Sponsored by Spectra Group
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03 Dec 19. USV operates with offboard ECM payload in NATO NEMO trial. Thales UK has demonstrated the operation of an offboard electronic countermeasures (ECM) payload from an unmanned surface vessel (USV) testbed as part of a NATO electronic warfare trial.
Although self-funded by the company, the trial outputs are intended to inform research being undertaken by the UK’s Defence Science and Research Laboratory (Dstl) to explore the concept of a recoverable offboard decoy system for anti-ship missile defence (ASMD).
The NATO Naval Electro Magnetic Operations (NEMO) trial, sponsored by NATO’s Above Water Warfare Capability Group, is an annual event for NATO partners to perform electronic warfare trials and data gathering. This year’s NEMO event was hosted by the UK and ran off Portland, Dorset, from 1-5 November.
As a contribution to this year’s NEMO event, Thales demonstrated the use of an offboard radio frequency (RF) decoy payload mounted on board the company-owned 12 m USV Halcyon. The full offboard system was controlled through a tactical picture and trials co-ordination station running Dstl’s MAPLE [Maritime Autonomous Platform Exploitation] software.
The active RF payload was originally developed by Thales for the joint French/UK ACCOLADE Technology Demonstrator Programme (TDP), which completed in February 2016. Although the original ACCOLADE concept of a manoeuvring expendable airborne carrier vehicle was not fully matured, the programme de-risked a number of enabling technologies for future ASMD countermeasures, including a miniaturised RF payload featuring an advanced techniques generator derived from Thales’ Scorpion shipborne jammer.
“What we developed [through ACCOLADE] was a compact, high performance yet affordable ECM payload at a high TRL [Technology Readiness Level],” said Phil Ventress, Head of Electronic Warfare Marketing and Product Strategy for Thales. “We saw with NEMO 19 an opportunity to put the ACCOLADE payload onto a different platform offering increased persistence. (Source: Jane’s)
03 Dec 19. Image emerges of possible SIGINT variant of PLAAF’s GJ-2 UAV. An image has emerged in Chinese social media showing what appears to be a signals intelligence (SIGINT) variant of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force’s (PLAAF’s) Gongji-2 (GJ-2; export designation Wing Loong II) strike-capable, reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The somewhat blurry photograph, which emerged in early December, shows a GJ-2 featuring several rod-shaped antennas configured in a circular array fitted underneath the fuselage that could serve as a communications band-direction-finding array capable of not only intercepting communication signals but also providing a bearing of the transmitter. A blister is also evident on the side of the forward fuselage, which may house several directional radar-sensing antennas. (Source: Jane’s)
02 Dec 19. DOD Issues Special Notice Seeking Input From Industry on 5G Technology Development. The Department of Defense issued a special notice Friday, Nov. 29, calling for industry input on 5G technology development. The notice titled “Intent to Announce – Request for Prototype Proposals (RPPs) for Smart Warehouse and Asset Management and 5G Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS)” is posted at https://beta.sam.gov/opp/b4d8864127c7447fae9bcb5fb2932b06/view.
Information received from feedback to Friday’s notice will inform the creation and issuance of formal Requests for Prototype Proposals related to testing and experimentation projects focusing on 5G Dynamic Spectrum Sharing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, and Smart Warehouse and Asset Management at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, Georgia.
The department will release two additional draft RPPs in the coming weeks focused on testing to take place at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Naval Base San Diego, California.
DOD will issue the forthcoming final RPPs via an Other Transaction Agreement with the National Spectrum Consortium. Under the OTA, DOD, in coordination with industry, will develop and mature spectrum access technologies that enable improved cognizance of spectrum activity, protection of U.S. activity in the electromagnetic spectrum domain and provide the ability to relocate and/or share spectrum anytime and anywhere access is denied.
Only members of the NSC in good standing will be allowed to submit proposals in response the RPPs. Interested parties can visit the NSC website at http://www.nationalspectrumconsortium.org/.
Responses to the draft RPPs announced in this notice will be accepted through Dec. 16, 2019. (Source: US DoD)
28 Nov 19. Ukraine and Lithuania strengthen cooperation in cybersecurity. Ukraine and Lithuania have signed a joint declaration to enhance cybersecurity cooperation and to define the priorities for cooperation between the two countries for the coming year.
Lithuania President Gitanas Nausėda and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky have signed two interinstitutional declarations focusing on cooperation in cybersecurity and electronic identification.
The presidents have also discussed defence and security issues and agreed to enhance engagement with the Lithuanian-Polish-Ukrainian Brigade. Both the countries have agreed to put special focus on bilateral political and economic relations, security and defense issues, Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic integration in addition to cooperation on energy, innovation, transport, and social policy.
Nausėda said: “The President of Ukraine and I agreed on the need to pursue long-term ambitious goals of the Eastern Partnership Initiative. Lithuania supports Ukraine’s increased sectoral integration with the EU in areas such as energy, the digital economy, law and domestic policy. We also look forward to closer cooperation on customs issues.”
The presidents have also discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine, preparations for the Normandy Quartet meeting, and relations with Russia.
Nausėda gave assurance to Ukraine that there would be no change in the sanctions against Russia until the Minsk agreements were implemented and the annexation of Crimea continued.
Lithuania Defence Minister R Karoblis and Ukraine Defence Minister A Zagorodniuk have visited the National Cyber Security Centre under the MoD and meet on a bilateral basis at the Ministry of National Defence. (Source: army-technology.com)
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Spectra Group Plc
Spectra Group (UK) Ltd, internationally renowned award-winning information security and communications specialist with a proven record of accomplishment.
Spectra is a dynamic, agile and security-accredited organisation that offers secure Hosted and Managed Solutions and Cyber Advisory Services with a track record of delivering on time, to spec and on budget.
With over 15 years of experience in delivering solutions for governments around the globe, elite militaries and private enterprises of all sizes, Spectra’s platinum and gold-level partnerships with third-party vendors ensure the supply of best value leading-edge technology.
Spectra was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation) in 2019 for SlingShot.
In November 2017, Spectra Group (UK) Ltd announced its listing as a Top 100 Government SME Supplier by the UK Crown Commercial Services.
Spectra’s CEO, Simon Davies, was awarded 2017 Businessman of the Year by Battlespace magazine.
Founded in 2002, the Company is based in Hereford, UK and holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2013 and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation.
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