Signals & Space Monthly Briefing

September 2019

Prepared by the CyberWire (Tuesday, September 3, 2019) Iran's launch site accident. Military Times reported that satellite imagery of Iran's Imam Khomeini Space Center in the country's Semnan province showed evidence of a large explosion at the launch site. The Planet Labs image released with commentary by the Middlebury Institute of International Studies is dated August 29th, and shows still smouldering "space launch vehicle debris and burn marks." An image from the same source taken on August 9th showed increased activity at the Space Center that appeared to be preparation for the launch of a Nahid-1 satellite. This would have been Iran's third attempt at a launch, the first two having resulted in failure. Iran publicly acknowledged the explosion, whose cause it ascribed to technical difficulties. On August 30th President Trump tweeted a photo of the accident site with the accompanying message, "The United States of America was not involved in the catastrophic accident during final launch preparations for the Safir SLV Launch at Semnan Launch Site One in Iran. I wish Iran best wishes and good luck in determining what happened at Site One." The Washington Post said that, according to commentary from the Middlebury Institute, the image in the President's tweet looked as if it had been taken by an aircraft as opposed to a satellite. The Institute didn't call out the specific features in the picture that led them to this conclusion, but the sources the Post cited point to the high resolution and apparent angle from which the image was taken as evidence of the possibility that the image was obtained by an overflying aircraft. Drone wars. On August 16th US Central Command confirmed that Houthi rebels in Yemen had shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper observation drone. The drone was taken down on June 6th by an SA-6 surface-to-air missile. The altitude at which the drone was flying when it was hit indicates to Central Command that the Houthis have improved their air defense capability, and the Command says that they achieved that improvement with Iranian assistance. Military Times sees this and other incidents as indicating the increasing use of drones in the theater as tensions between Iran, the US, and Iran's regional rivals remain high. Russia's nuclear accident. An apparently lethal accident in northern Russia on August 8th is thought, the New York Times reported, to have killed at least seven and produced an unknown degree of local contamination. A brief evacuation order was imposed on a nearby village, then quickly rescinded, according to the Navy Times. Russian spokesmen said the accident happened in the White Sea, off the Nenoksa Missile Test Site west of Severodvinsk, where the Russian Federal Nuclear Center had been studying “small-scale sources of energy with the use of fissile materials.” The US confirmed that it had observed evidence of the accident. Those "small-scale sorces of energy" are thought to be intended for use in a new cruise missile, the 9M730 Burevestnik, which NATO designates the SSC-X-9 Skyfall. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the Burevestnik's development last year. The Skyfall's nuclear propulsion system would give it essentially unlimited range and sufficient energy for unrestricted maneuver at low altitudes, enabling it to evade US defenses designed for ballistic missile defense. (There are US anti-cruise missile systems, but intercepting a cruise missile at low altitude presents a different and tougher problem, particularly with respect to sensors and target acquisition, than does the challenge of defending against long-range ballistic missiles.) Nuclear propulsion for cruise missiles has been explored before (the US abandoned one such effort, Project Pluto, in its preliminary design stages early in the Cold War), but it's an extraordinarily hazardous proposition that essentially involves an airborne unshielded reactor, with all the obvious risk of foreseeable contamination and predictable accidents, like the one at Nenoska. Defense One offers a brief history and appreciation of nuclear-powered cruise missiles. That said, however, there's some doubt as to whether the Russian system represents a real capability or an elaborate disinformation campaign. Sponsored by Cosmic AES Work in signals and space? Come talk to us. Cosmic AES offers innovative and challenging work opportunities in the space, signals, and cyber domains. We’re looking for talented engineers, software developers, and system analysts. Apply today at www.cosmicaes.com Arms races and space races. Foreign Policy points with alarm to the Nenoska accident as a sign of things to come should an incipient arms race among great powers resume with full force. Russian authorities seem willing to discuss an arms race, one which they tell Reuters they're winning, despite last month's mishap in the White Sea.  