July 3, 2023 | International, Aerospace
Israel to buy 25 more F-35 stealth jets in $3 billion deal
Israel has approved the purchase of a third squadron of F-35 stealth fighter jets in a deal worth $3 billion, the Ministry of Defense said on Sunday.
October 3, 2018 | International, C4ISR
US to offer cyberwar capabilities to NATO allies
By LOLITA C. BALDOR
BRUSSELS (AP) — Acting to counter Russia's aggressive use of cyberattacks across Europe and around the world, the U.S. is expected to announce that, if asked, it will use its formidable cyberwarfare capabilities on NATO's behalf, according to a senior U.S. official.
The announcement is expected in the coming days as U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis attends a meeting of NATO defense ministers on Wednesday and Thursday.
Katie Wheelbarger, the principal deputy assistant defense secretary for international security affairs, said the U.S. is committing to use offensive and defensive cyber operations for NATO allies, but America will maintain control over its own personnel and capabilities.
The decision comes on the heels of the NATO summit in July, when members agreed to allow the alliance to use cyber capabilities that are provided voluntarily by allies to protect networks and respond to cyberattacks. It reflects growing concerns by the U.S. and its allies over Moscow's use of cyber operations to influence elections in America and elsewhere.
“Russia is constantly pushing its cyber and information operations,” said Wheelbarger, adding that this is a way for the U.S. to show its continued commitment to NATO.
She told reporters traveling to NATO with Mattis that the move is a signal to other nations that NATO is prepared to counter cyberattacks waged against the alliance or its members.
Much like America's nuclear capabilities, the formal declaration of cyber support can help serve as a military deterrent to other nations and adversaries.
The U.S. has, for some time, considered cyber as a warfighting domain, much like air, sea, space and ground operations. In recent weeks the Pentagon released a new cybersecurity strategy that maps out a more aggressive use of military cyber capabilities. And it specifically calls out Russia and China for their use of cyberattacks.
China, it said, has been “persistently” stealing data from the public and private sector to gain an economic advantage. And it said Russia has use cyber information operations to “influence our population and challenge our diplomatic processes.” U.S. officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of interfering in the 2016 elections, including through online social media.
“We will conduct cyberspace operations to collect intelligence and prepare military cyber capabilities to be used in the event of a crisis or conflict,” the new strategy states, adding that the U.S. is prepared to use cyberwarfare along with other military weapons against its enemies when needed, including to counter malicious cyber activities targeting the country.
The document adds that the Pentagon will “work to strengthen the capacity” of allies and partners.
NATO has moved cautiously on offensive cyber capabilities. At the Warsaw Summit in 2016, allies recognized cyberspace as a warfighting domain. It has said that a computer-based attack on an ally would trigger NATO's commitment to defend its members. And last year the alliance agreed to create a new cyber operations center. But the focus has always been on defending NATO networks and those of its members, not offensive cyberwar.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that the defense ministers will have a working session this week to address cyber and other risks, and how allies can cooperate to counter such threats. He did not provide details.
On the same subject
-
-
May 22, 2020 | International, Aerospace
En Inde, Dassault voit s’éloigner tout espoir de nouvelle commande de Rafale
Dans un contexte de crise économique aggravée par le coronavirus, une bagarre se joue au sommet de l'état-major indien à propos d'un appel d'offres lancé il y a deux ans pour l'achat de 114 avions de combat. Par Guillaume Delacroix Publié le 20 mai 2020 à 09h03 - Mis à jour le 20 mai 2020 à 12h42 L'épidémie de Covid-19 fait une victime inattendue en Inde : le groupe Dassault Aviation. Celui-ci est en train de voir s'envoler ses espoirs de fournir une bonne centaine de Rafale supplémentaires au géant d'Asie du Sud. Le constructeur aéronautique français, qui a reçu commande de 36 exemplaires biplaces de cet avion de combat pour 8 milliards d'euros en septembre 2016, vient d'apprendre de la bouche du nouveau chef d'état-major des armées indiennes que l'appel d'offres international lancé en avril 2018 pour l'achat de 114 autres appareils était en passe d'être annulé. C'est un marché évalué à 1 000 milliards de roupies (12,2 milliards d'euros) qui va vraisemblablement s'évaporer. « L'Indian Air Force est en train de se réorienter vers des avions de combat légers » produits dans le sous-continent, a déclaré le général Bipin Rawat à l'agence Bloomberg, jeudi 14 mai. En l'occurrence, des Tejas LCA (Light Combat Aircraft). C'est une énorme déconvenue pour l'avionneur français, à qui l'Inde devait initialement acheter 126 Rafale, et non pas 36. Les quatre premières livraisons devaient d'ailleurs avoir lieu ce mois-ci, mais la crise sanitaire mondiale en cours l'a contraint à les reporter à juillet. D'autres constructeurs en sont pour leurs frais, qui entendaient eux aussi remettre une offre pour les 114 nouveaux avions. Parmi eux, les américains Lockheed Martin et Boeing, le suédois Saab et le russe Soukhoï. Le Tejas, avion « made in India » Confrontée à un ralentissement économique historique en 2019, avec une croissance du produit intérieur brut (PIB) à moins de 5 % – alors qu'elle approchait 9 % il y a un peu plus de deux ans –, l'économie indienne prend de plein fouet les effets de l'épidémie liée au coronavirus et risque désormais de tomber en récession. Dans ces conditions, Delhi n'a plus les moyens de s'équiper auprès de fournisseurs étrangers, a fait comprendre dès la fin du mois d'avril le premier ministre, Narendra Modi, en affirmant que le pays ne se relèverait qu'en produisant « local ». https://www.lemonde.fr/economie/article/2020/05/20/en-inde-dassault-voit-s-eloigner-tout-espoir-de-nouvelle-commande-de-rafale_6040216_3234.html
-
November 25, 2024 | International, Aerospace
US DoD considers Nuclear Posture Review update amid rising threats
The US Department of Defense (DoD) is considering revising the 2022 Nuclear Posture Review to maintain effective nuclear deterrence amid perceived growing threats from China and Russia and the potential absence of nuclear arms control agreements after February 2025.