Sponsored By Curtiss Wright
https://www.curtisswright.com/
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
09 Oct 25. Spectra Group and 2iC Boost Tactical Data Reach with GENSS MANET Integration. Spectra Group, a specialist provider of secure voice, data and satellite communications systems, is announcing at AUSA, a unique Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANET) bridging solution using GENSS, the first of its kind over a BLOS satellite solution. This tactical data solution, created in collaboration with software from 2iC, will deliver real time strategic level battlefield data via GENSS to remotely deployed tactical users. The Spectra Group team will be on the ground at AUSA to discuss the exciting capabilities that GENSS offers for specialist and regular forces deployed to remote austere locations globally. Spectra’s SlingShot revolutionised tactical comms with over 10,000 systems fielded worldwide; GENSS builds on that legacy with even greater reach, flexibility, and data resilience. GENSS (Next Generation SlingShot) takes all the successes and lessons learnt from SlingShot and embodies Spectra Group’s vision of producing the ultimate radio system that capitalises on technological advances, adapts to the evolving demands of military operations and simplifies the user experience. In addition to being backwards compatible with SlingShot and being a powerful satellite software defined radio (SDR) in its own right, the GENSS delivered solution uses enhanced modulation and waveforms optimised to deliver a Data Network/MANET bridging capability to cope with extending the proliferation of wide band data usage (64KBps over a 25KHz channel) in the tactical battlespace beyond normal Line of Sight propagation. To maximise this ability to bridge MANET and other data networks, Spectra Group has collaborated with 2iC, a UK based global leader in battlespace software integration. Their lean service architecture and integration products are used by MODs and defence primes all over the world to quickly, easily and securely connect the myriad of disparate devices, sensors and systems on the battlefield digitally. Working together, Spectra Group and 2iC have delivered and continue to develop a series of ‘middleware’ applications, consisting of a combination of 2iCs operationally proven products such as 2iC NODE and TAK Module alongside the GENSS application software and its Open API radio firmware. This combination allows for efficient data flow management to be delivered over narrow band L-TAC BLOS bearer systems and enable GENSS to be seamlessly interoperable with ATAK or other battlefield management systems. The end user gets a simplified and unified battle picture across multiple terminals/access platforms over vast distances while on the move. This means that not only does GENSS retain ultimate flexibility and interoperability as a software defined radio, but it also has an open architecture construct able to easily integrate with existing systems and rapidly adapt to future demands.
Graham Booth, CEO and Co-founder 2iC said, “We are very excited to bring our vast experience of delivering digital interoperability in the battlespace to our work with Spectra Group. Our proven off-the-shelf software, such as 2iC CONNECT:TAK, alongside our extensive experience with ATAK, are proving invaluable. Together we are developing bespoke software to maximise MANET capabilities and ensure GENSS is highly future proofed.”
Simon Perrett, Head of Research and Development at Spectra Group said, “It is very rewarding when you can work together with subject matter experts from different disciplines and collectively the output is greater than the sum of the individual parts. Working with 2iC, we are maximising the capability and ease of use of GENSS in its MANET bridging role, which is a massive benefit to the user on the ground and goes to the heart of our ethos at Spectra Group. GENSS is a step change in tactical radio capability and for the soldier on the ground, GENSS will be plug-and-play; delivering secure, simplified access to mission-critical data BLOS and on the move.”
What a Difference a Day Makes
Remember to pencil 12th September into your calendar. You now have a new day to celebrate. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky recently issued Decree 679/2025. His ordinance designated this date as the day to commemorate the service of his country’s Electronic Warfare (EW) personnel. Mr. Zelensky said that the country’s EW cadres are vital in “ensuring the repulsion and deterrence of armed aggression against Ukraine”. He added that the day is an opportunity to celebrate the people “who work invisibly but very professionally” to protect the country.
Tellingly, the only other nation that has a day of commemoration for its EW cadres is Russia. She marks this occasion on 15th April. This was the first time EW was used in combat. On that day in 1904, during the Russo-Japanese War, Russian signallers successfully used jamming. In doing so, they disrupted Imperial Japanese Navy naval bombardment fire control against the Russian military presence in Port Arthur. Port Arthur is today known as Lüshun City and is in the north of the People’s Republic of China.
Your editor would like to make a humble request. NATO and allied nations should also adopt 12th September as a day of electronic warfare commemoration. Such an action presents an invaluable opportunity to put electronic warfare ‘on the map’ for societies as a whole. Everyone, military and civilian alike, needs to become more ‘spectrum minded’. The use of electronic warfare has consequences far beyond the battlefield. The jamming of global navigation satellite system position, navigation and timing signals causes routine disruption in the Baltic, the Black Sea, eastern Mediterranean and the Asia-Pacific. An EW commemoration day would be an ideal moment to remind societies that electronic warfare affects them all.
Our discipline nurtures and supports skilled jobs in industry and academe as well as in the military. The EW day would be a great opportunity to remind people of the careers this discipline offers. Moreover, electronic warfare fosters cutting edge science and technology with benefits far beyond the battlefield. For example, the growth of cognitive EW will be impactful in the wider artificial intelligence world. Last, but by no means least, military EW cadres perform their work in an invisible environment. For some, their work lacks the cache and glamour of armour, fast jets and warships, but their work is just as important. Others may not even know the EW discipline exists and will be captivated upon learning that it does.
Let’s take a moment to commemorate and celebrate our discipline, and to give thanks to those who protect our use of the electromagnetic spectrum and advance our national interests through it. Our societies depend on this environment. Taking some time to remember this will help everyone get more spectrum minded. (Source: Armada)
09 Oct 25. October Spectrum SitRep . TCI ECS launched the company’s new 995 and 997 communications intelligence receivers at this year’s DSEI exhibition. These products can cover wavebands of between nine kilohertz and 8.5 gigahertz, providing between 80 megahertz and 160 megahertz of instantaneous bandwidth.
