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November 2, 2024 | International, C4ISR, Security

Microsoft Warns of Chinese Botnet Exploiting Router Flaws for Credential Theft

Chinese botnet Storm-0940 exploits routers, targets Microsoft users with covert password spray attacks.

https://thehackernews.com/2024/11/microsoft-warns-of-chinese-botnet.html

On the same subject

  • Sweden ups defense budget 40% due to regional tensions

    December 17, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Sweden ups defense budget 40% due to regional tensions

    By: The Associated Press STOCKHOLM — Sweden's parliament on Tuesday approved a 40 percent increase in the defense budget for 2021-2025 because of tensions in the Baltic Sea region in recent years, with officials saying Russia is the main reason for the move. The 349-member Riksdag assembly approved the largest hike in 70 years, bringing the annual defense budget by 2025 to 89 billion kronor (U.S. $11 billion). Defence Minister Peter Hultquist told the assembly before the series of votes that “it is the largest investment since the 1950s.” The proposal was put forward in October by Sweden's two-party Social Democrat-Green Party minority government, and it received immediate backing from two smaller opposition groups. The government described it as sending a signal after Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, repeated airspace violations by Russian military aircraft in the neighboring Baltics and a military buildup in Russia's exclave of Kaliningrad, which sits across the Baltic Sea from Sweden. “There is much to suggest that Russia's military capabilities in absolute terms will increase throughout the next 10-year period,” the adopted proposal read. The plan will see the armed forces grow from the current 55,000 positions to 90,000 by 2030. Several disbanded regiments will be reestablished and the number of conscripts will increase to 8,000 annually, which is a doubling compared with 2019. The Navy will receive new equipment and there will be upgrades in armament. Sweden currently spends 1.1 percent of gross domestic product on defense. Guidelines issued by NATO, of which Sweden isn't a member, advise that members spend 2 percent, although many do not achieve that target. In December 2017, Sweden decided to establish the nation's first new military regiment since World War II — a unit of 350 soldiers based on the strategically important Baltic Sea island of Gotland. In the same year, Sweden also introduced a selective military draft for men and women, having previously abolished a men-only draft in 2010. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2020/12/15/sweden-ups-defense-budget-40-due-to-regional-tensions/

  • CAE awarded contract to provide U.S. Customs & Border Protection with aircraft pilot training services

    February 11, 2021 | International, Aerospace, Security

    CAE awarded contract to provide U.S. Customs & Border Protection with aircraft pilot training services

    On Feb. 9 at the CAE OneWorld virtual conference and tradeshow, CAE announced that CAE USA has been awarded a contract to provide United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with Aircraft Pilot Training Services. CAE USA will serve as one of the prime contractors on the indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract awarded by CBP. CAE USA will leverage the CAE Dothan Training Center and CAE's commercial and business aviation training centers to deliver simulator and live flight training services on a range of fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms. CAE is featuring a 3D virtual walkthrough of its Dothan Training Center in the Innovation Hub as part of the CAE OneWorld 2021 virtual conference and tradeshow, which began today and is free to all attendees who register at https://www.caeoneworld2021.com. CAE OneWorld 2021 will be available online for the next month. CBP is the unified border agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of the United States borders. CBP is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations. “The award of the Aircraft Pilot Training Services program for Customs and Border Protection demonstrates CAE's unique ability to leverage both our defense and civil aviation businesses to deliver pilot training across numerous aircraft platforms,” said Dan Gelston, Group President, Defense & Security, CAE. “We look forward to supporting a key organization within the Department of Homeland Security and showcasing CAE's training experience and expertise.” CAE USA will be responsible for coordinating and delivering generic and aircraft-specific training to meet CBP and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certifications for pilots operating a variety of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft. CAE will deliver ground school (academic) and simulator training as well as live flight and other training to meet CBP and FAA requirements. Training will be delivered on multiple variants of the Beechcraft King Air (C-12) aircraft, Bombardier Dash-8 and Lockheed Martin/Sikorsky S-76B helicopter. In addition, CAE will deliver a range of flight instructor qualification and non-specific pilot and aircrew training courses. These include single and multi-engine fundamentals, ab-initio training and upset recovery training. This press release was prepared and distributed by CAE. https://skiesmag.com/press-releases/cae-awarded-contract-to-provide-u-s-customs-border-protection-with-aircraft-pilot-training-services/

  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 11, 2020

    June 12, 2020 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - June 11, 2020

