Signals & Space Monthly Briefing

August 2019

Prepared by the CyberWire (Thursday, August 1, 2019) Drone and counter-drone. Tensions in the Gulf region remained high this past month. Iran became increasingly active interfering with shipping in the region--the seizure of a British-flagged tanker amounting to Tehran's most serious provocation. The British government organized talks with the US and France about a multinational mission to secure shipping in the Straits of Hormuz. For its part, Iranian authorities exhibited little disposition to soothe tensions, suggesting that should circumstances warrant, it would not hesitate to seize other vessels in the region. Both the US and Iran have been operating drones in the region. Iran shot down a US RQ-4 Global Hawk in international airspace on June 20th without warning. The US apparently responded with cyberattacks against Iranian intelligence and missile command-and-control units. On July 18th an Iranian drone was taken down. The US destroyed an Iranian drone that approached too closely to the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship operating in the region. Boxer downed the drone using the Light Marine Air Defense Integrated System (LMADIS), developed and fielded rapidly in 2015 as ground-deployable counter-drone system. It's truck-mounted, carried on two Polaris MRZR light all-terrain vehicles, one a command vehicle, the other carrying the electronic countermeasures. The system aboard USS Boxer was simply parked on the flight deck. LMADIS combines radars, jammers, a Stinger air defense missile launcher on some variants, and threat assessment subsystems. Iran denied losing any drones, but the US claims seem well-confirmed. The drone takedown is said to have been a non-kinetic kill; that is, no missiles or guns were fired. Some reports have called it a directed-energy kill, but electronic attack would be a better description: electronic interference with the drone's command-and-control by the system's Sierra Nevada Modi II electronic countermeasures subsystem causing the drone to crash. As USNI News puts it, the Navy took out the aircraft not by expending an air defense missile, but with a device whose cost of operation was "the cost of a tank of gas." LMADIS was developed and fielded rapidly, integrating relatively mature standalone subsystems. Both the Marine Corps and the Army are working on CLaWS, the Compact Laser Weapon System, designed to give systems like LMADIS a laser capable of destroying drones at ranges of hundreds of meters. The Air Force is also working on drone-defense systems for base defense. Some involve electronic countermeasures, others involve nets that can be deployed from 40mm projectiles. The Army has begun using counter-drone systems in training rotations at the National Training Center. This indicates that, while the systems were developed and fielded rapidly, they're regarded as mature enough to represent an operational capability. The Combat Training Centers aren't used for research and development. At Interpol's conference in Singapore on July 3rd, British authorities shared lessons learned from the drone activity that shut down Gatwick Airport earlier this year. The drones, operated by environmental activists, amounted to a very small swarm, a nuisance. The hobbyist drones weren't armed, and the threat they posed was simply one of collision with civil aircraft. Unfortunately the counter-drone systems in place proved incapable of handling more than one drone at a time. North Korea resumes missile tests. On July 25th North Korea tested two short-range ballistic missiles. Pyongyang said the tests, witnessed by DPRK leader Kim Jong Un, were intended as a warning to South Korean "warmongers." Seoul was specifically counseled to stop importing weapons and conducting joint exercises with the United States. Satellite system availability. Europe's Galileo satellite navigation system sustained a general outage for about four days beginning on July 11th. Coverage had been largely restored by July 18th. The consequences of the outage were not severe, but this was only because the digital systems that depend up precise timing and geolocation had GPS available as a fallback. The outage appears to have been the result of ground station malfunctions, not an attack. The European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency said, “The technical incident originated by an equipment malfunction in the Galileo ground infrastructure, affecting the calculation of time and orbit predictions, and which are used to compute the navigation message. The malfunction affected different elements on the ground facilities.” Electronic attack, however, has interfered with GPS in other incidents. Airline pilots flying to and from Tel Aviv report loss of GPS signal. That loss does seem traceable to electronic warfare, but in this case it appears to be collateral damage from Russian jammers operating in Syria. 