There's also a new space race on, and in this one the primary competitors are the US and China. Unlike the US-Soviet space race whose big prize was the first landing on the moon (taken by the US fifty years ago this summer) the new space race aims at commercial dominance of those features of the global economy that depend on space. China is said to be in this for the long haul, directing its efforts toward building an infrastructure that it will control, and that the world's business won't be able to do without. Sino-American space rivalry is shaping up to resemble the competition over 5G Internet more than the Cold War's moon race. The US is said to be taking a strong military interest in cislunar space, a region that analysts say will be crucial to future great power economic competition. That interest is very forward-looking, with much talk of resource extraction and other activities that belong to the future, but the young Space Development Agency has proposed a deterrence architecture with four layers, C4ISRNet reports: "Space situational awareness sensors" in low-earth orbit designed to observe object immediately beyond geosynchronous orbit. Two satellites in hight elliptical orbits positioned to detect objects in deep space. Sensors in lunar orbit. Three "Advanced Maneuvering Vehicles" able to approach and inspect objects in cislunar space. There are no plans to arm the Advanced Maneuvering Vehicles. They're envisioned as observers only, but their approach to a spacecraft could also, of course, serve to signal US interest and displeasure. Ground-based surveillance hasn't been neglected either. WIRED has a report on how the US employs optical interferometers to inspect suspect spacecraft. The commodification of overhead surveillance and the "Geoint Singularity." A study by Aerospace Corporation that became public early this month outlines a future in which "realtime Earth observations with analytics are available globally to the average citizen." This means, the study concludes, that "don't look" approaches to concealing sensitive military facilities and operations is no longer feasible, and the the US Department of Defense should instead devote itself to developing better ways of hiding. "Given the advancements in the three critical areas of artificial intelligence, global connectivity, and satellite imagery, a different approach focusing on denial, deception, and misinformation to maintain the element of surprise may be more appropriate and more future-oriented." The arrival of small satellite constellations is not confined to commercial providers. The Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) system, the coming replacement for the Space Based Infrared System, is projected to involve a relatively small number of expensive platforms in orbit. But C4ISRNet reports that the Air Force is also considering a "proliferated architecture" of small satellites in low-earth orbit as an essential adjunct lending resilience to the effort. The Air Force is taking an incremental approach to addressing funding shortfalls in the OPIR program, Aviation Week reports. Alternative acquisition approaches. Defense News reports that the Department of Defense is taking a hard look at legacy programs with a view to reprogramming funds to meet shifting strategic and operational needs. It's said to represent an expanded version of the "night court" effort new Defense Secretary Mike Esper applied to the Army's budget when he served as that Service's secretary. Space Force updates. US Space Command, a unified Combatant Command not to be confused with the projected Space Force, was officially established on August 29th. The Command's headquarters will initially be at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, a designation the Colorado Congressional delegation hopes will become permanent. Air Force General Jay Raymond will be the first commander; Army Lieutenant General James Dickinson has been nominated as his deputy, Defense News reports. JCS Chair General Joseph Dunford characterizes the Command's mission as "missile warning, satellite operations, space control and space support." In wartime, Breaking Defense notes, the National Reconnaissance Office will be chopped to Space Command. Plans for Space Force continue to take shape, with much Congressional deliberation and inter-service discussion of roles and missions. Foreign Policy has an account of the work that remains to be done. Clouds as the new battleships. The Defense acquisition system, with its long, sometimes decade-long, development cycles, has long been regarded by reformers as too slow to keep pace with rapid technological advance. It might be looked at as a system designed to build battleships: long-lead-time, expensive items whose development is hedged with detailed requirements and surrounded by litigation. (See any number of NRAC reports rendered over the past twenty years for examples of such complaints.) Observers might conclude that the Pentagon is transposing many of those features into its cloud procurement. The cloud would seem to offer much of the agility reformers have long advocated, especially with respect to information technology. But a look at the ongoing JEDI saga suggests otherwise. Oracle, which finds itself on the outside, is litigating as if it has nothing to lose, which in the context of this program is quite realistic. And the Hill reports that the Department of Defense Inspector General is reviewing the $10-billion JEDI contract over allegations of impropriety. Moving forward with the project will be accordingly delayed. Other cloud procurements have been similiarly troubled. The Army's Distributed Common Ground System, for example, represents a tactical cloud, and its troubled history may not be an anomaly. So, long lead-times, very high total contract value, contentious requirements, great concern to avoid impropriety (and its appearance), lots of litigation. What might have represented an opportunity for rapid insertion