Navigation Satellite System-Interference (GNSS-I) product suite via a company press release. According to the company, the enhancements provide “unprecedented” accuracy, coverage and insight for global GNSS jamming threats. Specifically, GNSS-I users will benefit from new algorithms that have improved means to distinguish individual emitters and detect GNSS Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) spoofing as well as jamming. Geolocation accuracy for PNT signal jamming and spoofing sources is terrain-adjusted, thanks to the enhancements, improving geolocation accuracy. The global geolocation of spoofers and jammers is also enhanced via this upgrade. Company sources shared with Armada that the upgrades improve the detection of individual PNT attack systems by a factor of 15. Users of HawkEye 360’s software do not need to download any software updates per se to benefit from these improvements. Instead, the upgrades are delivered as standard data files using secure delivery methods.
Quadsat Secures Funding
Quadsat announced that the company has secured funding from several investors to help expand the its Radio Frequency (RF) geolocation and spectrum intelligence offerings for the defence sector. Investors include Join Capital and North Ventures alongside Seraphim Space Capital, Denmark’s Export and Investment Fund, Helge Munk Holdings and TPC Management. The funding will help evolve and develop the company’s RF analysis and location system. Quadsat told Armada, via a written statement, that it has “developed a payload which can transmit and receive RF signals”. The technology has been proven onboard an uninhabited aerial vehicle, and work is ongoing to make this platform-agnostic: “The payload is mounted on a gimbal and is therefore able to rotate. It can take an angular sweep and determine the direction of the signal or interference by moving the horn antenna around”, the statement added. The system refines the data it is receiving with each measurement, accurately pinpointing the interference source. Quadsat’s RF sensing technology is already used to test and validate satellite antennas with customers around the world. Moreover, via a partnership with Skyeton, Quadsat’s RF sensing technology “has been deployed to help with war efforts in Ukraine”.
Breaking Down the Siloes
On 14th August, Picogrid revealed it had been awarded a United States Army contract to provide the company’s Legion software to unify third-party army Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) systems. A Picogrid press release said the software will be used to “integrate radio frequency … sensors and analytical tools from multiple vendors into a single, cohesive operational view”. The software will contribute to building the manoeuvre force Recognised Electromagnetic Picture (REMP) by providing a common data fabric. The data fabric will integrate disparate SIGINT sensor feeds to help build the commander’s REMP. The company told Armada in a written statement that Legion provides a bridge between deployed sensors and Command and Control (C2) systems. The latter can include software like the Android Team Awareness Kit/Android Tactical Assault Kit developed by the US Air Force Research Laboratory. The statement continued that initial versions of Legion “will be deployed at the tactical level” with US Army units. However, the statement continued that Legion can be used to knit together sensors and C2 systems across large areas. Picogrid’s contract concludes in September 2026, the company added. (Source: Armada)
04 Sep 25. Thales ready to deliver high performance mission and combat systems to the Royal Navy for the Type 31 Frigate programme.
- Thales has successfully completed Factory Acceptance Tests (FATs) for both the Mission System and the Combat System on the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates – marking major milestones in one of the UK’s most significant naval programmes.
- Working as part of an integrated international team, and in close partnership with Babcock and the Royal Navy, Thales has now completed all core factory-based activity for the programme – further reinforcing its role as a trusted partner in the delivery of complex naval systems for the UK.
- Thales’s Combat Management System (CMS), TACTICOS, functions as the operational heart of UK’s Type 31 frigates. It will be the central command and decision-making part of these frigates’ combat systems. Its function and performance – supporting sensor control, picture compilation, situation assessment, action support and weapon control – are critical to the operational effectiveness of the naval vessel.