Armada’s monthly round-up of all the latest electronic warfare news in the product, programme and operational domains.
New TCI Receivers
TCI ECS launched two new Radio Frequency (RF) receivers at this year’s International Defence and Security Exhibition in London held between 9th and 10th September. A company press release said that the receivers are designed to support the Communications Intelligence (COMINT) mission. The first new products is the 995 rack-mounted COMINT and geolocation system. The 995 is joined by the 997 rack-mounted COMINT and independent geolocation system. TCI ECS told Armada that both these products can detect and process signals across wavebands of nine kilohertz to six gigahertz/GHz for radio monitoring and between 20 megahertz/MHz to 8.5GHz for Direction Finding (DF). The press release continued that the new products offer up to 80MHz and 160MHz of instantaneously bandwidth respectively. Instantaneous bandwidth is a measure of how much of the radio spectrum COMINT systems can ‘see’ at any one time. Both systems use hybrid-angle-of-arrival and time-difference-of-arrival techniques to geolocate emitters of interest. The 995 can be vehicle-mounted or used in a stand-alone configuration. The 997 offers “enhanced processing capacity for simultaneous, independent tasking and networked multi-sensor geolocation across dispersed teams,” according to TCI ECS literature. Both systems offer up to 72 hours of recording and use the TCI ECS’s Blackbird COMINT software. The company told Armada that “(the 995) has a single RF/DF processor unit which combines RF collection and DF in a single rackmount processing module”. The 957, meanwhile, “has separate dedicated processors for RF collection and direction finding, which allows it to support direction-finding tasking from multiple stations operating at different frequency bands”. Both models are available for order and over 20 have been procured so far by North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and non-NATO nations. Deliveries will commence from early 2026.
Ghost Mantis Revealed
In late September SRC unveiled the company’s new Ghost Mantis Electronic Warfare (EW) payload designed to equip Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs). Reports stated that the organisation has earmarked Ghost Mantis for so-called Loyal Wingman platforms intended to work with inhabited combat aircraft. Ghost Mantis will be capable of detecting, processing and engaging threats across a waveband of 300 megahertz to 18 gigahertz. Reports continued that Ghost Mantis can replicate the radar cross section and electromagnetic signature of other inhabited platforms. This tactic is especially useful when flying in contested airspace. Red force air defenders will see two targets represented on their screens and be faced with a dilemma : Which is a genuine target, and which is not? SRC says that Ghost Mantis uses an open architecture making it easy to reconfigure, and is platform agnostic regarding the uninhabited aircraft it can equip. An SRC spokesperson told Armada that Ghost Mantis is currently at Technology Readiness Level Seven (TRL-7). United States Department of Defence definitions say that TRL-7 denotes that a prototype has been demonstrated in an operational environment. Ghost Mantis low-rate initial production is expected to commence from early 2027. Alongside UCAVs, SRC foresees Ghost Mantis equipping inhabited aircraft and uninhabited surface vehicles. (Source: Armada)
09 Oct 25. Cornerstone Moves Forward. Up to eleven of the British Army’s Boxer wheeled armoured fighting vehicles will carry the modular Cornerstone and Poynting electronic warfare architecture to support land manoeuvre force EW at the tactical and operational levels. The United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence expects to advance its fulfilment of the British Army’s Project Cornerstone requirement in the coming months, according to sources close to the initiative. Project Cornerstone was launched in November 2022 and is valued at between $121 m and $485m. Cornerstone will see the delivery of a “networked land Electronic Warfare (EW) and signals intelligence capability,” the project’s tender specified. Few details were revealed in the tender notice beyond the requirement for Cornerstone’s architecture to use “common standards”. A written statement previously provided to Armada by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) said the Cornerstone architecture will include hardware and software. This hardware and software will be integrated “into relevant platforms to support brigade combat teams”. As we have previously reported, the British Army is acquiring eleven ARTEC Boxer wheeled armoured fighting vehicles configured for EW. The MOD’s statement confirmed the EW-configured Boxers will accommodate the Cornerstone architecture “based on current planning and funding”. Once delivered, the MOD expects to continually enhance Cornerstone throughout its service life: “This aims to deliver the capability (identified by continuous operational analysis) to the end user as early as possible, whilst maximising flexibility to adjust to any future opportunities and threats. To that end there may/will be several vendors that are cohered into a system of systems delivery”. The MOD had not revealed details on when Cornerstone will enter service. Armada understands that acquisition is now being accelerated with successful bidders expected to be chosen by the end of the year. The ministry plans to follow an aggressive scheduled: An initial operational capability is planned for late 2026. Full operational capability could be declared a minimum of one year later.