of new technologies is looking a little haze gray, as if we're buying USS Cloud (without, of course, the sixteen-inch guns). [1649]   Today's edition of the CyberWire reports events affecting China, Iran, Israel, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United States, and Yemen. Selected Reading Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities (20) Trends (2) Marketplace (24) Products, Services, and Solutions (8) Technologies, Techniques, and Standards (30) Design and Innovation (15) Research and Development (10) Legislation, Policy, and Regulation (26) Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement (2) Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities ‘GEOINT Singularity:’ There’ll Be Nowhere For DoD To Hide EXCLUSIVE (Breaking Defense) "[A]dversaries could track the movements of U.S. and allied military equipment, detecting patterns of training and operations; hyperspectral imaging can identify chemical compositions; short-wavelength infrared imaging can see through clouds; and SAR sensors can image at night. When determining risks to national security, one can define it as the risk of being seen or detected." Satellite photos show burning Iran space center launch pad (Military Times) The satellite pictures were taken Thursday morning of the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Iran's Semnan province. Trump shares potentially revealing image of Iranian launch site on Twitter (Washington Post) Experts said the image may have been taken by an airplane or drone. U.S. Officials Suspect New Nuclear Missile in Explosion That Killed 7 Russians (New York Times) Intelligence officials suspect that the explosion involved a prototype of a nuclear-propelled cruise missile that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has boasted can reach any corner of the earth. A Mysterious Explosion Took Place in Russia. What Really Happened? (Foreign Policy) Russia’s catastrophic test of a nuclear-powered missile proves that a new global arms race will mean new nuclear accidents. Russia reveals radiation details (Navy Times) The Aug. 8 explosion at the Russian navy's range in Nyonoksa on the White Sea killed two servicemen and five nuclear engineers and injured six others. More Russian Nuclear Monitoring Stations Went Silent Days After Blast, Test-Ban Official Says (Wall Street Journal) The number of Russian nuclear monitoring stations that have gone silent has doubled to four, an international arms-control official said Monday, heightening concerns among observers that Russia is trying to hide evidence from an explosion at a missile-test site earlier this month. Russia orders evacuation near navy nuke site, then cancels it (Navy Times) Neither the Defense Ministry nor Rosatom named the type of rocket that exploded during the test, saying only that it had liquid propellant. Russia buries 5 nuke engineers following explosion (Navy Times) The official death toll is rising after the mysterious navy nuke missile range detonation. An explosion. A radiation spike. Evacuations planned and canceled. What’s happening in Russia? (Defense News) Defense News' Russia correspondent takes a look at government, media and commercial industry reports to pinpoint what exactly exploded Aug. 8 in Nyonoksa. Putin says deadly military accident occurred during weapons systems... (Reuters) Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that a deadly blast at a mili... Trump Confirms Missile Exploded During Testing in Russia (Wall Street Journal) President Trump on Monday appeared to confirm reports that an advanced nuclear cruise missile had exploded during testing in Russia, saying on Monday night that the U.S. was “learning much” from the incident. Nuclear-Powered Cruise Missiles Are a Terrible Idea. Russia’s Test Explosion Shows Why (Defense One) A flying unshielded nuclear reactor would spew massive amounts of radiation, and that’s if it’s working correctly. Is Russia’s Doomsday Missile Fake News? (Foreign Policy) Experts are skeptical that Moscow has the money or technical know-how to field Putin’s promised arsenal. Images show Iran satellite launch looms despite US criticism (Military Times) Iran appears to be preparing another satellite launch after twice failing this year to put one in orbit, despite U.S. accusations that the Islamic Republic’s program helps it develop ballistic missiles. Houthi rebels claim to down Reaper drone in Yemen, US investigating (Military Times) If confirmed, the downing of an MQ-9 Reaper Tuesday would be the second attack in as many months. Israeli drone attack targeted Iranian missile makers in Beirut (Times) A suspected Israeli drone attack on a Hezbollah site in Beirut targeted crates believed to contain machinery to mix high-grade propellant for precision missiles, The Times has learnt. The... Drone war takes flight, raising stakes in Iran, US tensions (Military Times) From the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia to the crowded neighborhoods of Beirut, a drone war has taken flight across the wider Middle East, raising the stakes in the ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Iran. 5 times in history enemies shot down a US drone (C4ISRNET) On Aug. 20, the United States linked the downing of an MQ-9 Reaper over Yemen by Houthi forces to Iran. Here are five times U.S. drones were shot down by enemy forces. N. Korea fires more projectiles, rules out talks with South (AP NEWS) North Korea on Friday bluntly