DRS Sustainment Systems has won an almost $190 million US Army contract to manufacture the mobile integrated defeat system to guard ground forces against drone attacks

DRS Sustainment Systems has won an almost $190 million US Army contract to manufacture the mobile integrated defeat system to guard ground forces against drone attacks, the Department of Defence announced in a press release.
"DRS Sustainment Systems [of] St. Louis, Missouri, was awarded a $189,828,895 ... contract for development, production, deployment and support of the Mobile-Low, Slow, Small Unmanned Aircraft System Integrated Defeat System", the release said on Monday.
The Defence Department said work on the contract is scheduled to last for five years, with an estimated completion date of 30 July 2025.
At a US Navy surface warfare conference in January, Northrup Grumman engineer Kevin Knowles said his company was working on an airburst round compatible with certain US Navy surface ships’ 30-millimeter deck to develop new World War II-style 'flak' cannons to defend against swarming drone attacks with exploding shells ripping them with shrapnel steel.
Leonardo DRS specializes in electro-optical/infrared systems, naval and maritime systems, ground combat mission command and network computing, global satellite communications and network infrastructure, avionics systems, and intelligence and security solutions.

The UK's Navy has announced the formation of a new elite unit of the Royal Marines that will use "game-changing technology and weaponry" to operate in hot spots across the globe.

In June, a state-of-the-art uniform for Britain's Royal Marines was unveiled as part of the Ministry of Defence's Future Commando Force programme to modernise the branch.
The UK's Navy has announced the formation of a new elite unit of the Royal Marines that will use "game-changing technology and weaponry" to operate in hot spots across the globe.
In a press release on Monday , the Navy said that over 150 Royal Marines and Army Commandos are due to start training together this fall as part of the Vanguard Strike Company.
The joint training will come amid the implementation of the Royal Marine-related project, also known as the Future Commando Force programme, which the Navy said "will overhaul how the world-famous green berets operate".
The new unit, set to be deployed next year, is expected to operate in smaller, hi-tech groups, which will "give the UK a more agile and lethal capability, ready for missions anywhere in the world at a moment's notice", according to the Navy.
"This is about returning commando forces to their roots: to operate at reach and in all theatres, including the Arctic, as the spearhead of operations", the press release pointed out.
Commandant General Royal Marines, Major General Matt Holmes, for his part, touted the Vanguard Strike Company as a force that will be able "to operate and fight in a dynamic, technological era of warfare".
"We envisage several of these networked sub-units persistently forward deployed around the globe, with an array of sophisticated enabling capabilities, to present dilemmas to adversaries whilst supporting partners. These will all be at high-readiness, as a capable forward contingency force at the core of the Royal Navy's Littoral Response Groups", Holmes underscored.
The new strike force's formation follows last month's unveiling of sophisticated uniforms for the Royal Marines, as part of the Future Commando Force modernisation programme.
The US-made high-tech kit is 17-percent lighter, 60-percent faster-drying, and at least four times more breathable as compared to the previous uniform. The new kit's price tag reportedly stands at about £800 ($987).

UNC Bukavu sets plan for Peaceful March and Sit-In demonstrations in Support to Vital Kamerhe

The Union for the Congolese Nation (UNC) in the province of South Kivu, is hosting a peaceful march this Thursday, July 23, 2020, in the city of Bukavu.
In a letter to the Mayor of the city, the vital Kamerhe party indicates that it will also organize a sit-in on Friday, July 24, 2020, at the funu grounds in Kadutu.
These events are scheduled, in order to accompany the national president of this party; who appears this Friday in the 100-day trial, at the Kinshasa / Gombe Appeals Court.
′′ UNC is organizing a peaceful march and sit-in, to sympathize with our national president vital Kamerhe; in the so-called 100-day trial between him and the Public Prosecutor's Office; at the Kinshasa Gombe Court of Appeal. On July 23, 2020, peaceful march at 11 p. m from the party headquarters in the province, where a memorandum will be read and submitted. Friday, July 24, motorized caravan followed by a sit-in; which will start at 10 p.m. at the funu pitch, observance of the trial." say the source,also signed by Richard Bunani, Inter-Federal Secretary of UNC in South Kivu.
It should be noted that vital Kamerhe was sentenced on 20 June to 20 years of hard labour; by the TGI of Kinshasa / Gombe. His lawyers went on an appeal, and the next hearing is scheduled for Friday, July 24, 2020.

Josiah Obat replaces Cecilia piazza as head of new MONUSCO office in ITURI.Gorvenor of Ituri ,Jean bamanisa tasks him to end ADF-NALU insurgency in the province.

