General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., in partnership with the Dutch Ministry of Defence and the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, will hold the Blue Magic Netherlands event on Nov. 19 in Eindhoven to provide Dutch tech and aerospace companies the opportunity to propose innovative technologies, seek funding and connect with industry leaders. Brainport Development, Brabant Development Agency, Spacened and Lockheed Martin Ventures are among GA-ASI’s partners that will accept dual-use product proposals focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning, autonomy, advanced materials, advanced manufacturing, sensors and navigation, and space. Interested companies are invited to register on the event website no later than Oct. 28.
Author: Kristen Smith (Kristen Smith)
US, Allies Endorse Principles to Enhance Resilience of Undersea Cable Networks
The governments of 16 countries and the European Union have endorsed a set of principles designed to protect global undersea cable infrastructure from security threats and enhance its resilience to natural or man-made hazards. The United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom were among the countries that introduced the principles at the 79th annual United National General Assembly, highlighting the reliance of several nations on undersea cables for global communication. The endorsers encouraged incorporating cybersecurity best practices to build and maintain the infrastructure and strengthening international cooperation to promote the selection of secure and verifiable subsea cable providers.
Embraer C-390 Millennium Captures South African Armed Forces’ Interest at Recent Exhibition
The South African National Defence Force has expressed interest in the Embraer C-390 Millennium as it seeks a replacement for its legacy transport aircraft fleet. Embraer demonstrated the C-390 Millennium at the five-day Africa Aerospace and Defence exhibition, which concluded on Sunday, during which SANDF evaluated the military aircraft’s capabilities, including its capacity to carry up to 26 tons of cargo at high speed and perform various missions in demanding operational conditions. Bosco da Costa Junior, president and CEO of Embraer Defense & Security, expressed confidence that the C-390 can meet the needs of the SANDF and other government authorities.
Rheinmetall to Supply Mortar Shells for NATO Partner’s Armed Forces
Rheinmetall has received an order for a six-digit number of mortar shells from an international NATO customer. Rheinmetall Expal Munitions, based in Spain, will produce various types of the mortar shells, valued in the mid-double-digit million-euro range, for the NATO partner's armed forces. The products will be delivered, beginning in the summer of 2025, with completion expected in 2026. The latest purchase follows Switzerland's order for 81 mm MX2-KM mortar cargo ammunition and Spain's procurement of 104,000 mortar rounds in 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm calibers for the Spanish Army.
Eight Companies Commit to Invest in AI-Related Initiatives Under AI Global Inclusivity Partnership
Eight technology companies have joined the Partnership for Global Inclusivity on AI that the U.S. Department of State launched on the margins of the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The companies, namely Amazon Web Services, Anthropic, Google, IBM, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and OpenAI, have committed to investing in initiatives and technologies that would advance artificial intelligence, which is seen as a tool essential to achieving the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals. According to State Secretary Antony Blinken, his department intends to provide $10 million in foreign assistance to help achieve partnership objectives.
Maxar Appoints Former NATO Military Committee Chair as Senior Adviser
Maxar Intelligence has announced the appointment of Royal Air Force Air Chief Marshal Stuart Peach as a senior adviser, coinciding with the inauguration of its new international government business headquarters in the United Kingdom. Peach, who formerly served as the chairman of the NATO Military Committee, U.K. chief of defense, joint operations head and defense intelligence chief, brings years of experience in the tasking and application of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Commenting about the new U.K.-based office, Peach said the new infrastructure will enable the Maxar business to boost strategic partnerships with allied nations and help the British government accelerate its space innovation efforts.
UK Seeks Proposals to Supply FPV Drones for Ukraine
The British government is inviting eligible companies to propose large first-person view drones that can meet Ukraine’s unmanned aerial vehicle needs in support of the Drone Capability Coalition. According to an invitation to tender, the government plans to procure 300 FPV drones worth $2.67 million, split into 15 UAV batches of 20 drones each....
Poland to Invest $15.8B in Westinghouse-Bechtel Nuclear Power Plant Project
The Polish government plans to invest $15.67 billion in the country’s first nuclear power plant. Westinghouse Electric and Bechtel will design and build the plant under a contract signed in September 2023 with Polish utility Polskie Elektrownie Jadrowe. According to Bechtel, the funding was announced after the companies met with key stakeholders in Warsaw and...
NATO Military Committee Chair Promotes Stronger Collaboration With Indo-Pacific Partners
Royal Netherlands Navy Adm. Rob Bauer, the chair of the NATO Military Committee, highlighted the importance of strengthening the alliance’s cooperation with partners in the Indo-Pacific, noting how the developments in the region could impact Euro-Atlantic security. Bauer made the remarks at the 26th annual Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defence Conference in Hawaii, where senior military...
NATO Countries Test Autonomous Maritime Systems in REPMUS 24 Experimentation Exercise
NATO allies are participating in the ongoing Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Unmanned Systems 2024 experimentation exercise in Portugal to test the capability of various autonomous systems in collaborating and defeating new maritime threats. Activities during the three-week REPMUS 24, which began on Sept. 9, include connecting maritime surveillance assets from allied nations and...










