Countermeasures
The dangers of nuclear catastrophe are still very real, according to Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) president and COO Joan Rohfing, and at a recent event at the University of Pennsylvania, she urged new ideas, new thinkers and new funding to address it.
The working theory of nuclear deterrence... Read More »
This week RTX completed a successful demonstration of a solid-state circuit breaker for hybrid-electric propulsion system aircraft for NASA, and saw the opening of a $50 million Rockford, Ill., campus for its subsidiary Collins Aerospace’s advanced electric power systems lab.
The demonstration... Read More »
Warning of a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) plan to develop overseas naval facilities and logistical hubs to fuel potential future operations, Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee this week urged the State Department to turn up the pressure.
U.S. Sens. Todd Young (IN), Pete... Read More »
With the announcement of multiple indictments against China-based companies and Chinese employees this week, the Biden administration’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched a new efforts in an ongoing fight against fentanyl production and trafficking.
“The international dimension... Read More »
In Fall 2024, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) will give Critical Infrastructure Owners & Operators (CI O&O) and Global Positioning System (GPS) equipment manufacturers a chance to test their tools against GPS disruption and... Read More »
In the first three quarters of 2023, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported 5,072 firearms intercepted at airport security checkpoints, putting it on track to break its own record of seizures by the end of the year.
With more than 1,800 firearms stopped this quarter alone,... Read More »
With a launch off the coast of California, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Navy last week demonstrated success in their final planned test of the submarine-fired Trident II D5 Life Extension Fleet Ballistic Missile (FBM).
“We are proud of Lockheed Martin’s nearly seven decades of partnership... Read More »
Through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) last week announced an award of more than $30 million for first responders and the bolstering of local responses to hazardous materials incidents.
In all, six grants split up... Read More »
A South Dakota startup called Synthetik Insurance Analytics won a $199,948 Phase 1 Other Transaction award from the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) last week for development of flood data analysis technology.
The third applicant to receive an... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) released an unclassified version of its 2023 Strategy for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) last week, laying out the foundations of its approach going forward, with a likely heavy approach on China and Russia.
The previous CWMD strategy, released... Read More »
During this summer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) led a nationwide effort to combat violent crime, and as of this week, the results have been released: more than 4,000 arrests, 2,500 drug and 1,600 weapons seizures, and the takedown of more than 50 organizations.
The campaign ran... Read More »
As a means to detect, identify, alarm and report traditional and advanced chemical threats, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week chose Smiths Detection to provide 122 portable Aerosol and Vapor Chemical Agent Detectors (AVCAD).
The award, which included five fixed systems for ships... Read More »
As part of the Defense Manufacturing Community Support Program (DMCSP), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week awarded approximately $30 million to six organizations, following competitive applications.
"Delivering capabilities to our warfighters at scale depends on a resilient and... Read More »
As an upgrade for fifth generation aircraft and more, the U.S. Air Force tapped Northrop Grumman Corporation this week to deliver the Stand-in Attack Weapon (SiAW), an air-to-ground weapon meant to hunt rapidly relocatable targets.
“Northrop Grumman’s SiAW delivers on the Air Force’s... Read More »
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) last week approved its Fiscal Year 2024 budget, allocating $451 million to fund operations and consider network improvements.
“This budget positions the FirstNet Authority for continued growth and success as we implement our... Read More »
Through elaboration of certain provisions, the U.S. Department of Commerce placed guardrails on the CHIPS and Science act last week, barring associated funds from expanding semiconductor manufacturing in or jointly researching with foreign countries of concern.
“One of the Biden-Harris... Read More »
A measure to demand sanctions on and prohibit nearly all economic interactions with blacklisted Chinese entities so targeted – the Chinese Military and Surveillance Company Sanctions Act of 2023 (H.R. 760) – advanced from the House Financial Services Committee last week.
Authored by U.S.... Read More »
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) could, as a whole, be up for a major promotion under the FEMA Independence Act of 2023 – a proposal to raise the agency to a cabinet-level position.
According to its authors – U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) – the... Read More »
After three months under Operation North Star III, the U.S. Marshals Service reported arrests of 4,455 violent fugitives this week, following targeted efforts in 20 cities to execute warrants for homicide, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault and firearms violations.
“ONS is an... Read More »
As some branches of the U.S. Armed Forces are coming up short in their recruitment efforts, officials are looking at creative ways to connect students with recruitment officers, as well as programs that increase the likelihood students are prepared to pass rigorous military entrance... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Homeland Intelligence Experts Group this week, assembling experts from the private sector to advise on federal intelligence efforts.
Former senior intelligence officials, journalists, and human rights advocates join the assembly,... Read More »
In a letter to the heads of the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Defense (DoD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the House chairs pressed for details of their responses to supposed Chinese attempts to breach U.S. military and other sensitive sites.
The letter from House... Read More »
Reckoning with the essential nature of temporary visa-based workers to the United States economy, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a proposed rulemaking this week that would update H-2 visa programs to strengthen worker protections and more.
These efforts target two... Read More »
Holloman Air Force Base received a new High-Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing (HSVTOL) item for testing this week from Bell Textron Inc., to begin testing its folding rotor, integrated propulsion and flight control technologies at representative flight speeds.
At the end of these sled test... Read More »
As a companion to House-passed legislation H.R. 2, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) last week introduced the Secure the Border Act of 2023, proposing a resumption of border wall construction, harsher asylum and visa standards, and more Border Patrol agents.
Known as S. 2824, the Senate version of the... Read More »
In a national first, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appointed a Chief Artificial Intelligence (AI) Officer last week and called for responsible use of AI by the department, based on several newly announced policies.
“Artificial intelligence is a powerful tool we must... Read More »
The Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act (H.R. 3389) passed the last of its hurdles in the House this week, advancing out of the chamber on a bipartisan vote and raising the potential that firefighters may soon gain increased assets for wildfire emergencies.
Originally introduced by U.S.... Read More »
A first-of-its-kind-facility in the United States – the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) – received a best project award from Engineering News-Record (ENR) Midwest this week.
That award, centered... Read More »
With the launch of the Rapid Experimental Missionized Autonomy (REMA) program this week, within the next 18 months DARPA intends to create ways for commercial drones to work autonomously on predefined tasks after connection with their operators is lost.
“REMA is focused on creating autonomous... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense announced two new agreements this week meant to shore up domestic manufacturing and mining operations for critical metals: lithium and nickel.
For lithium, that resulted in a $90 million agreement with Albemarle Corporation to support the expansion of domestic... Read More »
Worried about the potential for artificial intelligence (AI) to disrupt cyber infrastructure and compromise critical data, U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) recently wrote to Acting National Cyber Director (ONCD) Kemba Walden seeking information and action.
Foremost,... Read More »
As part of a four-year effort under DARPA’s Glide Breaker program, Boeing will develop and test technologies for a hypersonic interceptor prototype.
“Hypersonic vehicles are among the most dangerous and rapidly evolving threats facing national security,” said Gil Griffin, executive... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Fugitive Safe Reauthorization Act last week to renew the Fugitive Safe Surrender Program, which allows U.S. Marshals to work with local faith organizations and get those with warrants to turn themselves into law enforcement.... Read More »
A recent guilty plea in U.S. court from Suez Rajan Limited marked the criminal resolution of a case that involved millions of dollars, more than 980,000 barrels of Iranian crude oil, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
It marked the first time a company was accused of and... Read More »
Charges against Russian nationals in three federal jurisdictions were unsealed last week, revealing indictments for cybercrimes committed through Trickbot malware and Conti ransomware in recent years.
“The Justice Department has taken action against individuals we allege developed and deployed... Read More »
