When Raytheon bought Blackbird Technologies for $US 420 million earlier this month, it caught our eye. This is the Blackbird that wrote the book on “tagging, tracking and locating” (TTL) devices, had the cyber sleuths to silently attack any hostile environment or -- depending on who you believe -- send in its own former military/CIA personnel to play a direct hand in rescue … [Read more...]
Raytheon 3G Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR): We Own the Night
As a battle-tested technology, thermal imaging is vital for the war fighter, and few solutions do it better than Raytheon Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR). FLIR’s ability to single out targets on the ground, from the air and over the sea, delivering detailed thermal images of hostiles in any light condition without revealing the presence of the user, is a must-have advantage in … [Read more...]
Stratign: The UAE’s Shadowed Defense Contractor
As the world’s 5th largest importer of arms, the United Arab Emirates is also a formidable producer in the field with market leaders that include Tawazun, Mubadala, Emirates Advanced Advancement -- and unknown to most -- a largely unsung player called Stratign. Stratign’s low profile is surprising, given its openness. The company is straightforward about its involvement in … [Read more...]
November is C5IS Military Month
In honor of Veteran’s Day and similar observances worldwide in remembrance of patriots who made the ultimate sacrifice for liberty, November is dedicated as C5IS Military Month. During November 2014, C5IS will highlight the chief battlefield communications and intelligence challenges facing war fighters, and review government-made and commercial electronic surveillance … [Read more...]
The U.S. Intelligence Community: It’s a Military Thing
The U.S. Intelligence Community is: (A) a vital collaborative hub for diverse intelligence agencies; or (B) an array of intel bureaucracies with occasionally overlapping responsibilities. Pick your answer. Established in 1947, the U.S. Intelligence Community is one of the few government functions more likely to be mistaken for a concept than an entity. Say “intelligence … [Read more...]