The Mission System FATs were completed at the end of April 2025. Delivered to a high standard by Thales’s international team, in close collaboration with industry partners, this achievement showcases the quality, openness and technical expertise that have defined Thales’s approach to the Type 31 delivery – earning praise from the Royal Navy. The Combat System FATs followed at the end of June 2025. Built around Thales’s latest version of its TACTICOS Combat Management System – delivered by Thales in the Netherlands – it includes the latest software release that enables Type 31’s operational capabilities, reinforcing TACTICOS’s position as a leading CMS for next-generation naval platforms. With all Factory Acceptance Tests now complete, the programme will move onto land-based testing at the Shore Integration Facility, before being installed on board the HMS Venturer, first of the five Type 31 Inspiration-class frigates, the construction of which is underway at Babcock’s Rosyth facility.
Paul Watson, Arrowhead Managing Director at Babcock said: “The successful completion of the Mission and Combat Systems FATs marks another significant step forward for the Type 31 programme and reflects the strength of our collaboration with Thales and our wider industry partners. Together, we are delivering a world-class capability for the Royal Navy and creating a strong foundation for the future of the Inspiration Class frigates.”
Andy Laing, Managing Director, Above Water Systems UK, Thales, added: “Working closely with our Royal Navy and Babcock colleagues, we are delighted to have successfully completed this critical stage in the development of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigates. It represents another demonstration of Thales’s proven ability to deliver integrated naval mission systems to the highest standards.”
The Type 31 programme underscores Thales’s long-standing commitment to support the Royal Navy with world-leading maritime technologies, while strengthening UK and European defence capability and industrial resilience.
04 Sep 25. Hensoldt South Africa signs major deal to enhance Saudi Arabia’s EW capabilities. Hensoldt South Africa’s GEW business unit – specialising in spectrum dominance – has signed a landmark contract with Saudi Arabian Military Industries Advanced Electronics Company (SAMI-AEC), representing one of the largest projects in GEW’s history. The multi-year project will provide a modern electronic warfare capability in Saudi Arabia in support of civil and military operations, while advancing capability development in line with the Saudi Vision 2030 objectives, Hensoldt South Africa said in a statement on 3 September. The scope of delivery includes state-of-the-art communications intelligence (COMINT) technologies as part of the Kingdom’s C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) capability, augmented by comprehensive training programmes. These advanced sensor systems will enable early detection and countering of threats, ensuring the safety of communities and critical infrastructure, according to Hensoldt South Africa.
“The programme strengthens the longstanding industrial partnership between Hensoldt South Africa and SAMI-AEC, with Hensoldt Middle East providing technical support on the ground. Wholly owned by Hensoldt South Africa, Hensoldt Middle East has been developed over several years to strategically address the local market, while driving knowledge transfer, technology development and skills enhancement in the region,” according to the company.
“Electronic warfare is increasingly critical in our current global context,” said Gilbert do Nascimento, Managing Director of the GEW business unit. “This contract is both a recognition of our proven track record in this vital domain – and a commitment to equip our partners with cutting-edge capabilities. We highly value our partnership with SAMI and look forward to supporting the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in strengthening its strategic capabilities and long-term vision.”
Hensoldt South Africa, the Group’s largest industrial base outside of Germany with 800 South African employees across four sites, has been active in the Middle East for nearly two decades, with major deliveries since 2007.
“As the largest economy in the Middle East and one of the fastest-growing worldwide, Saudi Arabia remains pivotal in the future defence landscape. By supporting Saudi Vision 2030 and investing in local skills, technology transfer and capability development, Hensoldt South Africa aims to play a role in shaping the trajectory of defence in the region,” the company said.
