The United States has unmasked and indicted a Russian national allegedly involved in the creation of the LockBit ransomware, which has targeted over 2,000 victims and collected millions of dollars in ransom money. On Tuesday, the Department of Justice unsealed a 26-count indictment against Dimitry Yuryevich Khoroshev, also known as “LockBitSupp” and “putinkrab.” “As part...
Category: Defense Security Cooperation
SSC Partners With Perigee to Develop Joint Orbital Satellite Launch Service
Swedish Space Corp. and South Korean rocket company Perigee have teamed up to offer a joint satellite launch service at Esrange Space Center in northern Sweden. SSC owns and operates the space center, which will host its first orbital flight in 2025 with Perigee’s Blue Whale 1 rocket. Under the partnership, SSC and Perigee will...
Finland Moving Military Equipment Out of Russia’s Reach
Finland has been long planning to store some of its military equipment and defense capabilities out of Russia’s reach, according to Finnish officials. Jarmo Lindberg, a member of the parliament and formerly chief of defense, told Breaking Defense on Monday that the decision to store war materials in Norway and Sweden was prompted by Moscow’s...
Lithuania, Netherlands Discuss Joint Efforts to Maintain Regional Security
The defense ministers of Lithuania and the Netherlands have affirmed their commitment to strengthening security in the Baltic region. During a meeting with his Lithuanian counterpart Laurynas Kasciunas, Dutch Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren revealed that Amsterdam is extending its participation in the enhanced Forward Presence Battalion Battle Group Lithuania for another two years. The...
Malaysia to Acquire Modern Targeting Pods for F/A-18D Fleet
The United States has agreed to sell modern targeting systems for Malaysia’s fleet of F/A-18D fighters. Under a proposed $80 million agreement approved by the Department of State, the U.S. government will supply the Royal Malaysian Air Force with 10 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper advanced targeting pods. As requested by Kuala Lumpur, the deal will also provide...
Northrop Grumman Secures $170M Contract for Triton Drone Maintenance for US Navy, RAAF
The U.S. Department of Defense has awarded Northrop Grumman a $169.7 million contract to provide sustainment engineering and logistics services for the U.S. Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force’s MQ-4C Triton uncrewed aircraft system. The RAAF is contributing $19.5 million in the contract’s funding. The contract order, released Monday with Naval Air Systems Command...
Defense Leaders Condemn Destabilizing Activities, Missile Launches in East Asia
The top defense officials of the United States, Australia and Japan expressed their opposition to “concerning and destabilizing” activities in East Asia during the 13th Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting in Hawaii on Thursday. Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd...
US Treasury Blocks Assets of Hezbollah Financial Backer’s Accomplices in Sanctions Avoidance
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has blocked all American property interests of several persons who were found helping Hassan Moukalled and his money-changer company CTEX Exchange avoid U.S. sanctions for supporting the Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah. The department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control identified two of Moukalled’s sons, Firas and Rayyan, as among his...
US, Sweden Agree to Closely Cooperate on Addressing Cyber Challenges
The United States and Sweden have agreed to closely cooperate on matters related to cyberthreats. Tobias Billstrom, Swedish minister of foreign affairs, said following a bilateral dialogue in Washington, D.C., on Thursday that collaborating with the U.S. on cyber and digital issues contributes to a safer Sweden and complements the country’s membership with the European...
US Marines Expect Two More Recon Watercraft From Australian Maker
The U.S. Marine Corps will receive two more vessels from The Whiskey Project Group this summer after the Australian company delivered the first two boats in early 2024. Pat O’Mara, assessment manager of the USMC’s Multi-Mission Reconnaissance Craft program, said at a defense conference in Washington on Thursday that the additional units would enable the...