New U.S. Weapon Systems Are a Hackers’ Bonanza, Investigators Find
David Sanger and William Broad | New York Times
Authorized hackers were quickly able to seize control of weapons systems being acquired by the American military in a test of the Pentagon’s digital vulnerabilities, according to a new and blistering government review. The report by the Government Accountability Office concluded that many of the weapons, or the systems that control them, could be neutralized within hours. In many cases, the military teams developing or testing the systems were oblivious to the hacking. The declassified review painted a terrifying picture of weaknesses in a range of emerging weapons, from new generations of missiles and aircraft to prototypes of new delivery systems for nuclear weapons.
South Korea says Pompeo Complained About Inter-Korean Military Pact
Hyonhee Shin | Reuters
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has expressed “discontent” with an inter-Korean military pact reached during last month’s summit, South Korea’s foreign minister said on Wednesday, in a rare disclosure of signs of disagreement with its U.S. ally.
‘Why Aren’t They Paying?’: Trump Hits Out at South Korea About Missile Defense System
Amanda Macias | CNBC
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Seoul on Tuesday for failing to finance the U.S. deployment of a missile defense system on the Korean Peninsula. Last year, the U.S. deployed two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, launchers to South Korea in response to North Korea's increased missile and nuclear tests.
U.S. Urges Dialogue on Challenges to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons
Edith Lederer | Associated Press
The U.S. arms control chief urged the world’s nations on Wednesday to hold “a realistic dialogue” about rising global tensions and the challenges that must be overcome to create the conditions for nuclear disarmament. Undersecretary of State Andrea Thomson told the General Assembly’s disarmament committee that this proposal “offers a practical way forward,” unlike the U.N. treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which she called unrealistic.
Moscow Ready to Discuss Extension of New START Treaty
TASS
Russia is prepared to discuss the extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START) after resolving the issues concerning the existing agreement, Director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department Vladimir Yermakov said at a meeting of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee on Tuesday. The text of his speech was posted on the ministry’s website on Wednesday.
Sandia’s Swerve Could Lead to First-Gen Hypersonic Production Line
Steve Trimble and Guy Norris | Aviation Week & Space Technology
The veil of secrecy has lifted over one of the Pentagon’s largest hypersonic weapons programs, revealing new details of a triservice rush to adapt a nearly 40-year-old experimental maneuvering reentry vehicle concept into an air-, sea- or land-launched common-boost-glide weapon.