Latest news with #MOD
Business Insider
8 hours ago
- Business
- Business Insider
The Israel-Iran conflict is likely bad news for Russia's reliance on Shahed drones, UK intel says
As aerial strikes between Iran and Israel continue, Russia may be feeling the ripple effects across the Black Sea. "The conflict will likely negatively impact the future provision of Iranian military equipment to Russia," the UK Ministry of Defence said in an intelligence update on Thursday. The UK MOD said that "Iran has supplied significant quantities of one-way attack uncrewed aerial systems" to Russia, as well as having provided "extensive support" to its production of these drones. For the Kremlin, the timing of the latest Middle East conflict isn't entirely unwelcome; with global attention shifting to the Iran-Israel standoff, pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine could ease. However, the conflict could also spark long-term issues for Russia, which continues to depend on Iran for Shahed drones and their parts. Iran has also supplied Russia with ballistic missiles and other munitions, the MOD said. Iran's Shahed drones have become a key weapon in the war in Ukraine. The Shahed-136, an Iranian-designed weapon that Moscow now also produces, has been at the heart of Russia's drone attacks on Ukraine, being used against cities and critical infrastructure. These drones can fly at speeds of over 115 mph with a nearly 90-pound explosive warhead. It's not clear what percentage of the drones Russia now produces itself, and how much it still relies on those coming from Iran. Friends in need The war in Ukraine has dragged on for more than three years, with Western nations continuing to funnel weapons and aid to Kyiv. Meanwhile, Iran has been one of Russia's most important military partners, and Tehran has played a crucial role in helping Russia scale up its domestic drone production, providing both equipment and technical expertise. A wide-ranging strategic partnership deal signed between Russia and Iran in January strengthened cooperation in areas like defense, energy, and trade, but it didn't commit either side to come to the other's aid in a conflict. That stands in sharp contrast to Russia's mutual defense arrangements with countries like Belarus and North Korea. If Iran becomes increasingly bogged down in a direct confrontation with Israel, its ability to keep any supply lines open to Russia would likely be compromised. A full-blown war might stretch Iran's military production capacity or expose it to international sanctions and strikes that disrupt its defense industry sector. Russia has already been weaning itself off Iran's Shaheds. Business Insider has reported on multiple attempts by Russia to build Shahed-like drones domestically. These include Russia's Geran-2 drones, which are similar to Shahed-136s but made with different materials, researchers at Conflict Armament Research told The New York Times last year. For now, the Kremlin is staying quiet — a likely sign it's trying to keep its options open. But as the latest Middle East conflict heats up, Russia may soon find that one of its closest alliances is less helpful than it once was.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Hackers, Spies and Saboteurs: How Leonardo will help to fortify UK Defence against Cyber Attacks
New service will support the delivery of a range of simulated attacks against Armed Forces target systems, replicating 'real world' adversaries to protect against security vulnerabilities. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Under a new three-year contract, defence company Leonardo has been chosen by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to manage 'red team and cyber adversary simulation' operations across UK Armed Forces bases and networks. As hostile states step up attempts to sow disruption and chaos, the new service will ensure that UK Armed Forces are as well defended and resilient as possible. A red team plays the role of an adversary, by simulating a cyber-attack against an organisation based on real world tactics, techniques and procedures, to test resilience and identify ways of improving cyber security. This can involve a combination of live activities to test on-site security, as well as simulated cyber attacks against critical networks. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leonardo already provides red team services to a range of customers, however under this new contract the company will be working closely with the MOD to manage the smooth delivery of the red team simulations. Leonardo will provide technical and delivery support to the MOD, to hire best-of-British red teams and cyber security experts from large consultancies to specialist SMEs, to carry out simulated attacks against a range of military targets. Under a new three-year contract, defence company Leonardo has been chosen by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to manage 'red team and cyber adversary simulation' operations across UK Armed Forces bases and networks. The three-year contract has been placed by the Ministry of Defence's Strategic Command and will see Leonardo work closely with UKStratCom security leads to establish a 'Red Team Delivery Cell'. Leonardo already supports cyber security efforts the length and breadth of the Ministry of Defence estate, under the Defence Digital Cyber Resilience Programme. Wherever there's a digital system, Leonardo might either audit it or check if it's a cyber risk. This 'investigations as a service' provision covers a range of Armed Forces networks. The red team and cyber adversary simulation contract is part of the growth of Leonardo's UK-based cyber security business. The Cyber & Security Division doubled their revenue between 2020 and 2023, achieving £100m revenue in 2024. This is in line with the company's broader European and global strategy in the cyber security sector, to strengthen services, technologies and collaborative efforts to accelerate the demand for Cyber Resilience Services. Leonardo has more recently achieved significant results with major contracts, partnering with prime technology leaders and pursuing further opportunities in cyber security, secure digital solutions and mission critical communication. This reinforces the Company's position in Europe, responding with advanced proprietary products and innovative solutions to meet evolving digital transformation requirements at both a national and international level.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Hackers, spies and saboteurs: How Leonardo will help to fortify UK Defence against cyber attacks
New service will support the delivery of a range of simulated attacks against Armed Forces target systems, replicating 'real world' adversaries to protect against security vulnerabilities. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Under a new three-year contract, defence company Leonardo has been chosen by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to manage 'red team and cyber adversary simulation' operations across UK Armed Forces bases and networks. As hostile states step up attempts to sow disruption and chaos, the new service will ensure that UK Armed Forces are as well defended and resilient as possible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A red team plays the role of an adversary, by simulating a cyber-attack against an organisation based on real world tactics, techniques and procedures, to test resilience and identify ways of improving cyber security. This can involve a combination of live activities to test on-site security, as well as simulated cyber attacks against critical networks. Under a new three-year contract, defence company Leonardo has been chosen by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) to manage 'red team and cyber adversary simulation' operations across UK Armed Forces bases and networks. Leonardo already provides red team services to a range of customers, however under this new contract the company will be working closely with the MOD to manage the smooth delivery of the red team simulations. Leonardo will provide technical and delivery support to the MOD, to hire best-of-British red teams and cyber security experts from large consultancies to specialist SMEs, to carry out simulated attacks against a range of military targets. The three-year contract has been placed by the Ministry of Defence's Strategic Command and will see Leonardo work closely with UKStratCom security leads to establish a 'Red Team Delivery Cell'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Leonardo already supports cyber security efforts the length and breadth of the Ministry of Defence estate, under the Defence Digital Cyber Resilience Programme. Wherever there's a digital system, Leonardo might either audit it or check if it's a cyber risk. This 'investigations as a service' provision covers a range of Armed Forces networks. Leonardo will draw on its own 'red team' and cyber security expertise to support delivery by MOD of best-of-British suppliers, including SMEs. The red team and cyber adversary simulation contract is part of the growth of Leonardo's UK-based cyber security business. The Cyber & Security Division doubled their revenue between 2020 and 2023, achieving £100m revenue in 2024. This is in line with the company's broader European and global strategy in the cyber security sector, to strengthen services, technologies and collaborative efforts to accelerate the demand for Cyber Resilience Services. Leonardo has more recently achieved significant results with major contracts, partnering with prime technology leaders and pursuing further opportunities in cyber security, secure digital solutions and mission critical communication. T his reinforces the Company's position in Europe, responding with advanced proprietary products and innovative solutions to meet evolving digital transformation requirements at both a national and international level.
