Saturday, March 26, 2022 // (IG): BB //Weekly Sponsor: DiyGarage SoCal
How drones are helping fuel propaganda in Ukraine
FROM THE MEDIA: On March 4, eight days into its invasion of Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense tweeted a video purporting to show a Russian-made Orion drone conducting an air strike against enemies inside the Donetsk region. Then there’s drone use by the other side: A Turkish-built drone that has become a sort of mechanical folk hero. In October 2021, Ukraine’s military used Bayraktar drones to attack separatists in the Donetsk region. Since Russia’s invasion, Ukranians have turned Bayraktar drones into a symbol of the war, complete with a song released online March 1. “[The] Russians are carefully releasing videos of Forpost-R and Orion combat drones as well to try and compete with a Bayraktar narrative,” said Samuel Bendett, an analyst at the Center for Naval Analysis and adjunct senior fellow at the Center for New American Security, referring to Ukraine’s Bayraktar drone use. Drones, the expansive category of uncrewed flying machines guided remotely, are one of the defining weapons of 21st-century warfare. The origin of drones can be traced back at least as far as experiments with aerial torpedoes in World War I. What sets modern drones apart is their ability to capture footage in real-time of movement on the ground and to then use that video to direct attacks and, increasingly, to use the video as propaganda.
READ THE STORY: POPSCI
Opaz aerial surveys using drones in mining sites yield positive results
FROM THE MEDIA: The Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz) continued to pursue a set of aerial and marine surveys and experiments using drones in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad). These experiments come within the framework of empowering entrepreneurs and opening opportunities for the Omani youth to develop their skills and capabilities in this field and carry out their experiments in the zone designated by Opaz for artificial intelligence purposes, which stretches over an area of 18 square kilometres in the zone. Opaz, in cooperation with Marmul Integrated Company, succeeded recently in implementing a number of experiments and aerial surveys using drones in one of the mining sites in Sezad and positive results had been achieved that helped in taking appropriate decisions aimed at enhancing productivity and proper planning of quarrying and mining sites in addition to enhancing knowledge of safety and security aspects and inventory management.
READ THE STORY: Times of Oman
Why UPEI has the largest drone fleet for a Canadian University
FROM THE MEDIA: Every summer, a team of P.E.I. scientists goes out on the road, stops at remote locations near the Island's shoreline or by some farm field, unloads thousands of dollars' worth of equipment and gets ready for takeoff. "Basically if the weather is good in the flying season, which is like spring through the fall, we're basically out every day," said Andy MacDonald, who works with the University of Prince Edward Island's climate lab. He joined the lab when he was pursuing a master's degree in environmental sciences. "You get out there, you kind of set everything up, and then you're kind of there for the day, or like half a day, flying.... Then you kind of pack up and move to the next one." MacDonald, one of the climate lab's two full-time drone pilots, is responsible for helping manage what UPEI says is the largest drone fleet for a Canadian post-secondary institution. "When I was doing my undergrad [in chemistry], I never would have even considered the possibility of doing something like this," he said. "Just sort of happened."
READ THE STORY: CBC
AUTEL EVO NANO DRONE – IS IT REALLY A DJI MINI 2 KILLER?
FROM THE MEDIA: This review of the Autel Evo Nano has taken a little longer than I’d anticipated to complete due to the abysmal weather we’ve been having here in this part of Scotland over the last few weeks. But I think this has turned out to be a bit of a blessing in disguise. You see, when the Autel Evo Nano first came to me, there were quite a few features missing or not fully working. Even after its general release and people could actually buy it, it still had a few issues. But now, most of them seem to have been resolved and I’ve been able to fly it to its current full potential now that the weather has perked back up. I posted my first look at the Autel Evo Nano in early January and from what I was able to test at the time, I was quite impressed and it showed a lot of promise. Of course, that promise was dependent on Autel following through with the firmware updates, which they seem to have done for the most part. We’ll get back to those in a bit, but let’s have a look through some of the features and what makes it stand out from other <250g drones.
