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October 2, 2024 | International, Land

China-Linked CeranaKeeper Targeting Southeast Asia with Data Exfiltration

CeranaKeeper, a China-linked threat actor, targets Southeast Asia using custom tools to steal data via Dropbox and OneDrive.

https://thehackernews.com/2024/10/china-linked-ceranakeeper-targeting.html

On the same subject

  • Pentagon developing artificial intelligence center

    April 24, 2018 | International, C4ISR

    Pentagon developing artificial intelligence center

    By: Aaron Mehta WASHINGTON – The Pentagon is working on a plan to stand up an artificial intelligence center in order to streamline the department's myriad AI programs. The idea, which comes as defense officials are increasingly concerned about China's investments in AI capabilities, has now been embraced by both Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and Michael Griffin, the undersecretary of defense for research and engineering. Speaking at the House Armed Services Committee April 12, Mattis said “we're looking at a joint office where we would concentrate all of DoD's efforts, since we have a number of AI efforts underway right now. We're looking at pulling them all together.” In hearings Tuesday and Wednesday, Griffin elaborated on the state of that AI center, saying it is very much in the early stages. “I'm working right now with folks on my staff to answer questions like ‘who should lead it, where should it be, what projects should it do, and most importantly how does such a center fit into the overall AI strategy for the department and the nation?'” Griffin said on April 18. He added that the department counts 592 projects as having some form of AI in them, but noted that not all of those make sense to tie into an AI center. And Griffin wants to make sure smaller projects that are close to completion get done and out into prototyping, rather than tied up in the broader AI project. On Tuesday, Eric Schmidt, the former Google executive who chairs the Defense Innovation Board, said he hoped the AI center would be stood up in conjunction with one or more universities, in order to maximize the number of cutting-edge voices involved. The biggest benefit from creating an AI center may come from creating a clearing house of information which can be input into training an artificial intelligence, something Schmidt, who has previously been critical of how DoD handles data, said is vital. “The DoD, broadly speaking, has a great deal of data, which is not stored anywhere. It's stored in places which the programmers are no longer alive, [that] kind of thing,” Schmidt said. “And getting all that data in a place that's usable and discoverable and useful for the mission at hand is crucial.” Artificial intelligence is one of the key technologies, along with hypersonics and directed energy, identified by Griffin as a major focus for his time as the R&E head for the department. Part of that drive comes from the reality that Russia and, in particular, China have made whole-of-government efforts to invest in and develop AI capabilities. Schmidt himself has warned that by 2025, China will have surpassed the U.S. in AI capabilities, and has called for a “Sputnik moment” around AI. Those comments have been echoed by former deputy secretary of defense Bob Work. Members of the defense committees appear open to the Pentagon's goal of getting an edge on AI, with Rep. Elise Stefanik, chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, having already introduced a bill to develop a new all-of-government commission to AI. https://www.defensenews.com/intel-geoint/2018/04/18/pentagon-developing-artificial-intelligence-center/

  • Sabena technics remporte le maintien en condition opérationnelle des hélicoptères Fennec de l’armée de l’Air et de l'Espace et de la DGA

    September 20, 2021 | International, Aerospace

    Sabena technics remporte le maintien en condition opérationnelle des hélicoptères Fennec de l’armée de l’Air et de l'Espace et de la DGA

    Sabena technics a remporté le maintien en condition opérationnelle des hélicoptères Fennec de l'armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (40 appareils) et de la Direction Générale de l'Armement (3 appareils). Air & Cosmos souligne que « ce contrat vient confirmer la justesse de l'opération de rachat d'Aéromécanique, en 2020 » : basé à Marignane, le groupe possède une expérience d'entretien d'Airbus Helicopters Ecureuil civils (base du Fennec militaire), ainsi que des Gazelle et Puma. L'activité Fennec sera principalement réalisée dans les Bouches-du-Rhône, et sur la base aérienne 115 d'Orange. Air & Cosmos du 20 septembre

