The THeMIS unmanned ground vehicles from Estonian manufacturer Milrem Robotics have delivered “the most important benefit” of avoiding casualties in the Ukrainian armed forces, according to Juri Pajuste, in charge of the company’s Ukrainian program. The ground-based armed drone is used for anti-tank mine clearing and unexploded ordnance removal, as well as transporting equipment to areas...
Author: Arthur McMiler (Arthur McMiler)
Indonesian Defense Ministry Taps BlackSky for Space-Based Intelligence Solutions
Indonesia’s Ministry of Defense has awarded BlackSky Technology a contract worth over $1 million for access to the Herndon, Virginia-based company’s space-based, high-frequency imagery and analytics services. Under the contract, the Indonesian ministry gains a multi-year subscription to BlackSky’s Assured access program that guarantees dawn-to-dusk delivery of imagery within a predefined area of interest. The...
GAO Urges Better Coordination on Screening Federal Funding for Foreign Research Projects
A Government Accountability Office study has identified gaps in evaluating federal funding for foreign research projects that could bring risks to U.S. national security. While awarding agencies generally blacklist foreign terrorist groups and specially designated persons and entities, the GAO study showed that government databases on blacklisted groups and individuals lack standard identifying information, such...
US Commerce Department Revives President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration
The U.S. Department of Commerce is seeking membership nominations to the newly reestablished President’s Export Council Subcommittee on Export Administration, according to a Federal Register announcement by the department’s Bureau of Industry and Security. The PECSEA advises the department secretary on matters related to the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 and other laws and...
Lockheed Moves Closer to In-Country Manufacturing for Polish PAC-3 Missile Project
Lockheed Martin has moved closer to its goal of in-country manufacturing in Poland for the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missile system, with several milestones under the Polish PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement program completed in 2023, a company executive said. Anna Ortylewski, Lockheed’s Polish PAC-3 MSE program head, added that the year’s program gains also support PAC-3’s...
Australia Joins Military Exercise Focused on Indo-Pacific Anti-Submarine Mission Capabilities
The Royal Australian Air Force sent two P-8A Poseidon aircraft and 51 airmen to the Sea Dragon 2024 exercise that the U.S. Navy is hosting at Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, from Jan. 8 to 24. The exercise, which also includes representatives from the United States, India, South Korea and Japan, is focused on anti-submarine...
Estonia Receives Polish Short-Range Air Defense System Order From Mesko
The Estonian military has received the delivery of the Piorun short-range air defense system from Polish defense technology company Mesko. The weapon will be deployed for use by a wartime detachment under the command of the Estonian Defense Forces. Piorun, which Poland began using in 2019, is a man-portable weapon system with a range of...
White House Industry Conference Explores New Tech Solutions to Further Boost War Support for Ukraine
The Biden administration convened a meeting with executives of venture capital firms on Monday to explore new technologies to help Ukraine in its war against Russia. During the conference, National Security Council members met with representatives from defense technology companies, which included Palantir, Anduril Industries and drone manufacturer Skydio. According to an administration official, National...
Christoph Ruffner To Lead Thales Germany as CEO
Paris-based global technology conglomerate Thales Group has appointed Christoph Ruffner as Thales Germany’s CEO and country director, effective Jan. 1. Ruffner will work under Philippe Duhamel, Thales executive vice president for defense mission systems. His predecessor, Oliver Dorre, who left Thales on Dec. 31, is set to join defense electronics company Hensoldt as its CEO starting...
US Alliance Beefs Up Data Interoperability in Third Tactical Environment Summit
U.S. military zero trust experts conferred with their allied counterparts during the third Security Interoperability in the Tactical Environment summit to accelerate data sharing in various strategic scenarios. The U.S. allies that participated in the event held in Suffolk, Virginia, included the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Japan and South Korea. According to a...