Russia Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukrainian drone attack deep inside Russia kills one
Ukrainian drone attack in the Republic of Tatarstan in central Russia has resulted in one fatality and multiple injuries, according to the head of the region, Rustam Minnikhanov. 'During the interception of the UAV, debris struck a checkpoint building at an automotive plant in the Yelabuga district, killing a worker. Thirteen people were injured in total, with one in critical condition,' Minnikhanov stated in a Telegram post on Sunday. The crash triggered a fire at the scene, which was quickly extinguished. In recent months, Ukrainian forces have intensified drone strikes, targeting both border regions and deeper within Russia. National air defense systems routinely intercept dozens or even hundreds of hostile drones per day, although falling debris continues to pose risks to civilians and infrastructure. Ukraine has intensified its drone raids since mid-May, when a meeting of negotiators from the two countries took place in Istanbul, marking the first direct talks between Kiev and Moscow since 2022. The attacks peaked during the final week of May, when 2,300 UAVs were shot down, according to the Russian MOD.
Japan Forward
7 days ago
- General
- Japan Forward
Chinese Military Jets Make Aggressive Passes Near Japan
このページを 日本語 で読む At a press conference on June 12, General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of the Joint Staff of Japan's Self-Defense Forces, addressed the aggressive actions of Chinese military aircraft. He described the behavior as deliberate, noting, "They followed us for 40 minutes, then 80 minutes — and it happened two days in a row." Chinese J-15 fighter jets, launched from the aircraft carrier Shandong , approached Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) P-3C patrol aircraft at dangerously close range on two consecutive days. The Shandong had advanced to waters near Japan's Okinotorishima, more than 1,500 kilometers from the Chinese mainland. According to the Ministry of Defense (MOD), the first close encounter occurred on June 7. A lone J-15 tailed Japan's P-3C for approximately 40 minutes, repeatedly veering side to side as it approached and retreated, eventually closing to within just 45 meters on the aircraft's left side. On June 8, a second J-15 tailed a Japanese P-3C for roughly 80 minutes, coming as close as 45 meters on the aircraft's right side. As it disengaged, the jet crossed in front of the patrol plane at the same altitude, just 900 meters ahead. That day, another Chinese fighter also joined the pursuit. Describing the 45-meter proximity, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) pilot said it felt like "a total stranger walking shoulder to shoulder with you — close enough to break a cold sweat." At the time, China had deployed two aircraft carriers to the western Pacific simultaneously for the first time. Reflecting on the maneuver, one ASDF official remarked, "It was as if they were declaring, 'This is China's airspace.'" Frontal crossings like the one on June 8 are especially dangerous, as wake turbulence can trigger engine malfunctions. Japan's P-3C was conducting surveillance on five vessels, including the Shandong . According to reports, the JMSDF aircraft attempted to communicate via radio, asserting that it was "conducting legitimate mission flights in international airspace." While the MOD has not released the full details of the exchange, it stated that a safe distance was maintained from the Shandong . Chinese military aircraft have repeatedly carried out provocative maneuvers against the United States and other allied forces in recent years. In February, a Chinese J-16 fighter jet closed to within just 30 meters of an Australian P-8A patrol aircraft over the South China Sea and released infrared countermeasure flares designed to evade missiles. According to a 2023 announcement by the US Department of Defense, Chinese aircraft were involved in more than 180 abnormal close encounters over the previous two years. These included incidents where jets flew close enough for crew members' faces to be seen or crossed directly in front of US aircraft at dangerously close range. Around the same time, another Chinese aircraft carrier, the Liaoning , crossed the Second Island Chain — a key US defense perimeter — for the first time. This time, with both Chinese carriers operating simultaneously in the western Pacific, Professor Tetsuo Kotani of Meikai University, a security policy expert, offered this analysis: "This seems to be China's way of sending a warning: 'Don't interfere with our legitimate training in this newly entered area.' It also reflects growing confidence as China continues to strengthen its carrier strike group operations." Author: Toyohiro Ichioka, The Sankei Shimbun このページを 日本語 で読む