Hensoldt South Africa had a big presence at last year’s World Defence Show in Saudi Arabia, saying the country holds “strategic importance for Hensoldt SA”. At the exhibition, collaboration agreements with INTRA Defence Technologies, SCOPA Military Industries and STIRA Strategic Systems solidified Hensoldt SA’s role in developing next-generation electro-optic systems and spectrum dominance solutions for the defence, security and civilian market in Saudi Arabia, the company said. SAMI-AEC was established in 1988 and in December 2020 was fully acquired by SAMI, making it a 100% Saudi-owned company. Today it is active across Defence and Aerospace (D&A), Digital Business, Energy and Security Business units. “SAMI-AEC has been able to acquire significant technical knowledge through its emphasis on the development of comprehensive Engineering & Development (E&D) capabilities and the establishment of partnerships with international companies,” according to SAMI-AEC. It has developed “substantial design and manufacturing, systems engineering and integration, systems development and IT services capabilities” and continues to invest in expanding its capabilities in E&D, manufacturing, test processes and manpower development. SAMI-AEC employs more than 3 600 staff, including over 1 500 engineers and experts. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
04 Sep 25. U.S. Army begins fielding BAE Systems’ mission-critical software-defined radios across rotary-wing aviation fleet. BAE Systems’ AN/ARC-231A Multi-mode Aviation Radio Set (MARS) has completed initial installation and is operationally ready for use today on select U.S. Army rotary-wing aircraft. This fielding marks a major step forward in equipping warfighters with an advanced, secure, and fast-operating communications solution to inform key decisions in the field. The AN/ARC-231A MARS system is the newest generation of multi-band, multi-mission, airborne communications systems with Type 1 crypto modernization. BAE Systems designed the system to enable U.S. Army secure waveform upgrades across its rotary-wing fleet or tailored to specific mission needs. MARS’ programmability supports evolving communication needs, special mission modifications, and performance enhancements. The software communications architecture and software-defined radio design enables deployment of new capabilities as software-only upgrades.
“The fielding of the AN/ARC-231A MARS system marks a significant milestone to equip warfighters with advanced communications capabilities and an increase in mission readiness to respond more effectively to emerging threats,” said Brian Shadiack, director of Adaptive Communications and Sensing at BAE Systems. “This next-generation, software-defined radio has undergone rigorous testing to ensure it meets the highest standards of performance. Its design reflects a deep understanding of warfighters’ evolving needs in a rapidly changing operational environment.”
The AN/ARC-231A MARS system is comprised of the RT-1987 radio with associated ancillaries, including amplifiers and mounting bases. It serves as a drop-in replacement for the original ARC-231 radio currently fielded across U.S. armed forces and allies. MARS focuses on configurability and allows for flexible integration and mission deployment options that ensure interoperability for joint force operations. Available through foreign military sales, it provides international compliant air traffic control communications and a full range of mandatory U.S. and NATO capabilities. With more than 100,000 radios deployed globally, BAE Systems’ battle-proven communications products offer significantly increased capability of legacy products. The company’s compact radio sets also offer multi-band, secure anti-jam voice, data imagery transmission, and network-capable communications. The MARS system is manufactured at BAE Systems’ facility in Fort Wayne, Indiana with engineering support in Largo, Florida.
04 Sep 25. Bittium has made a significant donation to the 6G Test Centre at the University of Oulu by providing a tactical communications system for its use. As part of NATO’s DIANA network and Finland’s 6G Flagship programme, the Centre acts as an engine for innovation, enabling development of dual-use solutions that address both civilian and defence needs. Bittium’s communications system allows the Test Centre to integrate secure tactical communications into its hybrid testbeds, where commercial 5G, satellite systems, and future 6G solutions converge. This gives emerging startups and major players hands-on access to military-grade software-defined radio system, enabling interoperability trials, resilience assessments, and secure mobility testing under demanding real-world conditions.
“By providing our top-of-the-line tactical communications technology, we help advance new concepts that could shape both future commercial networks and secure communications. Partnering with the University of Oulu’s 6G Test Centre, as part of Finland’s 6G Flagship and NATO DIANA, reflects Bittium’s commitment to supporting dual-use innovation on a global scale,” said Tommi Kangas, Senior Vice President of Bittium’s Defense & Security business segment.
“Bittium’s system strengthens the 6G Test Centre’s role as a world-class environment for testing and validating future networks. With this tactical communications system, we can push forward Finland’s leadership in 6G research, supporting innovators from startups to global industry leaders. The donation ensures the Centre remains central to both our national 6G Flagship programme and international collaboration,” said Hannu Nikurautio, Research Director of the 6G Test Centre.