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 Satellites as cyber and kinetic targets. A report from Chatham House warns that NATO space assets are attractive targets for cyberattack. The report singles out the vulnerability of networked ground stations to hacking. It cites the widespread reliance of military operations on the commercial technology used in those ground stations, and in the satellites themselves. The hardware and software supply chains that support these systems is notoriously difficult to secure. Space-based systems are important both tactically and strategically, but Chatham House is more concerned with the strategic implications of the vulnerabilities. "Cyber vulnerabilities undermine confidence in the performance of strategic systems. As a result, rising uncertainty in information and analysis continues to impact the credibility of deterrence and strategic stability. Loss of trust in technology also has implications for determining the source of a malicious attack (attribution), strategic calculus in crisis decision-making and may increase the risk of misperception." As Chatham House points out, NATO itself owns no satellites, and depends upon the national assets of its member states. One of those members, France, has announced its intention of developing and fielding space-based lasers for satellite self-defense. The US continues to mull the threat that Russian and Chinese kinetic kill capabilities pose to American space assets. Commercial satellites and military requirements. The US Air Force, at least, is interested in integrating commercial satellite capabilities even into its strategic C4ISR systems. The Service is already making more use of commercial satellite imagery, and it's considering a move to a hybrid network in which operators could shift between military and commercial services as operational needs dictate. The bandwidth commercial satellites offer is also attractive. It's now cheaper than fiber, which makes it attractive on the basis of affordability alone. Stratospheric balloons as communication satellite surrogates. Alphabet's Loon has completed successful flight tests, setting a record by spending two-hundred-twenty-three days aloft, according to TechCrunch. Launched from Puerto Rico, the Loon completed one circuit of the earth in the process, but for one-hundred-forty continuous days it demonstrated the ability to loiter where it was supposed to be, in this case off the west coast of Central America. The balloon project has generally been reported as an affordable, easily deployed alternative to cell towers and other terrestrial Internet infrastructure for underserved areas, but they also fill a role that might otherwise be served by communication satellites. TechCrunch reports that the Loon will receive its first commercial run in Kenya later this year. Notes on research, development, and procurement. Air Force Magazine reports that the new Space Development Agency has opened talks with industry to share its vision for the future of military space. The agency held an industry day on July 23rd. It's clearly interested in moving quickly, since the Space Development Agency asked that participants deliver proposals for "a network of satellites, payloads, and software" by August 5th. That industry day represented a kind of coming-out party for the young agency, established some four months ago. The SDA explained that it's after "resiliency via numbers," and wants to create an architecture that uses a large number of smaller, less capable systems. "Proliferation of our systems, where each individual asset has less capability but in aggregate they have all that we need is the path that we want to go down.” It's essentially a Jeune École approach to space operations: go for cheaper, more numerous platforms as opposed to concentrating capability in large, expensive, powerful units that in wartime become attractive targets ("juicy targets," as the SDA calls them). DARPA is investing in machine learning approaches to discerning and receiving signals in an increasingly crowded electromagnetic spectrum. The research agency has awarded BAE a $4.7 million contract for the company's Controllable Hardware Integration for Machine-learning Enabled Real-time Adaptivity (CHIMERA) solution. The use cases the award envisions are largely focused on signals intelligence. The Defense Innovation Unit, acting on behalf of the Air Force, has issued contracts for the development of a new family of multi-band, multi-mission phased array satellite antennas that would enable multiple simultaneous connections. Harris Corporation received a $6.2 million contract, and a Lockheed Martin-led team received a $7.2 million award, to work on prototypes. Should the development prove successful, the new antennas would be integrated into the Air Force Satellite Control Network. The White House has gone to bat for increased funding of the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared system. The Administration argues that delaying funding the system will not only degrade strategic capabilities, but will wind up costing more in the long run. Space Force updates. Plans for Space Force continue to advance, although language in authorization bills seems to leave the door open to scaling it back to a renaming of existing Space Command. Nonetheless, the Administration continues to work toward creating Space Force as a distinct Service within the Department of the Air Force, much the way the Marine Corps is organized within the Department of the Navy. The new Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Milley, said in his confirmation hearings that he fully supports the new Service. So here's the question that continues to exercise observers: what rank structure will the new Space Force use? An opinion piece in the Space Review argues that naval rank is the way to go, for reasons of organizational culture, esprit, recruiting, and a degree of independence from its sister service, the Air Force. And, of course, the unstated reason: Star Trek used naval rank. Kirk and Picard were