DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: The 'Nasty' Computer Virus Infecting U.S. Military Drones

Defense News: DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: The 'Nasty' Computer Virus Infecting U.S. Military Drones

**Unmanned aircraft used by the Air Force for espionage and combat have been stung by malware. Should we be worried?

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The Week

(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 11, 2011: A fleet of American Predator and Reaper drones has been infected with a computer virus, reports Noah Shachtman at Wired. The unmanned aircraft, which allow the military to attack targets without risking the lives of U.S. soldiers, have become a key tool in America's war on terrorism.

Since President Obama took office, drones have killed more than 2,000 suspected militants and civilians. But now, it's the drones that are being targeted. Here's what you should know:

What does the virus do?

It's a "nasty" virus called a keylogger, says Max Eddy at Geekosystem. Pilots maneuvering drones issue commands remotely with keyboards and joysticks. And this virus can record every single keystroke.

How dangerous is this?

Because hackers might use any new information to refine their tactics, the Air Force doesn't publicly discuss attacks on its computer networks, says the Washington Post. But Wired's Shachtman says the infection has hit classified and unclassified machines at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada, which at least raises the possibility that secret data may have been captured — though no specific reports of classified information leaks have yet surfaced.

Where did the virus come from?

It's not clear if the virus infiltrated the military's computer systems through "a typical infection, or if it was specifically created to target the drone computer control system," says Dean Takahashi at Venture Beat. In other words: No one knows for sure how it got there.

What now?

Computer specialists at Creech are still trying to wipe the virus off their machines. Thus far, they've reportedly been unsuccessful, as the virus resists every effort to eliminate it. Officials are also in the process of erasing their internal hard drives to rebuild them from scratch — a rather "time consuming effort," says Shachtman.

LIST OF UNITED STATES - DRONES / UAV (COURTESY WIKIPEDIA)

• Emmen Aerospace - Swiper
• Emmen Aerosapce - Super Swiper
• Emmen Aerosapce - Condor
• Hewitt-Sperry Automatic Airplane, weapon (1916)
• Kettering Bug, weapon (1918)
• OQ-2/TDD-1 Radioplane, target (1939)
• Ryan A/BQM-34 series Firebee I and II, target (1951)
• North American X-10, research (1953)
• Northrop GAM-67 Crossbow, multi-role (1956)
• Northrop AQM-35, target (1956)
• McDonnell ADM-20 Quail, decoy (1958)
• Beech MQM-61A Cardinal, target (1959)
• Gyrodyne QH-50, research (1960)
• Beech AQM-37 Jayhawk, target (1961)
• QH-50 DASH, attack (torpedo launch)
• Ryan Model 147/AQM-34 series Fire Fly and Lightning Bug, reconnaissance (1962)
• Northrop M/BQM-74A Chukar, target, decoy (1964)
• Lockheed D-21, reconnaissance (1964)
• Ryan AQM-91 Firefly, reconnaissance (1968)
• BQM-90, target (1970)
• Boeing YQM-94A Compass Cope B, reconnaissance (1973)
• BAE Systems SkyEye (with the United Kingdom), reconnaissance (1973)
• Ryan YQM-98A Compass Cope R, reconnaissance (1974)
• Ryan AQM-81A Firebolt, target (1983)
• BAI BQM-147 Dragon Drone, reconnaissance (1986)
• RQ-2 Pioneer, reconnaissance (1986)
• General Atomics GNAT-750, reconnaissance (1989)
• Sikorsky Cypher, research, (1992)
• Teledyne Ryan BQM-145 Peregrine, Reconnaissance, (1992)
• RQ-1/MQ-1 Predator, reconnaissance, combat (1995)
• LR-3 Tigershark, reconnaissance (2004)
• RQ-3 Dark Star, research (1996)
• RQ-6 Outrider, reconnaissance (1996)
• Bell Eagle Eye, tiltrotor reconnaissance (1998)
• AeroVironment Puma AE, reconnaissance (1998)
• IAI RQ-5 Hunter, reconnaissance (1999)
• AAI RQ-7 Shadow, reconnaissance (1999)
• MQ-8 Fire Scout, reconnaissance (2000)
• RQ-4 Global Hawk, reconnaissance (2001)
• AeroVironment Wasp III, reconnaissance (2001)
• MQ-9 Reaper, reconnaissance, air attack (2006)
• Desert Hawk, reconnaissance (2001)
• AeroVironment Dragon Eye RQ-14, reconnaissance (2002)
• Boeing X-45, research (2002)
• RQ-15 Neptune, naval reconnaissance (2002)
• X-47 Pegasus, research (2003)
• Boeing X-50, research (2003)
• Boeing X-46, research (2003)
• ScanEagle, reconnaissance (2004)
• Systems Integration Evaluation Remote Research Aircraft (SIERRA), research (2009)
• Boeing A160 Hummingbird, research (2005)
• AeroVironment Raven RQ-11, reconnaissance (2005)
• CQ-10 Snowgoose, cargo (2005)
• Lockheed P-175 Polecat, research (2006)
• RQ-16 T-Hawk, reconnaissance (2006)
• Boeing Dominator, experimental (2007) -Persistent Munition Technology Demonstrator-
• Composite Engineering BQM-167 Streaker, in development (2006)^[59]
• Propulsive Wing, high lift, large cargo-carrying, cross-flow fan propulsion (2008)
• MQ-1C Warrior, air attack (2009)
• General Atomics Avenger, reconnaissance, attack (2009)
• RQ-170 Sentinel, reconnaissance (2009)
• Arcturus-UAV T-20, reconnaissance, attack (2009)
• Boeing Phantom Eye, reconnaissance (2011)
• Nano Hummingbird, surveillance and reconnaissance (2011)
• NASA Mini-Sniffer, research (1975 to 1982)
• General Atomics ALTUS, research (1996)
• NASA Advanced Soaring Concepts Apex research (cancelled before first flight, 1999)
• NASA Helios and Pathfinder, research (2001)
• Octatron SkySeer
• Switchblade (aircraft) (proposed)
• Aquila experimental Lockheed UAV, early 1980s
• Sadler Vampire UAV18-50, late 1980s Predator precursor
• Trek Aerospace Dragonfly
• Phantom Sentinel
• Insitu Aerosonde
• Vulture (UAV), Under development
• Global Observer Under development
• Boeing HALE Under development
• Gyrodyne QH-50 DASH or Drone Anti-Submarine Helicopter^[60]
• Arcturus-UAV T-15^[61]
• Arcturus-UAV T-16^[61]
• Arcturus-UAV T-20^[61]
• Imaging 1's micro UAV^[62]
• ATAIR LEAPP^[63]
• ATAIR Micro LEAPP^[64]
• ATAIR Insect
• Vector P^[65]
• Lockheed Martin MPUAV Cormorant (Under development)
• Marcus UAV- Devil Ray UAV^[66]
• NASA Hyper III

