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☆ Russian forces have hit on a cheap way to foil US precision weapons in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-30 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Another US precision-guided weapon is being foiled by Russian electronic warfare. The new weapon, rapidly delivered to Ukraine, has repeatedly failed in combat, a US official said. Several US weapons have repeatedly been beaten by electronic warfare. AdvertisementAnother US precision-guided weapon has apparently been foiled by Russian electronic warfare, a Pentagon official said. Last week, William LaPlante, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said a new version of a US precision weapon had failed to hit Russian targets partially because of Russian electronic warfare.

Persons: —, William LaPlante, LaPlante Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Strategic, International Studies, Business Locations: Ukraine

☆ Ukraine's Pilots Use iPads to Fly Combat Missions Against Russia: US Official
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-28 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine's pilots are using iPads for combat missions, said a US undersecretary. The iPads or similar tablets could assist in what are called "Wild Weasel" missions. It is an example of adapted Ukrainian weapons built by stitching Western and Soviet parts together. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementA video released by Ukraine's Air Force appears to show its pilots using a tablet to help it conduct combat missions against Russian air defense systems.

Persons: —, William LaPlante Organizations: Service, Ukraine's Air Force, Russian, Defense, Washington DC, Business Locations: Ukraine, Soviet

☆ Bitcoin money launderer Ian Freeman ordered to pay $3.5 million to romance scam victims
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ian Freeman outside of the federal courthouse in Concord, New Hampshire, in April 2023. Prosecutors said that he laundered proceeds of scams by exchanging dollars for the popular cryptocurrency, charging "exorbitant fees" in the process. Freeman earned more than $1 million through his business, which he had not registered as legally required with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, prosecutors said. "Freeman instructed bitcoin customers, who were often victims of scams, to lie to the financial institutions and describe their deposits as church donations. From 2016 to 2019, he paid no taxes, and concealed his income from the Internal Revenue Service," the office said.

Persons: Ian Freeman, Freeman, laundered, Ian, Jane Young, Joseph Laplante Organizations: cryptocurrency, U.S ., Prosecutors, Financial, Network, New Hampshire U.S, U.S, District, Shire Free Church, of, Internal Revenue Service Locations: Concord , New Hampshire, New Hampshire, U.S, Shire, of New Hampshire

☆ The B-21 Raider took its first flight just 2 months ago, but the Pentagon is already sure it wants more of its new stealth bomber
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The B-21 Raider, the US Air Force's newest bomber, has already entered production. AdvertisementProduction of the B-21 Raider is underway, a top Pentagon official revealed this week, a little more than two months after the US Air Force's newest bomber completed its maiden flight. AdvertisementThe B-21 Raider is seen in an undated photograph released on Dec. 2, 2022. Northrop Grumman unveils the B-21 Raider during an event in Palmdale, California on Dec. 2, 2022. The B-21 "Raider," a long-range stealth bomber that can be armed with nuclear weapons, takes off during its first flight in California on Nov. 10, 2023.

Persons: —, William LaPlante, LaPlante, David Swanson, Defense Lloyd Austin, Austin, Northrop Grumman Organizations: Raider, US Air Force's, Pentagon, Service, Business, Northrop Grumman, US Air Force, ., US, REUTERS, Defense Locations: Palmdale , California, California

☆ Ukraine's new defense minister says he wants to rebuild the country's military industrial complex
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Ukraine's new defense minister says the country is focusing on increasing local arms production. In the meantime, the US has announced another boost to artillery shell production to aid Ukraine. Now, two weeks into the job, Umerov said one of his top priorities is to rebuild Ukraine's cache of ammunition by ramping up local production, using local manufacturers whenever possible, The Economist reported. Umerov said he plans to boost local production by reforming state enterprises and incentivizing private arms manufacturers, which make up between 20% and 30% of local production, according to The Economist. Under Umerov, those private manufacturers could eventually account for as much as 80% of local output within five years, Oleksandr Kamyshin, Ukraine's minister of strategic industries, told the outlet.

Persons: Rustem Umerov, Umerov, Bill LaPlante, Oleksandr Kamyshin Organizations: US, Service Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia

☆ Ukraine is firing up to 7,000 rounds a day, a fraction of the 60,000 shells Russia was firing earlier this year: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine lags far behind Russia in its use and production of artillery shells, according to CNN. Russia fired 60,000 shells a day earlier this year, while Ukraine now fires about 7,000, per CNN. The Ukrainian military wants to fire more than 10,000 rounds a day, according to CNN, which would still remain far below Russia's artillery efforts. AdvertisementAdvertisementAs of July, the US had committed to sending more than two million artillery rounds to Ukraine, while the EU has approved plans to send a quarter of a million rounds. However, it remains unclear how fast European weapon manufacturers can catch up with Russia's production rates.