CEMA and SDR
As noted in the UK’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR) published this June, the country’s armed forces are reinvigorating their cyberwarfare and EW capabilities. Several recommendations relevant to these two disciplines were contained in the SDR, namely the activation of a Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) Command. A new Digital Warfighting Group (DWG) will be subordinate to the CEMA Command to “defend Britain from daily attacks in the grey zone,” according to the SDR. The command is expected to be activated by late 2025 and will form part of the UK’s Strategic Command. A UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesperson told Armada in June that the CEMA Command will be headed by a two-star officer. Other details regarding the command’s structures “are subject to work building up to (the) initial operating capability”. The DWG will “exploit technology such as sensors, (artificial intelligence) powered systems, and (uninhabited aerial vehicles) to achieve a decisive advantage,” the SDR continued. These personnel will work alongside conventional forces in aiding the delivery of cyber and electromagnetic effects. Armada understands that the EW-configured Boxers will also carry the Poynting architecture. A crucial difference between Cornerstone and Poynting is that the latter is a dedicated tactical CEMA capability. Cornerstone, on the other hand, will be configured for tactical-to-operational level cyberwarfare and EW. Sources have shared that the modular architectures of Cornerstone and Poynting means they can be swapped in and out of the Boxers as missions dictate. The vehicles are expected to be deployed with the 14th Signals Regiment (Electronic Warfare), the army’s dedicated EW formation. This regiment is part of 6th (UK) Division and is headquartered at RAF Upavon, southwest England. The division is responsible for cyber, EW and information operations. The British Army’s existing 21st Signal Regiment, a communications unit, is being rerolled for CEMA. Cyber operations will be the responsibility of the new 13th Signals Regiment which should be raised by 2028. All three units will comprise the army’s new CEMA group and form one element of the Digital Warfighter Group. It is possible that the Boxers will form a common ‘pool’ of platforms made available to these formations, configured accordingly as and when needed. The aggressive schedule the MOD is following to get Cornerstone into service is undoubtedly a response to Europe’s fragile security situation given the ongoing war in Ukraine. It would not be surprising if Cornerstone is eventually deployed with UK units in the Baltic. The country deploys forces as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation’s (NATO’s) so-called Enhanced Forward Presence (EFP). The MOD notes that UK land forces are deployed to Estonia with around 900 personnel continually rotated through theatre. The UK’s contribution to the EFP is codenamed Operation Cabrit. UK troops join their Danish and French counterparts alongside the Maavägi (Estonian Land Forces’) Estonian Division. The deployment of the Cornerstone capability with those units could represent a significant enhancement of NATO’s electromagnetic manoeuvre forces in this region. (Source: Armada)
09 Oct 25. Thinking about Cognition. The second edition of Drs. Karen Haigh’s and Julia Andrusenko’s book Cognitive Electronic Warfare: An Artificial Intelligence Approach contains important updates, and useful practical exercises, highly relevant to this fast-moving discipline. The second edition of the seminal work on cognitive electronic warfare provides excellent, thought-provoking discussions, real world examples and useful practical exercises. The first edition of Drs. Karen Haigh’s and Julia Andrusenko’s landmark book Cognitive Electronic Warfare: An Artificial Intelligence Approach was published in 2021. Armada reviewed the work that same year. We concluded that “(t)he defence community has been waiting for someone to define cognitive EW”. Drs. Haigh and Andrusenko did this with aplomb. In doing so they provided the most thorough and readable analysis of cognitive Electronic Warfare (EW) yet written. We predicted at the time that “(t)his robust, thought-provoking book will become a standard text in this fast-emerging field”. The intervening years has seen their work become exactly that. As a testament to the speed at which cognitive EW is moving, aided in no small part by the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, the two authors recently published a second edition of their book. Dr. Haigh was a recent guest on our Radioflash! podcast where she discussed the new work and its perspectives. The second edition expands on many themes articulated in the first, adding some interesting new insights. From the outset, a very useful aspect of the book is that it provides useful definitions for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML). These two terms are often used interchangeably, but this is problematic. As the authors note ML is a sub-discipline of AI which is already being applied to electronic warfare. In a nutshell, AI mimics the way the human brain works to perform complex tasks. ML uses algorithms trained on specific data to realise software models capable of performing complex tasks. The authors observe that machine learning approaches are already being used for waveform classification.
Trust
AI has long been heralded as a miracle technology for electronic warfare and the bedrock upon which cognitive EW will be built. A key aspect of the continual incorporation of AI techniques into EW is trust. If users do not trust the technology, its uptake will be slowed, if not altogether stalled. Moreover, AI technologies must demonstrate that they can perform a task better and faster than a human if they are to be adopted for EW. The authors argue that trust is ultimately a function of risk: The more authority is granted to an AI technique or technology “the greater the validation and assurance requirements”. Usefully, the authors state that trust depends on the level of risk the user can tolerate. These are useful maxims as we consider the increasing prevalence of cognitive EW-enabled capabilities in the electromagnetic manoeuvre space in the future. Another of the author’s observations relates to the dependence of cognitive EW systems, particularly those performing signals intelligence collection and analysis, on data. The more relevant data a system receives, the more it can learn about its current environment to recognise, and act upon, events in the future. The quandary for cognitive EW systems is that actual combat data may be rare or impossible to source. Classification issues can complicate things in this regard. Warfare, like life, is unpredictable and Drs. Haigh and Andrusenko stress that cognitive EW systems must learn to respond to surprises beyond the bounds of their data. Every minute of every hour a cognitive system is deployed will also be unique. This fact has an impact on our expectations of a cognitive EW system’s output: “We would not expect a human being to perform identically every day, especially when presented with the same scenario, we should therefore not expect identical performance from a cognitive system”. In summary, the questions the authors have tackled present the EW community with handy ‘rules of the road’. Such rules will help establish design standards for cognitive electronic warfare systems much as the celebrated science fiction author Isaac Asimov did with his Three Laws of Robotics.
The strategic picture
It is arguably all but impossible in the military sphere to discuss the application of AI technology to military capabilities without discussing competition between the United States and People’s Republic of China (PRC). Both nations are racing each other for artificial intelligence supremacy. The authors posit that the PRC may have caught up with the United States in the middle of last decade. They warn that China is “aiming to become the global leader in AI by 2030”. The PRC is excelling in face and speech recognition, and computer vision, the authors note. Chinese efforts often eclipse North Atlantic Treaty Organisation members and allied nations in these areas. One can only imaging the strides PRC researchers are making in cognitive EW.
