Maryland’s New ‘Tech Tax’ Explained
Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman has issued guidance to help businesses prepare for a 3% tax that will take effect July 1 on the sale and use of several informational technology services.
Lockheed Martin Launches AI Fight Club
Lockheed Martin is launching a new program, AI Fight Club, a virtual battleground where companies can test their artificial intelligence algorithms for use in military applications in air, land, sea, and space domains. The first competition is scheduled for later this year.
Who Has the Strongest Military in the World?
Global Firepower’s 2024 Military Strength Rankings are out, and the United States tops the list.
Osprey Crash Wreckage Turned Over to US Military
Japanese authorities have turned over pieces of the wreckage of the CV-22 Osprey that crashed last week to the US military. Japan also has suspended flights by its Osprey aircraft after the VTOL based near Tokyo crashed during a training mission.
State Dept. Ups Reward for Info on Hackers
The US State Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identity and location of five hackers thought to be part of the Russia-backed Conti ransomware group. Another Russian hacking group is claiming an attack on Lockheed Martin that knocked the company’s websites offline.
5 Weeks, 2 Barges, 5 Tugboats. Ever Forward Refloats
The Ever Forward container ship is now afloat in the Chesapeake Bay. The operation took five weeks, two barges, and five tugboats to dislodge the 1,095-foot cargo ship after some containers were removed from the vessel.
Air Force Wish List Includes More F-35s
Add more F-35 fighter jets to the US Air Force’s wish list. The service’s list for fiscal 2023 include billions of dollars for seven more, brand-new F-35As as well as EC-37 Compass Calls aircraft, hypersonic technology tests, and 26 construction projects for bases recovering from natural disasters.
Govt. Agencies Could Be at Risk After Suspected Russian Hack
All federal civilian executive branch agencies have been directed to search their networks for indications they were compromised after the US Commerce Department was hacked. The hackers entered US systems through updates by the software company that also provides services to the White House, the Pentagon, and NASA.
It’s Finally Arrived — Election Day
Voters are casting their ballots in the 2020 presidential election in record numbers — here in Maryland, all across the country, and even in outer space.
CNO Gilday on the State of the Navy
Among the topics discussed during a “State of the Navy” virtual forum this week by Chief of Naval Operations ADM Mike Gilday: developing a sixth-generation fighter, the future for the use of drones and smaller aircraft carriers, DoD’s Battle Force 2045 study, and a tri-service maritime strategy to thwart China, which he calls America’s top strategic threat.