Persons: Oleksandra Ustinova, Armin Papperfer, Papperfer, Bill LaPlante, Douglas Bush, Bush, Ukraine's Organizations: CNN, Artillery, Service, Rheinmetall, EU, New York Times, Kremlin Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Estonian, Europe, Scandinavian

Away from the front, Ukraine’s war has become a numbers game: who can acquire, make and resupply more tanks, bullets, and, most of all, artillery shells. All in all, Kyiv needs some 1.5 million artillery shells annually, according to the CEO of one of Europe’s largest arms manufacturers, Rheinmetall. By July, the US had supplied more than two million artillery rounds to Ukraine since the 2022 invasion, the Pentagon said. But in February 2023, Europe-wide production of artillery ammunition had a maximum capacity of 300,000 shells annually, Estonian defense officials estimated. The best-case scenario of an increase to making 2.1 million shells annually is still years away from being realized.

Persons: Oleksandra Ustinova, ”, Volodymyr Zelensky, Armin Papperger, Papperger, William LaPlante, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Nammo, LaPlante, Tuuli Duneton, Morten Brandtzæg, “, ” Brandtzæg, you’re, Jérôme, Creuillot, it’s, Jonathan Caverley, hasn’t, Ignacio Marin, Caverley, Josep Borrell Organizations: CNN, Artillery, Rheinmetall, Pentagon, European, NATO, Defense, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Estonian, US Naval War College, EU Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Estonian, United Kingdom, Europe, Brussels, “, Kyiv, ”, Norway, France

☆ The US is boosting production for artillery crucial to Ukraine's forces as it struggles to keep up with Russia's war machine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The US is ramping up its artillery production to continue aiding Ukraine and resupply its stockpile. A Pentagon official said the US aims to be producing 100,000 155mm artillery shells by 2025. "But every country struggles with munitions production as war goes on beyond a few months." Western officials, meanwhile, believe Russia is on track to manufacture two million artillery shells a year, the Times reported this week. A Ukrainian soldier carries 155mm shells for M777 artillery at a artillery position in the Donetsk Oblast on August 6, 2023.

Persons: Ukraine's, Mark Cancian, Bill LaPlante, that's, LaPlante, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Technology Douglas Bush, Bush, Cancian, Washington, Biden, sooth, Matt Rourke Organizations: Pentagon, Service, Russia, Artillery, Estonian, New York Times, US Marine Corps, Center for Strategic, Studies, Center, New, New American Security, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US Army, Army, Acquisition, Logistics, Technology, Ukraine, Times, White, Scranton Army, AP Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Washington, Europe, New American, Donetsk Oblast, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Scranton, Pa

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to supporters in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. March 17, 2019. L3 Harris said on July 26 it was informed that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission would not block its $4.7 billion deal for Aerojet Rocketdyne. The letter was signed by Warren, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel, as well as U.S. The lawmakers also requested correspondence between the Pentagon and the companies regarding potential conditions, including how they would be enforced. Reporting by Diane Bartz; additional reporting by Mike Stone; editing by Timothy GardnerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Karen Pulfer Focht, Lloyd Austin, Harris, Warren, L3Harris, William LaPlante, Representatives John Garamendi, Mark Pocan, Diane Bartz, Mike Stone, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Democratic, U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, L3 Harris Technologies, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Aerojet, Pentagon, Federal Trade Commission, Senate Armed Services, Representatives, Defense Department, Thomson Locations: Memphis , Tennessee, U.S, Austin

☆ Ukraine's allies are shifting focus from donating weapons to fixing them as Western-supplied armor proves resilient to Russian fire, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine's allies are shifting focus from donating weapons to repairing what is already there, a report says. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. The US-made mine-resistant armored fighting vehicles have also been hailed by Ukrainian troops as being "almost indestructible." The group coordinates repair facilities and has helped Ukraine set up a supply support effort to help track high-demand spare parts. Since the beginning of the war, scores of countries have committed to sending billions of dollars worth of equipment to Ukraine.

Persons: William LaPlante, Bradley, Serhii Ivanov, Leon Neal, Carl Court, Ukraine's, LaPlante Organizations: Service, Pentagon, Politico, sustainment, German, The, Times Locations: Wall, Silicon, Europe, Ukraine, Russia, London, British, Poland, Nyzhche Solone, Kharkiv oblast

☆ A 5G-powered app could be the solution to muddy speakers at concerts and sporting events — but it's not for everyone
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Kristina Etter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Mixhalo is an app that streams sound directly from the mixing board to concertgoers' earphones. The audio platform Mixhalo is leveraging 5G to deliver high-quality audio directly to event attendees' earbuds in real time. A user checks the Mixhalo app at an LA Football Club game. And sync issues between the live sound and the app can also happen, particularly when using wireless or Bluetooth headphones. For sports fans, Mixhalo is in use by the Los Angeles Football Club, the Sacramento Kings, and at NASCAR events.

