LASER LINKS AT SEA
At sea, traditional communications can become vulnerable in contested environments. While suitable for commercial expeditions, radio frequencies are easily intercepted and jammed, posing difficulties for discreet, sensitive naval missions. However, Astrolight's POLARIS terminal – a laser-based communications system – may offer an alternative solution. During the recent "REPMUS 2025" NATO exercise, two POLARIS-equipped ships established a secure connection over a 9-mile (15-kilometer) range and processed "more than 10 concurrent, real-time HD video streams, even through rain and fog, during the day and night." The system operates using free-space optical (FSO) communications to beam messages between terminals, creating a difficult to disrupt radio-silent connection. Although the technology is restricted to line-of-sight distance, it may provide a new avenue for naval communication. (Gizmodo, October 17, 2025)
CHINA DEPLOYS SUBSEA COMPUTING
Building efficient data centers has become a critical component of connectivity, but the process entails challenges. These power-hungry server farms are used for AI training, large-scale data storage, and are essential for both commercial use and national security applications. This past fall, China launched the world's first commercial underwater data center in Hainan province – a development with major potential implications. According to Pu Ding, project manager at Shenzhen HiCloud Data Centre Technology, "compared to land-based data centers, data centers under the sea can reduce energy consumption needed for cooling, helping to lower operational costs." The underwater data center is installed in a 1,300-tonne underwater "data cabin" located 35 meters (115 feet) underwater and contains 24 server racks capable of hosting 400 to 500 servers. By contrast, Microsoft's Project Natick, which launched in 2014 and aimed to determine the feasibility of deploying subsea data centers, struggled repeatedly with regulatory hurdles and, despite its promising results, was abandoned in 2025. (South China Morning Post, October 7, 2025)
THE PENTAGON IS TESTING CYBER DEFENSE IN ORBIT...
Cyber-attacks on satellites may seem far-fetched, but such systems are no less a target than ground-based infrastructure. Moreover, as the "Second Space Race" advances, hackers are increasingly turning their attention to orbit. That creates a critical vulnerability, because "terrestrial cybersecurity practices aren't up to handling the cyber defense of space-based systems," says Charleen Laughlin, the Space Force's Deputy Chief of Space Operations. To address this gap, Deloitte recently launched Deloitte-1, a microwave-sized CubeSat that serves as an on-orbit cyber training range, equipped with an intrusion detection system called Silent Shield. The satellite allows operators to launch simulated cyberattacks under real-world conditions. Six of the 20 planned attacks have already been executed — and each was successfully detected. Although the technology is still in its infancy, this approach to space-based cybersecurity shows promise. (Air and Space Forces, October 2, 2025)
...WHILE DEVELOPING JAMMING WEAPONS
It is rare for the Pentagon to disclose details about its counter-space capabilities. Yet in November, the United States acknowledged adding two new satellite-jamming systems, Meadowlands and the Remote Modular Terminal, to its growing arsenal of counter-space tools aimed at countering Chinese and Russian satellites. The systems can be deployed both in the United States and overseas and are capable of temporarily disrupting adversary intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance satellites. Pentagon officials stress that the jammers are defensive in nature and currently in an early-use phase while testing continues. To coordinate these operations, the Space Force is also establishing Space Electromagnetic Tactical Operations Centers to monitor interference and manage jamming operations if necessary. (South China Morning Post, November 5, 2025)
THE DRONE-IFICATION OF THE BLACK HAWK
Helicopters are inherently unstable aircraft that typically require extensive training to pilot successfully — until now. A U.S. Army National Guardsman with no aviation background demonstrated that about an hour of training was enough to remotely control Sikorsky's Optionally Piloted Vehicle (OPV) Black Hawk during Exercise Northern Strike 25-2. Using a tablet, the Guardsman directed the helicopter to transport a 2,900-pound slingload and deliver airborne troops to drop zones at different altitudes. The aircraft can transition between piloted and uncrewed operations using Sikorsky’s Matrix autonomy technology. "In contested logistics situations, a Black Hawk operating as a large drone offers commanders greater resilience and flexibility to get resources to the point of need," says Sikorsky vice president Rich Benton. (Defense News, November 3, 2025)
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