04 Sep 25. Hanwha Aerospace has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with leading Estonian software companies Nortal and SensusQ on September 3rd at the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Poland. This agreement establishes a partnership to jointly develop a state-of-the-art Battlefield Management System (BMS) for a wide range of platforms including Hanwha’s Redback Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV). BMS is an essential tool for military operations, providing integrated information acquisition and processing to enhance command and control. It provides a near real-time flow of information to tactical commanders, allowing for the sharing of battalion-level combat information across the battlefield. The collaboration will leverage Hanwha’s field proven Redback IFV platform as the foundation for a new, highly advanced system that will be designed for integration with multiple platforms. Nortal will contribute its extensive experience in digital transformation and complex systems integration, while SensusQ will provide its unique domain and technological expertise shaped by operational experience. The pioneering next-generation BMS will feature a modular, non-monolithic architecture, enabling rapid integration not only with the Redback but also with a wide range of other platforms. It is designed to deliver real-time, multi-domain decision support, automated intelligence processing, and secure, coalition-ready interoperability, ensuring long-term scalability to meet the operational demands of future high-tempo warfare.
Dong-hyun Kim, the Head of LS Business Group of Hanwha Aerospace said, “This MOU is about building a genuine security partnership. By collaborating with esteemed Estonian companies, we are committed to contributing to the growth of the local and European defence industry.”
Within their strategic collaboration framework, the companies are exploring initial partnership opportunities with Estonia as well as with other Central and Eastern European countries, to develop a pioneering BMS tailored to their operational and technological needs.
“Together we are building the foundation for long-term, trusted international cooperation to meet the evolving challenges of modern warfare. This BMS can help defence forces achieve digital supremacy by preventing, countering and responding to hybrid threats with faster response times and reduced operational costs, harnessing seamless integrations and interoperability,” said Peeter Smitt, Business Area Director for Defence at Nortal.
“This partnership marks a significant milestone for Estonia’s defence industry. By combining Hanwha Aerospace’s advanced platform with the agility and innovation of Estonian software companies, we are shaping the next generation of Battlefield Management Systems, tailored to the operational needs of modern armies. For SensusQ, it is both an honour and a responsibility to contribute our expertise in situational awareness and decision-support solutions,”added Villiko Nurmoja, Co-Founder of SensusQ.
03 Sep 25. Everfox, the trusted high assurance cybersecurity company, announced the launch of High Speed Verifier-Turnkey (HSV-T). This hardware-enforced secure data transfer solution enhances digital collaboration and interoperability between allied nations, safeguarding mission-critical data transfers from high threat networks. Designed for tactical field deployments, HSV-T offers customizable, built-in threat removal capabilities that protect data flows between classified and unclassified networks for government, defense and intelligence systems without compromising speed or security.
“Data is a strategic asset on the battlefield, and securing its access and transfer is mission-critical,” said Sean Berg, CEO of Everfox. “Everfox’s HSV-T technology is a breakthrough in providing hardware-enforced cybersecurity in remote environments while reducing costly infrastructure.”
HSV-T operates in environments where no management network exists. It uses a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to enforce protocol separation of the data being exchanged, enabling applications like email, chat, and UAM video feeds. Part of Everfox’s HSV family, HSV-T enables safe data transfer using simple hardware logic to augment software-based security in tactical environments.
HSV-T’s applications include:
- Streaming real-time drone video from unclassified platforms to secure command centers.
- Delivering command and control data from forward deployed sensors.
- Exchanging intelligence data between coalition networks with different classification levels.
For allied missions, these applications improve speed and trust in intelligence, enhance operational interoperability, and reduce vulnerability of classified networks. HSV-T’s protocol filtering diode meets NCDSMO Raise the Bar security standards for cross domain solutions.