Persons: Mike Einziger, Ann Marie Simpson, Corey Laplante, Mixhalo, Reddit, Laplante, Sting Organizations: 5G, LA Football, Apple, Incubus, Stern Grove Festival, Los Angeles Football Club, Sacramento Kings, NASCAR Locations: San Francisco, Las Vegas, Sacramento

☆ US Senator Warren, others warn against L3Harris plan to buy Aerojet
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat and frequent merger critic, joined three other lawmakers on Tuesday to urge the Defense Department to thoroughly review defense contractor L3Harris Technologies' (LHX.N) $4.7 billion deal for Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings (AJRD.N). The letter was sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and William LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment. In addition to Warren, the letter was signed by Representatives Chris Deluzio, John Garamendi and Mark Pocan. With the Ukraine war driving up demand for missiles and defense systems, Aerojet became an attractive takeover target. Aerojet develops and manufactures liquid and solid rocket propulsion and hypersonic engines for space, defense, civil and commercial applications.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Warren, Lockheed Martin, Lloyd Austin, William LaPlante, Chris Deluzio, John Garamendi, Mark Pocan, Aerojet, Diane Bartz, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Defense Department, L3Harris Technologies, Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, The Defense Department, Raytheon, Boeing, Defense, L3 Technologies, Harris Corp, United, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, United States

☆ Ukraine's tech entrepreneurs fight war on a different front
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Michael Kahn | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

It's an example of how some startups in Ukraine's dynamic tech sector are switching to pursue military projects. Pavlo Kartashov, director of the Ukrainian Startup Fund (USF), a government-backed organization that seeds technology startups, told Reuters his group resumed funding in October. Demand from the government has driven the shift to military technology, but most of the entrepreneurs who spoke to Reuters said that patriotic duty also played a role. "There are much more ideas in military technology," said Krasovsky, the founder and chief executive of Swedish-Ukrainian Sigma Software Group. Groups like the Polish-Ukrainian Start Up Bridge - a Polish-government backed venture - offer emerging Ukrainian tech companies small grants to fund basic business needs and a co-working space in Warsaw.

☆ Pentagon awards Raytheon $1.2 bln contract for Ukrainian NASAMS
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-30 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Army awarded a $1.2 billion contract to Raytheon Technologies Co (RTX.N) for six National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) for Ukraine on Wednesday, the Pentagon said. The United States has approved sending Ukraine a total of eight NASAMS to help fend off Russian missile and drone attacks. Ukraine received its first delivery of two NASAMS air defense systems in November. The contract is for the NASAMS batteries, training, and logistical support to Ukraine's military and security forces. The Pentagon has said the newly U.S.-provided NASAMS air defense systems so far have had a 100% success rate in Ukraine intercepting Russian missiles.

☆ Pentagon, U.S. arms makers to meet on labor and supply chain
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Prior meetings between Pentagon officials and top arms makers including Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), Raytheon Technologies Corp (RTX.N) and General Dynamics Corp (GD.N) were focused on Ukraine and hypersonic weapon development. Pandemic related supply-chain issues are still hurting defense contractors because components and materials fail to arrive on time, which delays production and ultimately payment. read moreTHE LONGEST POLEIn the meantime, the defense industry is taking steps on its own to shore up supplies and labor. "If I had to boil it down to the longest pole in the tent, it's the labor issues that are pervasive throughout the supply chain," Raytheon Chief Financial Officer Neil Mitchill told Reuters. read moreReporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Alexandra Alper and Stephen CoatesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ F-35 jet deliveries can resume following waiver for Chinese-origin alloy, Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-08 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Deliveries can resume for Lockheed Martin Corp's (LMT.N) F-35 jet under a waiver allowing Chinese-origin alloy to go into an engine part, the Pentagon said on Saturday. In September the Pentagon stopped accepting new F-35 jets after it discovered a magnet in the stealthy fighter's engine was made with unauthorized material from China. Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the jets, had said the issue was "related to a magnet on the F-35 Turbomachine manufactured by Honeywell that includes cobalt and samarium alloy." An alternative source for the alloy will be used in future, the Joint Program Office said in its statement. There are other Chinese-origin magnets on the jet that have received waivers from past Pentagon officials.

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