captains, not colonels. [1651]   Today's edition of the CyberWire reports events affecting China, the European Union, France, India, Iran, Israel, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, the Republic of Korea, NATO/OTAN, Russia, Syria, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Selected Reading Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities (17) Trends (1) Marketplace (49) Products, Services, and Solutions (6) Technologies, Techniques, and Standards (22) Design and Innovation (6) Research and Development (10) Legislation, Policy, and Regulation (22) Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement (1) Attacks, Threats, and Vulnerabilities What can the Pentagon learn from the drones at Gatwick? (C4ISRNET) At the Interpol World conference held in Singapore, July 3, British security officials attempted to explain how a drone, or perhaps a handful of drones, kept the airport immobilized. But what can the Pentagon learn from the event? The Growing Threat of Drones (Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Cyber Security Conference) Drones are increasing threat to industrial facilities, enabling various attacks (both cyber and physical) that historically were only possible in close proximity to a facility or device. North Korea's Kim says missile test a warning to South Korean... (Reuters) North Korea said on Friday its latest missile launch was a warning to South Kore... What broke a UK satellite for a week? (C4ISRNET) The European Union’s Galileo satellite navigation system was unusable for four days over the past week following an outage with undisclosed origins. Europe’s Galileo Satellite Outage Serves as a Warning (Wired) The dramatic EU Galileo incident underscores the threat of satellite timing and navigation system failures. U.S. Military Satellites Likely Cyber Attacked By China Or Russia Or Both: Report (Forbes) A leading defense research organization has warned the U.S. and NATO that they can presume the satellites they rely on for military command and control have already been hacked and that China and Russia are already inside those core battlefield networks. The next cybersecurity concern for NATO? Space (Fifth Domain) A new report warns that the cybersecurity vulnerabilities related to military space systems, specifically terminals and command-and-control systems, deserves renewed attention from NATO countries. Cybersecurity of NATO’s Space-based Strategic Assets (Chatham House ) This paper will introduce the cyber risks to strategic systems, through an evaluation of threats, vulnerabilities and consequences. It aims to frame the US Missile Warning Sats Fair Game If No New START? (Breaking Defense) US may face destabilizing Russian interference with NTMs "while demand for strategic intelligence on Russian strategic nuclear forces from space-based NTMs goes up significantly," says Michael Gleason. Is industry cyber(in)security DoD’s Achilles’ heel? (Fifth Domain) The Department of Defense hosted a prototyping event to test tools that can monitor manufacturing company networks for cyber intrusions. CENTCOM: Iran Never Warned RQ-4 Drone Before Shootdown (Military.com) Officials with CENTCOM say the U.S. was never "warned" before Iran took out the drone, contrary to the regime's statements. U.S. Downed Iranian Drone With New Technology (WSJ) The U.S. brought down an Iranian drone this week near an American warship in the Strait of Hormuz by using new technology that had just been added to naval defenses, the latest move by the U.S. military to deploy more furtive measures against Iran, defense officials said. Iran denies US destroyed an Iranian drone near Persian Gulf (Military Times) The Iranian military said all its drones had returned safely to their bases and denied there was any confrontation with a U.S. vessel the previous day. From Iran, defiance after tanker capture and a message: It could happen again  (Washington Post) The seizure of the British ship suggests a new front in Tehran’s resistance to expanding sanctions by the Trump administration. Iran state TV: Iranian forces seize foreign oil tanker, crew (Military Times) Iran's state television did not identify the seized vessel, but said it was intercepted on Sunday. It said the oil tanker had 12 foreign crew members on board and was involved in smuggling some 1 million liters of fuel from Iranian smugglers to foreign customers. 3 ways IoT devices compromise security (Fifth Domain) The National Institute of Standards and Technology released a report detailing the cybe security and privacy risks associated with the Internet of Things. Why can’t Israeli pilots get a GPS signal? (C4ISRNET) Israeli pilots have reported the loss of a GPS signal near Tel Aviv for nearly three weeks and officials believe Russia could be to blame. Trends ‘Golden Age Of SIGINT May Be Over’: New Encryption Foils IC Eavesdropping (Breaking Defense) "End-to-end encryption of all communications and data, differential privacy, and secure communications for all users are likely to be the new reality," says a new DARPA-funded study. Marketplace Pentagon redirects $282M to close ISR gaps (C4ISRNET) The Department of Defense is using reprogramming actions to transfer hundreds of millions of dollars to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programs. NIWC posts SATCOM support RFP (Intelligence Community News) On July 15, the Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (formerly the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command) posted