criticized South Korean President Moon Jae-in for continuing to hold military exercises with the U.S. and over his rosy comments on... Trends Space activity is enjoying historic growth. What does it mean for national security? (Defense News) In an ongoing procurement, the Air Force is leveraging the transformation in U.S. commercial launch to modernize and reduce the cost of launching national security satellites. Campaign To Stop Killer Robots ‘Unethical’ & ‘Immoral’: Bob Work (Breaking Defense) "They’re willing to say, 'I’m willing to sacrifice the lives of American servicemen and women, I'm willing to take more civilian casualties ... on the off chance that sometime in the future this weapon will exist." Marketplace Uncle Sam Wants YOU To Compete For Army Network Upgrade: CS 21 (Breaking Defense) Gone are the days of a stately, deliberate, laborious acquisition process in which the Army would plan out the future in detail before going to industry. "We’d almost always guess wrong," said Maj. Gen. David Bassett. “Eventually we’d deliver yesterday’s technology tomorrow.” After two years, the Air Force is rethinking this space contract (C4ISRNET) In a request for information, the Air Force says it is interested in recompeting the contract for managing the organization with a focus on speeding up acquisitions and improving cybersecurity. Pentagon awards multibillion-dollar cloud contract (no, not that one) (Federal Times) The military services are finally getting some new digital infrastructure, just not the ones everyone has been talking about. General Dynamics IT wins $8B DOD cloud contract (Washington Business Journal) The contract is designed to bring commercial cloud services to the Department of Defense's back-office functions. Why the intel community is counting on more cloud success (C4ISRNET) Intelligence leaders unveiled Defense Intelligence Agency selects firms for $17B support contract (C4ISRNET) The Defense Intelligence Agency announced Aug. 5 it had selected 16 companies to provide military intelligence in support of the agency’s missions. ONR C4ISR RFP is days away (Intelligence Community News) The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) intends to issue a solicitation for research and development titled Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C… Army posts RFI for Future Ground Station Computing Capabilities (Intelligence Community News) On August 15, the U.S. Army posted a request for information (RFI) for future ground station computing capabilities. Responses are due by 12:00 p.m. Eastern on September 13. The United States Army,… Air Force to present hosted payload Industry Day (Intelligence Community News) On August 14, the U.S. Air Force posted an Industry Day invitation. Responses are due by 3:00 p.m. Pacific on August 28. The Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) Hosted Payload Office (… Pentagon ends Boeing 'kill vehicle' contract, cites technical problems (Reuters) The U.S. Defense Department said on Wednesday it is canceling a Boeing Co contra... Boeing and Lockheed Will Help Supply the Space Station (The Motley Fool) Sierra Nevada's Dream Chaser spaceplane needs a few good rocket engines to get it into orbit, and taps ULA to help. SpaceX, Blue Origin, ULA and Northrop Grumman bid for US national security launch contract (TechCrunch) The U.S. Air Force is looking to lock in its launch providers for national security satellite missions to take place between 2022 and 2026, and the bids for this so-called “Phase 2” procurement contract are now in. The field of competitors looking to become one of the two companies chos… Blue Origin protests launch contract rules as it competes with SpaceX, ULA, Northrop Grumman (GeekWire) Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin space venture is protesting the rules of the game for awarding future national security launch contracts, while continuing to play. Perspecta awarded $162M Air Force contract to modernize classified networks (Intelligence Community News) Perspecta Inc. of Chantilly, VA announced on August 14 that it was awarded the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) Enterprise Modernization program from the United States Air Force En… Mercury Systems Wins $22M Order for Next-Generation Airborne Radar Processing Subsystems (West) Demonstrates commercial innovation for defense that is secure and trusted Northrop Grumman looking for subcontractors on missile project (al) The company will host a small business day Aug. 21. Northrop Grumman Breaks Ground on New Facility in Roy, Utah to Support Next-Generation ICBM Program (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) celebrated the groundbreaking of a new facility today, near Hill Air Force Base, to serve as a future headquarters for its workforce and nationwide team supporting the Ground Based... Northrop Grumman Awarded Army Secure Network Radio Contract - ClearanceJobs (ClearanceJobs) ClearanceJobs is your best resource for news and information on security-cleared jobs and professionals. Learn more with our article, "Northrop Grumman Awarded Army Secure Network Radio Contract ". Lockheed is Assisting with the Navy's Radiant Mercury Data Transfer Effort (SIGNAL Magazine) Lockheed Martin Corp. Rotary and Mission Systems, Littleton, Colorado, is awarded an estimated $44,308,222 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity hybrid contract with cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract