Social media disinformation disrupts EU missions worldwide

by Brooks Tigner

Disinformation campaigns that target the EU’s military and civil security missions in Africa and elsewhere to undermine their credibility are rising, according to EU officials. A new approach to analyse and counter the problem will be launched in the coming months.

“The simple fact is all our missions are being targeted by disinformation,” said Admiral Hervé Bléjean, head of the EU Military Staff and its operational headquarters, Military Planning and Conduct Capability (MPCC). Adm Bléjean and others addressed their remarks to a 16 November meeting of the European Parliament’s sub-committee on security and defence (SEDE).

For example, Bléjean said that Operation ‘EUNAVFOR MED IRINI’, the EU’s naval mission in the Mediterranean to enforce the UN arms embargo on Libya, regularly contends with disinformation from Turkey “which uses any ambiguity to its advantage” in the region, while in Mali – where the EU has a mission to train Malian troops – the problems tend to come from disgruntled locals who circulate rumours linked to anti-colonial sentiment.


        A boarding team from the German frigate 
        Hamburg
         arrives to inspect the merchant vessel 
        Royal Diamond 7
        , which was carrying jet fuel from the United Arab Emirates to the Libyan city of Benghazi, on 10 September 2020. The operation was part of ‘EUNAVFOR MED IRINI’, launched in May. 
       (EUNAVFOR MED IRINI/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)


Get the full article by
Already a Janes subscriber? Keep reading


Israel announces that Oron intelligence aircraft is operational

by Yaakov Lappin & Jeremy Binnie

Oron arriving at Nevatim Air Base in April 2023. (Israeli Air Force)

The Oron intelligence-gathering aircraft is carrying out missions in support of Operation ‘Iron Swords' against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 26 March.

“The aircraft became operational quickly for use in Operation ‘Iron Swords' and has already recorded hundreds of operational flight hours and close to 100 sorties,” the MoD said in a statement.

Developed by the MoD's Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D), Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), and the Israeli Air Force (IAF), the Oron is a Gulfstream G550 business jet equipped with an advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar produced by IAI subsidiary Elta, as well as electro-optical and signals intelligence (SIGINT) sensors and advanced data-processing systems.

“What makes Oron unique is its ability to perform a wide range of intelligence missions in the same sortie and to transmit in real time to all relevant entities,” the MoD's statement said. It added that the aircraft can collect a larger volume of information than any other Israeli platform.


Get the full article by
Already a Janes subscriber? Keep reading


Australia passes law to boost AUKUS defence trade

by Jon Grevatt

New Australian legislation aims to support defence trade between partners working on the AUKUS submarine. A visual concept of the submarine is pictured above. (BAE Systems)

Australia's parliament passed legislation on 27 March that will support the country's AUKUS partnership with the United Kingdom and United States but toughen rules on the transfer of technologies to other foreign countries.

The Department of Defence (DoD) in Canberra said the new Defence Trade Controls Amendment Act 2024 (DTC Act) will enhance the protection of “Australian technology and information as well as that of key partners”.

It added that the law will “fast-track the delivery of high-end capabilities to the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by streamlining trade and collaboration with our AUKUS partners, maintaining Australia's capability edge”.

The cornerstone of the legislation, which amends the existing Defence Trade Controls Act 2012, is the easing of red tape in defence trade between AUKUS partners by supporting the establishment of a “licence-free environment for Australian industry”, the DoD said.


Get the full article by
Already a Janes subscriber? Keep reading


New Zealand launches experimental military communications payload into space

by Oishee Majumdar

Rocket Lab's Electron launch vehicle taking off from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on 21 March. The rocket carried a US satellite, which includes an experimental communications payload developed by the NZDF. (Rocket Lab)

The New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has launched an experimental communications payload into orbit with the help of a research satellite developed by the US Navy's (USN's) Naval Postgraduate School (NPS).

This communications payload, named ‘Korimako', will “allow defence scientists to conduct space communications research”, the NZDF said on 28 March. Korimako is the first payload to be launched into space by the NZDF.

“A team of scientists from the NZDF's Defence Science & Technology (DST) will monitor and interact with Korimako via our Whangaparaoa Ground Station, north of Auckland,” the NZDF added.

The NZDF said initial tests conducted by the DST indicate that Korimako is “operating as expected”.

“[Korimako will facilitate DST to conduct research that] aims to build practical experience in space science and technology, test processes for New Zealand government space operations, and generate knowledge to enable future NZDF and wider government space development,” David Galligan, DST director, said.


Get the full article by
Already a Janes subscriber? Keep reading


https://www.janes.com/defence-news/terror-insurgent-group/latest/social-media-disinformation-disrupts-eu-missions-worldwide

Disinformation campaigns that target the EU’s military and civil security missions in Africa and els...

Latest Podcasts

AI applications for OSINT in defence

 In this podcast Harry and Sean are joined by Dr Ingvild Bode to look at the application and challenges of AI use in weapons systems.   Dr Ingvild Bode has spent the last year researching this subject for her most recent policy report, Loiteri...

Listen now

Tracking the situation in Israel-Gaza using OSINT

Using OSINT to understand Yemen

Mis and disinformation considerations for OSINT

Review of 2023

Janes Case Studies

Using Janes Intara to build a common intelligence picture: Russian build up on the Ukrainian border

View Case Study

Assessing threats in the South China Sea 

A competitive assessment of the military aircraft market

Identifying an unknown aircraft

Case study: Using Interconnected Intelligence to Monitor Russian Troop Movement

News Categories

Request Consultation

Request a free consultation to discover how Janes can provide you with assured, interconnected open-source intelligence.

Security Details