Saronic Technologies’ Post

In an era where both strategic military readiness and combating illicit activities at our borders are of paramount concern, the role of advanced technologies cannot be overstated. Ocean Power Technologies stands at the forefront with our WAM-V Unmanned Surface Vehicle, embodying the cutting-edge solutions required to address these multifaceted challenges.   Recent international discussions, such as at the most recent White House Summit (see article linked below), underscore the urgent need for technological superiority in maintaining global security, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region against China’s autonomous maritime advancements. And closer to home, the U.S.-Mexico border presents a different but equally critical frontier in the battle against drug trafficking. The staggering seizure of 18,219 pounds of cocaine by the U.S. Coast Guard last December, including a haul from a self-propelled semi-submersible, highlights the sophisticated methods employed by traffickers exploiting the vastness of the Pacific Ocean to evade detection.   The key to thwarting such threats lies in embracing unmanned, autonomous maritime surveillance technologies. These assets serve as a force multiplier, enabling constant, cost-effective monitoring of vast oceanic expanses to detect and deter illicit activities without the need for extensive manpower or risking lives. Our WAM-V technology exemplifies this approach, offering a platform capable of enhancing maritime security and surveillance operations along our borders and beyond.   We call on the U.S. administration to recognize the indispensable role of unmanned maritime technologies in our national security strategy. By fostering partnerships with industry leaders like OPT, we can safeguard our strategic interests and ensure the safety of our nation and our allies against both military and non-military threats alike.   #DefenseInnovation #BorderSecurity #MaritimeSurveillance #UnmannedVehicles #MaritimeSecurity Ocean Power Technologies Marine Robotics

When adversaries of the US try to calculate their strength relative to the sole remaining superpower, they count the eggs they believe to have, they count the military hardware, they count their capabilities to sow propaganda and information warfare, and they use make belief and diversion. Some of them play a pretty good game but the one thing that would break their neck in an instant is almost always forgotten. The US has ensured free navigation on pretty much all of the world's seas for everyone. This means that nobody had to calculate the cost of ensuring safe sea lanes so far. This is especially true for commodity exporters such as Russia and consumer goods exporters such as China. Once the US does not do it for them anymore, their entire systems might collapse very fast. https://lnkd.in/dKXdRv6w

Below is a fascinating article about China's newest sanctions on U.S. defense firms for sales of weapons, drones, and AI to Taiwan. The sanctions include such US companies as Ratheon, Teledyne, and Kratos UAV. Small drone companies Firestorm, Neros, and Havoc AI were also targeted by China. Such firms are now forbidden from transactions with China and will have their assets frozen in China. This is the latest retaliatory move by China in the evolving trade war between U.S. and China. And in DC, "China hawk" Peter Navarro is back as trade advisor in the new Trump administration. Stay tuned - more to come.. XieXie Douglas

🤔 It's tough not to jump to conclusions, especially since a Chinese-flagged ship—the Newnew Polar Bear— severely damaged the Balticonnector pipeline last year. 😶 👉 Now investigations are underway to determine whether a Chinese bulk carrier, the Yi Peng 3, was involved in severing two #data cables in the Baltic Sea. 🚢🗺📍Citing information obtained from a maritime tracking group, the Financial Times said that during the cargo ship's journey from the Russian port of Ust-Luga to Port Said in Egypt, it passed near both Swedish-Lithuanian and Finnish-German cables "around the time" they were cut. News staff also said that the Danish #navy closely followed the Yi Peng 3 afterward and that #Sweden is examining the role of the Chinese ship. According to FT, security officials think "the severing of two fiber optic cables in 24 hours was likely to have been sabotage and was an act of hybrid warfare." Germany's defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said earlier in the week, "No one believes that these cables were cut accidentally." The governments of Sweden, Finland, and Lithuania have also expressed deep concern over the incident and are not ruling out sabotage. The owner of the Chinese vessel, Ningbo Yipeng Shipping, is cooperating with the investigation. In August, ten months after the incident, #China finally admitted that Newnew Polar Bear was responsible for damaging the Balticonnector pipeline between #Finland and #Estonia. See the South China Morning Post link in the comments. 👇 #news #geopolitics #NATO #military #criticalinfrastructure #EU #Europe

‘Beyond the Blue UAS effort, avoiding Chinese supply lines — specifically related to batteries — could become mandatory if companies want to do business with the US Defense Department. Section 154 of the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act, for instance, states that beginning on Oct. 1, 2027, no funds appropriated or made available for the DoD can be spent to procure a battery produced by the listed Chinese-owned and -operated companies’. https://lnkd.in/gBkUApEh

