[NEWS] Turkish fully autonomous killer drones

The  next-generation combat unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) Akinci will be one of the first projects of the joint venture created by the Ukrainian state-owned company Ukrspecexport, and the Turkish Baykar Defense company, reports the press-service of the Ukrainian national defense concern Ukroboronprom.

"The project is executed through the cooperation of the largest defense companies of Ukraine and Turkey", - said the General Director of the concern Pavlo Bukin.

According to Ukroboronprom, the next-generation combat UAV is being developed taking into account the conflicts in the 21 century. One of its main advantages, as concern specified, will be the ability to carry out high-precision strikes with ammunition that is used on conventional aircraft.
Akinci is a heavy heavy drone, equipped with two Ukrainian-made engines, which allow it to fly at an altitude of more than 12 km. The drone can carry more than a ton of payload, and its flight time could reach up to 24 hours. Also, it will receive a thermal vision system and a radar with an active large-phased array.

Earlier, Turkey announced, that the shipping of the drone will begin in 2021. It is expected that the Akinci program will work on technologies that will be used for further development of unmanned aircraft in Turkey.

On August 8, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky visited the production of Baykar unmanned aerial systems during his visit to Turkey.

AS SEEN @https://www.uawire.org/ukraine-and-turkey-intend-to-create-next-generation-combat-drone

AS SEEN @https://www.kathimerini.gr/1043879/article/epikairothta/kosmos/new-scientist-ta-mikra-fonika-drones-poy-8a-xrhsimopoihsei-h-toyrkia-sth-syria-video

Η Τουρκία πρόκειται σύντομα να γίνει η πρώτη χώρα στον κόσμο που θα χρησιμοποιήσει πλήρως αυτόνομα drones (UAV), ικανά να εντοπίζουν και να σκοτώνουν ανθρώπους χωρίς την παραμικρή ανθρώπινη παρέμβαση.

Η γειτονική χώρα άρχισε πρόσφατα την παραγωγή εξοπλισμένων drones που ελέγχονται από άνθρωπο χειριστή και, σύμφωνα με πληροφορίες, τα έχει ήδη χρησιμοποιήσει εκατοντάδες φορές στη βορειοδυτική Συρία.

Τώρα, προχωρά στο επόμενο βήμα, τη χρήση αυτόνομων drones, σύμφωνα με δημοσίευμα του «New Scientist». Η τουρκική αμυντική εταιρεία STM (που ιδρύθηκε το 1991) ανακοίνωσε ότι ο στρατός τής χώρας θα αρχίσει να χρησιμοποιεί τα νέα αυτόνομα drones Kargu στις αρχές του 2020. Πρόκειται για εναέρια οχήματα βάρους επτά κιλών, με τέσσερις έλικες (quadcopters), που δρουν επίσης ως μέρος ενός ευρύτερου σμήνους, οι μονάδες του οποίου μπορούν να συνεργάζονται.

Τα Kargu διαφημίζονται από τη STM ως χρήσιμα για επιχειρήσεις αντιτρομοκρατικές και ασύμμετρου πολέμου, τόσο εναντίον στατικών όσο και κινούμενων στόχων (ανθρώπων, οχημάτων κ.ά.). Διαθέτουν ενσωματωμένες δυνατότητες επεξεργασίας εικόνων σε πραγματικό χρόνο, καθώς και αλγόριθμους βαθιάς μάθησης. Μπορούν να λειτουργήσουν τόσο τη μέρα όσο και τη νύχτα, να κάνουν πλήγματα ακριβείας, να χρησιμοποιήσουν διάφορα οπλικά συστήματα και αυτοκαταστρέφονται αν χρειαστεί.

Η τουρκική αμυντική βιομηχανία εργάζεται πυρετωδώς για την εγχώρια ανάπτυξη ολοένα πιο εξελιγμένων και φονικών drones, καθώς και πυραύλων «Κρουζ», με στόχο να μειώσει την εξάρτησή της από ξένες χώρες, σύμφωνα με δημοσίευμα του ειδησεογραφικού ιστότοπου με έδρα τις ΗΠΑ Al-Monitor, που παρακολουθεί στενά με ειδησεογραφία και αναλύσεις τις εξελίξεις στην ευρύτερη Μέση Ανατολή. Το δημοσίευμα υπογράφει ο Τούρκος πρώην στρατιωτικός Μετίν Γκουρσάν, ο οποίος μετά την παραίτησή του από τον τουρκικό στρατό, έγινε ανεξάρτητος αναλυτής για στρατιωτικά θέματα.

