Cyber/C4ISR

In this edition: Israel establishing new national cyber defense authority| More cyber revelations post Operation Protective Edge | USCYBERCOM to recruit 6,000 cyber professionals and create 133 teams across the country | Russia wants to disconnect the ".ru" from interconnected web | ISIS and Al-Qaida looking for cyber Caliphate to launch attacks on US| New Qatari Cyber Law threatens freedom | Singapore organized 23rd GovernmentWare infocom security exhibition | Multinational cyber security drills | Australia's Department of Finance drafts cyber security clauses defining service providers’ responsibilities when managing cyber security risks | UK to launch real-time cyber threat alert system for banks in 2015 | French Information Systems Security Agency strengthening its cyber defense

In this edition: Israeli cyber security: a growing market | Israeli Start-up uncovers espionage network hitting organizations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland | The hacktivist Anonghost group attacked Israel under banner of #OpIsraelReborn campaign | US Army Cyber Command launching new Cyber Protection Brigade | Russian hackers hacked nearly 5 million Gmail user accounts | China performs large scale cyber espionage operations | NATO strengthen its cyber security policy and cooperation | UK government launching free online cyber security course | Tanzania: Cyber-crime talks for Arusha | Cybercrime a key issue in new ISS - UNIDIR collaboration

Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) are currently tested with Airborne Infrared (ABIR) sensors – performing persistent, forward pickets to spot hostile missile launches and track them through their flight trajectory. These missions will soon evolve as RPAs become operational, and augment existing radar and space-based sensors, providing midcourse tracking and target discrimination, to help targeting ground and ship-based missile defense interceptors. In the next phase MDA will equip even larger unmanned platforms with high-power laser systems, to perform boost-phase intercept. The agency plans to demonstrate such systems in 2021.

In this edition: Behind Israel's cyber battle of Operation Protective Edge | Iranian cyber offense during Operation Protective Edge | Qatari technology helps Hamas build sophisticated cyber systems to attack Israel | Hackers related to ISIS took down Sony PlayStation's network | Major cyber-attack against United States banks | Most cyber-attacks targeting Western Europe come from Russia | Budget cuts increase Australian cyber-security risks |Hacker targets info on MH370 probe | Ecuador is latest country to face cyber-espionage campaign | UK Ministry of Defense launching £2 million cyber defense project | Germany working on cyber security law to protect critical infrastructure | South Africa has the third highest number of cyber crime victims after Russia and China | Kenya urges concerted efforts to fight crime

A new range of weapon sights and binoculars using miniature, cooled FLIRs are delivering a crisp, detailed target-view from miles away in total darkness

The Russian Ministry of Defense plans an evaluation of an innovative robotic tank formation concept that will enhance the operational capabilities of mechanized formations in urban areas. The ‘Storm’ concept will employ a robotized T-72B3 tank in at least five configurations, to create a semi-autonomous ‘robotic vanguard’, coordinated and controlled by human operators from few kilometers away.

A typical deployment of IR jammer can be seen on the Russian T-90, which mounts the Shtora-1 Defensive Aids System (DAS) shown on picture, with Kontakt5 ERA modules (left). The system protects the tank against guided missiles, using both the semi-active command to line of sight (SACLOS) guidance, by an IR source that mimics the flare on the back...

Although the IDF’s abilities to handle the rocket and attack tunnel threats have garnered most of the attention during the latest campaign in the Gaza Strip, it is now clear that Israel was also forced to confront cyber challenges during Operation Protective Edge. More specifically, in the course of the campaign Iranian elements launched a widespread cyber offensive against Israeli targets, including attempts to damage security and financial networks. While these attempts were neutralized relatively easily and quickly by Israeli cyber defenses, it seems that Iran is investing heavily in the development of effective offensive capabilities against infrastructure systems, and might present a serious challenge to Israeli defenses within the foreseeable future.

Dozens of unmanned underwater, surface and air vehicles from NATO countries have gathered in Portugal for two weeks in September, testing new technological advances in unmanned maritime systems networks. To beef up its Port defense capability the Portuguese Navy invited IAI to bring its Drone-Guard C-UAS system that provided unprecedented situational awareness and drone defeat capability during the exercise.

The U.S. Army is dispatching two specially modified Stryker vehicles designed to combat unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS). Developed as C-UAS Mobile Integrated Capability demonstrators the vehicles were evaluated during the recent Army Warfighting Assessment exercise at Fort Sill in October. The vehicles were flown to Germany last month to be tested with operational units in Europe. The deployment was requested by officials from US Army Europe.

The crisis in Ukraine was the largest battlefield of cyber war since Russia's cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007 and Georgia in 2008. Russian cyber operations in Ukraine were based on the experience and lessons learned from previous attacks; they haven't left 'fingerprints' leading to the sources. Russia has managed to hit almost all Ukraine government websites and it was able to take control and to put on surveillance and monitoring all the Internet and telephone communications lines, before the invasion and occupation of Crimea by its military.

Following extensive testing in the laboratory and in the field, Laser Detect System (LDS) Ltd. is unveiling SpectroDrone – the world’s first drone-based explosive detection sensor. SpectroDrone employs LDS’s patented standoff gated laser spectroscopy techniques, proven to detect a wide range of explosive and hazardous materials at distances of several meters.

IAI is introducing the RoBattle, a new combat robot it has developed. A member of a growing family of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV) that evolved from the company's robotics center in recent years. RoBattle will make its debut at the Eurosatory exhibition in France next week. Designed for modern ground combat, RoBattle is built to operate independently or to support...

Russia has transferred a number of Kvant 1L222 Avtobaza Electronic Intelligence (ELINT) systems to Iran in October, RIA Novosti news agency announced. Each 1L222 system includes an passive ELINT signals interception system and a jamming module capable of disrupting airborne radars including fire control radars, terrain following radars and ground mapping radars as well as weapon (missile) data links. 1L222...