a request for proposals (RFP) for SATCOM CB ISEA Support. Proposals are due b… The next step in the Army’s $800M upgrade to its intel-sharing system (C4ISRNET) The Army is looking to a award a contract worth as much as $800 million to upgrade it’s battlefield intelligence-sharing system. Army posts C5ISR, cyber defense sources sought (Intelligence Community News) On July 19, the U.S. Army posted a sources sought notice for CCDC, C5ISR Cybersecurity Defense Operations and Research (CDOR). Responses are due by 3:00 p.m. Eastern on August 19. The United States… The Army wants better cyber defense in 4 areas (Fifth Domain) The Army wants to hear from contractors how they can help improve the cyber posture of critical areas. Air Force sticks with familiar face for support (C4ISRNET) Amidst restructuring of its space-related organizations and the seemingly imminent establishment of the Space Force, the Air Force has awarded a $562 million, seven and a half year contract for MILSATCOM support. CIA Remains Tied to the Industry (SIGNAL Magazine) The intelligence agency continues to turn to the private sector for help solving complex problems. JEDI: Buck private of cloud computing? (Federal News Network) Maybe the JEDI procurement isn’t such a big deal after all. Trump Expressed Concern About Pentagon Cloud-Computing Contract (Bloomberg) Pentagon poised to give JEDI contract to Amazon or Microsoft. President frustrated he was unaware of Republican concerns. Republican lawmakers urge Trump not to delay the $10 billion Pentagon cloud contract Amazon and Microsoft want (CNBC) Four members of the House Armed Services Committee, including ranking member Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, said moving forward with the contract was critical to U.S. national security interests. Pentagon prevails in legal challenge to its JEDI Cloud contract (Federal News Network) The Court of Federal Claims’ brief ruling did not fully explain the rationale behind the decision, but appeared to clear the way for DoD to award the $10 billion contract next month. Oracle's JEDI challenge defeated but analyst says Congress remains wild card (Washington Business Journal) Despite winning its case in the Court of Federal Claims Friday, the Department of Defense still faces a looming challenge on Capitol Hill in trying to award the JEDI contract. JEDI: How we got here (Federal Times) After months of back-and-forth in court filings, oral arguments are finally here. Change Or Scrap JEDI, Says IT Council (Breaking Defense) An independent advisory group recommends the JEDI program be put on hold until the Defense Department’s cloud procurement plan is redone and syncs with the CIO’s cloud strategy. Judge says DoD’s JEDI contract violated law on multiple awards (Federal News Network) A federal judge ruled the Pentagon’s JEDI contract ran afoul of a law that requires large ID/IQ contracts to go to multiple vendors. But Oracle can’t win its lawsuit on that basis. DoD’s plan to solve tech gaps: more small businesses (C4ISRNET) DISA is awarding 21 small businesses Systems Engineering, Technology and Innovation (SETI) contracts that could total $7.5 billion. One step closer to a common ground system? (C4ISRNET) The Air Force has awarded a $47 million contract as part of its efforts to move to Enterprise Ground Services. Air Force issues Space Superiority Systems OPS3 sources sought (Intelligence Community News) On July 3, the Air Force Space Command issued a sources sought notice for Space Superiority Systems Operations & Product Support Services 3 (OPS3). Responses are due by 4:00 p.m. Pacific on Jul… Space Development Agency posts space architecture RFI (Intelligence Community News) On July 1, the Space Development Agency issued a request for information for Next-Generation Space Architecture. Responses are due by 10:00 a.m. Eastern on August 5. The Space Development Agency… These 4 technologies are big problems for US military space (C4ISRNET) There are some areas where the commercial sector has been unable to develop a sustainable market for crucial technologies. GOP senators press Pompeo on Boeing satellite sales to Chinese firms (TheHill) A pair of Republican senators is pressing the State Department for answers on Boeing's sales of American-made satellites to Chinese companies. Army PEO EIS Brings Industry Under the Tent (SIGNAL Magazine) The U.S. Army taps commercial expertise to avoid long procurement delays that often render new information technologies obsolete before they are fielded. U.S. Air Force Awards Leidos Task Order to Support ISR Operations (PR Newswire) Leidos (NYSE: LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 science and technology leader, has been awarded a new task order by the U.S. Air ... Harris, L3 complete merger deal (Washington Business Journal) Nine months after the two companies detailed plans to create the sixth-largest aerospace and defense contractor, the newly formed L3Harris Technologies hit the market. What’s left in the dust of a massive merger? (Defense News) If you’re not really big, and you’re not categorically small, then you’re going to have a harder time competing. Gryphon Expands Industrial Cyber Capabilities through Acquisition of PGFM (Yahoo) Gryphon Technologies, Inc. ("Gryphon" or the "Company"), a premier defense engineering and technical services provider supporting national ... National Security Concerns May Obstruct The United Technologies-Raytheon Merger (Seeking Alpha) Recently United