US Army has begun a key test of a new integrated air defense system that was delayed due to the onset of the COVID-19

The US Army has begun a key test of a new integrated air defense system that was delayed due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. If successful, it could mean the introduction of a new, advanced generation of expanded anti-missile defenses.
A limited user test (LUT) of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) is now underway at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, Breaking Defense reported on Monday .
Involving more than 700 people, the test could not proceed until major challenges involving social distancing were addressed, the outlet noted. While many folks can do their data analysis remotely, the key purpose of the test is to see how the system functions under realistic battle conditions when handled by real people - the soldiers who will man it on the battlefield - and not test engineers.
In response, the Army has set up a series of safeguards, such as constant testing and careful monitoring of travel between otherwise-separated working groups, to make sure the test can go on until September as required without getting people sick.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ (CSIS) “Missile Threat” project, the IBCS is “intended is to integrate the communications between weapon launchers, radars, and the operators, allowing an air defense unit, such as a Patriot battery, to fire its interceptors using information provided by the radar of another.”
Defense contractor Northrop Grumman is heading the IBCS project, receiving a $60 million contract to continue the work last October. According to the firm, previous tests have demonstrated that multiple radar systems from different air defense networks can be linked together to provide anti-air missiles with better targeting information, enabling them to engage beyond the horizon.
The Army has said the IBCS will benefit tools such as Short Range Air Defense (SHORAD) and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, as well as Patriot missile batteries. Gen. John M. Murray, the commanding general of Army Futures Command, has also said the system will integrate Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system.
A previous test of the IBCS in 2016 went so badly that the system was postponed for at least four years. However, the Army has restructured its testing bureaucracy and compatibility requirements since then. If the test is successful, the IBCS could enter service by the end of 2022.

Russia declared that it is going to deploy a space system that warns of missile attacks by 2024 with high-orbit space intelligence system

Last Thursday,Russia declared that it was going to deploy a space system that warns of missile attacks by 2024, Sergei Surovikin, the commander of the Russian Aerospace Forces, told the military’s official newspaper Krasnaya Zvezda on Thursday.
"As part of creating the United Space System , [Russia] is going to deploy the orbital constellation of spacecraft by 2024", Surovikin said.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, the United Space System will play a key role in ensuring the missile attack warning system.
The commander also said that equipping the missile attack warning system with the latest-generation radars would be complete by 2022, noting that this modernisation would be achieved after putting into service modern radar systems near the city of Vorkuta (the Republic of Komi) in 2021 and in Murmansk in 2022.
"Putting these radar stations into service will complete the re-equipment of the missile attack warning system with the latest-generation radars", Surovikin said.
Surovikin additionally revealed that the country would start deploying two new constellations of military communications and intelligence satellites in 2022 and 2023.
"In 2022, [Russia] is going to start
deploying the promising third-stage united satellite communications system of the Russian Armed Forces, while starting in 2023 it will start deploying a high-orbit space intelligence system"

, Surovikin said.
Russia will also build new radar systems as part of the missile attack warning system in the Far East and modernise those in other regions, according to the commander.
"The plan of developing the missile attack warning system envisages the modernisation of some radars ... operating in the Krasnoyarsk Territory and Irkutsk Region, as well as creating new systems with improved specifications and interference immunity in the Far East Federal District and the Leningrad Region", he added.

The US State Department approved a potential $2 billion sale of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft and related equipment to France

The US State Department approved a potential $2 billion sale of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft and related equipment to France, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a press release on Monday.
"The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of France of three (3) E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2 billion", the release said.
Notice of a pending arms sale and notification of Congress, also announced in the release, is required before an arms sale can be concluded.
DSCA said the proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping France meet current and future threats by maintaining interoperability with US naval forces. France operates earlier versions of the E-2C and will have no problem absorbing the upgraded versions of the aircraft, the release read.
Hawkeye manufacturer Northrop Grumman describes the aircraft as the 'digital quarterback' that leads and manages an attack, protecting carrier battle groups, according to a company website.

Two private universities closed in Rwanda.