Last week,Monusco's brand new head  office in Ituri, Josiah Obat started his duties.
Following a meeting on Monday, July 20, 2020 with the provincial governor Jean Bamanisa Saïdi, this UN official reassured about the continued support of his institution for the stabilization of Ituri.
For this first official public activity, Mr. Obat was accompanied by the commander of the northern sector of Force Monusco, General Ali.
Various other topics were on the meeting's agenda, including the general security situation in the province, the launch of the DDR process in favor of the FRPI militia as well as the situation of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ituri having reached the number of 28 confirmed cases.
Governor Bamanisa did not fail to return to the challenges to be taken up in his jurisdiction to put an end to the insecurity caused by the multiple cases of incursions by CODECO, ADF-NALU and other Mai Mai groups in the territories. by Djugu, Mahagi and Irumu.
Also during their meeting, the head of the provincial executive called for an increase in the envelope for stabilization projects to cover the vast territories of Djugu and Mahagi.
The provincial authority hailed the role played by the UN mission in this region as well as its development efforts through the rehabilitation of certain roads.
Josiah Obat, who performed the same functions in Beni in North Kivu, replaces Cécilia Piazza, she will head the Monusco office in Beni.

General John Numbi is apparrently warning the Katangais and DRC: ′′ Don't push me into my character as a military discipline ′′

In his address to the Katangaise community, who came to comfort him, Tuesday, July 21th at his farm a few kilometers from Lubumbashi, General John Numbi says he is safe in ex-Katanga than being in Kinshasa.
Revelations that corroborate with reports that he refused the Prime Minister's request to return together last Sunday to the capital.
In front of the notables Katangais, including the governor of Haut-Katanga, General John Numbi has been concerned about the brutal disappearance of General Delphin Kahimbi found dead in his residence in Kinshasa. ′′ I lost a great comrade, Delphin Kahimbi ", he explained. ′′ Today, we shouldn't, with everything going on, people think the Katangais are weak ", added Numbi referring to the last set-up in the Army following the latest orders of the head of state Félix Tshisekedi.
In the face of what is told about him, General John Numbi has said that ′′ I must not be pushed into my character as a military discipline...John Numbi Banza Tambo does not seem to be happy with his replacement as Inspector General of FARDC which he held for two years under Joseph Kabila. He protested it this Tuesday, July 21 at a reception he organized for Katanga officials at his farm in Lubumbashi. He reveals that he was able to avoid bloodbath in the country thanks to the ′′ important role he played."
′′ I, your brother, played an important role in the peaceful passage of power in this country, it's not called treason. I prevented Congolese blood from flowing, it's not called betrayal.", did he address the notables he received.
Several times cited as the one who vitalizes Bakata Katanga militia led by Gideon Kyungu, former FARDC Inspector General replies:
′′ I asked all these young Bakata Katanga to stop and not to shed Congolese blood. And how do I have to be treated like this? Why this trap? Why this plot? Thank god im still alive. I remain sentinel of Congolese and Katangais in particular ", he says.
The sideline of Mr. Numbi was hailed by the NGO the Voice of the Without Voices which still accuses this official of the Congolese army of being author of the double assassination of his activists Floribert Chebeya and Faithful Bazana in June 2010. John Numbi was then number 1 of The Congolese National Police (PNC). Its gauge is mostly publicly greeted by the USA.

Maguy Rwakabuba appointed vice president of the network of women parliamentarians in DRC

On July 21, women deputies appointed a Vice President and a Rapporteur to complete their office in the National Assembly.
′′ I am very honoured to have had the trust of my fellow women parliamentarians. I am currently the first Vice President of the Network of Women Parliamentarians (...) We have a lot of activities, we must defend our rights not only at the Assembly level but also at the institutions. Starting today, I am making myself available at the office level but also from my colleagues said the Honourable Maguy Rwakabuba, elected from Rutshuru territory in North Kivu.
The Honourable Viviane Kapufi, for her part, believes that it is a satisfaction for her to hold this position as feminist. ′′ The struggle, the advancement of women is our fight. With my experience and background, I will be able to contribute to the office. The fact that we already have a woman at the head of the National Assembly is an essential step, women are building," said the Honourable Kapufi.
Created in May 2019, the Network of Women Parliamentarians is currently led by the Honourable Anne-Marie Bilabangu.

Members civil society of South Kivu alert about nearly 20.000 fictitious military presence in the eastern part of the country.

Nearly 20000 fictitious military are reported in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Provincial deputies in South Kivu alerting this situation, in a statement released on Monday, July 20, 2020, call for an ′′ urgent ′′ verification of military strength.
′′ We recommend that the central government make an official statement regarding the reported incursions in the East part and especially in South Kivu. That the government urgently verify the military strength where nearly 20.000 fictitious military are reported in the east of the country ", they say in their statement.
The provincial deputies of South Kivu recommend that the central government strengthen the military strength deployed on the field of operations in South Kivu.
They also call for the deployment of police officers in conflict settings for the protection of civilians.
The provincial elected officials in South Kivu call on the armed forces and security services to intensify their efforts, during this time when incursions and infiltrations on Congolese soil are reported nights and days.
They invite MONUSCO to play its full role in pacifying and stabilizing peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.