Technologies and Raytheon have proposed to merge together in a massive deal far exceeding $100B. Raytheon United Technologies merger (Military & Aerospace Electronics) Speculation merger may not happen, President worries it could cut competition, Air Force calls it a security concern, and investors question its logic. United Tech eyes $20B in shareholder returns by 2023 as Raytheon takes root (Seeking Alpha) United Technologies (UTX +1.5%) executives defended their deal to merge with Raytheon (RTN +0.5%) in today's earnings conference call, following criticism from shareholders including Pershing Square Capital and Third Point. Raytheon to help secure military systems from cyber threats for country in the Middle East North Africa region (PR Newswire) Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded a contract to develop and deploy a mission-critical, advanced... Raytheon, UK Ministry of Defense Develop New Space Capabilities (Via Satellite) Raytheon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the U.K. Ministry of Defense to join Team Artemis Industry, a collaboration between government and industry formed to fast track the launch of a small satellite constellation and enhance the U.K.'s sovereign space capability. Raytheon and the U.K. MOD have BAE Systems Snags Naval Engineering and Integration Support Deal (WashingtonExec) The U.S. Navy has awarded BAE Systems a 5-year, $90 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract to modernize and maintain Command, How 2 Space Norway satellites will help the Air Force in the Arctic (C4ISRNET) The Air Force payloads will provide secure, anti-jamming satellite communications for warfighters operating in the North polar region. Northrop Grumman Awarded Recapitalization Contract to Provide Continuous Secure Communication in Polar Region (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been awarded an $82 million contract by the U.S. Air Force to facilitate military satellite communications in the Earth’s north polar region through its Enhanced Polar... Northrop Grumman Awarded $274 Million Environmental Test, Integration Services Contract by NASA (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) announced that the company has received a $274 million indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) award for NASA’s Environmental Test and Integration Services III contract. The... Northrop Grumman Announces New Orders for its Optionally Piloted Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance System Ahead of European Debut (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Marking its European debut, Northrop Grumman Corporation’s (NYSE: NOC) Firebird product line will be showcased at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, in the United Kingdom, July 19-21. The company is also... Northrop Grumman Board Names Kathy J. Warden Chairman (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) The board of directors of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has elected Kathy J. Warden as its chairman, effective August 1, 2019. Warden will serve as chairman, chief executive officer and president. Warden... Boeing won't bid for $60B Pentagon program, leaving Northrop sole bidder (Seeking Alpha) Boeing (BA -4%) says it is dropping out of a $60B Pentagon program, leaving Northrop Grumman (NOC +3.1%) as the sole bidder for the first phase of the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent program to repla Cobham takeover doubts as biggest investor Silchester rebels (Times) A £4 billion US private equity takeover of Cobham, one of Britain’s largest aerospace and defence companies, was in trouble yesterday after its biggest shareholder told the board that the offer is... General Dynamics wins $217M contract for the Air Force’s network (C4ISRNET) General Dynamics Information Technology will continue to supply the Air Force with global network support. Richard Branson’s Space Unit to Go Public (Wall Street Journal) Virgin Galactic has plans to become the first publicly listed human spaceflight company. It expects that the deal to go public will give it enough capital to fund the business until its spaceships can commercially operate and send tourists into space. Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic could build UK spaceport after striking deal to go public (The Telegraph) Sir Richard Branson’s space venture is in talks to build a UK base that could see launches take place from British soil, after securing a £1bn deal to go public. Virgin Has a Space Torpedo -- and Northrop Grumman Should Be Worried (The Motley Fool) Sir Richard Branson is (almost) ready to shoot satellites into orbit from an airplane. Can Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic make space tourism profitable? (The Telegraph) Since 1961, only 571 people - 508 men and 63 women - have gone into space. Booz Allen Hamilton pursuing growth in military space programs (SpaceNews.com) Senior VP Chris Bogdan: “We don’t build satellites, rockets or rovers. We are investing in open architectures, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data visualization.” With IPO behind them, Parsons revs up acquisition engine again (Washington Technology) Parsons Corp. makes their first acquisition since the company returned to the public markets and this deal puts them in the defense hardware space. Securing Space: Kaspersky to Give Cosmonauts Cybersecurity Training (Al Bawaba) Kaspersky is proud to announce its new partnership with