The Rwandan authorities have declared the closure of two private universities on Sunday. They join the other ten sanctioned for non-compliance with the requirements of the quality of education.
The closure was closed on Sunday by the Minister of Higher Education. It concerns two private universities that would not have met the quality requirements laid down by the government. "These universities had temporary licensing, but did not meet the requirements for them to be certified", Valentine Uwamariya said on national television.
These are the of College of Education (ICE) and the Christian University of Rwanda (CHUR) whose sponsor Pierre-Damien Habumuremyi, former Prime Minister (2011-2014) was placed behind bars by Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB) ).
The Rwandan investigation office is indeed accused of Mr. Habumuremyi of abuse of trust and blames him for having issued non-reserve checks worth more than 100 million CFA francs, or more than 62 million CFA francs (around 9 500 euros) between 2018 and 2019 while he was rector and owner of the University.
similar treatment for many other sponsors and officials of private universities in Rwanda. Among them, Professor Aegis Karuranga, Vice-President of the University of Kibungo (UNIK), recently closed, in the eastern province. He was detained for "poor use of university funds and nepotism" after the university closed last week.
These higher education institutions have just made the costs of an 2017 quality of education review. Operation that has already sanctioned a dozen schools including Mahatma Gandhi University in Kigali.
As for students, "It is up to closed universities to help their students sign up in other schools", says Ms. Uwamariya.

Civil society in (mahagi)DRC not happy at the popularity of Ugandan currency.They are calling the society to stop using Ugandan money.

After the observed rise in the Ugandan Shilling rate on the market in Mahagi territory located more than 180km north of Bunia, local civil society is calling for an end to the use of this foreign currency on Congolese soil.
According to Anican Tengo of this civic structure, the instability of the Shilling by money changers who have set fanciful rates for two months has negatively impacted the prices of essential goods in this country.
"The money changers set the rate at 60,000 FC per 100,000 Ugandan Shillings, which is exorbitant," notes this actor from civil society.
For him, the authorities must be able to suspend the circulation of this Ugandan currency on Congolese soil.
"We ask the authorities to intervene so that the money changers can go and settle at the border and wait until the passengers who go to Uganda can buy the Shillings there and those who return to the Congo can change the Shillings with the Congolese Francs "explains Mr. Tengo .
In Mahagi and many other localities along the Ugandan-Congolese border, foreign currency is used for market transactions.
Congolese Francs are completely ignored, since the DRC produces almost nothing to sell to Ugandans.
All the manufactured products consumed on the spot come from Uganda and the sellers demand from the Congolese buyers the Shillings, which causes the Congolese currency to lose all value.

The security situation in ituri is worrying and needs immediate solution

The security situation in Ituri remains very worrying. Investigative reports for the last 6 months shows an upsurge trend in attrocities committed by various groups that led to insecurities and displacement of local people.
On Monday July 6, 2020, a group of young people in Bunia, identifying with "social actors" organized a peaceful march. A memorandum has been filed with the Ituri provincial government and the UN mission, containing a series of recommendations.
"To the central government, to establish an advanced headquarters in Djugu and Mahagi, to reinforce the army in manpower and adequate equipment in the face of symmetrical warfare, to dispatch the ministers of defense and of humanitarian actions in order to assess situation and find a final solution, ”wrote Gloire Abasi, their leader.

"At Monusco, to extend their military base throughout Djugu and Mahagi, to properly ensure the protection of civilians against the assailants, to support the government in the process of precanting the militiamen".
Beyond an implication of the international community and the Congolese state to guarantee the peace and security of the Iturian population, an appeal is also launched to young people, the population as well as the provincial government.
The Ituri population is thus called to "refrain from attempting to create ethnic groups for self-defense (...). The youth must collaborate with the defense forces by denouncing any suspicious movement and anyone who wants to compromise the peace and tranquility of the population ”.
In their memo, these young people indicate that Djugu, Irumu, Mahagi and Mambasa remain insecure who did not say his name. Multiple armed groups are reported, at the root of the extreme atrocities. Situation which must "cease definitively".

ADF attacked Batongo on Sunday July 05,2020

The locality of Batongo in the chiefdom of Banyali Tchabi in Irumu territory was the target of a new incursion by the Ugandan rebels of the ADF on
Sunday, July 05, 2020 at around 10 p.m. local time.
According to Babanileo Tchabi Étienne, head of this area who delivered information ,shops were looted of their goods, including bags of rice and other consumer products.
The ADF also abducted some people found there to transport their spoils of war, but their number is not yet known.
After their attrocities,the rebels then withdrew into the forest, leaving behind a chaos and fear among the local population.
This is the third attack in the area by these Ugandan Islamists active in Beni in neighboring North Kivu, the latest of which occurred on June 20 in Vukaka village, killing 10 civilians.