Future editions
Hopefully the second edition of Cognitive Electronic Warfare: An Artificial Intelligence Approach will not be the last. The cognitive EW discipline is evolving at such a pace that regular updates of Drs. Haigh and Andrusenko’s work will be not only welcome but essential. Publishers please take note. Another important point is that the book has some useful examples on how individuals can start working with the discipline. The authors include a series of exercises that individuals can perform at their leisure. Useful insight into some of the principles underpinning cognitive EW is provided by these exercises. As with the first edition, the book excels at discussing technical aspects clearly enabling them to be easily grasped by the non-specialist. Engineers and computer scientists will welcome further examination of cognitive EW software challenges. Strategists will enjoy dissecting the geopolitical impact of cognitive EW proliferation. Practitioners get a handy guide on what cognitive EW can do for them in the electromagnetic manoeuvre space. Once again, Drs. Haigh and Andrusenko have effortlessly encapsulated a vast and challenging subject into a lucid and digestible volume. With their second edition, the standard work on cognitive EW has set new benchmarks. (Source: Armada)
09 Oct 25. Séance de Brouillage. The French DGA defence procurement and evaluation agency has recently qualified the Serval-GE variant of the KNDS VBMR-L armoured vehicle as a communications intelligence platform. Armada has learnt that the French Army will receive a new vehicle-mounted jammer to enhance its land manoeuvre electronic warfare forces. News emerged in September that France’s Direction Générale de l’Armement (DGA/General Armament Directorate) has qualified the Armée de Terre (French Army’s) new Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) apparatus. The DGA is the country’s defence procurement and evaluation agency. This new capability adorns an undisclosed number of KNDS Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle Léger (VBMR-L: Light Multi-role Armoured Vehicle) platforms. Reports continued that deliveries of the first examples of these vehicles will be made to the army’s 54e Régiment de Transmissions (54th Transmissions Regiment) before the end of the year. The 54th Transmissions Regiment is based in Hagenau, northern France, forming part of the army’s Corps de Transmissions (Signals Corps). No information appears to have been released to the public domain, but it would seem likely that Thales has provided the vehicle’s SIGINT payload. This payload can probably detect, locate and analyse (henceforth known as process) emitters transmitting signals in frequencies of circa 30 megahertz/MHz to six gigahertz/GHz. Such a waveband would allow the system to process signals from friendly, neutral and hostile communications emitters. These emitters could include military tactical communications, civilian telecommunications, including cellphone traffic, and possibly some satellite communications.
VAB LINX and SAEC
Known as the Serval-GE (Guerre Electronique/Electronic Warfare), this new platform replaces a host of legacy French Army tactical Communications Intelligence (COMINT) capabilities. Renault Véhicle de l’Avant Blindés (VAB: Forward Armoured Vehicles) have hitherto been used to accommodate the army’s LINX (Localisation et Interception des Émissions Exotiques/Exotic Emissions Localisation and Interception) COMINT system. LINX is thought capable of processing COMINT regarding Very High Frequency (VHF: 30MHz to 300MHz) and Ultra High Frequency (UHF: 300MHz to three gigahertz) signals. LINX’s targets are likely to include hostile radios and communications networks using transmission and communications security protocols such a frequency-hopping and encryption. Armada understands that the VAB LINX supports operational-level COMINT processing while the VAB SEAC (Système d’Appui Electronique de Contact/Electronic Contact Support System) processes V/UHF COMINT in support of the manoeuvre forces at the tactical level. These VAB variants began to equip the French Army from 1993.
Griffon jammer
Armada has learnt from sources close to the 54th Transmission Regiment that plans are afoot to take delivery of a new jamming platform over the coming five years. The jammer will be housed onboard a KNDS Griffon VBMR (Véhicule Blindé Multi-Rôle/Multirole Armoured Vehicle) platform. The Griffon is a larger six-wheel drive vehicle compared to the four-wheel drive Serval-GE. The additional volume of the Griffon is necessary to house the amplifiers the platform will need to generate jamming signals. It is expected that the new jammer will be capable of developing up to 1,000 Watts (60 decibels/dB) of signal strength.
The French Army is planning to acquire a variant of the KNDS Griffon VBMR armoured vehicle to house a new electronic attack system. The vehicle’s large internal volume will be used to house amplifiers capable of generating circa 1,000 Watts of jamming power.
Open sources state that land-based communications jammers can have an average antenna gain of two decibels when performing general, omnidirectional jamming over a wide area. Gain is a measurement of how much signal power an antenna focuses in a specific direction. Likewise, open sources state that military handheld radios can have an antenna gain averaging 4.5dB. Assuming a range to target from the jammer to a handheld radio of 25 kilometres (15.5 miles) a jammer with these characteristics may be capable of transmitting circa 118dB of power. Given that the radio will generate around ten decibels of power, the jammer’s signal strength of 118dB will significantly eclipse the latter preventing the radio from transmitting effectively. If the jammer increases antenna gain by using directional jamming against a known target, or in the specific direction of the radio, the jammer signal strength increases to 125dB.
As these figures illustrate it is likely that the French Army’s new jammer could be a potent adversary on the battlefield. Armada understands that jammers currently used by the force are relatively weak, developing just over 100dB of power. Clearly the new vehicles will be a perfect complement to the Serval-GE platforms, strengthening the EW capabilities of the 54th Transmission Regiment still further. (Source: Armada)
08 Oct 25. India enhances military communication with IRSA standard 1.0.. IRSA aims to ensure waveform compatibility, SDR interoperability, and adherence to certification and conformance standards. Officials during the launch of IRSA standard 1.0 at DRDO Bhawan, New Delhi. Credit: Ministry of Defence. India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), in partnership with the Integrated Defence Staff (IDS) and Tri-Services, has introduced the Indian Radio Software Architecture (IRSA) standard 1.0. Released during a national workshop held at DRDO Bhawan in New Delhi on 6 October, 2025, the IRSA standard 1.0 is designed to facilitate interoperability in military communication. The IRSA is a detailed software specification tailored for Software Defined Radios (SDR). It encompasses standardised interfaces, application programming interfaces (APIs), execution environments, and waveform portability mechanisms. The key focus of IRSA is to facilitate waveform portability and ensure interoperability, certification, and conformance of SDRs. The Indian Ministry of Defence stated that this launch marks a considerable step in India’s journey to achieve “self-reliance in defence communication technologies.”
