June 14, 2018 | International, C4ISR
WASHINGTON — European military and staff planners from Belgium to Bulgaria gathered this week in Austria to take part in Cyber Phalanx 2018. The exercise, which involved 27 nations, aimed to strengthen European readiness against cyberattacks, with a special focus on “cyber defense decision-making and planning processes,” according to the European Defense Agency announcement.
The heads of Britain and Germany's domestic intelligence agencies joined European Union officials to warn of an expanded use of cyber to undermine democratic processes by Russia. Countries like Finland have identified cyber espionage as a top threat to the survival of national technology companies.
While the EU has organized little in the way of cyber exercises, the Cyber Phalanx exercise won't be the first among European allies to focus on cyber readiness and training.
NATO has taken the lead in preparing member nations for cyber threats, organizing exercises like Crossed Swords for members to gain experience with cyber-kinetic operations involving drones and 5G networks.
The alliance also recently declared success at its Locked Shields exercise after NATO cyber specialists defended a theoretical country's electric power grid, communication networks and other critical infrastructure from thousands of cyberattacks.
NATO has also led the EU in discussions of a response to a cyberattack, even raising the possibility of treating a digital transgression as an act of war.
Now, the issue may be warranting more attention from European organizations. Hosted by the EDA and the Multinational Capability Development Campaign (MCDC), Cyber Phalanx seeks to help the participants from various nations familiarize themselves with existing European online structures and their respective roles as cyber stakeholders.
As governments around the world contemplate how to recognize the next threat to their networks, the exercises in Austria also will hopefully “increase interoperability” among experts and governments in Europe.
Planners will also be prepared to address previously overlooked aspects of cyberwarfare, such as fake news or social media that might be used to compromise planning or execution.
As the pilot Cyber Phalanx, the exercises will draw on the feedback received from participants, trainers and organizers to adapt the course and improve the concept for future iterations. The exercises concluded June 8, with lessons learned incorporated into the training curriculum for future European cyber experts.
January 21, 2024 | International, Aerospace
The LGM-35A Sentinel nuclear missile has seen its costs increase at least 37%, triggering a review that could see the program restructured or canceled.
May 11, 2020 | International, C4ISR, Security
Défense Cyberdéfense : la France, «nation la plus forte dans l'Union européenne» Le général de division aérienne Didier Tisseyre, commandant de la cyberdéfense, s'exprime dans La Tribune. Il estime que la France est «la nation la plus forte dans l'Union européenne» dans le domaine de la cyberdéfense. Il relève notamment que la France a su rester souveraine sur le plan du chiffrement : «ce sont des chiffreurs français, avec des composants français, toute une procédure française», note-t-il. La France s'est dotée d'une doctrine de lutte informatique offensive à des fins militaires. Pour le général, «celui qui maîtrisera le cyberespace aura un avantage, non seulement pour se protéger, mais aussi pour assurer sa supériorité opérationnelle». Une supériorité opérationnelle qui peut être remise en question avec les nouvelles technologies comme l'intelligence artificielle : «nous avons bien conscience des enjeux et travaillons énormément dans le domaine des IA», assure le général Tisseyre. La Tribune du 11 mai
September 24, 2019 | International, Aerospace
Adaptive engine technology faces its first major funding crisis as a 13-year-long, $4 billion investment by the U.S. Defense Department approaches a key milestone. Senate appropriators have threatened to reduce the fiscal 2020 budget for the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP) by nearly one-third. The $270 million cut would be “pretty devastating,” says David Tweedie, general manager of GE's advanced combat engine program. https://aviationweek.com/defense/us-air-force-faces-next-generation-engine-funding-crisis