About Everfox
Everfox (formerly Forcepoint Federal) has safeguarded the world’s critical data and networks for more than 30 years. As a leader in cross domain solutions, multi-level information sharing and data transfer and a provider of state-of-the-art threat protection and insider risk solutions, we move mission-critical information quickly and securely and prevent malware and human threats from compromising our customers’ networks. Everfox empowers governments and enterprise organizations to use data safely wherever and however their people need it. Learn more at www.everfox.com. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
03 Sep 25. A new report, published by BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, has revealed that four in five (82%) defence and aerospace decision-makers and engineers said artificial intelligence (AI) is at the forefront of their digital strategies – highlighting the importance of cutting-edge technologies to staying ahead in today’s demanding defence landscape.
A key focus for organisations adopting solutions like AI is ensuring customer assets such as warships, armoured vehicles and combat aircraft, remain mission ready. With 80% of respondents stating that available, reliable assets are crucial as customers respond to mounting geopolitical tensions, around two-thirds said they are investing more in digital solutions for asset management this year compared to 2024.
Gathering insight from 540 senior IT and business decision-makers and engineers from across the globe, the report – Emerging technology behind the scenes of defence – examines the state of asset readiness in defence and the technology challenges decision-makers face.
Defence under pressure amid a new era of threat
These findings come against a backdrop of complexity. Nearly all (97%) decision-makers in defence and aerospace said there is pressure to keep assets mission ready and eight in ten (81%) stated that transforming their organisation’s approach is a key priority for 2025, citing challenges such as a lack of interoperability between systems and a deluge of data.
Andrea Thompson, Group Managing Director at BAE Systems’ Digital Intelligence business, said: “The rapidly evolving nature of warfare is placing heightened pressure on many of our customers to meet the demands of a constantly shifting threat landscape. That pressure includes ensuring critical assets operate at peak performance, for as long and as often as possible.
“To help, we’ve developed our data integration solution, PropheSEA®, which harnesses emerging innovation to ease the burden on forces and support the fast, informed decision-making today’s battlespace demands. Next generation, AI-powered solutions can help to overcome key data challenges – ultimately ensuring that assets remain warfighting ready amid a new era of threat.”
The research demonstrates a clear need for complex asset management solutions, such as BAE Systems’ PropheSEA® – a systems and data integration software that uses AI to deliver integrated product support across an asset’s entire lifecycle. Already in use with the UK Royal Navy and NATO allies, PropheSEA® enables users to securely connect data related to their assets. By bringing together information around the asset’s condition, preparedness and performance into one place, the solution cuts through the complexity so that leaders can make accurate and quick decisions.
Digital strategies prioritise data management, AI and analytics
Moving forward, introducing more advanced digital solutions will elevate asset management and levels of readiness. Only 12% of respondents, however, can say they’re at an advanced or optimised stage with this currently, highlighting the potential still to be realised.
Despite this, there are signs of strong momentum. Alongside putting AI at the heart of their strategies, some of the ways organisations are evolving their complex asset management approach include: standards-based technologies; big data and advanced analytics; condition-based monitoring systems; advanced simulation and modelling tools; and product life cycle management / enterprise resource planning.
To learn more about the emerging technologies behind the scenes of defence, download the report today: https://baesystems.com/defencetechtruths
03 Sep 25. LM Awarded Prototype Agreement by the US Army for Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2). Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Rotary and Mission Systems was awarded a prototype agreement to partner with the U.S. Army and serve as a Team Lead to develop a data-centric Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) prototype. Lockheed Martin will spearhead a collaborative effort with the U.S. Army, leveraging our C2 systems engineering and project management expertise to empower small businesses, non-traditional innovators and commercial technology providers including Raft, Hypergiant (an Accelint company) and others to scale their capabilities to NGC2. NGC2 is an Army-wide, data-centric C2 transformation that enables commanders to make faster, and better decisions in the most dynamic and unpredictable environments. NGC2 will transform how the U.S. Army conducts digital mission command utilizing a data layer to provide a continuous common operating picture with a single, integrated view of the battlefield to enable swift and decisive action. By leveraging Application Programming Interfaces and a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA), Lockheed Martin is creating an ecosystem that eases third party integration, fosters innovation, accelerates development, and delivers transformative capabilities to the warfighter.
