DefenceTalkAt a ceremony attended by Jean-Marc Ayrault, Prime Minister of France, and Victor Ponta, Prime Minister of Romania, Thales today signed a contract worth €60 million to develop a high-intensity laser system at the Horia Hulubei National Institute of Physics and Nuclear Engineering (IFIN-HH) in Magurele, near Bucharest. The Thales laser system will generate an […]https://www.defencetalk.com/thales-to-develop-worlds-most-powerful-laser-for-romania-48468/

DefenceTalkAs of July 1, the Army Chief Information Officer/G-6 became responsible for providing waivers for customers seeking to procure commercial-off-the-shelf information technology from alternative sources. Previously, waivers were granted by the Army’s designated primary source for commercial information technology, known as IT, the Computer Hardware, Enterprise Software and Solutions, or CHESS, program office within the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/waiver-approval-for-it-purchases-moves-to-army-ciog-6-48331/

DefenceTalkThe government and a group of Britain’s leading defence and security companies are working together to bolster the UK’s cyber security. The Defence Cyber Protection Partnership (DCPP) aims to meet the emerging threat to the UK defence supply chain by increasing awareness of cyber risks, sharing threat intelligence, and defining risk-driven approaches to applying cyber […]https://www.defencetalk.com/defence-partnership-tackles-cyber-security-risks-48308/

DefenceTalkIT hub Estonia on Wednesday urged the European Union to rely less on US firms for “cloud” data storage, amid tensions over claims of US spying and data surveillance. “Recent months have proven once again that it’s very important for Europe to have its own data clouds that operate strictly under European legislation,” Estonian President […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cyber-savvy-estonia-urges-eu-to-rely-less-on-us-clouds-48300/

DefenceTalkFirst responders occasionally come across suspicious powders, requiring them to have technology on hand to screen samples and identify whether or not they are a chemical or biological agent. Current technology performs a test to determine whether or not protein exists on the sample, an indication that the sample is live, or active. With this […]https://www.defencetalk.com/army-scientists-research-new-technologies-for-rapid-accurate-detection-capabilities-48293/

DefenceTalkJapan is planning to launch satellites to monitor the world’s oceans, a report said Sunday, as Chinese government ships plied waters around islands controlled by Tokyo and claimed by Beijing. The Cabinet office plans to launch nine satellites in the next five years to counter piracy and monitor the movements of foreign ships intruding into […]https://www.defencetalk.com/japan-to-launch-satellites-to-monitor-oceans-48296/

DefenceTalkThe US military is reviewing its rules of engagement to deal with the growing threat of cyber crime, military chief Martin Dempsey said Thursday. Dempsey, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking officer in the US military, said the review was in response to soaring cyber attacks. “The Department of Defense has […]https://www.defencetalk.com/us-army-reviews-rules-of-engagement-over-cyber-threat-48274/

DefenceTalkThe CIA selected Amazon over IBM to build a cloud computing service for the spy agency even though IBM’s proposal carried a lower price tag, according to a government report. IBM protested the CIA’s decision to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, which sided with IBM on two of its main […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cia-faulted-for-choosing-amazon-over-ibm-on-cloud-contract-48203/

DefenceTalkAir-ground fire coordination-also known as Close Air Support or CAS-is a dangerous and difficult business. Pilots and dismounted ground agents must ensure they hit only the intended target using just voice directions and, if they’re lucky, a common paper map. It can often take up to an hour to confer, get in position and strike-time […]https://www.defencetalk.com/faster-more-precise-airstrikes-within-reach-48151/

DefenceTalkA mock-up of Russia’s new piloted spacecraft will be showcased in August at the MAKS airshow near Moscow, Russia’s space chief said Friday. The new craft, being developed by the Russian spaceship manufacturer RKK Energia, is expected to make its maiden flight in 2018. “At the MAKS airshow, we will soon see the mock-up of […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-unveil-new-piloted-spacecraft-at-maks-airshow-48156/