Σύμφωνα με το δημοσίευμα, η Τουρκία δοκίμασε προ ημερών με επιτυχία τον πρώτο της πύραυλο τύπου «Κρουζ» (SOM-B2) με εκρηκτική κεφαλή, ικανή να διαπερνά τσιμεντένια υπόγεια καταφύγια.

Παράλληλα, η τουρκική εταιρεία κατασκευής drones Baykar Makina (ανήκει στην οικογένεια του γαμπρού του Ερντογάν, του Σελτζούκ Μπαϊρακτάρ, ο οποίος είναι και επικεφαλής της εταιρείας στον τεχνολογικό τομέα) συνεργάζεται από τις αρχές Αυγούστου με την κρατική ουκρανική εταιρεία Ukrspecexport για την ανάπτυξη ενός μεγάλου τουρκικού drone, του Akinci («Επιδρομέας»), με δύο μηχανές, δυνατότητα πτήσης σε μεγάλο ύψος και για πολλή ώρα.

Η Baykar Makina έχει ήδη κατασκευάσει τα drones ΤΒ2, που χρησιμοποιεί η Τουρκία εδώ και περίπου τρία χρόνια στο εσωτερικό της, στο Ιράκ, στο Αιγαίο, στην ανατολική Μεσόγειο και τη βόρεια Συρία. Το ΤΒ2, που εξάγεται στο Κατάρ και την Ουκρανία, είναι ένα μέσου υψομέτρου και μεγάλης πτητικής ικανότητας drone, αλλά το υπό ανάπτυξη Akinci θα είναι πολύ πιο εξελιγμένο. Η ουκρανική Ukrspecexport θα παρέχει τους «τούρμπο» κινητήρες του drone.

Το Akinci θα έχει άνοιγμα φτερών 20 μέτρα, βάρος έως 4.500 κιλά, θα μπορεί να μένει στον αέρα έως 24 ώρες και θα φθάνει σε επιχειρησιακό ύψος έως 12.200 μέτρα, επιδόσεις που είναι σχεδόν διπλάσιες σε σχέση με εκείνες του τωρινού drone TB2. Το Akinci θα διαθέτει, επίσης, ηλεκτρονικό ραντάρ (AESA), συστήματα ηλεκτρονικού πολέμου και δορυφορικών επικοινωνιών και θα είναι σε θέση να λειτουργεί ανεξάρτητα από τον σταθμό εδάφους. Θα μπορεί να εφοδιαστεί με διάφορα οπλικά συστήματα, όπως καθοδηγούμενες βόμβες ακριβείας (Roketsan MAM-L), πυραύλους Cirit και ΜΑΜ-C, κυρίως όμως τον νέο πύραυλο «Κρουζ» αέρος-εδάφους Roketsan SOM-B2 με ακτίνα δράσης 250 χιλιομέτρων.

Η πρώτη δοκιμή του πυραύλου «Κρουζ» SOM-B2 ήταν επιτυχής στις 6 Σεπτεμβρίου, οπότε αναμένεται να αποτελέσει το σημαντικότερο οπλικό σύστημα του drone Akinci, το οποίο αναμένεται να αρχίσει να χρησιμοποιείται από τον τουρκικό στρατό εντός του 2021.

Η τουρκική κυβέρνηση στηρίζει την εταιρεία Baykar Makina και, παρά την οικονομική κρίση, αυτόν τον μήνα τής χορήγησε επιδότηση περίπου 120 εκατομμυρίων δολαρίων, καθώς και φορολογικές απαλλαγές, προκειμένου να κατασκευάσει ένα μεγάλο εργοστάσιο κοντά στην Κωνσταντινούπολη για τη μαζική παραγωγή του drone Akinci (του πρώτου μεγάλης ακτίνας δράσης οπλισμένου drone της Τουρκίας), καθώς επίσης για να διπλασιάσει τη σημερινή παραγωγή του μικρότερου drone TB2.

