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AI Companies Warn HHS of Inability to Control Malign Actors

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Major Developments

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

 

Behind the Curtain: We've Been Warned | Axios

Axios laid out six facts it says prove AI's power and risk have outpaced public understanding, warning that the technology's builders, its data, and its capabilities are all sending the same alarm. OpenAI and Anthropic briefed House Homeland Security Committee staff in classified sessions on their latest models' cybersecurity risks.

Anthropic's annualized revenue surged from $1 billion to $30 billion in roughly 18 months, making it the fastest-growing company in American business history, while AI-driven losses have erased $2 trillion from public software stocks. (Read More)​

Air Force Special Warfare Tests Kinetic Drone Interceptor in Counter-UAS Exercise

Air Force Special Warfare airmen tested the Powerus Guardian-1 kinetic interceptor against Group 1 through 3 drone targets on April 7 at Florence Military Reservation, Arizona. The 5.8-pound system engages drones at up to 9.3 miles and speeds of 180 to 211 mph.

The exercise addressed a gap for small forward-deployed teams lacking fixed-site air defense. Airmen from three squadrons at Davis-Monthan built target drones in-house at 1.5% the cost of commercial systems, executing detection through defeat across multiple profiles. (Read More)​

CENTCOM Briefs White House on Iran Strike Options as US Launches Hormuz Coalition

CENTCOM Commander Adm. Brad Cooper laid out military options against Iran for President Trump on April 30, with proposals ranging from strikes on Iranian infrastructure and seizing part of the Strait of Hormuz to a special forces operation to secure enriched uranium, Axios and Reuters reported.

The briefing followed Secretary of State Rubio's April 28 approval of the Maritime Freedom Construct, which directed embassies to recruit coalition partners to restore strait navigation by May 1. Brent crude hit $126 per barrel, its highest since 2022. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

Resilient Multi-Link Connectivity for Drone Dominance

​Elsight’s HALO multilink connectivity platform enables resilient, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operations in GNSS-denied and electronically contested environments by fusing diverse communication paths into a single, self-healing network.

This ensures uninterrupted command, control, and real-time data flow for ISR, targeting, and autonomous swarm coordination, capabilities central to the Drone Dominance program. Halo’s low SWaP profile supports Group 1–3 UAS as well as larger platforms, extending mission endurance without sacrificing payload capacity. By delivering consistent connectivity where traditional links fail, HALO enhances operational tempo, survivability, and mission success across distributed, multi-domain operations.

​HALO is TRL 9, BlueUAS-listed, cybersecure, and NDAA-compliant, with over 500,000 contested operational hours across active U.S. and allied military programs, including demonstrated success with DIU and SOCOM initiatives. It aggregates multiple bearers (LTE/5G, RF/MANET, SATCOM, and point-to-point) into a single managed communications link, continuously monitoring performance and dynamically routing traffic without operator input. Fully platform-agnostic, HALO integrates via open APIs and standard interfaces (MAVLink, ATAK/WinTAK, IP, serial, CAN bus), eliminating the need for platform-specific redesign.

With a compact 93-gram footprint, 6.5W average power draw, and a 65mm x 80mm x 5mm form factor, HALO delivers scalable, mission-critical connectivity in the most demanding environments.​
The Tear Line

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Russia's Africa Corps will remain in Mali despite rebel demands to withdraw, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on April 30. The statement came after insurgents killed Defense Minister Sadio Camara and seized the northern garrison at Kidal. (Read More)​

➤ Ukrainian naval drones struck two Russian patrol boats guarding the Kerch Bridge overnight, hitting an FSB Sobol-class vessel and a Navy Grachonok-class anti-sabotage boat. Both ships were specifically tasked with counter-sabotage operations protecting the bridge. (Read More)​

➤ The UK MoD released footage of British troops taking cover during an Iranian missile threat at a coalition base in the Middle East. British personnel have operated within hundreds of meters of Iranian strikes throughout the conflict. (Read More)​

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ Police officers used AI license plate readers to stalk romantic interests at least 14 times, according to an Institute for Justice review. Officers reportedly logged fake investigation justifications to trigger automatic alerts on targets' vehicles across multiple departments nationwide. (Read More)​

➤ The UK raised its terrorism threat level to "severe" following the Golders Green stabbing, meaning an attack is highly likely within six months. The Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre said the threat has been rising from both Islamist and extreme right-wing actors. (Read More)​