[EDIT]

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources The Week

*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

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DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: PLA Air Force Dismisses Hong Kong News Report Of Jet Fighter Crash

Defense News: DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: PLA Air Force Dismisses Hong Kong News Report Of Jet Fighter Crash

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Global Times

(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 11, 2011: The People's Liberation Army air force has dismissed a Hong Kong media report that claims a prototype of China's jet fighter J-10B recently crashed during a test flight, killing a pilot on duty.

Quoting an unverified thread on a sina.com microblog posted on Friday, the Hong Kong-based Sing Tao News reported Saturday that a Chengdu J-10B single engine fighter prototype recently crashed during a test flight in the China Flight Test Establishment in Xianyang, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. The report was further quoted by media outlets in Taiwan Province.

In response to the reports, the PLA air force confirmed to the Global Times Sunday that no plane has crashed and no pilot was killed.

The J-10B, which is undergoing tests, is the latest variant of the Chengdu J-10 fighter. It features multiple improvements such as advanced sensors and a new engine inlet to cut weight and reduce radar visibility, according to Chinese military observers.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources Global Times

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DTN News - ISRAEL DEFENSE NEWS: Israel Eyes S. Korean T-50 Jet Trainer

Defense News: DTN News - ISRAEL DEFENSE NEWS: Israel Eyes S. Korean T-50 Jet Trainer

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources UPI

(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 11, 2011: Israel's quest for a new jet trainer for the air force has moved toward South Korea's T-50 after Korea Aerospace Industries said it was joining with Lockheed Martin, which makes the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Israel is buying, to market the supersonic aircraft.

The air force is seeking a replacement for its fleet of Vietnam-era Douglas A-4 Skyhawks, with the T-50 Golden Eagle competing against the M-346 Master built by Alenia Aermacchi of Italy.