“The NGC2 effort is a central component of the Army’s transformation, and we are so proud to be playing a key role in its development,” said Chandra Marshall, vice president at Lockheed Martin. “We are committed to partnering with the U.S. Army to implement this complex system of systems solution to meet warfighter needs, advancing mission-critical capabilities.”
A Rich History in Command and Control
Lockheed Martin has extensive experience developing, integrating and deploying innovative command and control solutions. We will support the U.S. Army in identifying opportunities for cross-domain reuse and integrating best-of-breed industry solutions. Through its ongoing modernization efforts across the corporation, Lockheed Martin brings its experience in evolving architectures and software to MOSA standards and bridging from legacy systems to future, scalable architectures. With NGC2, Lockheed Martin is not just partnering to build a better command and control system – we’re building a better future for our customers and our nation. (Source: ASD Network)
03 Sep 25. South Korea: Government, academic sectors face security, espionage risks from North Korean actors. On 1 September, international news outlets reported that a North Korean state-sponsored group (‘APT37’) conducted a multi-phase cyber espionage operation (‘HanKook Phantom’) against South Korean academics, as well as government officials and intelligence officers. The first phase comprised the distribution of spear phishing emails that emulated a monthly newsletter to trick victims into downloading a malicious PDF document. The document enabled APT37 to install a backdoor (‘RokRAT’) to maintain persistence within compromised systems and exfiltrate sensitive data. The second phase entailed another phishing campaign to download multiple payloads and facilitate data exfiltration. The second-phase payload also self-deleted upon execution, while the first-phase payload executed in-memory alongside using other obfuscation techniques, highlighting the operation’s stealth. Like several other North Korean state-sponsored actors, APT37 continues to refine its phishing techniques to tailor to its victims and facilitate system infiltration. We assess that this operation underscores sustained cyber espionage risks to the aforementioned entities amid long-term geopolitical tensions. (Source: Sibylline)
01 Sep 25. Cyber & Specialist Operations Command – Established to tackle the threats of today and tomorrow. The Ministry of Defence has reshaped the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC) to enhance the UK’s ability to help keep the United Kingdom secure at home and strong abroad. In an era where the first blows of conflict are often struck in cyberspace, the Ministry of Defence has today reshaped the Cyber & Specialist Operations Command (CSOC), following the announcement on 31 July, to help keep the United Kingdom secure at home and strong abroad. Building on the foundations of Strategic Command, CSOC unites Defence’s cyber and specialist capabilities under a single command, ensuring the Armed Forces are ready to respond across all domains: land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace. This change reflects the ambition of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, which sets out a bold vision to make Britain safer, secure at home, and strong abroad. CSOC is at the heart of this vision, driving a landmark shift in deterrence and supporting the move of the Armed Forces towards warfighting readiness. CSOC stands as the fourth Military Command alongside the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force – playing a core role in shaping and delivering Defence’s Integrated Force. CSOC’s mission is to generate and operate specialist capabilities, ready to fight across all domains, to make the United Kingdom secure at home and abroad. CSOC provides vital and game-changing capabilities for Defence, in support of HMG’s National Security Objectives. This includes commanding and conducting integrated operations 24/7 – for all of Defence and the UK Armed Forces – to protect the UK and support NATO, ensuring warfighting readiness – whilst keeping our forces healthy, fit to fight and ready to respond globally. Cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum connect every aspect of modern life, but this connectivity also creates significant vulnerabilities. The frontline of conflict now extends beyond traditional battlefields to the digital networks underpinning businesses, national infrastructure, and daily life. Recent conflicts have shown that disinformation campaigns and persistent cyberattacks are defining features of modern warfare. CSOC stands at the forefront of this fight. Every day, its cyber specialists defend the UK’s critical networks, military assets, supply chains, and people. CSOC brings together over 26,000 specialists across 130 global sites, uniting expertise across cyber operations, medical support, intelligence, special forces, education, and our Defence attachés overseas.