line item numbers. Lockheed Martin's Huntsville operations given big boost (Yellowhammer News) The U.S. Missile Defense Agency recently awarded Lockheed Martin a $240 million contract to support the Ballistic Missile Defense System, a crucial... Contract Award Confirms BAE Systems Status As World's Leading Electronic Warfare House (Forbes) After 60 years in electronic warfare, BAE Systems remains an industry leader. Vector’s CEO departs, rocket company pausing its operations [Updated] (Ars Technica) Vector had been targeting a suborbital flight for the Vector-R vehicle this year. Space ISAC and National Cybersecurity Center Announce MITRE Will Be an ISAC Founding Member (Dark Reading) New Information Sharing and Analysis Center Adds New Founding Member to Board Pentagon Sees ‘No Major Concerns’ With Raytheon-United Technologies Merger (Defense One) The Defense Department’s top weapons buyer, Ellen Lord, gives stamp of approval to what would be the second-largest defense and aerospace company ever. Products, Services, and Solutions Will on-demand tasking give this company an edge? (C4ISRNET) Capella hopes its near-real time satellite imagery will help it win government contracts as the National Reconnaissance Office expands its purchasing of commercial imagery. Behind the scenes at Earth’s most beautiful rocket launch site (Ars Technica) Rocket Lab's Launch Complex-1 is not easy to get to—but the views are worth any lost sleep. Last of its kind rocket puts GPS satellite in orbit (Air Force Times) A rocket that’s the last of its kind delivered the newest, most powerful GPS satellite to orbit for the Air Force Thursday. Apollo to OmegA: NASA signs over legacy launcher for new rocket (collectSPACE.com) A mobile launch platform that 50 years ago supported the first moon landing mission will now find new use with a commercial rocket. NASA provided its Apollo 11-legacy mobile launcher to Northrop Grumman for the new OmegA rocket. Raytheon's ground system supports second GPS III launch (Yahoo) GPS OCX will maneuver satellite into final orbit over 10 days CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. , Aug. 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force used Raytheon Company's (NYSE: RTN) GPS Next-Generation Operational ... Second Lockheed Martin-Built Next Generation GPS III Satellite Responding to Commands, Under Self-Propulsion (Space Ref) Second Lockheed Martin-Built Next Generation GPS III Satellite Responding to Commands, Under Self-Propulsion - SpaceRef Look inside Virgin Galactic’s shiny new Spaceport America (TechCrunch) For a couple years now Virgin Galactic's Spaceport America was more aspirational than functional, but now it's been built out with the necessaries for commercial spaceflight — mainly coffee. The company just showed off the newly redesigned space from which it plans to launch flights... sometime. Mercury Systems Receives $9.2M in Orders for Rugged Servers for Airborne Surveillance Application (West) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com) announced it received $9.2 million in orders from a leading defense prime contractor for rugged rackmount servers to be used in an airborne surveillance application. The orders were booked in the Company's fiscal 2019 third quarter and fiscal 2020 first quarter and are expected to be shipped over the next several quarters. Technologies, Techniques, and Standards How America's Spooks Seek to Spy on Distant Satellites (Wired) The intelligence community has plans for a telescope network that can see not just a blob in orbit but details such as a satellite’s solar panels. Is this Russian robot spacecrawling before a spacewalk? (C4ISRNET) Mostly teleoperated, the FEDOR robot will trade its guns in for tools as it demonstrated limited autonomy onboard the International Space Station. Experimental US Air Force space plane breaks previous record for orbital spaceflight (TechCrunch) The Boeing-built X-37B space plane commissioned and operated by the U.S. Air Force has now broken its own record for time spent in space. Its latest mission has lasted 719 days as of today, which is one day longer than its last mission, which ended in 2017, as noted by Space.com. It’s not an … Northrop Grumman Successfully Completes Qualification Motor Test for NASA’s Orion Launch Abort System Attitude Control Motor (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) ELKTON, Md. – Aug. 23, 2019 – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), along with NASA and Lockheed Martin, announced today that it successfully completed the second qualification test of its Attitude Control Motor (ACM) for NASA’s Orion spacecraft ... Will small satellites help stop big threats? (C4ISRNET) The Space and Missile Systems Center is considering hosting Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared payloads in a proliferated low earth orbit constellation. Hugging a missile is cool--but don’t forget the sensors (Defense News) MDA director Vice Adm. Jon Hill talks about the need for more sensors to help build missile defense capacity. NIST Lays Out Roadmap for Developing Artificial Intelligence Standards (Nextgov.com) The plan is meant to help federal leaders roll out standards that reduce the potential risks of AI without stifling innovation. This is Lockheed’s new cyber resiliency scale for weapon systems (Fifth Domain) The goal is a framework to audit the cybersecurity of defense systems old and new. Watch the Pentagon test its