The U.S. Department of State has approved a foreign military sale to the United Kingdom for the High Gain Measurement System equipment and support. The U.K.’s request, valued at about $125 million, covers the acquisition of an HGMS system fitted with off-aspect mid-frequency line arrays. It also includes spare components, such as acoustic sensors and...
Category: Europe
Open Cosmos, ESA Partner to Better Understand Earth’s Magnetic Field
Small satellite manufacturer Open Cosmos announced that it has secured a contract from the European Space Agency to provide three cubesats for the NanoMagSat mission. According to the United Kingdom-based company, each Open Cosmos spacecraft will feature advanced payloads, such as a miniaturized absolute magnetometer coupled with star cameras on top of a deployable boom...
UK Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Introduces New Facility to Improve Cyber Posture
The United Kingdom’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has opened the Group Cyberspace Collaboration Centre, a space under the agency’s portfolio of digital and cyber capabilities. “The GCCC is further enhancing our collective ability to keep us safe, secure, resilient and sustainable in cyberspace, enabling us to work together more closely means we can defend as one,...
UK MoD Selects Airbus to Upgrade Modems for Skynet Network
Airbus has secured a contract with the U.K. Ministry of Defence to supply advanced modems for the Skynet satellite communications network. The new hardware, called Future Protected Modem-A, will replace the existing Paradigm Modem System and support both the operational Skynet 5 satellites and the upcoming Skynet 6A satellite. The modems, manufactured in the United...
Air Force B-52H Bomber Conducts Simulated Weapons Drop in Finland
The U.S. Air Force deployed two B-52H Stratofortress bombers in Finland on Nov. 25 to perform a simulated weapons drop, along with Finnish F/A-18C Hornets and Swedish Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripens, as part of Bomber Task Force 25-1. The exercise, which presented Finland’s role as a NATO ally, contributed to strengthening the alliance’s...
US-Lithuania Nuclear Energy Pact Eyes Small Modular Reactors
The United States and Lithuania have signed a strategic cooperation agreement to develop civil nuclear energy in the Baltic nation focused on deploying fourth-generation small modular reactors, or SMRs. The pact, signed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and visiting Lithuanian Minister of Energy Dainius Kreivys in Washington on Tuesday, is vital to U.S. efforts...
Belgian National, Regional Governments Select Zivver Platform to Prevent Data Leaks
Federal and regional governments in Belgium have selected Zivver to provide secure digital communications to ensure compliance with regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation and NIS2. Under a framework deal, public sector entities will have access to the Dutch security company’s email and file exchange platform built with encryption, authentication and security layers...
Norway, US Discuss Drone Acquisition for Arctic Defense
Norway is in talks with the United States about its acquisition plans for a new long-range, aerial maritime surveillance drone for its forces in the high north. Anne Marie Aanerud, state secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, told Breaking Defense that the consultation is part of Oslo’s evaluation of potential acquisition options. “As part...
Australia Confirms MHI, Thyssenkrupp Down-Selection for Future Frigates Project
Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and German firm Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems are now eligible to secure a contract for designing future general-purpose frigates for Australia. The Australian Ministry of Defence formally announced the down-selection on Monday. Earlier, the Australian Financial Review reported that the Albanese government has narrowed down the list of contractors eligible for...
UK Minister Warns Against Russian Cyberattack on Countries Supporting Ukraine
Pat McFadden, British minister for intergovernmental relations, has warned NATO allies against Russian cyber criminals targeting countries supporting Ukraine, Reuters reported. In a speech at the NATO Cyber Defence Conference in London on Monday, McFadden, who as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is the highest ranking minister in Keir Stamer’s Cabinet, discussed how malicious...