READ THE STORY: DIY Photography
Ukraine-Russia War: Russia Claims It Shot Down 2 Ukrainian Drones On Day 31 Of War
FROM THE MEDIA: The indigenous communication satellite for the Army, GSAT 7B, when launched, will majorly benefit the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the force’s inventory by ensuring they have an enhanced flying range in line with their original specifications, top defense sources told News18. At present, the flying range of the UAVs is restricted since they are controlled by a ground station, which is usually at the line of sight. Defense sources explained that they fly in tandem, which means one unmanned aerial vehicle in the air is controlled by a ground station and a second UAV flying, for instance, is controlled by the first. “When the Army gets its own communication satellite, the UAVs will be able to fly as per their original specifications, since this satellite can provide secure, encrypted communication to them. This will aid in enhancing the operational reach of the UAVs,” a defense source told News18. News18 first reported in September last year that India has bought four new Israeli Heron TP drones. They and other Heron TPs in the Armed Forces’ inventory will be upgraded with advanced satellite communication and sensors for longer surveillance and reconnaissance missions, aside from being armed with air-to-ground missiles and laser-guided munitions for precision strikes, under the planned Project Cheetah.
READ THE STORY: Republic World
UK consortium plans to build the world’s longest network of drone superhighways
FROM THE MEDIA: A UK consortium led by Reading-based UTM (Unified Traffic Management) software provider Altitude Angel has revealed its blueprint to build the world’s largest and longest network of ‘drone superhighways,’ connecting towns and cities across the UK. The blueprint for the superhighway, known as Project Skyway, will enable businesses to develop and grow through the commercialization of new and innovative drone-based products and services. The 165 miles (265km) drone superhighway is being hailed as the “most ambitious transport project proposed for the country since the advent of the railway network in the 18th century.” The consortium says it will initially connect the Midlands with the Southeast to cover cities including Reading, Oxford, Milton Keynes, Cambridge, Coventry, and Rugby. If the plans are approved, there is an option to extend the superhighway to Southampton on the south coast and Ipswich on the east coast. The Skyway superhighway network will use detect and avoid (DAA) technology developed on the five-mile (8km) Arrow Drone Zone to help unlock the huge potential offered by unmanned aerial vehicles and be a catalyst to enable growth in the urban air mobility industry. In addition, the superhighway will be able to support fully automated drone flights beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) from any drone company which completes a series of basic technical integrations that, crucially, don’t require specialist hardware on-board the drone.
READ THE STORY: Inceptivemind
Drones helping first responders save lives in McDowell County
FROM THE MEDIA: McDowell County is offering drone-flying lessons to first responders this summer. The Kimball Fire Department received supplemental grant money to purchase their own drone which they have started to use for search and rescue missions. Kimball Mayor and Assistant Fire Chief Adam Gianato said the drone has already helped them save the life of someone who was stuck in the snow in a remote area in the middle of the night. “We had flown that drone out to about a mile and a quarter, at the point where we could not get access to these people. They were trapped in a car, in the snow, on ice. They couldn’t get out,” said Gianato. “We used the thermal signature in the middle of the night to identify the car, locate them and direct the (Mullens Fire Department) to the general area where they found them.” But, that’s not the only time the drone has come in handy. In fact, from scene analysis to crash reconstruction, drones can have multiple uses for every branch of first responders. Gianato said the Kimball Fire Department can even use the drone’s heat mapping abilities to determine exactly where a person is inside a burning building. “The drone has thermal and optical capabilities,” Gianato told 59News. “We use it for search and rescue, analyzing fire scenes, documenting hotspots, using it for anything that may be easier to do from the air that we can’t see on the ground.”
READ THE STORY: WVNSTV
Made in India: Hyderabad firm makes surveillance tools for security forces
FROM THE MEDIA: Complying with the 'Make in India' initiative, a Hyderabad-based company is researching, designing, developing and manufacturing customized surveillance equipment for the security forces of the country. The firm, HC Robotics, is backed by research centers in the United States of America and Europe. It specializes in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), EOIR Cameras and AI-based image processing solutions. "We manufacture drones, cameras and tac towers. We supply these to the Indian borders for surveillance purposes," Dr Dileep, Project Manager of HC Robotics told ANI. Highlighting the specialty of the drones have by the company, he said that they have 40 minutes endurance with 5 kg payload and provide live feed to the base camp with low latency. These are equipped with advanced collision prevention and obstacle avoidance features supporting the safest possible flights. These drones can be helpful for aerial surveillance, gathering military intelligence, conducting Search & Rescue (SAR) operations, he said. Notably, HC Robotics has received the 'Good Samaritan' award from Rachakonda Police Commissionerate for their drone services during the first wave of COVID-19. "We also make 4K resolution cameras that have the gimble itself. Another product is a tac tower which is a 40-feet long carbon fiber tube which takes surveillance of about 5 km radius from the height of 40 feet (above the ground)," Dr Dileep said.
