Data and rockets: US military eyes new tech to supply far-flung forces

On the same subject

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  December 24, 2018 | International, Aerospace, C4ISR

  Airports to go on counter-attack with 'killer' devices and bazookas

  The Telegraph, Charles Hymas All Britain airports are increasing or reviewing their defences because of fears of copycat attacks ... following the chaos at Gatwick that ruined the travel plans of 140,000 people Britain's major airports are to step up security with military-grade detection systems that would help them counter Gatwick-style drone incidents by launching their own “killer drones” or shooting them down with firearms. The move emerged as Sajid Javid, the Home Secretary, Chris Grayling, the Transport Secretary, and Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, prepared to meet today (Monday) to review progress on the police investigation and measures to protect the public from future attacks. All airports in Britain are increasing or reviewing their defences because of fears of copycat attacks, according to Whitehall sources, following the chaos at Gatwick that ruined the travel plans of 140,000 people. Gatwick is expected to be the first to operate detection technology designed to be as sophisticated as that being used by the crack RAF and Army signals teams deployed to the airport last week. It allows personnel to detect, track and photograph drones at a distance of more than 1km and up to 5km. Whitehall sources said options for countering the threat included airports deploying their own drones, firing bazookas with projectiles that trapped them in nets, or deploying police with shotguns to shoot them down. The military team was due to remain at Gatwick until the airport's own defence system was operational, possibly for the two weeks over Christmas. Stewart Wingate, the chief executive of Gatwick, said: “We are equipping ourselves with capabilities to detect and defeat drones.” A Whitehall source said: “The first thing is to detect when a drone is coming in and having enough distance in which to do that. Second is being able to track the signal.” The Metis Skyperion technology, thought to be used by the military, deploys cameras, laser rangefinders, radar and radio frequency scanners to pinpoint the drone. To install a similar system at a major airport could cost up to pounds 5m, according to one expert. To track the drone to its operator would require additional sensors that even the military has not deployed at Gatwick. Finding the culprit becomes easier if they remain in sight of their device. Gatwick declined to reveal the measures it was considering to “defeat” or “disrupt” any further attacks. Police at Heathrow are testing a SkyWall 100 bazooka, a shoulder-launched weapon that fires a projectile containing a net. “Some of the airports are putting up enhanced firearms capabilities, most are doing increased police patrols inside and outside,” said a Whitehall source. “Airports are also assessing and monitoring potential launch sites.” Legislation will be rushed through in the new year to enable electronic jamming by airports, bigger drone exclusion zones and new police powers. https://nationalpost.com/news/world/airports-to-go-on-counter-attack-with-killer-devices-and-bazookas

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  July 31, 2019 | International, Aerospace, Security

  The next cybersecurity concern for NATO? Space

  By: Kelsey Reichmann A new report warns that the cybersecurity vulnerabilities related to military space systems, specifically terminals and command-and-control systems, deserves renewed attention from NATO countries. The report, titled “Cybersecurity of NATO's Spaced-based Strategic Assets,” was produced by Chatham House, which is part of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a policy institute in London. The paper, by Beyza Unal, was released July 1. “There is an urgent need to study and address cyber-related challenges to strategic assets within NATO and its key member countries, particularly the cyberthreat to space-based command and control systems,” the report read. “The increasing vulnerability of space-based assets, ground stations, associated command and control systems, and the personnel who manage the systems, has not yet received the attention it deserves.” The report highlights cybersecurity vulnerabilities to space systems used by countries in the NATO alliance, notably singling out commercial products used in military operations as a particular risk. These vulnerabilities can come from back-door encryption, supply chain security, and personnel and procedural practices, according to the report. NATO uses space assets to defend territory, peacekeeping missions, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counterterrorism, and conflict prevention. “There is an increasing need to apply higher-grade military hardening and cyber protection specifications to civilian capabilities that have the potential to be used in support of military applications,” the report read. “If military standards are not met, items procured from commercial industry with design flaws may expose NATO's systems to additional vulnerabilities." The report also points to the importance of securing satellite terminals. “Terminals located in ground stations constitute a critical vulnerability, as a terminal is an access point to a satellite and is usually not protected by authentication in order not to hinder operational actions,” the report said. “Terminals house software systems that can be compromised and require patching and upgrading.” Data flowing between satellites, especially ground stations, can become vulnerable, according to the report. “Adversaries infiltrating ground- or space-based systems could exploit weak software implementation, or the incompatibility of network or data transfer protocols in the chain,” the report read. “While the absence of data is easy to detect, the manipulation of data or erosion of confidentiality at such an interface is potentially more difficult to discern.” Among the report's recommendations is that NATO strengthen its cyber defense through increased collaboration between the public and private sector. This would allow for more timely information sharing of cyberthreats. The report also urges NATO to emphasize that commercial manufacturers meet basic cybersecurity standards and possibly more stringent military protection standards. “In the future, military systems will be increasingly connected to non-military systems,” the report stated. “This has important implications for the laws of armed conflict, as the combination of civilian, commercial and military capabilities in the cyber domain and space raises the risk that civilian capabilities used for military purposes qualify as legitimate military targets.” https://www.fifthdomain.com/international/2019/07/30/the-next-cybersecurity-concern-for-nato-space/

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  December 14, 2022 | International, C4ISR

  Pentagon’s AI ambitions require high-quality data, CDAO’s Martell says

  Established in December 2021, the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office hit its first full strides in June.