The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has unveiled the first prototype of the F-5F Super Tiger (F-5ST), which has been modified by Elbit Systems with new software and hardware. 

Following the upgrade, the F-5ST is now a 4th-generation fighter jet equipped with advanced operational capabilities such as a modern and powerful radar, a sophisticated EW suite, glass cockpit, high accuracy air-to-ground capabilities, advanced IRIS-T air-to-air missiles, and Elbit Systems’ Helmet Mounted Display.

The general elections in Lebanon were held on May 6 last. They had originally been scheduled for 2013 but, due to the repeated failure of Parliament to elect a new President from April 23, 2014, to October 31, 2016, because no candidate had succeeded in obtaining the required two-thirds majority, the Parliamentary term had been extended at first until 2017 and then until 2018.

A new electoral law had been adopted in 2017, providing a proportional representation system for the first time in the history of the country.

Israel Defense has learned that the IDF is purchasing new Barrett sniper rifles for its counter-terrorism units. The new rifles would replace the SR-25 rifles purchased three years ago.

Sources say that the military has not yet decided which model to buy. The number of units to be acquired is also unknown, although it is estimated that the IDF is not planning a large-scale order.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit chose not to comment on this issue.

A recent publication by the Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israeli Intelligence Heritage and Commemoration Center claims that Russian declarations regarding the removal of foreign forces from Syria have encountered great criticism in Iran.

Syrian state media reported that the US-led coalition struck Syrian army positions in eastern Syria early on Thursday.

“Some of our military sites between Albu Kamal and Humeima were exposed at dawn today to aggression launched by US coalition jets,” state news agency SANA reported, citing a military source.

A military media unit run by Hezbollah said the strikes were near T2, an energy installation near the border with Iraq about 100 km (60 miles) west of the Euphrates.

Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President and CEO of Lockheed Martin inaugurated on Wednesday the Lockheed Martin Israel Demonstration Center in Tel Aviv.

“The Lockheed Martin Israel Demonstration Center is a symbol of our commitment to innovation and partnership here in this country,” said Hewson. “With this Center, we will be able to connect Israeli leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to Lockheed Martin’s global network of researchers as well as highlight the integrated capabilities and economic benefits we are bringing to the State of Israel.”

Microsoft and Google are jointly disclosing a new CPU security vulnerability that’s similar to the Meltdown and Spectre flaws that were revealed earlier this year. Labeled Speculative Store Bypass (variant 4), the latest vulnerability is a similar exploit to Spectre and exploits speculative execution that modern CPUs use. Browsers like Safari, Edge, and Chrome were all patched for Meltdown earlier this year, and Intel says “these mitigations are also applicable to variant 4 and available for consumers to use today.”

PwC has launched a global Cybersecurity Center of Excellence for critical infrastructure protection and Industrial Control Systems (ICS) & Operations Technology (OT) security in Israel – dedicated to helping governments and multi-national industrial companies around the world manage this critical and complex part of the cybersecurity landscape.

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has released details of its EPIK (Electro-Optical Precision Integration Kit) technology development – a capability enhancement designed to furnish unguided surface-to-surface rocket system effectors with autonomous stand-off precision guidance and increased range.

EPIK is an add-on precision guidance kit (PGK) that leverages the electro-optical sensor and scene-matching/signal processing technologies developed for Rafael’s Spice family of air-to-surface munitions.