READ THE STORY: Business Standard
UK targets Russian drone manufacturer in new wave of sanctions
FROM THE MEDIA: The UK has targeted Russia's chief drone manufacturer in its latest set of sanctions against 65 individuals and entities believed to be supporting the invasion of Ukraine. Russian defense company Kronshtadt are the main producer of the Orion drone, along with other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that have been used in the war. Resistance from Ukraine has, in all likelihood, increased the Russians' demand for UAVs and the UK Ministry of Defense believes the sanctions will damage the company's supply line. In tonight's Intelligence Update, posted on the Ministry of Defense's Twitter account @DefenceHQ, a statement read: "The UK has sanctioned a further 65 individuals and entities with supporting links to Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Among those sanctioned include Kronshtadt, Russian defense company and main producer of Russia's Orion drone and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
READ THE STORY: Conventry Telegraph
Successful use of Turkish-made UAVs crucial in Azerbaijan’s victory in Karabakh
FROM THE MEDIA: The successful use of drones was a decisive factor in Azerbaijan's victory in the Second Karabakh War, according to American magazine The Atlantic. The First World War was remembered for the limited use of tanks, the Second World War - for their widespread use, the analysis noted, adding that the 44-day Second Karabakh War which, in addition to using other technical innovations, went down in history for the effective use of Turkish-made drones by the Azerbaijan Army. While another report published in The Washington Post pointed that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have been used repeatedly in many wars in the past, stated in another article published in The Washington Post. Turkish-made UAVs played an important role in Azerbaijan's victory over Armenia in the 2020 war, the article went on to add. "Azerbaijan used drones for reconnaissance, targeting artillery and missile units and forming a complete picture of the operational situation during the Second Karabakh war. The targeted destruction of the air defense system that the Armenian armed forces used during the battle for Azerbaijan's Khojavand was an example of excellent coordination of data from drones," according to the report.
READ THE STORY: Yenisafak
The Saudi Formula 1 race will go on despite a Houthi missile attack near the track
FROM THE MEDIA: Houthi rebels attacked an oil depot in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah ahead of a Formula 1 race weekend in the country. Race organizers said this attack won't dispel plans to continue with the second-ever Jeddah Grand Prix. The missile and drone attacks Friday targeted the Saudi Aramco oil facility in Jeddah. Pictures taken immediately following the attack showed huge balls of fire and smoke just miles from the Formula 1 venue. According to the Associated Press, the attack targeted the same fuel depot Houthis had attacked in recent days. No injuries were reported. Drivers continued to practice Friday night even as the smoke billowed in the distance. The decision to race was made only after an hours-long meeting where several drivers shared serious safety concerns with organizers, according to reports. The BBC says a four-hour meeting was held involving drivers, team bosses, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, and other organizers to discuss those safety concerns. The report says drivers were convinced to continue on after those talks. "F1 has been in close contact with the relevant authorities following the situation that took place today," Formula 1 said in a statement. "The authorities have confirmed the event can continue as planned and we will remain in close contact with them and all the teams and closely monitor the situation."
READ THE STORY: npr
Items of interest
Weaponized Toys - Consumer Drones Being Used for Evil(Video)
Drones are the passion of countless enthusiasts, all around the world. Unfortunately, however these devices have since been abused for sinister purposes. This video provides a historical overview of such acts and also explores how likely it would be for evil actors to venture beyond consumer drones into the still comparatively new world of FPV quadcopters.
Drone Darts are Silent and Deadly!(Video)
FROM THE MEDIA: Adding a dart to a commercial drone.
About this Product
These open source products are reviewed from analysts at InfoDom Securities and provide possible context about current media trends in regard to the realm of cyber security. The stories selected cover a broad array of cyber threats and are intended to aid readers in framing key publicly discussed threats and overall situational awareness. InfoDom Securities does not specifically endorse any third-party claims made in their original material or related links on their sites, and the opinions expressed by third parties are theirs alone. Contact InfoDom Securities at dominanceinformation@gmail.com