“The specification is designed to evolve with operational requirements. It also lays the foundation for integrating future technologies,” the statement said.
The event served as a forum for stakeholders from industry, academia, and the Tri-Services to explore collaborative ventures, pilot schemes, and strategies for adopting the new standard. The gathering saw participation from various sectors including the Indian Armed Forces, Department of Defence Production (DDP), Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs), industry representatives, academic institutions, and research bodies. The IRSA was envisioned in 2021 when the essential role of SDRs in modern military operations was recognised, prompting the need for a national software standard. A dedicated technical team from DRDO commenced work in 2022 alongside IDS and the Tri-Services to consolidate operational and user requirements. Following thorough reviews and stakeholder consultations, IRSA Version 1.0 received approval from the High-Level Advisory Committee (HLAC) in 2025. (Source: army-technology.com)
08 Oct 25. Ultra I&C will demonstrate its latest command and control solutions at the 2025 Association of the United States Army Annual Meeting & Expo (booth #139) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C., October 13-15, 2025. As the battlefield becomes increasingly complex and data-saturated, the ability to process information at speed and deliver actionable intelligence is foundational to mission success. Warfighters operating in contested, multi-domain environments face an avalanche of data from distributed sensors and platforms — dynamics which demand faster processing, smarter automation, and seamless integration across classification boundaries. Ultra I&C will demonstrate the Knox family of multifunction processors, Maxwell the AI agent, and mission applications from the Apex orchestration platform — a command and control stack purpose-built to cut through data overload and deliver decision advantage at the tactical edge. Each solution operates independently, but when layered together, they unlock optimized mission-data processing and autonomous mission support for the warfighter.
Knox family of multifunction processors
Designed for mission-critical applications at the edge, Knox manages diverse data flows across air, land and maritime missions. Built on SOSA-aligned, 3U OpenVPX rugged architecture with support for VITA 49.2 and modern frameworks, Knox securely powers cloud-native workloads, AI/ML models and mission applications where it matters most, at the point of need.
Maxwell AI agent
Maxwell automates complex tasks and reduces operator fatigue by learning mission priorities, monitoring system health, and maintaining focus without human input. What traditionally takes hours or days — reporting, analysis, link performance assessment — Maxwell completes in minutes. It autonomously identifies breakpoints, analyzes degraded links and initiates fixes, keeping operators focused on the mission rather than troubleshooting systems.
Certified commercial solution mission applications with Apex
The Apex suite is a commercial solution providing a modular, open-architecture ecosystem that eliminates integration bottlenecks and enables true cross-platform interoperability. Secure APIs connect mission applications like ADSI®, Rain™ and other third-party tools, orchestrating and managing data flow across classification levels in real time. With latency-optimized compute, multilevel security, and hardware-independent upgrades, Apex delivers the flexibility and speed required for tactically responsive operations.
Ultra I&C delivers differentiated capabilities that transform complexity into clarity — empowering operators to act faster, with confidence, in any contested environment. By simplifying integration and accelerating insight, Ultra I&C ensures warfighters maintain decision advantage when the mission demands it. (Source: PR Newswire)
09 Oct 25. ADVENT and FLEETSTAR Begin Service with the Indonesian Navy. HAVELSAN has achieved a new milestone in Southeast Asia with the successful delivery and integration of its indigenously developed Combat Management System, ADVENT, and the FLEETSTAR Ship Data Distribution System aboard the Indonesian Navy’s KRI BELATI-622 fast attack craft. This achievement marks a major step for Türkiye’s naval technologies in the Asia-Pacific region and further strengthens HAVELSAN’s position as a trusted partner in global defense cooperation.
Enhanced Digital Capabilities at Sea
The integration of ADVENT and FLEETSTAR on the KCR-60 class vessel, built by PT TESCO Indomaritim, demonstrates HAVELSAN’s engineering excellence and advanced system interoperability. During the extensive sea trials and live-fire tests, both systems performed exceptionally, successfully completing all phases of operational validation. HAVELSAN engineers provided on-site support throughout the testing process, ensuring smooth system performance and full compatibility with the ship’s command and control infrastructure.
Representatives from the Indonesian Ministry of Defense, the SATGAS test team, and PT TESCO Indomaritim praised the systems’ technological sophistication and robust digital design, emphasizing their contribution to Indonesia’s naval modernization goals.
ADVENT and FLEETSTAR: The Core of Next-Generation Naval Platforms
ADVENT serves as the digital brain of modern fleets, enabling network-centric warfare by integrating sensors, weapons, communication, and decision-support systems into a single tactical environment. The FLEETSTAR Platform Data Distribution System acts as the digital backbone, collecting and securely sharing critical data across ship subsystems. Together, ADVENT and FLEETSTAR provide naval operators with a highly resilient, cyber-secure, and data-driven operational framework that improves situational awareness, decision-making speed, and mission effectiveness.
Strengthening Strategic Cooperation
HAVELSAN CEO Dr. Mehmet Akif Nacar highlighted the significance of this collaboration with Indonesia, noting that the success of the ADVENT and FLEETSTAR integration underscores HAVELSAN’s expanding international footprint:
“This achievement reflects not only the technological excellence of HAVELSAN but also the strong strategic partnership we are building with Indonesia. The successful integration of ADVENT and FLEETSTAR demonstrates Türkiye’s capability to deliver advanced, network-centric naval systems on a global scale.”