first land-based cruise missile in a post-INF Treaty world (Defense News) The test is the first time such a weapon has been launched by the U.S. since the INF Treaty went into effect. Download, Disconnect, Fire! Why Grunts Need JEDI Cloud (Breaking Defense) Future soldiers will need to download huge amounts of intelligence data -- then disconnect and go dark, like a submarine diving underwater to hunt its prey. Second docking adapter for commercial crew vehicles installed on International Space Station (TechCrunch) The International Space Station is now more than ready for crew-carrying spacecraft flown by commercial companies to pay it a visit: The second planned International Dock Adapter (IDA) was installed on the Space Station during a spacewalk by NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Andrew Morgan earlier toda… NORAD commander: Space sensing layer critical to protecting North America (Defense News) Find out the highest priority that NORAD's leader has for American missile defense. Satellite system to speed up space services (Manufacturers' Monthly) Global aviation company Airbus successfully launched the EDRS-C satellite. The SpaceDataHighway network that will transform how information is transmitted. When it comes to space, the Army is focused on the ground (C4ISRNET) The Army wants a ground station capable of taking in all of the intelligence gathered by American space assets and then transforming that into information usable by war fighters in the field. New Army units worth the risk (Fifth Domain) Army leaders are ok with accepting some risk in haste to create new multidomain units. The Army’s new multi-domain units are understaffed (Fifth Domain) The Army accelerated the fielding of new units but did not conduct sufficient risk assessments, Congress' watchdog agency found in a new report. The Army is not optimized for this fight (C4ISRNET) The Army needs to make significant changes to formations and units to be successful in the information fight. How the Army is helping combatant commands with cyber planning (Fifth Domain) Army Cyber Command is building cyber planning organizations within the staffs at Africa Command, Central Command and Northern Command. Big Data On The Army Front Line: DCGS-A Upgraded (Breaking Defense) The Army is upgrading its intelligence system to give forward commanders full access to the cloud -- and work when the enemy takes the network down. How to give the military’s tactical information warriors a chance (Fifth Domain) When Jim Mattis stepped down as the Secretary of Defense, momentum for information operations slowed. Here's how Pentagon leaders could accelerate it again. The network tech that U.S. Special Operations Command likes (C4ISRNET) U.S. Special Operations Command's chief information officer, Lisa Costa, explains how the organization is thinking about the latest networking technology. Why the intel community wants to improve its top-secret intranet (Fifth Domain) As the Defense Intelligence Agency looks to overhaul JWICS, it’s looking to move from defending the network as a whole to protecting the data within the network. 4 big problems the intelligence community faces moving to a new data system (C4ISRNET) The Defense Intelligence Agency wants to move quickly in developing the Machine-assisted Analytic Rapid-repository System, but the massive project which will transform how the intelligence community uses data faces some hard problems. NGA takes big step to enable AI, big data and more (C4ISRNET) A potentially $824 million contract will help the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency transition from its legacy systems. DIA Aims for MARS as its Moon Shot (SIGNAL Magazine) The director of the DIA describes how his organization is bringing together stovepiped intelligence into a single entity known as the Machine-assisted Analytic Rapid-repository System, or MARS. Big Data For Big Wars: JEDI vs. China & Russia (Breaking Defense) Trump's war with Bezos and Amazon has overshadowed the reason the military wants cloud computing: to share vital data in a fast-paced global conflict. 3-Star General: Tomorrow’s Troops Need Controversial JEDI Cloud (Defense One) Days after the new SecDef put a hold on the massive cloud program, two Pentagon leaders went on the record to defend it. DOD tries to take control of the JEDI 'narrative' (FCW) The Defense Department's CIO shop is trying to control the narrative on the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure procurement, a massive cloud computing acquisition that has generated intense scrutiny because of its size, scope and a hard fought lawsuit from one of the companies eliminated from the bidding. The ‘SAFE’ replacement for a popular Army file-sharing tool (Fifth Domain) The Defense Information Systems Agency launched a new secure file sharing site Aug. 15 as part of an effort to replace a popular tool run by the Army that had far exceeded what its creators had intended and become the go-to site for sending large files. Military: Midwest balloon flights didn’t spy on civilians (Military Times) The military says recent high-altitude balloon flights over South Dakota and other Midwest states complied with federal laws against conducting surveillance on civilians. Design and Innovation Intel Community’s Secrecy Culture Frustrates DoD Sat Safety Effort (Breaking Defense) "People at the NRO and others hiding in unmarked cubicles in other parts of northern Virginia