    DEFENSE MICROELECTRONICS ACTIVITY Lockheed Martin Corp., Owego, New York (HQ0727-16-D-0001); BAE Systems Information and Electronics, Nashua, New Hampshire (HQ0727-16-D-0002); General Dynamics Mission Systems, Bloomington, Minnesota (HQ0727-16-D-0003); Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Linthicum Heights, Maryland (HQ0727-16-D-0004); Cobham Advanced Electronics Solutions Inc., Lansdale, Pennsylvania (HQ0727-16-D-0005); Raytheon Co., El Segundo, California (HQ0727-16-D-0006); The Boeing Co., Hazelwood, Missouri (HQ0727-16-D-0007); and Honeywell International Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico (HQ0727-16-D-0008), are being awarded a maximum $10,271,000,000 modification on existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, Advanced Technology Support Program IV (ATSP4) contracts. The modification raises the ceiling on the current ATSP4 contracts from $7,200,000,000 to $17,471,000,000. ATSP4 are multiple-award, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts for engineering services designed to resolve problems with obsolete, unreliable, unmaintainable, underperforming, or incapable electronics hardware and software through development of advanced technology insertions and applications to meet the requirements of the Department of Defense for a quick reaction capability. With all options exercised, the ordering period goes until March 31, 2026. The contracts were competitively procured via a February 2015 solicitation resulting in nine proposals and eight awards. No funds are being obligated on award. Funding will occur through individual task orders. The Defense Microelectronics Activity, McClellan, California, is the contracting activity. NAVY Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded a $368,194,942 not-to-exceed, undefinitized contract modification (P00036) to previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-firm-target, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification provides for the procurement of five F-35A Lightning II lot 14 aircraft, one F-35B lot 14 combat aircrafts and associated red gear for the government of Italy. It also authorizes the common capability scope of work at the Final Assembly and Checkout Facility in Cameri, Italy. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (35%); Cameri, Italy (28%); El Segundo, California (15%); Warton, United Kingdom (8%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (1.3%) and various locations outside the continental U.S. (0.7%). Work is expected to be complete by June 2023. Non-Department of Defense funds for $184,429,857 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. DRS Systems Inc., Melbourne, Florida, is awarded a $120,009,046 not-to-exceed, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price, cost undefinitized contract to provide non-recurring engineering to design, develop, integrate and test engineering development models and production representative models of weapons replaceable assemblies for the AN/AAQ-45 Distributed Aperture Infrared Countermeasure system. Work will be performed in Dallas, Texas (61%); San Diego, California (31%); Fort Walton Beach, Florida (7%); and Melbourne, Florida (1%), and is expected to be complete by June 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $23,497,884 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-20-C-0041). Harper Construction Co. Inc., San Diego, California, is awarded a $65,165,290 firm-fixed-price contract for the design and construction of a high-bay maintenance hangar for the Bell Boeing V-22 aircraft at Naval Base Coronado. The contract also contains one unexercised option and two planned modifications, which will increase the cumulative contract value to $66,148,955, if exercised. Work will be performed in San Diego, California. The work to be performed provides for the design and construction of a steel-framed and high-bay maintenance hangar for aircraft, to include one and a half modules of hangar space and associated airfield pavement for aircraft ingress and egress to hangars. The new facility will contain high-bay space, shops and maintenance space, operation, training, administrative space and supporting site infrastructure improvements. The project also includes construction of a hangar access apron. The option, if exercised, provides for reconstruction of the existing north parking lot. The planned modifications, if issued, provide for furniture, fixtures and audiovisual equipment. Work is expected to be complete by January 2023. Fiscal 2019 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $644,756 and fiscal 2020 military construction (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $64,520,534 are obligated on this award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website and seven proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity (N62473-20-C-0553). Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded $31,065,000 for a not-to-exceed, undefinitized contract modification (P00006) to previously issued order 0097 against basic ordering agreement N00019-14-G-0020. This modification provides supplier non-recurring engineering, development of design documentation and the creation of modification instructions for the developmental test fleet in support of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft for the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and non-Department of Defense (DOD) participants. Work will be performed in El Segundo, California (85%); and Fort Worth, Texas (15%). These efforts will support service life extensions and enable the developmental test fleet to maintain currency with delivered technology. Work is expected to be complete by February 2022. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,698,820; fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation (Air Force) funds in the amount of $3,698,820 and non-DOD participant funds in the amount of $1,602,360 will be obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity. Fukunaga & Associates Inc.,* Honolulu, Hawaii, is awarded a $30,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, architect-engineering contract with a maximum amount of $30,000,000 for architect-engineer services for various utility projects and other projects primarily under the cognizance of Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii. The initial task order is being awarded at $929,417 for the replacement of a 24-inch waterline at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The work to be performed provides for architect-engineer services for utility projects with associated multi-discipline architect-engineer support services. The type of design and engineering services expected to be performed under this contract are primarily for request for proposal (RFP) documentation for the design-bid-build utility projects with associated multi-discipline architect-engineering support services for new construction, alteration, repair and installation of mechanical systems and associated facilities. Other design and engineering services may include, but are not limited to, design-build RFP documentation, engineering investigations/concept studies, functional analysis concept development/charrettes and post construction award services. Work for this task order is expected to be complete by March 2021. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Navy) (O&M,N) contract funds in the amount of $929,417 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The term of the contract is not to exceed 60 months with an expected completion date of June 2025. Future task orders will be primarily funded by O&M,N funds. This contract was competitively procured via the beta.SAM website and two proposals were received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Hawaii, is the contracting activity (N62478-20-D-5037). Leidos Inc., Reston, Virginia, is awarded a $7,456,371 firm-fixed-price and cost reimbursement task order under the General Services Administration One Acquisition Solution for Integrated Services (GSA OASIS). This indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract is also for a wide range of operational, analytical and management support services in support of the U.S. Marine Corps Central Command. Work will be performed in Tampa, Florida (90%); and Bahrain (10%). Work is expected to be complete by June 2021. If all options are exercised, work will continue through December 2025. This task order includes a 12-month base period, four 12-month option periods and one six-month option period, which, will bring the cumulative value of this task order to $48,846,236 if exercised. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $7,456,371 will be obligated at the time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This task order was competitively solicited via the GSA OASIS Pool 1 and four proposals were received. The Marine Corps Installations National Capital Region-Regional Contracting Office, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M00264-20-F-0227). ARMY INTEC Group LLC,* Paducah, Kentucky (W912QR20D0021); Dawn Inc.,* Warren, Ohio (W912QR-20-D-0022); RJ Runge,* Port Clinton, Ohio (W912QR-20-D-0023); G.M. Hill Engineering Inc.,* Jacksonville, Florida (W912QR-20-D-0024); and Nisou LGC JV LLC,* Detroit, Michigan (W912QR-20-D-0025), will compete for each order of the $45,000,000 firm-fixed-price contract for Great Lakes and Ohio River Division mission boundaries construction services. Bids were solicited via the internet with 16 received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of June 10, 2023. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity. Dyncorp International LLC, Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a $22,161,082 hybrid (cost-no-fee, cost-plus-fixed-fee, time-and-materials) contract modification (P00055) for aviation maintenance services. Bids were solicited via the internet with five received. Work will be performed Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Afghanistan; and Iraq with an estimated completion date of Nov. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance (Army) funds in the amount of $22,161,082 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-19-C-0025). Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC, Plymouth, Minnesota, was awarded a $16,986,480 modification (P00074) to contract W15QKN-13-C-0074 for Global Positioning System receiver for precision guidance kit M1156. Work will be performed in Plymouth, Minnesota, with an estimated completion date of June 3, 2024. Fiscal 2020 procurement of ammunition (Army) funds in the amount of 16,986,480 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Newark, New Jersey, is the contracting activity. U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND T3i Inc., Imperial Beach, California, was awarded a $26,413,688 maximum single award “C” type contract (H92240-20-C-0003) with options included to extend services for survival, evasion, resistance, escape and personnel recovery training in support of Naval Special Warfare Command (NSWC) enterprise requirements. Fiscal 2020 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $384,347 are being obligated at the time of award. The work will be performed in various locations in the U.S. and may continue through fiscal 2026, if all options are exercised. The contract was awarded competitively using Federal Acquisition Regulation Part 15 procedures with six proposals received. NSWC, Coronado, California, is the contracting activity. DEFENSE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp., Cambridge, Massachusetts, was awarded a $12,039,376 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a research project under the Fast Network Interface Cards (FastNICs) program. The FastNICs program will speed up applications such as the distributed training of machine learning classifiers by 100 times through the development, implementation, integration and validation of novel, clean-slate network subsystems. Work will be performed in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Seattle, Washington, with an expected completion date of June 2024. Fiscal 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $1,670,000 are being obligated at time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition under an open broad agency announcement and eight offers were received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-20-C-0089). DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Oshkosh Defense LLC, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, has been awarded a maximum $10,836,726 firm-fixed-price, requirements contract for pneumatic tires for palletized load system vehicle wheels. This was a competitive acquisition with one response received. This is a three-year contract with no option periods. Locations of performance are Wisconsin and New Jersey, with a June 10, 2023, performance completion date. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2020 through 2023 Army working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime, Warren, Michigan (SPRDL1-20-D0065). *Small Business https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Contracts/Contract/Article/2217371/source/GovDelivery/

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