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 10, 2019

    December 11, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 10, 2019

    DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS AGENCY Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, was awarded a competitive single award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a ceiling of $6,520,000,000 that includes a mix of fixed price and cost contract type pricing arrangements for Global Solutions Management – Operations (GSM-O) II, which provides support services for the operation, defense, and sustainment of the Department of Defense Information Network/Defense Information System Network. The place of performance is predominantly within the continental U.S. (CONUS); however, support services are also required at multiple locations outside CONUS. Proposals were solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov), now known as beta.SAM.gov website. The solicitation (HC1028-18-R-0024) was issued as a full and open competitive action. Three proposals were received. The period of performance includes a base period of five years (Jan. 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2025), with two two-year option periods, and one one-year option period, for a total period of 10 years (Jan. 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2030). The Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, is the contracting activity (HC1028-20-D-0001). AIR FORCE Computers Sites Inc., Denver, Colorado (P00008, FA8217-16-D-0002); Eaton, Raleigh, North Carolina (P0006, FA8217-16-D-0003); and AllCom Global, Lake St. Louis, Missouri (P00008, FA8217-16-D-0004), have been awarded an estimated maximum increase modification of $197,000,000 for power converting and continuation interfacing equipment. This modification provides for the installation of uninterruptable power supply systems across every major command. Work will be performed at Air Force bases throughout all major commands and is expected to be completed by Dec. 10, 2021. The estimated maximum value for each contract is being increased from $99,990,500 to $197,984,500, for fiscal years 2016-2021. Other procurement funds are being used and no funds are being obligated at the time of the award. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $21,260,075 modification (P00036) to previously awarded contract FA8819-15-C-0007 to exercise Option 5 for Space Based Space Surveillance Block 10 sustainment. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for the sustainment and required development necessary for Air Force operations and maintenance of the Space Based Space Surveillance System and Red Local Area Network. This effort includes systems engineering, operations, operations support, and contractor logistics support. Work will be performed at El Segundo, California; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by June 20, 2022. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $129,825,811. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $2,000,000 are being obligated at the time of award. The Space and Missile Systems Center, Special Programs Directorate, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Aurora, Colorado, has been awarded a $13,543,046, bilaterally negotiated contract modification (P00310) to previously awarded contract FA8807-10-C-0001 to modify the technical baseline to fulfill the requirements of four requests for changes (RFC). The contract modification is for implementation of four RFCs (312, 343, 345, and 393) to the technical baseline. Work will be performed at Aurora, Colorado, and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2021. The total cumulative face value of the contract is $3,308,389,602. No additional funds are being obligated at the time of award as the contract is incrementally funded. The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California, is the contracting activity. ARMY Accenture Federal Services, Arlington, Virginia, was awarded a $75,820,763 hybrid (cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price) contract for unified enterprise resource planning capability support services. Bids were solicited via the internet with four received. Work will be performed in Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 9, 2025. Fiscal 2020 Army working capital funds in the amount of $4,858,861 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-20-C-0005). Rigid Constructors LLC,* Opelousas, Louisiana, was awarded a $9,986,105 firm-fixed-price contract for excavation, placement of material for the construction of earthen retention dikes, installation of settlement plates, surveying, clearing, grubbing, steel culvert installation, painting and metalwork fabrication. Bids were solicited via the internet with eight received. Work will be performed in Calcasieu, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 5, 2020. Fiscal 2020 civil construction funds in the amount of $9,986,105 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W912P8-20-C-0006). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a maximum $45,085,238 firm-fixed-priced delivery order (SPRPA1-20-F-C301) against a five-year basic ordering agreement (SPRPA1-17-G-C301) for APG-79 Radar System spare parts. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S. Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is California, with a Dec. 30, 2022, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2022 Navy working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Aviation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. BAE Systems Technology Solutions & Services Inc., Rockville, Maryland, has been awarded a maximum $19,483,754 cost-plus-fixed-fee, bridge contract for automated tank gauging, independent alarm system and overfill protection equipment maintenance. This was a sole-source acquisition using justification 10 U.S .Code 2304 (c)(1), as stated in Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. This is a 19-month base contract with one three-month option period. Locations of performance are the 48 contiguous states, with a July 12, 2021, performance completion date. Using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, National Guard and Coast Guard. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2021 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Contracting Services Office, Columbus, Ohio (SP4702-20-C-0004). National Industries for the Blind, Alexandria, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $12,063,451 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract for multiple sizes of innerspring mattresses. This is a mandatory procurement contract. This is a one-year base contract with two one-year option periods. Locations of performance are North Carolina and Virginia, with a Nov. 4, 2021, performance completion date. Using military service is Navy. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE1C1-20-D-B074). Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., doing business as ADS Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia, has been awarded a maximum $7,426,101 fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for medical/surgical supplies. This was a competitive acquisition with 16 responses received. This is a five-year contract with no option periods. Location of performance is Virginia, with a Dec. 9, 2024, performance completion date. Using customers are Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and federal civilian agencies. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2025 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (SPE2DE-20-D-0009). NAVY Moonlite Construction,* Corona, California, is awarded a maximum $20,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for painting and wall coverings construction alterations, renovations and repair projects at Naval Bases Coronado, Point Loma and San Diego and Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, California. Work will be performed in San Diego, California. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of December 2024. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance, Navy (O&M, N) contract funds in the amount of $5,000 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M, N. This contract was competitively procured via the Navy Electronic Commerce Online website with five proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-20-D-0001). Windamir Development Inc., McDonough, Georgia, is awarded a $10,082,338 firm-fixed-price task order which provides for exercise of the first and second options for pier refurbishment of Pier XRay North and XRay South at Joint Base Charleston. After award of these options, the total cumulative contract value will be $17,048,056. Work will be performed in Charleston, South Carolina, and the option period is from December 2019 to July 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Air Force) funds in the amount of $10,082,338 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (N69450-19-F-0875). The Boeing Co., St. Louis, Missouri, is awarded a $9,475,825 firm-fixed-price delivery order (N00019-20-F-0283) against a previously issued basic ordering agreement (N00019-16-G-0001). This order provides Harpoon/SLAM-ER missile system and Harpoon launch systems follow-on integrated logistics and engineering services support for the Navy and various Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Work will be performed in St. Charles, Missouri (91.89%); St. Louis, Missouri (5.47%); and Yorktown, Virginia (2.64%), and is expected to be completed in February 2022. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy); and FMS funds in the amount of $9,475,825 will be obligated at time of award, $2,464,306 of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This order combines purchases for the Navy ($2,464,306; 26%); and FMS customers ($7,011,519; 74%). The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2037058/source/GovDelivery/

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