Border Patrol agents assigned to the Miami Sector have two new sets of high-tech eyes to help them keep a closer watch on the border.
The Miami Border Patrol Sector recently took delivery of two Mobile Remote Video Surveillance Systems (MRVSS). The systems consist of a sophisticated camera array attached to a hydraulic mast mounted in [...]
Miami Border Patrol Receives Mobile Remote Video Surveillance Systems
DHS, vendors unveil open source intrusion detection engine
The Open Information Security Foundation (OISF), a group funded by the U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and several security vendors, this week released an open source engine built to detect and prevent network intrusions.
The somewhat oddly named Suricata 1.0 engine is touted as a replacement for the 12-year-old Snort open source technology that over [...]
Virus Attacks Siemens Plant-Control Systems
Computer hackers have designed a virus that targets industrial control systems built by German engineering giant Siemens AG, activating a kind of malicious software that analysts say represents a growing corporate-espionage threat.
The virus, dubbed Stuxnet, is spread by devices plugged into USB computer ports. It is programmed to try to steal data from computer systems [...]
EADS is keen to make defense acquisitions in the U.S.
EADS is keen to make “reasonable” acquisitions in the field of defense security and services in the U.S. over the next few years, Chief Executive Louis Gallois said over the weekend.
The U.S. has the largest defense budget in the world and EADS has been trying for years to win a bigger share of that market. [...]
Smuggling Attempt Thwarted on Calif. Coast
A collaborative effort between the Border Patrol and the Oceanside Harbor, Calif., police department prevented a maritime smuggling attempt early Friday morning as 22 foreign nationals who illegally entered the country at sea were arrested on the shore at Camp Pendleton.
At about 3:30 a.m., Border Patrol agents on patrol along the coastline spotted a panga [...]
Border Drones Plagued by Mishaps, Pilot Shortage
Despite high-profile support for flying unmanned aircraft along the U.S. border with Mexico, the camera-equipped drones are far from a technological magic bullet for fighting illegal immigration. Testimony presented to the House Homeland Security Committee highlights a number of problems facing Customs and Border Patrol’s drone fleet, including a high accident rate and a pilot [...]
FAA Pressed To Allow Drone Flights in non Segregated Air Space
Unmanned aircraft have proved their usefulness and reliability in the war zones of Afghanistan and Iraq. Now the pressure’s on to allow them in the skies over the United States.
The Federal Aviation Administration has been asked to issue flying rights for a range of pilotless planes to carry out civilian and law-enforcement functions but has [...]
Border Patrol at 19,000 Feet Along Texas Border
A Predator UAV climbed into the early morning Arizona sky June 1 and headed east to conduct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s first surveillance flight along the U.S.-Mexican border in Texas.
Cruising at 19,000 feet, the Predator B’s camera fed a stream of video images to operators back at Libby Army Airfield in Sierra Vista, [...]
3,000 Laptops Stolen From Mil Contractor
Thieves allegedly took an estimated 3,000 laptop computers from the Florida warehouse of a military contractor, police said.
The thieves arrived by car at iGov Technologies in Tampa, a contractor for the top secret U.S. Special Operations Command, and broke in through the roof, the St. Petersburg Times reported Monday.
The heist took place during a 9-hour [...]
Turkish minister reveals purchase of 27 attack helicopters
Today’s Zaman (Turkey)
Defense Minister Vecdi Gönül has said that, in addition to an earlier decision to buy nine Italian AgustaWestland-made A129 attack helicopters, Turkey has also decided to lease nine A129s to meet the urgent needs of the Turkish military.
A Turkish request for the purchase of nine US-made Bell AH-1W Super Cobra helicopters is also [...]
White House To Streamline Arms Export License Process
U.S. President Barack Obama plans to send Congress legislation this year to create a single agency to issue arms export licenses, the chief of the National Security Council said June 30.
The new agency would take over licensing tasks from the Departments of State, Commerce and Treasury, said James Jones, Obama’s national security adviser.
The move is [...]
New agency will house export rules
National Security Adviser James Jones on Wednesday announced the creation of a new and independent agency that will merge all export licensing activities under a board of directors reporting to the president.
The move, backed by some of the nation’s most powerful trade associations and companies, is part of the Obama administration’s sweeping effort to overhaul [...]
Pentagon: high-tech intelligence tools more than big guns and heavy armor
Boeing has agreed to acquire Argon ST for USD775 million in a deal value that exceeds previous estimates for the C4ISR specialist, reflecting strong rival bidding from Boeing’s peers. This acquisition reflect a shift by defense contractors seeking to accommodate a Pentagon that now wants high-tech intelligence tools as much or more than big guns [...]
Military Video Surveillance Systems Market $7.7bn in 2010
Full-Motion Video for ISR’ reveals one of the new emerging technologies to come out of the growth in ground and airborne surveillance and in particular the increase in UAV deployment.
Assessed is that worldwide sales of military video surveillance systems will reach a total value of $7.7bn in 2010 and expects to see continuing demand in [...]
In Europe, U.S. Allies Target Defense Budgets
European governments’ budget-slashing efforts are expected to cut deep into the Continent’s defense spending, widening the gulf between U.S. and European military capabilities.
Governments in France, Germany, Spain and Italy, in rolling out recent austerity measures in response to Europe’s sovereign debt crisis, have promised that their militaries won’t be spared in coming spending cuts. Last [...]
