Australia initiates new programme to enhance cyber-warfare capabilities

by Oishee Majumdar

The Australian Cyber Security Centre, previously the Cyber Security Operations Centre, is responsible for analysing cyber threats as well as co-ordinating responses to cyber incidents of national importance. (Commonwealth of Australia)

The Australian government has established the REDSPICE (resilience, effects, defence, space, intelligence, cyber, enablers) programme under the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD) to enhance the country's cyber-warfare capabilities.

According to the ASD, the REDSPICE programme will receive an investment of AUD9.9 billion (USD7.4 billion) throughout the 2020s to support the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by growing and delivering asymmetric strike and offensive cyber capabilities, enabling next-generation data science and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, strengthening networks against cyber attacks, and enhancing intelligence capabilities.

The ASD said it plans to triple national cyber-offensive capabilities by supporting integration of the ADF information warfare and cyber workforce, deepening technology co-operation with allies and partners, contributing towards integrated deterrence, and increasing resilience of classified communications capabilities.

The ASD is also looking at improving foundational technologies by delivering new cloud-based cyber and intelligence systems and applications, scaling up AI and machine learning (ML) capabilities and, delivering AI-supported offensive and defensive cyber capabilities, the agency noted.


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China tests HH-100 cargo UAV

by Akhil Kadidal

AVIC's new HH-100 cargo-delivery unmanned aerial vehicle is being designed for a maximum take-off weight of 2 tons. (AVIC/Janes)

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is preparing its HH-100 large cargo unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for flight-testing.

The UAV, which has a planned maximum take-off weight (MTOW) of 2 tons, completed its high-speed automatic taxiing test at Yangchang airport in southwest China's Sichuan Province on 3 April and is being readied for its maiden flight, AVIC announced on 7 April. The programme is part of China's decade-long focus on developing unmanned logistics and cargo-transport capabilities, Janes assesses.

State-owned media said that the HH-100 prototype was fully assembled in December 2023, before being transferred to Yangchang. Taxiing tests began at the end of February 2024. The state-owned newspaper, Global Times , published a video on 7 April showing the UAV undergoing its high-speed ground trials. The UAV “demonstrated stable performance during the test”, the newspaper said.


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New Zealand plans P-8A deployment to enforce North Korea sanctions

by Akhil Kadidal

The planned deployment of an RNZAF Boeing P-8A Poseidon to Japan in mid-April 2024 to participate in the enforcement of sanctions against North Korea, is the sixth such RNZAF deployment since 2018. (New Zealand Defence Force)

New Zealand has said that it will deploy a Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Japan for the first time in support of UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions on North Korea and assist with the monitoring and surveillance of illegal ship-to-ship transfers by Pyongyang.

The deployment will see the P-8A conduct maritime surveillance and reconnaissance patrols “over international waters looking for violations of the sanctions resolutions, including illicit ship-to-ship transfers of banned goods such as oil and coal”, said Rear Admiral Jim Gilmour, commander of the Joint Forces New Zealand, on 10 April.

According to the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD), the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-8A will operate from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa from mid-April to early May.

The deployment comprises several “firsts” for the RNZAF's P-8As, according to the Air Component Commander, Air Commodore Andy Scott.


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UK seeks Next Generation Red Air pilot training

by Gareth Jennings

With interim Red Air pilot training for the UK now being provided by Draken Europe L-159E Honey Badger aircraft (pictured), the MoD is considering its next-generation requirements under the NGRA requirement. (Draken Europe)

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is seeking commercial contractors to deliver Next Generation Red Air (NGRA) pilot training for the Royal Air Force (RAF).

A tender posted by the ministry in mid-March said the effort is part of a wider modernisation of the UK's air training infrastructure taking place under Portfolio Mustang, and “is paramount to building and/or keeping maximum combat effectiveness in the air domain”.

“NGRA has an outline objective to provide red air (RA) services to the RAF for a period of up to 15 years from circa 2028,” the MoD said, noting that this represents Project 1 of Portfolio Mustang.


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