DefenceTalkThe devastatingly destructive potential of cyberattacks has become the security challenge of our age, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told U.S. troops here yesterday. Hagel stopped in Hawaii on the first leg of a trip that also will take him to Singapore and Brussels, Belgium. The secretary stood in a hangar at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam […]https://www.defencetalk.com/cyber-may-be-biggest-threat-hagel-tells-troops-48012/

DefenceTalkRaytheon Company booked a $106 million contract for its combat-proven Paveway II family of precision-guided munitions. The company was awarded the direct commercial sale from an international customer. The contract includes Paveway kits for both GBU-12 (500lb) and GBU-58 (250lb) guided bombs. Paveway is a Raytheon-designed kit that transforms “dumb” bombs into precision-guided munitions. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/raytheon-books-paveway-ii-contract-48020/

DefenceTalkThe Russian military will launch a new reconnaissance satellite from the Plesetsk space center in northern Russia on June 8, a space industry source said. “A Russian military satellite will be launched on board a Soyuz-2.1b carrier rocket from the Plesetsk launch site on June 8,” the source, who asked to remain anonymous, told RIA […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-to-launch-new-spy-satellite-in-june-48018/

DefenceTalkRussia’s Project 885 Yasen-class attack submarine, the Severodvinsk, has embarked on its latest series of official tests in the White Sea, the manufacturer said Monday. Sevmash shipyard spokeswoman Yekaterina Pilikina said the tests had started several days ago, without providing details on their time frame or scope. The shipyard had earlier said the submarine would […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russias-new-nuclear-sub-in-sea-trials-48027/

DefenceTalkSince 2000, more than 2,000 servicemembers have suffered amputated limbs. DARPA’s breakthrough research with advanced prosthetic limbs controlled by brain interfaces is well documented, but such research is currently limited to quadriplegics; practical applications of brain interfaces for amputees are still in the future. In contrast, nerve and muscle interfaces allow amputees to control advanced […]https://www.defencetalk.com/new-nerve-and-muscle-interfaces-aid-wounded-warrior-amputees-48022/

DefenceTalkThree of the world’s nuclear powers — China, India and Pakistan — have increased their arsenals over the past year, while the other five have cut their strength or kept it stable, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said Monday. China now has 250 nuclear warheads against 240 in 2012, while Pakistan has increased its […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-india-pakistan-boost-nuclear-arsenals-study-48008/

DefenceTalkChinese warships will continue to patrol waters where Beijing has territorial claims, a top general said Sunday, amid simmering rows with neighbouring countries over the South China Sea and islands controlled by Japan. Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of the general staff of the People’s Liberation Army, defended the patrols as legitimate and said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/chinese-patrols-in-asian-seas-legitimate-general-48006/

DefenceTalkAs the U.S. mission in Afghanistan evolves from full spectrum combat operations to a support role in helping Afghan forces take hold of their country’s security, unit commanders emphasize the need for network mobility. Warfighter Information Network-Tactical, or WIN-T, Increment 2, the Army’s improved tactical network communications backbone, was designed to fulfill such a mission. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/armys-new-mobile-network-to-support-its-afghan-security-mission-48003/

DefenceTalkSenior commanders recently called on the defense industry to provide technologies that give special operations forces more situational awareness, better networking and communications and more precise location and targeting capabilities. Officials from across U.S. Special Operations Command, including commanders of its service components and the theater special operations commands, laid out their wish lists earlier […]https://www.defencetalk.com/special-ops-commanders-seek-intel-data-sharing-assets-47992/

DefenceTalkThe Air Force announced today it expects to declare F-35A Lightning II initial operation capability in December 2016. The announcement was included in a joint report detailing service-specific IOC requirements and dates for each of the F-35 variants that was delivered to Congress today. “The Air Force has spent the last six months looking at […]https://www.defencetalk.com/air-force-establishes-f-35-ioc-target-47997/