➤ A Fort Polk soldier was charged with threatening to "walk into a synagogue with my AK," according to the DOJ. The FBI traced the Discord threats to Jakob Marcoulier, 22, after receiving a tip in February. He faces up to five years in federal prison. (Read More)​

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ Israel is fitting combat vehicles with anti-drone netting in southern Lebanon to counter Hezbollah's fiber-optic FPV drones, which are immune to electronic jamming. A senior IDF official said the fiber-optic drone threat currently has "no clear solution." (Read More)​

➤ CENTCOM requested the first operational deployment of the Dark Eagle hypersonic missile to strike Iranian ballistic launchers that have moved beyond conventional missile range. Only an estimated eight Dark Eagle missiles exist, each costing roughly $15 million. (Read More)​

➤ A B-1B Lancer was photographed carrying an AGM-183A ARRW hypersonic missile for the first time, visible in a brief clip from Edwards Air Force Base. The Mach 5+ boost-glide weapon has an estimated range of 1,000 miles and is undergoing captive-carry testing. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

HALO: Fielded, Resilient Communications for Drone Dominance

​Elsight’s HALO multilink connectivity platform enables resilient, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operations in GNSS-denied and electronically contested environments by fusing diverse communication paths into a single, self-healing network.

This ensures uninterrupted command, control, and real-time data flow for ISR, targeting, and autonomous swarm coordination, capabilities central to the Drone Dominance program. Halo’s low SWaP profile supports Group 1–3 UAS as well as larger platforms, extending mission endurance without sacrificing payload capacity. By delivering consistent connectivity where traditional links fail, HALO enhances operational tempo, survivability, and mission success across distributed, multi-domain operations.

HALO is TRL 9, BlueUAS-listed, cybersecure, and NDAA-compliant, with over 500,000 contested operational hours across active U.S. and allied military programs, including demonstrated success with DIU and SOCOM initiatives. It aggregates multiple bearers (LTE/5G, RF/MANET, SATCOM, and point-to-point) into a single managed communications link, continuously monitoring performance and dynamically routing traffic without operator input.
Special Interest

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Metal detectorists in Norway uncovered the country's largest Viking Age coin hoard, nearly 3,000 silver coins dating to the mid-11th century. The "Mørstad Hoard" includes Anglo-Saxon pennies from King Æthelred II and Knut the Great, with coins ranging from the 980s to 1040s.

➤ The Pentagon asked Congress to codify the "Department of War" rebrand, estimating the name change across 7,600 federal law references will cost $52 million. The Congressional Budget Office had earlier projected costs as high as $125 million.

➤ Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said AI agents will function more like "overbearing managers" than job replacements, telling Fortune that AI will micromanage workers by monitoring tasks and optimizing workflows rather than eliminating positions outright.

On this day in history: On May 1, 2011, U.S. Navy SEALs from DEVGRU conducted Operation Neptune Spear, raiding Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The 40-minute assault killed the al-Qaeda leader nearly a decade after the September 11 attacks, closing one of the longest manhunts in American history.
Special Interest

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you think the U.S. should build warships in Japanese or Korean shipyards?

  1. Yes (44.3%)
  2. No (44.1%)
  3. Unsure (11.6%)

n=605

Have a question you would like polled? Email us at editor@sofx.com​
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SPONSORED

Battle-tested by Special Forces: Watch the movie

Elsight turned to the ex-special forces experts at JEDDOC to test Elsight's Halo in combat-like conditions. See how they leveraged multi-network bonding (LTE, 5G, satellite, RF) enabling them to secure full situational awareness, control and precision in their operation, while they remained in a remote location. Most importantly, see how they maintained connectivity in remote, urban, and GNSS-denied environments.

This is the precision, resilience, and innovation mandated by the U.S. Drone Dominance Program to support all FPVs and UAVs qualifying over the next few months.

​Watch JEDDOC put Halo to the test​

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About SOFX: We are an independent media and communications technology company reporting on the conflicts, security, and technology issues impacting your lives and businesses. SOFX was founded by former special operations & intelligence professionals, not career journalists or Big Tech / Big Media.

Have feedback for us? We want to hear any and all comments you may have. Contact us at editor@sofx.com​.​

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