Dr. Nacar also emphasized HAVELSAN’s intent to broaden its cooperation with the Indonesian Navy through upcoming naval programs, including OPV-90, Merah Putih, and additional KCR-60 / KCR-70 class vessels. (Source: ASD Network)
08 Oct 25. NAL Research, a leader in innovative, global connectivity solutions trusted by government and enterprise customers, is announcing a powerful addition to its industry-defining SHOUT product line with SHOUT nano 200. The new tracker provides federal agencies and militaries with enhanced performance, assurance, and adaptability for connectivity in any mission. Unlike traditional handheld trackers that require a clear view of the sky to communicate, SHOUT nano 200 overcomes this challenge by offering dual-mode connectivity. The device allows users to connect via three methods: satellite communications for global reach, mesh networking for secure device-to-device links, and 5G LTE when paired with an enabled cellular device. Use NAL’s Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK-CIV/GOV/MIL) plug-in or companion application to access capabilities such as messaging, situational awareness, and SOS alert sending. Among the many advantages of SHOUT nano 200 is its seamless integration with ATAK, which can be used to determine location and communicate with other SHOUT trackers via its mesh and satellite networks. The intuitive and durable solution also features automatic SOS alerts, an enhanced user screen, and a field-replaceable battery that can be charged inside the device for longer operations.
“For over 25 years, users around the world have trusted NAL to deliver reliable tracking, safety, and mission-critical communications,” said NAL Research’s Director of Connectivity Solutions, Bart Polizotto. “SHOUT nano 200 is the most advanced SHOUT yet, offering flexible communication options and robust features to support the success of global dismounted government and military customers.”
See a demonstration of this powerful solution at NAL Research’s AUSA 2025 booth #3054, October 13-15.
SHOUT nano 200 is available for pre-order and will be commercially available in November 2025. For more information, contact . To learn about NAL’s comprehensive SHOUT produce line, visit https://www.nalresearch.com/.
ABOUT NAL RESEARCH
NAL Research is a pioneer in delivering trusted and resilient connectivity and PNT solutions – designed to meet the dynamic communications, data intelligence, location, and timing needs of the future. In 2024, NAL Research and Blue Sky Network strategically merged to optimize operations and provide a diverse enterprise and government customer base with transformative solutions and enhanced service and support. NAL and Blue Sky Network’s combined portfolio now includes emerging satellite and mobile technology products, satellite-based tracking systems, powerful APNT modules, intelligent software applications, IoT tracking, and two-way devices enabling seamless global connectivity. For more information visit www.nalresearch.com.
08 Oct 25. Cubic Defense, a recognized industry leader in providing digital intelligence, edge compute and networking, live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training and secure communications will demonstrate its latest multi-domain convergence solutions at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition, from October 13-15 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.
“As the Army modernizes for the future fight, it requires capabilities that ensure readiness and decision advantage in multi-domain operations,” said Anthony Verna, Senior Vice President and General Manager of DTECH Mission Solutions. “Cubic’s solutions, validated across exercises and operations, bring trusted data to achieve information dominance, assured connectivity and realistic training at the point of need.”
Visit Cubic Defense at booth 7177, Halls DE. Attendees can also vote for Cubic’s entry (Tethys) in AUSA’s National Partner Best New Product/Service award via event QR codes located throughout the venue. Featured demonstrations include:
Edge Compute and Networking
- DTECH Fusion Trust combines the power and resilience of DTECH platforms with advanced partner technologies to ensure a secure, zero-trust, quantum-ready network resilient in DDIL conditions.
- DTECH Family of Systems connects edge to cloud, enabling complex data processing and AI-driven decision-making across the multi-domain battlespace.
Secure Communications
- Cubic’s multi-beam, multi-band, multi-orbit SATCOM, software-defined radios and protected waveforms solutions enable advanced teaming operations in contested spectrum environments and extend the reach of Future Vertical Lift platforms.
Digital Intelligence
- TAKTICS Regional Nodes, Edge Nodes, and new AutoSync Maps deliver up-to-date imagery and maps directly to TAK devices, even in DDIL conditions
- Tethys orchestrates AI/ML and multi-INT data flows to provide real-time, actionable intelligence
- HiPER Geospatial Suite delivers GEOINT products from enterprise networks to the tactical edge, ensuring every echelon shares a common picture
- Unified Video (UV+) transforms how the Army manages and exploits full-motion video with DVR, Cesium visualization and rapid export.
LVC Ground Training
- Live Training System (LTS) – Individual uses lightweight, wireless modules integrated with soldier gear to deliver weapon-effect and threat detection without added burden.
- LTS – Vehicle provides wireless force-on-force training with intuitive touch-screen interfaces, enhancing fidelity and casualty assessments.
- LTS – Mortar replicates live-fire mortar operations with surrogate systems, propagating real-time effects across training networks for accurate AAR.
- LTS – Unmanned Aerial System (LTS – UAS) simulates drone engagements across EW, kinetic defeat, ordnance delivery and direct fire, enhancing counter-UAS training
- LTS – Instrumentation Systems (LTS – IS) is a mobile, battalion-level training solution integrating GPS, comms and digital mapping with automated AAR tools, federated with LVC networks.
To learn more about Cubic products and services, visit www.cubic.com.
09 Oct 25. U.S. Army Awards General Dynamics Mission Systems Contract to Deliver Initial CMFF Prototype Systems. General Dynamics Mission Systems announced today that it has been awarded an Army contract valued at $28.3 m to deliver critical C5ISR/EW Modular Open Suite of Standards (CMOSS) Mounted Form Factor (CMFF) prototype systems. The contract was awarded by the PEO C3N PM Mission Command through the C5 Consortium and is for two years.