Finmeccanica update: Board of directors designates senior managers of group companies
Finmeccanica SpA’s board of directors has approved the designation of the following senior managers at its subsidiaries:
• Giuseppe Giordo, currently Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Alenia North America and Deputy General Manager of Alenia Aeronautica, has been designated Chief Executive Officer of Alenia Aeronautica.
• Giovanni Bertolone, currently Chief Executive Officer of Alenia Aeronautica, has [...]
SWIM SUIT prototype delivered
SWIM-SUIT, which has a value of 12 million Euros, relied on a contribution of about 50% from the European Commission. The project, born within the 6 Framework programme of the European Union, represents one of the SESAR programme technological pillars for the realisation of a Single European Sky.
After a three year study, SELEX Sistemi Integrati, [...]
U.S. Signs 2nd-Stage U.S.-EU Aviation Agreement
Cynthia Stroum, the US Ambassador to Luxembourg and Susan Kurland, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, along with representatives of the European Union (EU) and its 27 member nations, today formally signed an aviation agreement that continues the expansion of air services set in place by the 2007 U.S.-EU [...]
New Marine One (Boeing 101) will be too late for Obama
Since President Dwight Eisenhower started using them in the mid-1950s, helicopters have become a routine part of presidential life and the sight of the large green-and-white craft lifting off from the South Lawn of the White House a regular occurrence. Piloted by Marines, the chopper bearing the president goes by the call sign Marine One.
The [...]
US to deploy drones to shore up border with Mexico
The United States plans to deploy two drone aircraft along the Texas-Mexico border as part of a new effort to stem organized crime and illegal immigration.
The two Predator drones will be used to patrol the border and in nearby areas in the Gulf of Mexico, once Congress approves the 500 million dollars President Barack Obama [...]
Danish pullout hits NATO AGS
Concern about ”RIPPLE EFFECT”
“There could be a ripple effect in the current financial climate with budgets being cut,” one alliance source said.
The NATO sources said the system had broad possible uses, including in countering attacks by improvised explosive devices in Afghanistan and in counter piracy operations off Somalia.
“The value of the project is such that [...]
Gregory S. Martin appointed to Alenia North America’s Board of Directors
“We look forward to General Martin joining Alenia North America’s Board of Directors”, said ADM Gregory Johnson, USN (Ret.), Chairman, Board of Directors, Alenia North America, Inc. “General Martin’s experience as commander of AFMC, as the Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, and his numerous other leadership positions have [...]
NGC Successfully Demos Naval S-Band Radar Testbed
Northrop Grumman Corporation has marked a significant milestone in the development of advanced surface warfare radars with the successful live outdoor testing of the company’s S-band radar testbed.
Northrop Grumman successfully conducted live outdoor testing at the company’s Linthicum test range, tracking aircraft and other targets of opportunity with its S-band radar testbed, while demonstrating key [...]
Dubai: 136 M$ for security: cameras ‘everywhere’
The bustling Gulf city currently has 25,000 security cameras, but “surveillance needs to be ramped up to meet the growing requirements of an expanding city,” told The National newspaper.
“We need to work according to a well-studied strategic plan and not only react to events as they come along… We will have cameraseverywhere,” said Khalfan of [...]
Proposal to Supply NATO’s Ground Surveillance System Delivered
Towards supplying NATO’s premier and long-standing contract for the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) system, Northrop Grumman has submitted a formal proposal. The award is expected sometime in October 2010. Northrop already supplies NATO AGS at its facility in Melbourne, Florida. EADS, General Dynamics Canada, Kongsberg and Selex Galileo are part of an industrial team [...]
EU SeaBILLA (Sea Border Surveillance) program unveiled
SELEX Sistemi Integrati, a Finmeccanica company, has launched the European research and development project SeaBILLA (Sea Border Surveillance).
SeaBILLA, proposed to the European Union as a research and development project on maritime and boarders surveillance, has recently obtained a funding of about 15,5 million Euros within the 7° Framework Programme “Security Research Call2”.
The Finmeccanica company is [...]
Boeing, General Dynamics and ITT: $4.4 Bn for NextGen Engineering Contracts
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded three separate Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) contracts totaling up to $4.4 billion over 10 years. Under the contracts, the companies will perform work that will demonstrate NextGen procedures in real time on a large scale within the current air traffic system.
“NextGen is an economic opportunity that will [...]
U.S. and EU Sign Deal to Boost Cooperation on Air Traffic
The U.S. and the European Union expect to sign as soon as Friday an agreement that will increase cooperation on their new-generation systems for highly efficient air-traffic management, people close to the talks say.
Authorities from both sides of the Atlantic have been working for years to develop satellite-based navigation equipment that will enable pilots to [...]
Major cyber security conference in Estonia
Experts from around the world stressed the importance of enhancing cyber security.TALLINN – Security experts from around the world have gathered in Tallinn for the third international high-level conference on cyber security that called attention to the need for countries to invest more in protecting their internet space.
The conference, organized by the NATO-accredited Cooperative Cyber [...]
EU nations decide on airport body scanners
European Union nations should decide on their own whether to use body scanners at airports, but the technology employed must be up to EU standards.
“It is for each member state to decide to authorise the use of scanners in national airports. That will not change,” Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said in a statement.
“But where this [...]