😑 AP [excerpt]: #China has surged sales to #Russia of machine tools, microelectronics and other #technology that Moscow in turn is using to produce missiles, tanks, aircraft and other weaponry for use in its #war against #Ukraine, according to a U.S. assessment. Two senior #Biden administration officials, who discussed the sensitive findings Friday on the condition of anonymity, said that in 2023 about 90% of Russia’s #microelectronics came from China, which Russia has used to make missiles, tanks and aircraft. Nearly 70% of Russia’s approximately $900 million in machine tool imports in the last quarter of 2023 came from China. Chinese and Russian entities have also been working to jointly produce unmanned aerial vehicles inside Russia, and Chinese companies are likely providing Russia with nitrocellulose used in the manufacture of ammunition, the officials said. China-based companies Wuhan Global Sensor Technology Co., Wuhan Tongsheng Technology Co. Ltd. and Hikvision are providing optical components for use in Russian tanks and armored vehicles. The officials said Russia has received #military optics for use in tanks and armored vehicles manufactured by Chinese firms iRay Technology and North China Research Institute of Electro-Optics, and China has been providing Russia with UAV engines and turbojet engines for cruise missiles. Russia’s #semiconductor imports from China jumped from $200 million in 2021 to over $500 million in 2022, according to Russian customs data analyzed by the Free Russia Foundation, a group that advocates for civil society development. Beijing is also working with Russia to improve its #satellite and other #space-based capabilities for use in Ukraine, a development the officials say could in the longer term increase the threat Russia poses across #Europe. The officials, citing downgraded intelligence findings, said the U.S. has also determined that China is providing #imagery to Russia for its war on Ukraine. The officials discussed the findings as Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to travel to China this month for talks. Blinken is scheduled to travel next week to the Group of 7 foreign ministers meeting in Capri, Italy, where he’s expected to raise concerns about China’s growing indirect support for Russia as Moscow revamps its military and looks to consolidate recent gains in Ukraine. President Joe Biden has previously raised his concerns directly with Chinese President Xi Jinping about Beijing indirectly supporting Russia’s war effort. While China has not provided direct lethal military support for Russia, it has backed it diplomatically in blaming the West for provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch the war and refrained from calling it an invasion in deference to the Kremlin. #news #geopolitics

China will impose export controls on billions of dollars of aviation equipment, technology and software, a move it said was aimed at enhancing national security. The controls, beginning July 1, will apply to dozens of products including aircraft engines, gas turbine engines, astronaut helmet visors and a polyethylene fiber commonly used in bulletproof jackets, as well as various technologies, software and data used to develop them, China’s Commerce Ministry, customs agency and Central Military Commission said Thursday in a joint statement. #TSINews #TSIWeekly20240526 #TSIChinaFP #TSIEconomicStatecraft #TSIDeRisking #ExportControls #DeriskingStrategy

Breaking: Trade Compliance has just become slightly more difficult. Here’s why: The U.S. Department of Commerce has unveiled major export restrictions to counter Russian aggression. Here’s the scoop: 1️⃣ Stricter controls on shell companies. 2️⃣ More software export bans to Russia and Belarus. 3️⃣ Additional items restricted from trade. 4️⃣ Reduced license exceptions for consumer goods. 5️⃣ More entities added to the Entity List. These measures aim to curb Russia’s military capabilities and emphasize the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to stringent export controls. Stay informed and compliant! https://lnkd.in/enyGUfT7

#China has surged sales to #Russia of #machinetools, #microelectronics and other #technology that #Moscow in turn is using to produce #missiles, #tanks, #aircraft and other #weaponry for use in its war against #Ukraine…. 👁️AP News: https://lnkd.in/gtvUEfBm ….in 2023 about 90% of Russia’s microelectronics came from China, which Russia has used to make missiles, tanks and aircraft. […] Chinese and Russian entities have also been working to jointly produce #unmannedaerialvehicles inside Russia, and Chinese companies are likely providing Russia with #nitrocellulose used in the manufacture of #ammunition…. The officials said Russia has received #militaryoptics for use in tanks and #armoredvehicles manufactured by Chinese firms….China has been providing Russia with #UAVengines and #turbojetengines for #cruisemissiles. Russia’s #semiconductor imports from China jumped….to over $500 million in 2022…. #Beijing is also working with Russia to improve its #satellite and other space-based capabilities….the U.S. has also determined that China is providing #imagery to Russia for its war on Ukraine. …#Blinken is expected to travel to China this month for talks. Blinken is scheduled to travel next week to the #G7 #foreignministers meeting in #Capri, Italy, where he’s expected to raise concerns….. #usintelligence #intelligence #russia #china #ukraine

❗ Updated AUKUS Forum Pact Eases Export Controls On Quantum Among Member Nations The AUKUS alliance has eased export controls among Australia, the U.S., and the U.K., facilitating faster development and deployment of quantum technologies in defense applications. The updated pact also includes advanced defense technologies like hypersonic missiles and undersea drones, broadening the scope of innovation across multiple critical areas. https://lnkd.in/eRh4yPUH AUKUS Forum - AUKUS DIN