General Sir James Hockenhull, Commander CSOC, said: “Across all we do—whether delivering specialist operations, combatting daily cyber threats, arming Defence with intelligence, uniting the Integrated Global Defence Network, or preparing the next generation of Defence leaders—CSOC is always on, acting with insight, speed, and impact. We are across every UK operation, delivering specialist capabilities and always ready to respond, anywhere and anytime. This reshaping ensures we are equipped to out-think, out-pace, and out-fight our adversaries, keeping the UK safe at home and strong abroad. The conflict in Ukraine has underscored the needs to move to warfighting readiness, achieved through closer collaboration across Defence, wider Government, industry, and our international allies and partners. CSOC embeds frontline lessons, harnessing AI, data, drones and digital warfare to enhance the UK’s operational advantage. “
CSOC’s close collaboration with UK industry is central to this effort. By uniting operational insight with technical ingenuity, CSOC is driving innovation in areas such as cybersecurity and digital warfare. These partnerships not only strengthen national security but also create high-skilled jobs and support the growth of UK businesses at the forefront of defence technology.
As one of four UK military commands, CSOC operates at the forefront of modern warfare. Whether delivering precision targeting, constantly combatting cyber and electromagnetic threats, or uniting Defence’s Integrated Global Defence Network, CSOC ensures the UK is prepared to meet the challenges of modern warfare and protect our society, now and in the future. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
29 Aug 25. Cyber Update Key points.
- Diplomats in Southeast Asia face increased security risks from the China-nexus threat actor ‘UNC6384’ (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 26 August 2025 and our Technical analysis below).
- The Pakistan-linked state-sponsored group ‘APT36’ poses heightened security risks to the defence and government sectors in India (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 27 August 2025).
- Supply chain-critical manufacturing organisations face elevated security and operational risks from the ‘MixShell’ malware (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 28 August 2025 and our Technical analysis below).
- Ransomware actors shifting targets to hybrid cloud environments highlights the long-term security and operational risks facing global firms (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 29 August 2025)
Technical analysis of weekly stories
The China-nexus actor UNC6384 has been targeting diplomats in Southeast Asia in a cyber espionage operation since March. The group hijacks captive portals by using adversary-in-the-middle (AitM) techniques to redirect users from the portal login to an actor-controlled website. Subsequently, the victim is tricked into believing that a software update is required for the browser; victims are then provided a plugin update installer that instead downloads the first-stage malware ‘STATICPLUGIN’. STATICPLUGIN contains a valid signed digital certificate, allowing the downloader to bypass endpoint security detections, highlighting the defence evasion capabilities of UNC6384. STATICPLUGIN then retrieves a Microsoft Standard Installer (MSI) package that executes ‘CANONSTAGER’ via DLL side-loading to install a backdoor (‘SOGU.SEC‘) on the compromised network. This backdoor collects system information, downloads and uploads files from its command-and-control (C2) infrastructure and can execute remote commands. The group’s extensive defence evasion techniques during this campaign highlight its sophistication and the long-term cyber espionage risks it poses to Southeast Asian diplomatic entities.
A social engineering campaign aimed at supply chain organisations is abusing a company’s legitimate ‘contact us’ form to target employees. The victims then contact the threat actors, where both sides converse for several weeks prior to any malicious activity, building rapport and feigning legitimacy to targets, before sharing a .ZIP archive hosted on a legitimate web hosting platform. The use of legitimate platforms and services underscores the defence evasion capabilities of threat actors, pointing to long-term exploitation risks to these types of providers. Once victims open the .ZIP archive, both benign documents and malicious payloads are delivered. However, in some instances, the .ZIP archive only contained harmless decoy documents, indicating that the malicious content might be delivered via the compromised web hosting platform, depending on the victim’s IP address or other indicators. This emphasises the targeted nature of the campaign. When the malicious payloads are executed, ‘MixShell’ (a custom in-memory malware) is deployed on the machine. MixShell establishes a connection to actor-controlled C2 infrastructure and enables backdoor access to compromised networks to exfiltrate strategic data and maintain persistence in the network.
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: Captive portal (Source: Sibylline)
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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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