the Gagarin Research and Test Cosmonaut Training Center – the location in Star City where cosmonauts from all over the world prepare to go to space. As part of this collaboration, the company will hold special training for cosmonauts, as well as IT specialists at the center, to educate them on the current cybersecurity landscape. Mercury Systems Receives $12M Order for Digital Signal Processing Subsystems for Airborne ISR Application (Wesr) Mercury Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRCY, www.mrcy.com) announced it received a $12 million follow-on order from a leading defense prime contractor for high-performance digital signal processing subsystems for an unmanned airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) application. Mercury Systems Recognized Among Massachusetts’ Fastest Growing Public Companies (West) The only aerospace and defense company included on Boston Business Journal’s annual list Products, Services, and Solutions Northrop Grumman to build two triple-payload satellites for Space Norway, SpaceX to launch (SpaceNews) Northrop Grumman will build two satellites for Space Norway, each equipped with payloads for Inmarsat, the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, and the U.S. Air Force.  Virgin Orbit signs agreement to launch small satellites for the UK’s Royal Air Force (TechCrunch) Virgin Orbit, the small satellite launch company backed by billionaire Richard Branson, has signed an initial agreement to develop small satellite launch capabilities for the U.K.’s Royal Air Force (RAF). The deal, which is part of the RAF’s Artemis project, will see Virgin Orbit aim to… OneWeb’s low-Earth satellites hit 400Mbps and 32ms latency in new test (Ars Technica) OneWeb's first six satellites pass test as company moves closer to real service. How Loon's Balloons Find Their Way to Deliver the Internet (WIRED) Computer programs can direct Alphabet's high-altitude balloons to tack against the wind, and move in figure eights, where humans might plot a circle. Loon breaks its stratospheric balloon flight record with 223 days aloft (TechCrunch) Alphabet’s Loon is gearing up for its first big commercial trial later this year, but it’s also breaking records in terms of pure performance. The company announced today that it just retrieved P-496, one of its balloon flight systems that earned the notable distinction of breaking the … Rocket Lab successfully launches seventh Electron rocket for ‘Make It Rain’ mission (TechCrunch) Private rocket launch startup Rocket Lab has succeeded in launching its ‘Make It Rain’ mission, which took off yesterday from the company’s private Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand. On board Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket (its seventh to launch so far) were multiple satellites … Technologies, Techniques, and Standards NIST Recommends Tightened DoD Contractor Security (Breaking Defense) An interconnected ecosystem of primes, subs, suppliers, and partners mean one weak link can bring down the entire chain. The Marines’ New Drone-Killer Aces Its First Test (Wired) Last week’s US strike of an Iranian drone is the first reported successful use of the Marines’ new energy weapon. Strategic Air Bases Receive First Counter-UAS Systems (Air Force Magazine) Several Air Force installations with strategic assets are now armed with systems to protect against small unmanned aircraft that might loiter nearby. New Army cyber gear for drones and teams test, protect units in another domain (Army Times) For the first time the Army used cyber Air Force Eyes New Deep Space Sensors in Australia, Spain (Breaking Defense) The Air Force is increasingly interested in Australia as a host for SSA capabilities because they can watch satellites over the Southern Hemisphere. Israel, U.S. carry out successful test of Arrow-3 missile over Alaska (The Jerusalem Post) Test comes days after Iran tested a medium-range ballistic missile. China’s Tiangong-2 space station is officially no more (TechCrunch) Chinese space station Tiangong-2 has officially ended its mission, and the orbital research facility’s entire existence. The platform de-orbited and burned up as planned at just after 9 AM ET on Friday, coming down over the South Pacific Ocean, as confirmed by the official Chinese space agenc… US, Allies Getting Larger Airborne Network With New JTRS Radios (Breaking Defense) The software defined radios will make F/A-18E/F and F-22 aircraft communications nodes in a coalition network. Air Force satellite communications get more resilient signal (C4ISRNET) The latest addition to the Wideband Global SATCOM system will provide increased resilience and a stronger signal for war fighters. Are LEO satellites approaching a breaking point for the Pentagon? (C4ISRNET) The Space Development Agency could take advantage of commercial broadband constellations enabled by falling satellite costs. Can commercial satellites revolutionize nuclear command and control? (C4ISRNET) According to one Air Force official, commercial satellite capabilities could increase the survivability of nuclear command and controls, while also providing a cheaper alternative to military-owned satellites. Northrop Grumman to Demonstrate Robotic Manufacturing in Space (Northrop Grumman Newsroom) Made In Space (MIS) has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) a subcontract to support NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD) demonstration of the autonomous robotic manufacturing and... Air