Category: Aviation

Liberty Defense, a technology provider of AI-based next generation detection solutions for concealed weapons and threats, announced it has received a Letter of Intent from the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) to acquire the HEXWAVE for use at Toronto Pearson International Airport, subject to further evaluation.

Toronto Pearson is located in Mississauga, west of Toronto, in Ontario, Canada. It is Canada’s largest airport and the sixth-most-connected airport in the world.

“As the first airport in the world to test HEXWAVE, we see the potential benefits of utilizing this innovative solution as part of our broader airport security program following further testing and evaluation,” said Dwayne MacIntosh, director, corporate safety and security, GTAA. “We were impressed with the HEXWAVE’s seamless screening during beta testing and look forward to working with Liberty Defense on the enhanced detection the HEXWAVE would bring to the airport.”

HEXWAVE uses millimeter wave, advanced 3D imaging, and AI to detect all types of concealed metallic and non-metallic weapons and other prohibited items – without having to divest common items. The system allows for rapid, automated screening using a high throughput, contactless, walkthrough portal.

“As airports continue to look at innovative ways to enhance security, technology like HEXWAVE provides a flexible solution that can be quickly deployed and moved to areas inside and outside the airport,” said Bill Frain, CEO of Liberty Defense. “We are thrilled that the GTAA will be continuing to work with Liberty Defense to bring the HEXWAVE to the Toronto Pearson airport.”

Several key members of the Liberty Defense team, including CEO Bill Frain, have previously been involved in the development and mass deployment of key screening technologies that are commonly found today at airports around the world.

Garmin International announced L3Harris Technologies’ selection of Garmin’s G3000 tandem integrated flight deck as part of a U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Armed Overwatch program contract. L3Harris’ Sky Warden platform includes the first forward-fit deployable combat aircraft featuring Garmin’s G3000 tandem integrated flight deck.

“Our strategic relationship with L3Harris integrates the open system architecture G3000 flight deck as a critical enabler for Sky Warden’s close air support and armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) mission,” said Carl Wolf, Garmin vice president of aviation sales and marketing. “Garmin has an established history of supplying innovative, forward-looking avionics to militaries across the globe and we are honored to have our G3000 integrated flight deck support the U.S. Special Forces.”

The G3000 provides USSOCOM with the latest communication, navigation, surveillance air traffic management (CNS/ATM) capabilities with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions based on Garmin’s modern open system architecture design. L3Harris has integrated its mission management system along with a wide range of military sensors, communications equipment, and weapons systems into the G3000 touch screen human machine interface (HMI). The proven G3000 integrated flight deck will enable L3Harris to rapidly deploy new technologies quickly, provide lower life-cycle costs, and ensure access to the latest in avionic technologies.

“Sky Warden features a cutting-edge flight deck and open mission system interfaces to support integration of future technologies for the Armed Overwatch program,” said Luke Savoie, president, ISR sector, L3Harris. “We’ve collaborated with Garmin for years and look forward to continuing our strategic relationship to enhance warfighter capabilities.”

The night vision goggle-compatible G3000 contains modern, state-of-the-art synthetic vision technology (SVT™) that blends an “out-the-window” view of surroundings on the large area primary flight displays, which is particularly helpful during nighttime operations and during close air support missions. Sky Warden is also equipped with Garmin’s GFC 700 digital autopilot which couples to the flight management system’s (FMS) ability to generate complex, pilot configurable search and rescue (SAR) patterns. Additional features within the G3000 integrated flight deck on the Sky Warden include terrain awareness and warning system (TAWS), traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS), and automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B IN) traffic. The Armed Overwatch program includes delivery of up to 75 manned, fixed wing aircraft.

Smiths Detection has been awarded a contract to supply New Zealand’s Aviation Security Service (AvSec) with advanced checkpoint security technology for its five major international airports; Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Queenstown and Wellington. 

Smiths Detection will supply 35 HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX computed tomography (CT) X-ray machines. The HI-SCAN 6040 CTiX, which meets international regulatory requirements in both the USA and EU, ensures the highest level of security while improving the experience for both passengers and operators. The carry-on baggage scanner can speed up security screening by allowing passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their cabin baggage, as well as deliver cost savings to airports as it is the most energy efficient checkpoint CT X-ray on the market. In addition, Smiths Detection will also supply: 

• The iLane.evo smart automatic tray return system, which delivers a steady flow of trays, removing bottlenecks and providing a seamless checkpoint journey
• The iCMORE Weapons algorithm that supports security operators by identifying knives, guns, gun parts or ammunition concealed in bags

Each piece of equipment is part of Smiths Detection’s integrated checkpoint and uses leading-edge technology designed to help increase security, improve passenger experience, and enhance operational efficiency. 

Speaking of the contract award, Smiths Detection’s North & South Asia Market Head, Aurelien Guilbert, said, “We’re delighted to be continuing our long-standing relationship with New Zealand AvSec. Through the roll-out of this technology, passengers flying out of New Zealand’s international airports will have a smoother and more efficient checkpoint experience.” 

