24 August 2020
by Lincoln Pigman
As he toured Central and Eastern Europe on a week-long trip in August 2020, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sounded a triumphant note. “The tide is turning, there is no doubt about that, against untrusted networks and toward the values of free nations,” he said in Prague on 12 August, touting the success of Washington’s years-long campaign against Chinese telecommunications firms Huawei and ZTE.
During the Munich Security Conference in February 2020, Pompeo referred to the companies as “Trojan horses for Chinese intelligence”. The US Department of State and FBI, among other critics, claim that Chinese firms are obligated to play this role under a 2017 law requiring Chinese citizens and companies to assist Beijing in intelligence activities.
Under US pressure in 2020, several countries have denied ‘unreliable’ suppliers, including Huawei, a role in 5G development. The most notable example of this was the United Kingdom’s reversal in June 2020 of a decision to award Huawei a role in the country’s 5G network. However, these turnarounds have mostly been limited to the West.
27 March 2024
by Michael Fabey
An artist rendering of the proposed US Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter, whose cost estimates are being questioned. (VT Halter Marine/Technology)
The accuracy of the estimated procurement cost of the proposed US Coast Guard (USCG) Polar Security Cutter (PSC), given its size and internal complexity, is a potential issue of concern, according to the US Congressional Research Service (CRS).
“The PSC's estimated procurement cost per weight is roughly half that of the [US] Navy's LPD-17 Flight II and LHA amphibious ships,” the CRS said in its report, Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (Polar Icebreaker) Program: Background and Issues for Congress , released on 25 March.
“These amphibious ships are equipped with expensive combat system equipment that is not included in the PSC design, but whether this would account for all of the difference in cost per weight between the PSC design and the two amphibious ship designs is not clear,” the CRS said. “If substantial cost growth occurs in the PSC program, it could raise a question regarding whether to grant some form of contract relief to the PSC shipbuilder.”
26 March 2024
by Gerrard Cowan
A company graphic showing Magal Solutions' integrated military base solution, featuring sensor integration into the company's Fortis X C5I software solution. (Magal Solutions)
Magal Solutions is incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) tools into its military base protection solutions to enhance data fusion and analysis capabilities, the company has told Janes.
Part of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Magal's major focus for armed forces is an integrated military base solution. This combines sensors – such as short- and long-range cameras, infrared cameras, and radars – with the company's Fortis X Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence (C5I) software solution.
Arnon Bram, CEO at Magal Solutions, said the base protection concept is broken down into “five Ds”: demarcation, deter, detect, delay, and defeat. These goals are addressed through a layered solution. The first ‘zone' comprises cameras, anti-drone systems, and advanced perimeter sensors. The second focuses on gate management, facial recognition, biometrics, and other technologies aimed at identification.
The Fortis X system is applied to integrate the wider picture and conduct data fusion and analysis, communicating with customer assets such as mobile devices, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), patrol vehicles, among others.
26 March 2024
by Gareth Jennings
After 23 years of service that has seen it conduct combat operations in Afghanistan and Libya, the WAH-64 Apache Longbow AH1 has been retired from the British Army. It is being replaced by the AH-64E V6 Apache Guardian. (Janes/Patrick Allen)
The British Army has retired its AgustaWestland-Boeing WAH-64 Apache Longbow AH1, at the same time declaring the AH-64E Version 6 (V6) Apache Guardian successor attack helicopter to be “operationally ready”.
The last of the original 67 Apache AH1 helicopters were formally withdrawn from service during a farewell flypast on 25 March. Flown by the Army Air Corps' (AAC's) 656 Squadron across 15 locations in England and Wales that are synonymous with army aviation, this event marked the end of 23 years of operations for the type that entered service in 2001.
Of the 67 Apache AH1s received, one was lost during combat operations in Afghanistan in September 2008. With the end of that mission in December 2014, 16 of the remaining 66 helicopters were put into long-term storage, with 50 retained for operational service.
As he toured Central and Eastern Europe on a week-long trip in August 2020, United States Secretary ...
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