“This award allows for the rapid fielding of new, best-of breed capability by using field-swappable, commercial open-standard boards for computing, radio, position, navigation, and timing, electronic warfare, and cryptological capabilities,” said Scott Dunderdale, General Dynamics Mission Systems vice president and general manager for Land and Air Systems. “The system has already run with boards from more than twenty different vendors, including Abaco, Behlman Electronics, and Pacific Defense, with many more to come. The Army can now continuously develop, test and field capability in DevSecOps mode.”
“Backed by the leading provider of tactical high-assurance cryptological systems in the world, the CMOSS systems resists threats through NSA-certifiable muti-level security, HEMP/EW hardening, and full tactical ruggedization,” added Dunderdale.
The CMOSS system is optimized to run advanced battlefield software such as Palantir Maven and Anduril Lattice to enable Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2).
The chassis is designed to fit within the SINGCARS radio space in any vehicle or platform. It collapses several different capabilities (APNT, Radio, EW) into one system featuring individual slots where 3U VPX processor cards can be inserted and upgraded rapidly with a variety of capabilities. The system is also designed to support the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft as well as other aviation assets without the need for costly modifications. General Dynamics has supported the U.S. Army CMOSS and CMFF initiatives with key investments in CMFF chassis prototypes, critical payload modules, and CMOSS management software to ensure that the system is production ready. The CMFF chassis specifically represents a significant investment by General Dynamics to ensure that the Army has a solution on Day 1 that can be scalable to support the full capability payloads envisioned for the CMFF chassis. General Dynamics is already finalizing early orders for this product and has large-scale production capacity through its cryptological and radio products portfolio. The production-ready chassis is fully aligned to the CMFF Reference Architecture, features key design provisions enabling NSA certification, and was designed from the ground up with soldier useability as a focus. The company’s proven manufacturing expertise and ability to scale hardware production position General Dynamics to support the rapid transition of the CMFF program from initial prototyping to full-scale production. The contract includes prototype CMFF chassis development and delivery, CMOSS management software development, system modeling, and supporting system integration services. (Source: ASD Network)
07 Oct 25. Global: New malware variant highlights long-term data theft, financial risks to firms. On 6 October, international news outlets reported that threat actors have been targeting global organisations with a new version of a highly sophisticated backdoor (‘XWorm’) since at least September. The cyber threat actors typically use phishing emails alongside other non-social engineering techniques to infiltrate targeted systems. Such operations include hiding XWorm within fake applications that mimic legitimate services, while simultaneously using artificial intelligence (AI) themes to trick the targeted individuals into executing the malware onto compromised systems. This highlights the continuous development of cyber attack distribution methods. Upon execution, XWorm can collect and exfiltrate sensitive data (such as financial and crypto currency wallet information for financial profit), launch distributed denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and deploy additional malicious payloads. XWorm’s new variant contains more than 35 plug-ins that allow it to act as ransomware and to encrypt a system’s files. We assess that global businesses will face long-term security, data theft and financial risks as cyber threat actors continuously develop more sophisticated variants of existing malware. (Source: Sibylline)
06 Oct 25. Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com), a global technology company that delivers mission-critical processing to the edge, and Nightwing, the cyber and national security solutions company defining the edge of possible to advance our nation’s interests, today announced an agreement to enhance the cyber resiliency of Mercury Systems hardware with Nightwing cyber resiliency technology. Through this agreement, the companies will offer pre-integrated cybersecurity and anti-tamper solutions that enhance the integrity of applications for the entirety of their runtimes. This collaboration gives government customers an expertly curated set of security capabilities shaped by Nightwing’s experience spanning U.S. military and intelligence community missions.
“This agreement brings together Mercury’s trusted hardware technology portfolio with one of the nation’s foremost cybersecurity providers to better protect critical customer missions,” said Tom Smelker, Mercury’s Senior Vice President of Processing Technologies. “Collaboration between commercial suppliers increases delivered capability while reducing total cost of ownership. Together we will give our customers and partners more options to meet their performance, affordability, and maintainability needs.”
“Mission-critical systems are more open and connected than ever before,” said Tim Zentz, Nightwing’s Vice President of Cyber Offense and Defense Experts (CODEX). “Cyberattacks can come from unexpected vectors—over the air, through compromised components in the supply chain, or even through infected maintenance equipment. The integration of our cyber resiliency technology with Mercury’s industry-leading hardware products and solutions will provide customers with greater security and faster, more efficient fielding of equipment.”
Mercury Systems – Innovation that matters®
Mercury Systems is a global technology company that delivers mission-critical processing power to the edge, making advanced technologies profoundly more accessible for today’s most challenging aerospace and defense missions. The Mercury Processing Platform allows customers to tap into innovative capabilities from silicon to system scale, turning data into decisions on timelines that matter. Mercury’s products and solutions are deployed in more than 300 programs and across 35 countries, enabling a broad range of applications in mission computing, sensor processing, command and control, and communications. Mercury is headquartered in Andover, Massachusetts, and has more than 20 locations worldwide. To learn more, visit mrcy.com. (Nasdaq: MRCY)
About Nightwing
Nightwing is the national security solutions company defining the edge of possible to advance our nation’s interests. The company delivers the most advanced full-spectrum cyber, data operations, systems integration, and intelligence services for government agencies, businesses, and organizations. Nightwing is proud to partner with our government and commercial customers to protect their most critical information, systems, and operations with breakthrough technology and world-class talent. Headquartered in Dulles, Virginia and previously part of a leading Fortune 100 company, Nightwing became independent in April 2024. Learn more at Nightwing.com.
03 Oct 25. Cyber Update
Key points
- The exploitation of the communications platform Microsoft Teams points to the increased security and financial risks facing global IT systems (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 29 September 2025).
- A data breach impacting the UK-based department store Harrods underscores the operational, data-theft and financial risks facing high-profile businesses (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 30 September 2025).
