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Video: Israeli Black Hawk Plummets After Sling-Load Failure

Published 3 months ago • 6 min read

Hi Team! Blast Talent is still recruiting for an experienced SARS development director based in South Florida working for a large, stable decades old aerospace company in a satellite office in Fort Lauderdale. All the benefits of working with a small team w/ the safety of a large company.

If you refer a candidate that winds up hired for this position, Blast Talent will pay you $1000 for the referral. They will ask all candidates who referred them as step 1 of initial interviews.

Sam Havelock  

Sam Havelock
CEO, SOFX

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Major Developments

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

 

US Special Forces Spotted in Syrian Town Before SDF Withdrawal Near Aleppo

US Special Forces were observed in Dayr Hafir on Friday meeting with Syrian Democratic Forces officials before their convoy was spotted withdrawing from the contested northern Syrian town. Hours later, the SDF announced they would abandon positions near Aleppo and redeploy east of the Euphrates River.

The American presence preceded a Syrian military operation targeting Kurdish positions. The US convoy included M-ATVs with anti-tank capability not previously documented in Syria. Syrian President Al-Sharaa issued a decree recognizing Kurdish as a national language, the first such recognition since 1946. (Read More)​

US Seizes China-Bound Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Equipment From South African Firm

Federal prosecutors filed a forfeiture complaint Thursday seeking permanent custody of two mobile training systems intercepted aboard a Chinese vessel in Singapore last year. The Justice Department alleges the Test Flying Academy of South Africa built the equipment to teach PLA aircrews submarine-hunting techniques using American software and P-8 Poseidon technical data.

TFASA rejected the allegations as "factually incorrect," calling the containers basic classrooms with no tactical capabilities. The Commerce Department blacklisted the academy in 2023 for training Chinese military pilots using Western methods. (Read More)​

Israeli Black Hawk Crashes After Sling-Load Rigging Fails During Recovery Operation

An Israeli Air Force UH-60 Black Hawk crashed Friday in Gush Etzion after separating from a CH-53 during a sling-load recovery operation. The aircraft had been grounded since Tuesday following an emergency landing caused by severe weather south of Jerusalem.

The helicopter sustained significant damage and is likely a total loss, with the tail boom shearing off on impact. No injuries were reported. IAF commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar ordered an investigation into the rigging failure. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

Approve with Confidence. Execute with Precision.

​Our client is looking for a SARs Development Director to lead Source Approval Request (SARs) initiatives across the company. This role requires someone who can work independently, navigate DLA and government procurement processes, and deliver results that drive enterprise growth.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Identify and execute SARs opportunities that support company strategy
  • Build, submit, and manage SARs packages through approval
  • Coordinate with internal teams and external suppliers
  • Ensure all activities comply with government and DLA requirements

Preferred Background:

Five to seven years of SARs development experience with a strong record of approvals. Solid understanding of government contracting and DLA practices required.

Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Fully onsite.

The Tear Line

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Kyiv is operating with only half its required electricity as Russian attacks on energy infrastructure trigger the capital’s worst power crisis of the war, with temperatures plunging to -17°C and emergency measures underway to maintain basic heating and electricity for 3.6 million residents. (Read More)​

➤ Cuba received the remains of 32 soldiers killed in the US raid that captured Maduro in boxes smaller than coffins during a state ceremony overseen by President Diaz-Canel and former leader Raul Castro as tensions with Washington escalate. (Read More)​

➤ Armed Kurdish separatist groups attempted to cross into Iran from Iraq in recent days, with Turkey's intelligence agency warning Iran's IRGC of the breach as clashes broke out amid the regime's sweeping crackdown on nationwide protests. (Read More)​

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ The identities of approximately 4,500 federal employees working with ICE and Border Patrol were leaked online, including 2,000 agents whose photos and information appeared on a Netherlands-hosted website called the “Journalistic Project.” (Read More)​

➤ Anthropic warned that AI productivity gains will likely favor wealthy nations after an analysis of over two million Claude conversations found richer countries adopting the technology at significantly faster rates, with no evidence lower-income countries are catching up. (Read More)​