The Skyhawks, in service with Israel since 1967, have been used for advanced training before pilots move on to supersonic combat aircraft like the Lockheed Martin F-16 and Boeing's F-15.

Final selection of the new trainer has been reportedly delayed several times over the last year because of the Defense Ministry's "budgetary constraints."

It's not clear whether the deal will be affected by major cuts in the 2012 defense budget approved by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's right-wing government Sunday. Military officials said the cutbacks would mean that one-third of the air force's jet aircraft would be grounded.

But it seems evident that the cuts could impede planned weapons procurement by Israel's armed forces.

That includes the purchase of 20 Lockheed Martin F-35 stealth fighter aircraft in a $2.75 billion deal approved by Defense Minister Ehud Barak in August 2010.

The air force ultimately wants 75 of the fifth-generation fighters to maintain Israel's long-held technological edge over its regional adversaries.

The initial order of 25-35 training jets, worth at least $1 billion, will mark the first time in 40 years that the Israeli air force will buy jet aircraft not manufactured in the United States, its main arms supplier.

But The Jerusalem Post reported Monday that the competition for the new trainer has been complicated by political considerations that could in the end decide the issue.

Israel's defense companies, whose focus on exports will undoubtedly be heightened by the expected cuts in defense spending, are seeking major contracts with South Korea worth up to $500 million a year. Those could be jeopardized if the air force chooses the M-346 over the T-50.

Seoul announced in June it had signed a $43 million deal with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems for 67 Spike NLOS missiles to boost defenses on the Yellow Sea islands of Baengnyeong and Yeonpyeong attacked by North Korea in 2010.

South Korea is also showing interest in Rafael's Iron Dome, designed to intercept short-range rockets and which made a successful combat debut against Palestinian rockets earlier this year.

"On the other hand," the Post observed, "Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has personally lobbied Prime Minister Netanyahu about purchasing the Italian aircraft."

But Lockheed's announcement that it was working with KAI to market the T-50, "would make it easier for Israel to use military funds it receives from the U.S. to purchase the aircraft," the Post reported.

It's not clear, under these particular circumstances, whether the U.S. Defense Department would allow Israel to use any of the $3 billion a year it receives in U.S. military aid to acquire the Italian jet.

The Post reported last week that the Rome government was discussing with the Israeli Defense Ministry the possibility of a barter deal with Italy, in which two AWACs aircraft from state-run Israel Aerospace Industries would be exchanged for the M-346.

Defense officials in Tel Aviv say the issue could be decided by the end of the year with an order made in early 2012.

Once the selection has been made IAI and Elbit Systems, a leading maker of military electronic equipment, will establish Tor Ltd. which will handle the purchase and maintenance of the training aircraft, and lease the aircraft to the air force.

The single-engine T-50 is considered to be one of the best training aircraft in the world and by all accounts offers the highest potential performance of the two as it can function as an "F-16 Lite."

A T-50 with a light ground attack capabilities would be an added bonus for the Israelis.

However, the Defense Industry daily observed recently that the performance profile and ordnance-carrying capability of the M-346, similar to the Russian Yak-130, "in a pinch is probably the closest to the Skyhawk's."

The Israeli air force's 200-plus A-4s saw combat in several Middle East wars.

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources UPI

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DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: China's Military Buildup - How Far Along Is It?

Defense News: DTN News - CHINA DEFENSE NEWS: China's Military Buildup - How Far Along Is It?

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources HT

(NSI News Source Info) KOTTAKKAL, Kerala, India - October 11, 2011: China's faster-than-expected military buildup has alarmed the United States and its Asian allies and could help the Pentagon gird against deeper defense cuts threatened in some corners of Congress.

But even though the sophistication of China's People's Liberation Army has exceeded US military forecasts, there is a recognition within the Pentagon that some of its most-cited conventional capabilities are still in their infancy.

China's first aircraft carrier, a refurbished Soviet-era vessel known as the Varyag bought from the Ukraine, began sea trials in July. Chinese sources said Beijing is also building two indigenous carriers, a claim the US military believes is misleading at best.

Admiral Robert Willard, commander of US forces in the Pacific, told Reuters that while China might be pursuing procurement or some other embryonic action on an indigenous carrier, it would be premature to say "a keel is laid."

"The only ship that anyone has seen and that they have discussed with any level of fidelity is the Varyag, this particular ship that has floated," Willard said in an interview.

