Zemana Is Ready To Fight The Spread Of Deepfakes
Via Zemana.
A little known cybersecurity firm in the Balkans has joined the counter-current against the rise of deepfake video clips. Deepfakes began grabbing headlines after a wave of disruptive elections in 2016 when voters around the world had their social media accounts sown with fake news. Now that the post-facts era has begun in earnest a new threat has since been identified. The easy utilization of video altering software that superimposes composite facial features on real subjects has given rise to concerns that both politicians and public figures can be “hacked” for spreading misinformation.
Japan Plans To Modernize The Philippine Military
Via Wikimedia Commons.
A very significant government-to-government conference took place in Metro Manila this month. Japan’s defense ministry organized the gathering and welcomed representatives of local state-owned enterprises to discuss transferring military technology by various means. The occasion titled “Inaugural Philippines-Japan Defense Industry Forum” was held on October 2 at a venue in Taguig, the sub-city where the Philippines’ premier business district is located.
An upbeat press release from the Department of National Defense (DND) circulated the following day described the event as “beneficial” for the Philippine military, which is still modernizing its different branches to face external threats. The DND made it clear that its own “Defense Acquisition System Teams/Technical Working Groups” sought to “learn and understand Japan’s defense technologies.”
Chinese Soldiers Are Being Issued A New Carbine
Via Chinese media.
The spectacular military parade in Beijing last week cemented China’s status as a rising superpower but so many of its details have gone un-examined. An intriguing reveal at the October 1 event, meant to celebrate 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic, was a small arm carried by elite troops. With the dimensions of a carbine and equipped mounting a thermal scope, few seemed to notice this weapon outside a few social media accounts that follow Chinese military news.
In fact, even Chinese media didn’t bother to share any pertinent details about it amid a torrent of coverage for the main event.
Iran Is An Undisputed Drone Power, Full Stop
Via Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense.
Five days after the spectacular attacks on its Abqaiq and Khurais oil processing facilities, Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry held a press conference to prove that Iran rather than Yemen’s Houthis was behind it all. In the early morning of September 14, a Saturday, unidentified objects struck two sites critical to the Kingdom’s lucrative fossil fuel exports. The resulting fires, images of which dominated the news cycle, were contained in a few hours with no casualties reported.
A spokesperson for Ansar Allah, the official name of the Houthis, announced the drone strikes were retaliation for the Saudi war on Yemen. But Washington, DC was quick to blame Iran.
Highlights Of OEWatch For September 2019
Each month the US Army’s think tank the Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO) publishes its open source OEWatch magazine as a free download on the APAN Community Network. The latest issue runs a hefty 74 pages with generous coverage on each of its five sections. Editorial duties are shared among Tom Wilhelm, Karen Kaya, and Thomas Tolare with broad input by a large pool of contributing writers.
India Wants Its Military To Master AI By The 2020s
Via Wikimedia Commons.
To reach the forefront of military technology India is bringing together its government and private sector for an ambitious program: the widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Speaking at the Society of Indian Defense Manufacturer’s (SIDM) 2nd Annual Session, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh revealed his office approved multiple projects related to “AI in Defense.” Although the minister didn’t name specifics, what could pass for India’s national AI strategy has been in the works for the past few years.
The SIDM is a non-profit organization for helping all of India’s largest companies with collaborative projects that enhance the armed forces’ technological reach.
Afghan Commandos Have A Cool Automatic Grenade Launcher
Via Afghanistan defense ministry.
A social media post from Afghanistan’s defense ministry on September 13, a Friday, revealed a very potent US-made weapon used by the Afghan army’s commandos. In the same post the ministry announced Takhar province, located near the border with Tajikistan, was again under government control. An accompanying undated image showed an Afghan commando seated behind a US-made MK47 Striker automatic grenade launcher.
The MK47 was developed by General Dynamics in the previous decade as a lightweight precision grenade launcher. From 2010 onward it saw increasing use by US special forces and, judging by the photo above, it has now reached their brethren in Afghanistan.
The Indian DRDO Has A Top Attack Missile In The Works
Via DRDO.
Yesterday marked the completion of the latest firing tests for the Defense Research and Development Organization’s (DRDO) man portable anti-tank guided missile. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh delivered his congratulations on social media and revealed the MPATGM struck an inert target resembling a tank. The MPATGM is scheduled for testing throughout the year before its next development phase is announced. Its success is crucial for the Indian Army since the branch suffers from a shortage of anti-armor weapons.
Is Indonesia Destined To Become A World Power?
Via Wikimedia Commons.
Just months after securing his second term in office, President Joko Widodo set forth a bold plan that might reshape the country’s future. On August 26 the Indonesian leader declared a new capital will be established in East Kalimantan, on the island of Borneo, to save Jakarta from an awful fate: being swallowed by the sea, among other woes.
For decades Indonesia’s present capital has been plagued by floods as urban sprawl pushed down on the soft clay underneath it. With precious groundwater drained by human consumption, entire swathes of the metropolis are below sea level, threatening millions.
The Very First DSEI Japan Is Only Months Away!
Clarion Defence & Security, being one half of the organizing team behind DSEI Japan 2019, informed its newsletter subscribers on September 3 that it will have an event specific stand at DSEI London’s venue from September 10 until 13. This year’s DSEI maintains its position as the world’s largest military and security exhibition. Its follow up DSEI Japan 2019 is the brand’s first foray in an Asian country and Japan’s first honest-to-goodness arms show taking place at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba Prefecture from November 18 until 20.
Anyone visiting DSEI London is invited to a DSEI Japan 2019 briefing session provided by Clarion Events staff on September 11, from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM. RSVPs can be done here.
Did China Help North Korea With Its Guided Rockets?
Via North Korean media.
The sudden tempo of publicized weapon tests by North Korea this year may not have earned it fresh sanctions but they underscore two inconvenient truths. First, the Korean peninsula remains trapped in an arms race that’s beginning to look unrestricted. Second, Kim Jong Un is obsessed with strengthening his army, an institution impervious to external pressure and veiled threats. Both conditions were in full display on August 24 when the rogue state’s news agencies proclaimed the successful test of another rocket launcher.
Armored Cars: BMC Amazon
Via BMC.
Another potential success story in Turkey’s burgeoning protected vehicles sector is the BMC Amazon, a scaled down MRAP (gross weight is just 14 tons) tailored for high risk missions. The Amazon may not inspire enthusiasm for its generic appearance–indeed it can be mistaken for a competitor–but it does its myriad jobs well enough to deserve some acclaim. All the usual characteristics of similar armored trucks are present in the Amazon such as a monocoque hull and independent 4×4 suspension. But the manufacturer demurs to reveal its protection level, being content with assuring end users it complies with NATO STANAG rankings.