Το νέο εργοστάσιο θα δημιουργήσει 1.000 νέες θέσεις εργασίας και προγραμματίζεται να παράγει μέσα στην επόμενη διετία 46 drones TB2 και 36 drones Akinci (τα 24 για τον τουρκικό στρατό, ενώ τα 13 θα εξαχθούν στην Ουκρανία), καθώς και τα αντίστοιχα συστήματα επικοινωνιών και εδάφους. Ενδιαφέρον για την αγορά του μελλοντικού Akinci έχουν εκδηλώσει το Κατάρ, το Αζερμπαϊτζάν και η Μαλαισία.

Το ερώτημα, σύμφωνα με το δημοσίευμα του Al-Monitor, είναι ποιές είναι οι στρατηγικές επιδιώξεις της Τουρκίας και πού σκοπεύει να χρησιμοποιήσει αυτά τα εξελιγμένα drones «Επιδρομείς», τα οποία θα έχουν τόσο βαρύ και ακριβείας εξοπλισμό. Η Άγκυρα θεωρεί το Akinci ως «μη επανδρωμένο μαχητικό αεροπλάνο αέρος-εδάφους» παρά ως drone. Ο συνδυασμός Akinci και πυραύλου «Κρουζ» SOM-B2 θα δώσει στην Τουρκία δυνατότητα για «χειρουργικά» πλήγματα σε απόσταση έως 600 χιλιομέτρων από το έδαφός της. Αυτό σημαίνει ότι π.χ. το Akinci μπορεί να αντικαταστήσει τα μαχητικά F-16 που σήμερα δρουν κατά των Κούρδων στο βόρειο Ιράκ και στη βόρεια Συρία.

Επίσης, σύμφωνα με τον Γκουρσάν, όταν το Akinci τεθεί σε λειτουργία, θα δώσει στην Τουρκία δυνατότητα για 24ωρη χαμηλού κόστους και χαμηλού κινδύνου εναέρια επιτήρηση πάνω από όλο το Αιγαίο και την ανατολική Μεσόγειο.

Ένα από τα πιθανά μελλοντικά προβλήματα για τα drones Akinci είναι ότι εξαρτώνται για τη λειτουργία τους όχι μόνο από τις εισαγωγές ουκρανικών κινητήρων αλλά και από το σύστημα GPS των ΗΠΑ. Μένει να φανεί αν η Τουρκία θα προτιμήσει την εναλλακτική λύση του ρωσικού συστήματος δορυφορικής πλοήγησης GLONASS, ιδίως αν επιδεινωθούν περαιτέρω οι τουρκο-αμερικανικές σχέσεις λόγω της κρίσης με την τουρκική αγορά των ρωσικών πυραύλων S-400

[NEWS] PLA’s furtive underwater nukes test the Pentagon

Until recently, China lacked a reliable nuclear second-strike capability. Its ballistic missile submarines, which can deliver a nuclear weapon, are changing that. Now, the United States is pursuing these subs in a cat-and-mouse contest reminiscent of the Cold War.


READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE @https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/china-army-nuclear/


Satellite imagery reveals the regular presence of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines at the strategic base near the resort city of Sanya. Specialized surface warships and aircraft designed to protect the subs are prowling key waterways off the coast. Facilities at the base appear to have been built to store and load ballistic missiles. Antenna arrays that support the hunt for foreign submarines have appeared on Chinese-held islands in the hotly contested South China Sea. And a veteran submariner has been appointed to command Chinese forces in the south of the country.

Taken together, this means China has a force of missile submarines that can launch nuclear attacks from beneath the waves and now appear to be heading out on patrols, according to serving and retired naval officers, diplomats and security analysts. That gives Beijing something it has until recently lacked: a more reliable “second strike” capability if its land-based nuclear arsenal comes under attack.

~*~*~

After six decades of battling to master complex and challenging subsea military technologies, China has joined the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and France in the nuclear ballistic missile submarine club. In its most explicit assessment so far of this Chinese capability, the Pentagon in its latest annual report on China’s military, published in August, said that Beijing now has a “credible” and “viable” sea-based nuclear deterrent.                   

~*~*~

Each of China’s four Jin-class submarines is armed with up to 12 ballistic missiles that can carry a nuclear warhead with an estimated range of 7,200 kilometers (about 4,500 miles), according to the Pentagon. That would put the United States within striking distance from the Western Pacific. Analysts at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies estimate these missiles could fly at least 8,000 kilometers. The U.S. believes China has up to 100 nuclear missiles based on land.