Force anti-jamming efforts get a boost (C4ISRNET) The Air Force will see two major satellite launches in July to reinforce military communications and position, navigation and timing. Lots of DoD Small Launchers, But What Will They Launch? (Breaking Defense) "The external and internal communication regarding [DoD] smallsat strategy is not consistent and not clear," Carissa Christensen, CEO of Bryce Space and Technologies, said wryly. What the Pentagon learned from Cyber Lightning 2019 (Fifth Domain) The Department of Defense’s cyber leaders are using a spring exercise – where for the first time multiple teams helped commanders understand their cyber options in theater – as a way to better work together in future conflicts. Israel-made expandable nanosatellite to launch on Russian rocket Friday (Times of Israel) Space-tech startup NSLComm's technology is said to allow 100x faster connectivity thanks to folding antennas and expanding main reflector There’s a slight problem with Russia’s proposed Federation spacecraft (Ars Technica) "The Federation spacecraft has a colossal problem in the event of a launch abort." SpaceX nears completion of Dragon investigation, has a “good path forward” (Ars Technica) "Through this process, we will continue to learn things that will help us fly safer.” NASA performs successful test of Orion spacecraft launch abort crew escape system (TechCrunch) NASA has completed a key test in preparing for its planned crewed space mission to return to the Moon, successfully testing the Launch Abort System (LAS for short) for its Orion spacecraft. This is the first full stress test of the LAS, which involved launching both an Orion test craft and the full… The Army is putting two and two together to mature its network (C4ISRNET) Army Futures Command is spearheading the science and technology development of new tech to be inserted incrementally into the tactical network. These super-small drones no longer need a battery (C4ISRNET) Microrobot still needs sensors, controls, but could be a virtually invisible platform. Pentagon Will Default To Trusting Other Agencies’ Cloud Security Assessments (Nextgov.com) The department has had success reusing other agencies’ authorizations and will make reciprocity the rule rather than the exception. Design and Innovation NASA seeks to break the “tyranny of launch” with in-space manufacturing (Ars Technica) “In-space robotic manufacturing and assembly are unquestionable game-changers." Former SecAF Explains How Secret X-37 Space Plane Throws Off Enemies (Military.com) The X-37B has puzzled space geeks, enthusiasts, experts and even some officials for years because of its clandestine use. How to protect the growing internet of battlefield things (Fifth Domain) The incoming Secretary of Defense needs to make funding the deployment of Comply to Connect, which monitors networks for unauthorized devices, one of his first priorities. Buzz Aldrin is looking forward, not back—and he has a plan to bring NASA along (Ars Technica) "There has to be a better way of doing things. And I think I’ve found it.” The Pentagon’s new space agency has an idea about the future (C4ISRNET) A new document from the Space Development Agency provides an early glimpse of how it wants to organize it's next generation space architecture. Watch these drones throw caution - and sensors - to the wind (C4ISRNET) In pods together or free as individuals, seed-like drones could scatter useful sensors into the nooks and crannies of a future battlefield. Research and Development Cryptographic ICE Cube tests orbital cybersecurity protocols aboard the ISS (TechCrunch) Encryption in space can be tricky. Even if you do everything right, a cosmic ray might come along and flip a bit, sabotaging the whole secure protocol. If you can't radiation-harden the computer, what can you do? European Space Agency researchers are testing two solutions right now in an experiment… A new satellite antenna could save the Air Force time and money (C4ISRNET) The Defense Innovation Unit has awarded at least two contracts to build prototype phased array antennas that are capable of connecting with multiple satellites simultaneously. SpaceX Just Unleashed Its Starship Rocket for the First Time (WIRED) The prototype, called Starhopper, hovered in the air for a few moments. Next stop: Space. Why is India sending robots into space? (BBC News) India will fly robots to understand what weightlessness and radiation do to the human body in space. How AI Will Help Radar Detect Tiny Drones 3 Kilometers Away (Defense One) Small drones are becoming a big problem. Here’s how next-generation neural networking techniques could help. NASA’s large SLS rocket unlikely to fly before at least late 2021 (Ars Technica) "NASA has not been good at setting realistic budget and schedules." Faster: Meet the Air Force's New Mach 5 SR-72 Spy Plane (The National Interest) Can't stop this. Can machine learning decipher an overcrowded radio spectrum? (C4ISRNET) The Department of Defense is funding initiatives to revolutionize signals intelligence. SDA Kicks Off Future Space Systems Research (Air Force Magazine) ​The Space Development Agency is launching its first formal talks with industry about a new vision for military space, in the midst of unexpected leadership turnover and with its initial tranche of funding in the works. Pentagon Eyes Military Space Station (Breaking Defense) The fact that the Defense Innovation Unit is even considering the idea of a space station in orbit is a pretty big deal -- and an even bigger deal if it grows over time to accommodate a human crew. Legislation, Policy, and Regulation France plans to boost its self-defense posture in space (Defense News) Patrols of nano-satellites could soon zap evildoers trying to harm French spacecraft. Iran to start up weapons-grade plutonium plant (Times) Tehran has announced that it is escalating its nuclear programme, putting back on stream a reactor that can produce weapons-grade plutonium. Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister and... China to Release New White Paper on National Defense: What to Expect (The Diplomat) China’s strategic environment and capabilities have transformed considerably in the four years since the last document. The challenge (and benefit) to a more open intelligence community (C4ISRNET) Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gordon says that as foreign powers increasingly target the private sector and general public, the intelligence community needs to be more open and share more information publicly. That could be a net positive for business relations. The Democratization of Space (Foreign Affairs) Technological advances are driving down the cost and ease of getting into space, allowing a crowd of new actors, from developing countries to small start-ups, to get into the game. In the next space race, the main challenge will be figuring out how to regulate all the new activity. Estonian defense policy official on alliance relations and Russian stability (Defense News) On the front line of any conflict with Russia sits the Baltic nation of Estonia. With an eye to Russia, Europe focuses on hybrid warfare response (Fifth Domain) With potential attacks against Baltic nations by Russia fresh in the minds of European allies, both NATO and the European Union are focusing on strategies to either prevent or respond to “gray zone” warfare. How should the US respond to ‘gray zone’ activity? Here are three options (Defense News) A Center for Strategic and International Studies report lays out a campaign plan to respond to The Iran Crisis: How the Nuclear Deal Started to Unravel, and What’s Next (New York Times) Why did President Obama and President Trump treat Iran so differently? Can the nuclear deal be saved? How might the confrontation end? Good call, Mr. President — a drone is not worth another war (Air Force Times) The Iranian government should be dealt with, absolutely, but not with military force. Not yet, anyway. SPACECOM Stand-Up: New Focus For Ongoing Missions (Breaking Defense) LinQuest in April began work under a $9.2 million, sole-source contract to "hold the planks for the stand-up" of SPACECOM, working directly with Gen. Raymond and its joint staff directorates. Trump Rallies Support for Space Force at Welcome for New SecDef (Military.com) President Donald Trump said the Pentagon now has the money and the will to create the Space Force. Space Force envisioned by Congress to cost about $3.6 billion (Federal News Network) The Congressional Budget Office readjusted its earlier Space Force estimate based on DoD’s proposal. A key to the success of Space Force (C4ISRNET) Experts shared what the intelligence community and Space Force must achieve to assure efficiency. White House fights for more funding for missile warning satellite system (C4ISRNET) The Trump Administration wants more money for the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared satellite program after the House Armed Services Committee authorized less money than the Pentagon's $1.4 billion budget request. Milley throws support behind nuclear modernization, Space Force (Defense News) The confirmation hearing for President Trump's pick as the top uniformed officer for the Pentagon went smoothly. What will the Space Development Agency really do? (C4ISRNET) Space Development Agency leaders explain how their organization differentiates itself from the military's other space-related organizations. Let the US Air Force Move Ahead with Its Heavy-Lift Rocket Program (Defense One) Lawmakers' attempt to force the service to allow more companies to bid on satellite launches would do more harm than good. Trump announces replacement for director of national intelligence as Dan Coats set to leave (The Washington Times) President Trump announced Sunday afternoon that Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats will be stepping down and that he’s picking a Texas congressman to replace him. Senate Confirms Mark Esper as Trump’s New Pentagon Chief (Foreign Policy) Mark Esper has ties to Mike Pompeo and John Bolton, but some wonder if he has the stature to stand up to Trump. More leadership changes at the National Reconnaissance Office (C4ISRNET) Just days after the Senate confirmed the next director of the NRO, America's spy satellite agency has a new deputy director. Congress to NGA: Hurry up and adopt more automation (C4ISRNET) The House of Representatives has inserted several provisions in the Intelligence Authorization Act to help speed up the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's adoption of image processing technology. Litigation, Investigation, and Law Enforcement A $655M satellite ground system contract has led to a lawsuit (C4ISRNET) After the Government Accountability Office found the Air Force had awarded a massive satellite ground systems contract to a company that was technically ineligible, a competitor is suing to reopen the competition.

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