“The new technology supplied by Smiths Detection will help AvSec continue to evolve and improve the New Zealand security screening system while also helping to enhance passenger facilitation and experience”, said Ben Smith, Group Manager Strategic Development in the Aviation Security Service. “Having seen these systems during the trial in Christchurch and other international airports already, we are confident in being able to deploy advanced technology solutions within our security checkpoints.”

Installation of the systems will begin in 2023.

After the United States shot down a suspected spy balloon, thought to be owned by the Chinese, the U. S. Navy was working to recover the debris that fell into the ocean. The balloon was shot down off the coast of South Carolina, according to defense officials, and Navy divers were conducting exploratory dives to find the remnants.

Meanwhile, U. S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken cancelled his scheduled trip to China as a result of the incident of the balloon traversing the U. S. The U.S. maintained that it is a spy craft. China continued to insist it was a civilian research vessel that was taken off course by the upper altitude winds.

“China’s decision to fly a surveillance balloon over the continental United States is both unacceptable and irresponsible. That’s what this is about. It’s a violation of our sovereignty. It’s a violation of international law,” Secretary Blinken said in an interview on NPR.

U. S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said in a statement Saturday that a balloon that had been spotted over Montana, Missouri and by numerous airliners,  had been shot down by the U. S. after it entered airspace over the Atlantic Ocean. President Joe Biden reportedly told the Pentagon earlier in the week to take down the large balloon, “as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue risk to American lives under the balloon’s path,” Secretary Austin said in a statement (see his full statement below).

The Department of Defense looked for safe options where bringing the balloon would not risk lives or property on the ground. They settled on taking it down over U. S. territorial waters. U. S. fighter jets shot down spy balloon with a single missile, reports say.

Statement by Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

“This afternoon, at the direction of President Biden, U.S. fighter aircraft assigned to U.S. Northern Command successfully brought down the high altitude surveillance balloon launched by and belonging to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) over the water off the coast of South Carolina in U.S. airspace.  The balloon, which was being used by the PRC in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States, was brought down above U.S. territorial waters.  On Wednesday, President Biden gave his authorization to take down the surveillance balloon as soon as the mission could be accomplished without undue risk to American lives under the balloon’s path.  After careful analysis, U.S. military commanders had determined downing the balloon while over land posed an undue risk to people across a wide area due to the size and altitude of the balloon and its surveillance payload. In accordance with the President’s direction, the Department of Defense developed options to take down the balloon safely over our territorial waters, while closely monitoring its path and intelligence collection activities.  This action was taken in coordination, and with the full support, of the Canadian government.  And we thank Canada for its contribution to tracking and analysis of the balloon through NORAD as it transited North America.  Today’s deliberate and lawful action demonstrates that President Biden and his national security team will always put the safety and security of the American people first while responding effectively to the PRC’s unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”

A large surveillance balloon was spotted over U.S. airspace for several days this week. U. S. Pentagon officials opted not to shoot it down citing concerns of not being able to predict where it might land and causing harm to people on the ground.

A senior defense official said the U.S. has “very high confidence” the high-altitude balloon belonged to the Chinese and that it was collecting information. The balloon was spotted several times, once over Montana, which is home to one of the nation’s three nuclear missile silo fields at Malmstrom Air Force Base, the official said but spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information.

The U. S. government continues to track the balloon, according to Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, who provided a brief statement. He said it is “currently traveling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic and does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground.”

The balloon was seen “drifting in and out of clouds and had what appeared to be a solar array hanging from the bottom,” according to the Billings Gazzette.

On Jan. 31, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport hosted a news conference with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and first lady Marty Kemp, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, local law enforcement officials, the UPS Foundation and youthSpark, an organization that works with vulnerable children, to highlight ways to intervene in human trafficking within the aviation industry.

D-Fend Solutions, a leader in radio frequency cyber-based counter-drone, takeover technology, announced that their flagship product, EnforceAir, is the recipient of the 2023 Intersec Homeland Security/Service of the Year Award. This honor was announced at the 2023 Intersec Expo on January 18 at the Ritz Carlton DIFC in Dubai, UAE.

“They’ve developed a product that not only has a wide bandwidth of capture from potentially hostile drones, but also they’ve developed technology that can take control of that drone and send it to a safe place,” said Howard Leedham, MBE, MSc, aviation and security expert consultant, former UK Special Forces Officer, former Royal Navy Commando Pilot, and 2023 Intersec Award Juror, “The company is well deserved of this award.”

EnforceAir was selected by a rigorous panel of jurors, joining four other finalists within the Homeland Security and Defense sector. The Homeland Security Product/Service of the Year selection criteria are innovation, performance, installation, manageability, value, and industry appeal. The Awards, which recognize people, products, and companies for exceptional performance attracted almost 1300 entries across ten categories.

“We are immensely honored that EnforceAir’s innovative technology has been objectively recognized on the global stage by such a highly qualified, prestigious and independent jury of expert security leaders at the 2023 Intersec Awards” said Jeffrey Starr, chief marketing officer. “The criteria, competitiveness, and rigorous selection process, combined with the specific mention of our capture, control, and safety attributes, represents tremendous validation for our performance in the growing and demanding counter-drone space.”