But the refurbished Soviet-era carrier is not yet fully operational. China, the last permanent member of the U.N. Security Council to get carrier capability, will not be able to effectively field an aircraft carrier with any combat aircraft aboard for years, according to Pentagon estimates.

A Pentagon assessment to Congress noted Brazil's navy offered to provide China training in carrier operations.

"However, Brazil's limited capabilities in this area and the extensive problems with Brazil's own carrier program raise some questions as to the implications of the offer," it said.

Not ten feet tall

Then there is question of China's stealth fighter jet, the J-20, which did its first test flight during a visit by the US defense secretary to China in January.

Despite the attention given to the J-20, the Pentagon does not expect it to achieve an effective operational capability before 2018.

There are also questions about how effective its stealth capability may be. The J-20's test flight proved its stealth design but did not reveal other attributes to help it avoid detection that might come later, sources say.

"China faces several hurdles as it moves toward J-20 production, including the mastery of high performance jet engine production," the Pentagon report said.

The United States has had a proper stealth fighter since Lockheed Martin's F-117 Nighthawk made its first flight 30 years ago. That aircraft was retired from service in 2007.

Prior "low-observable" US aircraft date back to the 1950s with the U-2A high-altitude reconnaissance plane.

The PLA is also still some way from mastering the ability to mount large joint force operations, which will be needed to make the most of newfound capabilities grabbing headlines.

The US military has spent the past decade of war honing joint operations that weave together teams and skills from across its armed forces -- a hard-won but potent tool.

The US Navy's top intelligence officer warned before retiring earlier this year against overestimating Chinese military capabilities.

"I don't view them as 10 feet tall," Vice Admiral David Dorsett said. "Have we seen large joint sophisticated exercises? No ... They are at the front end of developing their military capability."

Is China "on the march"?

At the same time, the US military believes China appears on track to field a modern, regionally focused military by 2020. A comprehensive strategy to maintain the US edge in the Pacific will require investment, a tough challenge in an era of budget cuts.

The Pentagon now counts a base budget, excluding war costs, of over half a trillion dollars. China downplays its defense spending but acknowledged in March a 12.7 percent rise in 2011 defense outlays to 600 billion yuan ($94 billion).

Still, the US military, while expressing confidence in future funding for the Asia-Pacific region, is not parroting some of the more volatile China rhetoric seen in parts of Congress.

"I know some folks like to sugarcoat the terms in describing China as a rival or competitor but the fact is Communist China is an enemy of democracy," David Rivera, a lawmaker on the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee, said in a recent hearing on Taiwan.

The US military's estimates of China offer a more mixed view. This year's assessment noted China's lack of operational experience and large amounts of antiquated hardware but said the PLA was "steadily closing the technological gap with modern armed forces."

Dean Cheng, a China expert at the Heritage Foundation think-tank in Washington, said future Chinese advances like improvements in its anti-ship ballistic missile would influence US risk assessments when deploying near its shores.

That is not to say China will be able to flat-out deny US access to nearby waters any time soon.

"Denial is a function of risk -- what level of risk are we willing to accept in order to do whatever it is we're going to do out there," Cheng said, noting US submarines, for example, can be very difficult to detect.

The PLA's aggressive posture in the South China Sea and its increasing military edge over Taiwan are sources of concern -- as are its investments in nuclear submarines, which suggest China is seeking to support operations well beyond Taiwan.

Those concerns have found fertile ground in Congress, where the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee accused China of widespread cyber espionage.

Some lawmakers have reacted angrily to the US decision to give Taiwan a $5.85 billion arms package including upgrades to F-16 A/B fighter aircraft, instead of also delivering the late-model F-16 C/D fighters that Taipei wanted.

"China is on the march in Asia, and its primary target remains democratic Taiwan," said the House Foreign Relations Committee's chairwoman, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

China sees Taiwan, a self-ruled island, as an illegitimate breakaway from Beijing's rule that must accept eventual reunification.

The United States switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to mainland China in 1979 but it is obligated by law to supply Taiwan sufficient arms for self-defense.

As China's regional military ambitions come into view, so does discussion of its global goals. But Dorsett noted China's global aspirations are longer term, seeking to turn its navy into a global power "by the middle years of this century."

"That's their timeline," said.

"Should we expect them to be much more competent 10 years from now than they are today? As long as their economy's robust, absolutely."

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith from reliable sources HT

*Speaking Image - Creation of DTN News ~ Defense Technology News

*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News

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