Good Morning. 

Iran has sent two locally made satellites to Russia for launch, the U.S. is sending a Thaad antimissile system and troops to Israel, Trump's campaign is using specialized encrypted phones and secure laptops to enhance cybersecurity, a Russian woman has been sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for selling military information to Ukraine, and Mexico has deployed 660 soldiers and National Guard officers to protect lime growers from cartel extortion in Michoacán state.

Let’s dive in.

— 🐈‍⬛ Acoustic Kitty

Unexplained Drones Breach U.S. Military Airspace for Weeks, Leaving Officials Perplexed

• For 17 nights in December 2023, unidentified drones swarmed Langley Air Force Base and other sensitive military sites in Virginia, evading detection and stumping U.S. officials.

• Despite high-level government meetings and attempts to track the drones, authorities were unable to determine their origin or purpose, raising concerns about vulnerabilities in U.S. airspace security.

• While a Chinese student was arrested for flying a drone near a naval shipyard in January 2024, officials found no connection to the larger drone swarm incident, which remains unexplained.

Counterterrorism

• Iran has sent two locally made satellites to Russia for launch, deepening space cooperation between the two sanctioned countries. ➚

• Hezbollah is facing a severe financial crisis as Israeli airstrikes disrupt its key funding sources, including quasi-banking institutions and cash deliveries. ➚

• North Korea ordered border artillery units to be ready to fire, citing concerns over alleged South Korean drone activities near the border. ➚

• The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) denied involvement in an attack that killed at least 21 mine workers in Pakistan's Balochistan province. ➚

Military & Defense

• U.S. sending Thaad antimissile system and troops to Israel amid Iran tensions and potential Israeli strike. ➚

• Taiwan spots Chinese carrier near its waters; China releases military video claiming readiness for conflict. ➚

• A Sudanese volunteer network reports that a military airstrike on a Khartoum market killed 23 people amid ongoing civil war. ➚

• Netanyahu wants UN peacekeepers out of Lebanon, citing Hezbollah threat; Iran warns it has "no red lines" in self-defense. ➚

• ASEAN urges swift South China Sea code of conduct and immediate ceasefire in Myanmar, calling for inclusive peace talks. ➚

Cybersecurity

• Trump's campaign is using specialized encrypted phones and secure laptops to enhance cybersecurity following Iranian hacks and assassination attempts. ➚

• The Biden administration has formed a multi-agency team to address Chinese cyberattacks on U.S. telecommunications companies, with about 10-12 firms now affected. ➚

• Malicious packages in open-source repositories have increased by over 150% in the past year, with over 500K projects containing such packages. ➚

Counterintelligence & Espionage

• A Russian woman who worked at a tank factory was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison for selling military information to Ukraine. ➚

• A former British soldier is on trial for allegedly passing sensitive information to Iran, claiming he wanted to be a double agent. ➚

• The NSA's cybersecurity director says Russia has shifted its cyber tactics against Ukraine from destructive attacks to espionage-focused efforts to gain battlefield advantages. ➚

Transnational Organized Crime

• Mexico deploys 660 soldiers and National Guard officers to protect lime growers from cartel extortion in Michoacán state. ➚

• TD Bank agrees to pay a record $3B fine for failing to monitor money laundering by drug cartels. ➚

• Ongoing violence in eastern Congo forces people to use risky boats for travel, leading to frequent accidents and deaths. ➚

The America Builds podcast sits at the nexus of national security, technology, and venture capital. Hosts Will Allen and Hayley Menser interview the brilliant operators and investors pushing the boundaries of frontier technology.