~*~*~

"An armed Jin-class SSBN will give China an important strategic capability that must be countered,” Admiral Harry Harris, then head of the U.S. Pacific Command, told a congressional committee last year.

That response appears to be happening. The United States and its allies are expanding their anti-submarine naval deployments across East Asia. This includes stepped-up patrols of America’s advanced, sub-hunting P-8 Poseidon planes out of Singapore and Japan.

~*~*~

As it strengthens and improves its nuclear arsenal, Beijing is the only major nuclear power to be adding warheads to its stockpiles. China is developing an air-launched ballistic missile and plans to build a long-range stealth bomber capable of carrying nuclear weapons. With the sea-based second-strike deterrent in place, those programs suggest Beijing eventually intends to field a triad of air, sea and land-based nuclear weapons like the United States and Russia.

~*~*~

Commercial satellite images of the submarine base give insight into the furtive force stationed there. They appear to show missile submarines regularly tied up alongside long piers in the harbor. Satellite images from Google Earth in June last year show what appear to be three Jin-class missile submarines at the base.

Russia Is Building an AI-Powered Missile That Can Think for Itself

IN BRIEF

Russia wants to develop a new generation of weapons with built-in AI, according to weapons manufacturers and defense officials. These truly smart weapons could, in principle, choose their own targets, taking warfare to a dangerous new level.
TRULY SMART BOMBS

Today’s most advanced weapons are already capable of “making decisions” using built-in smart sensors and tools. However, while these weapons rely on some sort of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, they typically don’t have the ability to choose their own targets.


Creating such weapons is now Russia’s goal, according to the country’s defense officials and weapons developers.

“Work in this area is under way,” Tactical Missiles Corporation CEO Boris Obnosov said at the MosAeroShow (MAKS-2017) on July 20, the TAAS Russian News Agency reported. “This is a very serious field where fundamental research is required. As of today, certain successes are available, but we’ll still have to work for several years to achieve specific results.”

The nation hopes to emulate the capabilities of the U.S.’s Raytheon Block IV Tomahawk cruise missile, which it saw used in Syria, within the next few years. As Newsweek previously reported, Russia is also working on developing drones that functions as “swarms” using AI.

WE CAN BUILD IT, BUT SHOULD WE?

The importance of developing sound policy to guide AI development cannot be overstated. One of the reasons this is necessary is to prevent humans from using such technology for nefarious purposes. Any attempts to weaponize AI should ring alarm bells and be met with serious scrutiny.

Russia certainly isn’t the first nation to explore militarized AI. The U.S. plans to incorporate AI into long-range anti-ship missile, and China is supposedly working on its own AI-powered weapons.



It’s certainly possible to build these weapons, but should we? Many people, including industry experts, already warn about how AI could become the harbinger of humanity’s destruction. Making weapons artificially intelligent certainly doesn’t help dispel such fears.

The future of warfare isn’t immune to technological advances, of course. It’s only natural, albeit rather unfortunate, that technology improves weapons. In the end, however, it’s not AI directly that poses a threat to humanity — it’s people using AI.



AS SEEN @

https://futurism.com/russia-is-building-an-ai-powered-missile-that-can-think-for-itself/

Which Countries Have Nuclear Weapons and How Big Their Arsenals Are

DATE:23/12/2016
SOYRCE: NY TIMES

Russia and the United States are believed to have 7,000 weapons each, or more. Only about a quarter of these are deployed, and most of the others are in reserve or set aside to be dismantled. North Korea's arsenal is cloaked in secrecy, but experts believe it has fewer than 10 weapons.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/12/23/world/nuclear-weapon-countries.html

Russian combat robots conquer snowy battlefield in drill outside Moscow (VIDEO)

DATE: 30/12/2016
SOURCE: RT


This is the first time that unmanned ground vehicles have being tested for interoperability with a conventional army squad, General Oleg Salyukov, commander of the Russian military’s Ground Troops, told TASS.

“The vehicles do meet some of our requirements, and something is yet to be done, but the main criterion applied to these systems is their capability to be used by the troops,” he added.





The Soratnik, a 7-ton tracked vehicle manufactured by the Kalashnikov concern, can be fitted with a 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun, a 30mm grenade launcher or even Kornet-EM anti-tank rockets. It can operate for up to 10 days in stand-by mode, and detect and destroy enemy targets at ranges of up to 2,500 meters.


READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

https://www.rt.com/news/372304-russia-combat-robots-test

Lithuania said found Russian spyware on its government computers

DATE: 22/12/2016
SOURCE: REUTERS


The Baltic state of Lithuania, on the frontline of growing tensions between the West and Russia, says the Kremlin is responsible for cyber attacks that have hit government computers over the last two years.

The head of cyber security told Reuters three cases of Russian spyware on its government computers had been discovered since 2015, and there had been 20 attempts to infect them this year.

"The spyware we found was operating for at least half a year before it was detected – similar to how it was in the USA," Rimtautas Cerniauskas, head of the Lithuanian Cyber Security Centre said.

Fears of Russian cyber attacks have come to the fore since the U.S. election campaign when hacking of Democratic Party emails led to allegations from U.S. intelligence that Moscow was involved.

Lithuanian officials targeted by the Russian spyware held mid-to-low ranking positions at the government, but their computers contained a stream of drafts for government decisions of its positions on various matters, said Cerniauskas.

READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE @

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-lithuania-cyber-idUSKBN14B1PC

Group that hacked the DNC also infiltrated Ukrainian artillery units

The group distributed a trojanized version of an Android app used by Ukrainian artillery personnel

DATE: 22/12/2016
AUTHOR: LUCIAN CONSTANTIN
SOURCE: COMPUTERWORLD


The cyberespionage group blamed for hacking into the Democratic National Committee (DNC) earlier this year also infiltrated the Ukrainian military through a trojanized Android application used by its artillery units.

The group, which is known in the security industry under different names, including Fancy Bear, Pawn Storm and APT28, has been operating for almost a decade. It is believed to be the sole user and likely developer of a Trojan program called Sofacy or X-Agent that has variants for Windows, Android and iOS.

Fancy Bear has been responsible for many cyberespionage operations around the world over the years, and its selection of targets has frequently reflected Russia's geopolitical interests. Researchers from security firm CrowdStrike believe the group is likely tied to the Russian Military Intelligence Service (GRU).

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE @ http://www.computerworld.com/article/3153169/security/group-that-hacked-the-dnc-also-infiltrated-ukrainian-artillery-units.html

PUTIN: RUSSIA'S MILITARY IS STRONGER THAN ANY POTENTIAL FOE

DATE: 22/12/2016
AUTHOR: NATALIYA VASILYEVA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS


MOSCOW (AP) -- Russia's military today can overpower any potential foe but should strengthen its nuclear arsenal, President Vladimir Putin told an annual end-of-year meeting Thursday with defense chiefs.

"We can say with certainty: We are stronger now than any potential aggressor," he told the meeting. "Anyone!"

His comments come at the end of a year when tensions between Russia and the West have remained on edge over the civil war in Syria.

Tensions between Russia and the West have been souring ever since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and surreptitious support of separatists in eastern Ukraine. Relations dipped further after Russia last year launched an air offensive in Syria to support President Bashar Assad.

Both Russia and NATO members have conducted a flurry of military drills near Russia's borders this year. Russia insists it is responding to a growing NATO threat.

Speaking at the defense ministry's headquarters in Moscow, Putin said Russia should be swift in "adjusting plans to neutralize potential threats to our country."

He said strengthening Russia's nuclear capability should be a chief objective for 2017.

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE @ http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_RUSSIA_MILITARY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-12-22-06-35-19

Russian hacks into Ukraine power grids a sign of things to come for U.S.?

DATE: 21/12/2016
AUTHOR: HOLLY WILLIAMS
SOURCE: CBS NEWS



Russian hacking to influence the election has dominated the news. But CBS News has also noticed a hacking attack that could be a future means to the U.S. Last weekend, parts of the Ukrainian capitol Kiev went dark. It appears Russia has figured out how to crash a power grid with a click.

Last December, a similar attack occurred when nearly a quarter of a million people lost power in the Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine when it was targeted by a suspected Russian attack. 

Vasyl Pemchuk is the electric control center manager, and said that when hackers took over their computers, all his workers could do was film it with their cell phones.

READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE @ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russian-hacks-into-ukraine-power-grids-may-be-a-sign-of-things-to-come/