- A long-term cyber campaign highlights the sustained security and financial risks stemming from North Korea-affiliated threat actors (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 1 October 2025).
- Key strategic targets across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey and Sub-Saharan Africa regions face data-theft and cyber espionage risks stemming from the Chinese state-sponsored group ‘Phantom Taurus’ (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 2 October 2025 and our Technical analysis below).
- A suspected surveillance operation showcases the security and data-theft risks facing UAE-based Android users (see Sibylline Cyber Daily Analytical Update – 3 October 2025 and our Technical analysis below).
Technical analysis of weekly stories
A newly identified Chinese state-sponsored group (Phantom Taurus) has targeted the government and telecommunications sectors across the Asia-Pacific, Middle East, North Africa and Turkey and Sub-Saharan Africa regions since at least 2023. While the initial attack vector is unclear, Phantom Taurus employs a custom malware suite (‘NET-STAR’) during its operations to infiltrate systems’ Internet Information Services (IIS) web servers. The malware suite contains three backdoors (‘IIServerCore’, ‘AssemblyExecuter V1’ and ‘AssemblyExecuter V2’) to maintain persistence within compromised systems, as well as to enable in-memory execution of malicious code and to execute additional malicious payloads. IIServerCore executes directly into the system’s memory and uses randomised compilation times to enhance detection evasion, showcasing the threat actors’ skillset and capabilities. The backdoor can also establish communication with command-and-control (C2) infrastructure to execute arbitrary code as well as additional malicious payloads, underscoring prolonged infection risks. Phantom Taurus exfiltrated specific emails in the initial stages of the campaign and subsequently shifted towards targeting databases, highlighting the strategic nature of its activity. The group used a set of rare custom malware payloads throughout the campaign, underscoring its sophistication; it also employed more common tools typically associated with other Chinese threat actors (including ‘China Chopper’, ‘Impacket’ and the ‘Potato Suite’). Two suspected surveillance operations (‘ProSpy’ and ‘ToSpy’) have targeted Android users in the UAE since at least 2022. The perpetrators reportedly distribute fake applications emulating legitimate messaging programmes such as Signal and (the now-defunct) ToTok via phishing websites to infiltrate targeted systems. One of the pages mimics the legitimate Samsung Galaxy Store and advertises the fake ToTok application as an authentic download. The threat actors have advertised a new version of ToTok and fake Signal encryption plugins as part of the ProSpy campaign; they then distribute the ToTok spyware variant. Upon installation, both applications request permissions to access sensitive user and device information before exfiltrating stolen data to C2 infrastructure. The applications also mimic legitimate services and redirect users to their genuine counterparts to prolong detection evasion, highlighting the threat actors’ sophistication and resources. The ToSpy campaign has distributed the fake ToTok application since at least 2022 to encrypt and exfiltrate sensitive user data while employing similar detection-evasion mechanisms.
Our cyber word of the week: Internet Information Services (IIS)
(Source: Sibylline)
03 Oct 25. Anduril and Palantir battlefield communication system ‘very high risk,’ US Army memo says.
- Summary
- Army memo highlights security issues in NGC2 platform
- Anduril says memo reflects outdated program state
- Palantir stock drops over 7%
The much-needed modernization of the U.S. Army’s battlefield communications network being undertaken by Anduril, Palantir (PLTR.O), and others is rife with “fundamental security” problems and vulnerabilities, and should be treated as a “very high risk,” according to a recent internal Army memo. The two Silicon Valley companies, led by allies of U.S. President Donald Trump, have gained access to the Pentagon’s lucrative flow of contracts on the promise of quickly providing less expensive and more sophisticated weapons than the Pentagon’s longstanding arms providers. (Source: Reuters)
03 Oct 25. EDA and ECCC Strengthen Cooperation to Reinforce EU Cyber Defence. The European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Cybersecurity Competence Centre (ECCC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 30 September that will strengthen cooperation between the civil and defence communities in the field of cybersecurity research and innovation. The agreement gives practical effect to the Council Conclusions on the EU Policy on Cyber Defence (May 2023) and the Joint Communication on EU Cyber Defence (November 2022), which both underline the need for stronger EU resilience against cyber threats, closer civil–military cooperation, and investment in cutting-edge cyber defence capabilities. By aligning their respective mandates, EDA and ECCC will support these policy objectives, ensuring that EU-level funding, research, and capability development in cybersecurity and cyber defence move forward in a coherent and mutually reinforcing manner.
A Living Roadmap for Cooperation
The MoU foresees the establishment of a joint roadmap to be regularly updated with priority topics for collaboration. This mechanism will allow both organisations to exchange perspectives, compare notes, and identify synergies in their respective roles:
- ECCC, as the EU body created to manage the cybersecurity parts of Horizon Europe and Digital Europe, sets research priorities and channels funding to civilian and dual-use projects.
- EDA, by contrast, identifies research and technology priorities for defence, including cyber defence, and develops collaborative projects to address capability needs.
By coordinating and aligning their relevant work strands, the two bodies aim to avoid duplication, build on complementary expertise, and ensure that investments in cybersecurity serve both civilian and defence needs.
Operational Cooperation via CapTech Cyber
From the EDA side, the cooperation will be carried out through CapTech Cyber, one of EDA’s 15 Capability Technology groups, which focuses on research and technology activities to meet agreed defence capability needs. Close interaction between CapTech Cyber and the ECCC is expected to further enhance Europe’s ability to deliver impactful collaborative projects.
Strengthening Europe’s Resilience
The MoU is another milestone in building a stronger, more resilient Europe. It reflects the political ambition expressed by Member States to act together for a stronger cyber defence, to strengthen civil–military coordination, and to invest in full-spectrum cyber capabilities – as called for by the Council and the Commission. (Source: ASD Network)
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
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.
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–