started breathing into bags like never before," said one DoD source about the 2018 SSA transparency policy. The Pentagon wants to solve a deep space problem with three vehicles (C4ISRNET) The Space Development Agency wants to build three vehicles to help deter bad actors in deep space. The Army wants these new defensive cyber tools (Fifth Domain) The Army outlined what capabilities it wants for its defensive cyber operators. Army wants a more secure dev environment for cyber tools (Fifth Domain) The Army is beginning to work with the Pentagon on Unified Platform. The Army wants a better way to visualize the cyber environment (Fifth Domain) The Army is beginning work on how to provide commanders a visual depiction of the invisible domains of warfare. Digital Stiletto: Army Pursues Precision Electronic Warfare (Breaking Defense) The US Army can't match Russia's battalions of powerful radio jammers. Instead, it wants to build a nimble high-tech David to defeat the EW Goliath. Analysis | The Cybersecurity 202: Hackers just found serious vulnerabilities in a U.S. military fighter jet (Washington Post) And they did it with the Air Force's blessing. DIA chief: Take ‘proprietary’ out of your vocabulary (C4ISRNET) Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley said one of the biggest problems his agency faces is interoperability. 6 new capabilities powering the unmanned revolution (C4ISRNET) The unmanned aircraft revolution is underway thanks to six new capabilities. 4 new technologies the Army wants help with (Fifth Domain) The Army outlined some of its needs for academia and industry. Air Combat Commander Doesn’t Trust Project Maven’s Artificial Intelligence — Yet (Breaking Defense) Before the Air Force will trust AI to pick out targets, Gen. Holmes said, it has to get smarter than a human three-year-old. Lasers & microwaves and how the Army could use them in the future (Defense News) Lt. Gen. Neil Thurgood, head of the Army's Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, talks with Jen Judson about the work being done on advanced weapons tech. Lessons for drone defense from a tennis ball (C4ISRNET) In a novel demonstration, Serena Williams shows how off-the-shelf quadcopters are vulnerable to sudden impacts. This 3-star Army general explains what multi-domain operations mean for you (Army Times) Lt. Gen. Eric Wesley heads the Army Futures Command Future Concepts Center. Here Come the Space Tugs, Ready to Tidy Up Earth's Orbits (WIRED) SpaceX is teaming up with the maker of a space tugboat, which would nudge satellites around, clean up space junk, and do other orbital housekeeping. Research and Development SpaceX's Starhopper Successfully Completes Final Test Flight (Popular Mechanics) This was the second and final flight for the SpaceX test rocket. Nuclear Propulsion Could Be 'Game-Changer' for Space Exploration, NASA Chief Says (Space.com) And the tech could power asteroid-deflecting lasers as well. DOD Sponsors Artificial Intelligence Competition (SIGNAL Magazine) The military is looking for machine learning solutions that can process and analyze satellite and aerial imagery to assess damage from natural disasters. Integration Is C5ISR Center's Core Calling (SIGNAL Magazine) The Integrated Tactical Network is the name of the Army’s envisioned future network, and integration is the name of the game for one of the service’s premier research and development centers. Competition to Build 5G Networks, Hypersonics Focus for Pentagon Research Chief (USNI News) The Department of Defense has made significant progress in the past 15 months in offensive and defensive hypersonic capabilities to counter developments from China and Russia, its chief engineer said Tuesday. Now, the Pentagon is aiming to make the same kind of progress in developing 5G networks and microelectronics. “I want to be the offense” … Unsafe At Any Speed: Multiple Vulnerabilities Afflict 5G (Breaking Defense) The coming network needed for autonomous vehicles, virtual reality, and the Internet of Things will also bring cybersecurity danger. Pentagon could offer up its bases as 5G test beds (C4ISRNET) The Pentagon might offer its infrastructure as test areas for American 5G technology development. Astrobotic's Private Moon Lander Will Launch on a Vulcan Centaur Rocket in 2021 (Space.com) The commitment is the second ULA has secured in less than a week. One could fly to Mars in this spacious habitat and not go crazy (Ars Technica) "We're offering a huge amount of volume in a small amount of space." Elon Musk Floats 'Nuke Mars' Idea Again (He Has T-Shirts) (Space.com) "Nuke Mars!" Musk tweeted Thursday (Aug. 15). "T-shirt soon." Legislation, Policy, and Regulation US Military Eyes Strategic Value of Earth-Moon Space (Space.com) The protection of trade routes and lines of communication are traditional military responsibilities, and this will continue to be true as cislunar space becomes "high ground" — a position of advantage or superiority. The Real Stakes in the New Space Race - War on the Rocks (War on the Rocks) “Let’s unleash the space professionals so they can grow and become the equivalent of the Air Force after separating from the Army.” - Acting Secretary of America Is Losing the Second Space Race to China (Foreign Policy) The private sector can give the United States a much-needed rocket boost. Why North Korea Is Testing Missiles Again (Foreign Affairs) Is a much larger escalation on the horizon? Kremlin says it is winning