➤ Iranian state media claimed 3,000 "terrorist group" members were arrested during January protests while CNN reported nearly 5,000 Iraqi militia fighters crossed into Iran to help suppress demonstrations, paid $600 monthly and transported under the guise of religious pilgrimages. (Read More)​

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ Leonardo's Proteus completed its maiden flight as the UK's first full-size autonomous helicopter at Predannack Airfield, operating without human input. The aircraft, developed under a £60 million contract, will inform Royal Navy plans for hybrid crewed-uncrewed carrier air wings. (Read More)​

➤ The US military plans to replace all Minigun variants with a standardized GAU-24/A model consolidating the M134-based weapons accumulated since the 1960s, with Naval Air Systems Command seeking manufacturers for initial deliveries in Fiscal Year 2027. (Read More)​

➤ The Navy will deploy two medium-sized drone boats this year with Sea Hunter and Seahawk transitioning to fleet control, as the service targets 11 uncrewed vessels by 2027 and over 30 by 2030. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

Ownership. Compliance. Growth.  

We’re looking for a SARs Development Director to take ownership of Source Approval Request initiatives that support our government and commercial programs.

​This role is perfect for someone who knows SARs inside and out, understands DLA and government procurement, and can manage approvals from start to finish. You’ll work with internal teams and suppliers to build solid SARs packages that drive growth while staying compliant.

Candidates should have five or more years of SARs experience with proven approvals and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
Special Interest

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Astronauts develop measurable brain shape changes after spending as little as a few weeks in space, with the most pronounced shifts of two to three millimeters occurring in regions controlling balance and sensorimotor function. These alterations persist for at least six months after longer missions and may explain why astronauts struggle with balance for days to weeks after returning to Earth.

➤ A bipartisan group of lawmakers will introduce legislation Thursday to establish a $2.5 billion Strategic Resilience Reserve for critical minerals, as President Trump pursues mineral access across Ukraine, Venezuela and Greenland to boost U.S. supply of materials essential to the tech industry.

➤ Yemen's Saudi-backed Presidential Leadership Council recaptured two strategic southern provinces from the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, reversing a month-long takeover that prompted Saudi air strikes on STC positions including Mukalla port. The conflict between former anti-Houthi allies has intensified instability in Yemen, where 17 million people face acute food shortages and nearly 20 million need humanitarian assistance.

On this day in history: On January 18, 1977, scientists identified the bacterium responsible for Legionnaires' disease, a deadly pneumonia outbreak that struck an American Legion convention in Philadelphia six months earlier. The July 1976 outbreak at the Bellevue-Stratford Hotel infected 182 people and killed 29, with the newly discovered Legionella pneumophila confirmed as the cause.
Special Interest

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you think the Israel-Hamas ceasefire will successfully remove Hamas from power in Gaza?

  1. No (78.3%)
  2. Yes (11.2%)
  3. Unsure (10.5%)
Job Board

ASSIGNMENTS

Security and Intelligence
All Source Intelligence Analyst Defense Division Remote, US
Armorer Defense Division Remote, US
Austere Medic Defense Division Remote, US
Comms & Command Systems Instructor Defense Division Remote, US
Critical Care Medical Provider Defense Division Remote, US
Intl. Humanitarian Security Officer Defense Division Worldwide
Interpreter Defense Division Remote, US
Security Director Defense Division Remote, US
Security Operations Chief Defense Division Remote, US
Security Team Lead Defense Division Remote, US
Targeter Defense Division Remote, US
Business Development
SARs Development Director 100K - 120K Fort Lauderdale, FL

SPONSORED

Looking for a SARs Development Director with hands-on experience in Source Approval Requests, government procurement, and DLA compliance.

Must have 5–7 years of SARs development experience, strong approval track record, and the ability to manage submissions independently.

Fort Lauderdale, FL | Onsite
U.S. citizenship required

​Apply today to help drive compliant sourcing and enterprise growth →

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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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