arms race against U.S. despite rocket... (Reuters) The Kremlin boasted on Tuesday it was winning the race to develop new cutting ed... Night court comes to the Pentagon (Defense News) “If you want to call it that, that’s fine with me,” Esper said when asked if his new review was the equivalent of a Pentagon-wide night court process. President Trump praises reusable rockets, omits Moon in space remarks (Ars Technica) "It's almost like, what are we watching? Is this fiction?" One high-level vacancy at NASA could spell trouble for future of space exploration (Federal News Network) The lack of a permanent associate administrator for Human Exploration and Operations could threaten NASA’s ability to meet some of the ambitious goals set by the administration. One Small Step for Trump’s Space Force (Foreign Policy) The United States officially resurrects U.S. Space Command, but the fight for a Space Force is not yet done. Who will control intel satellites during a battle in space? (C4ISRNET) The military space reorganization continues across the government. Tectonic Shift As NRO Moved Under Space Command In Wartime (Breaking Defense) US Space Command will officially stand-up on Aug. 29, with four main missions: "missile warning, satellite operations, space control and space support," says JCS Chair Gen. Joseph Dunford. Trump officially launches U.S. Space Command in counter to Russia, China threats (Washington Post) President Trump on Thursday took a key step toward reorganizing the nation’s armed forces to focus more on the threats posed in space, formally establishing the United States Space Command, the first new combatant command created in a decade. SPACECOM is a go: Newest combatant command signed into existence (Defense News) The Pentagon is determined to prevent space from being an Achilles' heel. Space Command to stand up as Space Force takes shape (Defense News) While a lot of work remains to establish the new U.S. Space Force, the revived Space Command is set to stand up this month. Congressman: Space Command’s initial home will be Colorado (Air Force Times) A Colorado congressman says the initial headquarters for the Pentagon’s new Space Command will be in his home state. Air Force Suppressed Space Force Debate; Lt. Gen. Kwast Spoke Truth To Power (Breaking Defense) If the new Acting Secretary of the Air Force, Matt Donovan, is looking for someone who can “unleash the power of space’ he should look to the bold leadership of Steve Kwast and recommend his nomination to be the first Space Force Commander. Opinion | End the Gag Rule, Start the Space Force (WSJ) The Air Force stalls a key Trump initiative by flagrantly violating academic freedom. Slippery slope: MDA boss fights transfer of missile defense system to Army (Defense News) The new Missile Defense Agency director wants to better define what US Missile Defense Agency boss reveals his goals, challenges on the job (Defense News) The new Missile Defense Agency Director Vice Adm. Jon Hill sat down with Defense News in an exclusive interview at the Space and Missile Defense Symposium. Missile defense is at a major change point--so is the U.S. on the right track? (Defense News) With missile defense in the U.S. changing rapidly, is the defense budget and U.S. planning on the right track? Jeff Martin talks with Tom Karako to find out. Pentagon says US can defend against Russian and Chinese missile threats — if it's willing to invest (Washington Examiner) The Pentagon's chief of research and engineering says the military is capable of defending against missile attacks from China and Russia — should the country choose to invest in the necessary systems. Can government hasten requirements to meet cyber challenges? (C4ISRNET) C4ISRNET sat down with Todd Hicks, Leonardo DRS’ chief technology officer to discuss the challenges in the cyber domain, and how industry is working to combat them. Navy Wrestles With Cyber Policy As China and Iran Hack Away (Breaking Defense) "We’re spending a lot of money in this area right now, but we don’t understand where we’re spending it” says Navy undersecretary Thomas Modly. Air Force Joins Army Parachuting Into InfoWar; Creates New Unified Subcommand (Breaking Defense) The Air Force wants to develop information warfare capabilities to "deter malign activities from [the] information warfare level all the way up to conflict," says Air Combat Command head Gen. Mike Holmes. Army Enters Cyber and Electronic Warfare Renaissance (SIGNAL Magazine) The U.S. Army is enjoying a renaissance period for cyber and EW technologies and has a chance to lay a foundation of interoperability in cyber systems. The Pentagon Is Almost Two Years Late On Efficiency Reforms (Defense One) Little progress have been made on various requirements ordered in the 2018 authorization act, GAO found. Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement Oracle’s Hail Mary Appeal Against JEDI (Breaking Defense) Oracle says a federal judge called the procurement "unlawful" -- but that word doesn't actually show up once in his 60-page ruling. And that isn't Oracle's only problem. Pentagon watchdog says it is reviewing $10B 'war cloud' contract over misconduct allegations (TheHill) The Pentagon's internal watchdog on Tuesday said that it is investigating potential ethics concerns around the $10 billion "war cloud" contract at the center of an ongoing tug-of-war among lawmakers and the White House.

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