Erik Prince

United States
Private investigators race to catch up with artificial intelligence

Corporate intelligence companies, alongside intelligence agencies, are seeking to integrate artificial intelligence into their offerings. AI firms are keen to capitalise on this market and are recruiting advisers with the right connections.

Russia, Ukraine, United States
Ex-Blackwater trains pro-Kyiv Russian volunteers

Russian volunteers fighting on the Ukrainian side have benefited from the expertise of Erik Prince's private American military company Academi, the former Blackwater.

United States
Former conservative undercover operative Tarah Price re-emerges in the far-right ecosphere

Price disappeared from public view after her role in an aborted 2018 sting against National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster was exposed. Now she works for Steven Crowder, a leading media figure in MAGA World. Price is a relentless defender of her currently embattled boss, and has built a growing following of her own.

Cyprus, United States
Erik Prince builds up small cyber empire

The co-founder of the private security firm Frontier Services Group Erik Prince has launched into cyber with two new companies, one specialising in secure communications and the other in cyber intelligence. He has roped in several cyber veterans to help him.

Russia, Ukraine
Deposed Ukrainian aircraft engine manufacturer Motor Sich chairman at heart of secret Kyiv-Moscow negotiations

Intelligence Online has learned that Moscow is trying to recuperate the chairman of the Ukrainian aircraft engine manufacturer after his arrest by the latter's internal intelligence department for alleged collusion with the Russian state. This comes just two years after a Chinese company close to the Chinese Communist Party tried to buy the company.

The Tech Times
EC launches hybrid warfare centre, ICEYE hires Apeldoorn, Plath appoints lobbyists, Carbyne's advisory board slims

Whether in SIGINT, GEOINT, OSINT and cyber, we report each week on developments great and small in the world of the technical intelligence providers.

BrusselsEuropean Commission orders hybrid warfare centre in response to Russian threat

Paris/HelsinkiJeffrey Apeldoorn takes charge of ICEYE public contracts in Europe.

BerlinPlath seeks to influence German defence policy.

New York/Tel-AvivCarbyne's advisory board slims.

Israel, UAE, United States
Israeli warzone consultant takes on peers over US Somalia contract

A lawsuit by Israeli warzone logistics consultant Roy Shaposhnik over one of the US State Department's biggest security contracts is dragging in the sector's biggest players in the Gulf of Aden.

European Union, United States
Western and emerging powers battle over mercenary control at the UN

While Europe and the United States are trying to safeguard their private military companies within the United Nations, emerging powers are pushing to have them put on the same level as their own informal parastatal military contractors.

France, Iraq
CAE Aviation deploys new spy plane in Erbil

As large numbers of Islamic State fighters continue to hide out in Northern Iraq, a new IRS plane from CAE Aviation, a supplier to French intelligence, began monitoring the area on 14 April.

China
Backed by Beijing, security firm Frontier Services Group makes push into Southeast Asia

After focusing on Africa, the private security company Frontier Services Group, close to the Chinese authorities, is actively prospecting for business in three countries that are key for China's development - Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.

The Intelligence Gazette
Mukhabarat in Sinai, Jordan's GID and Ukraine, Wang Yi, France's ANSSI

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community from Amman to Paris by Tokyo.

EgyptAbbas Kamel oversees new tribal group fighting against Islamic State in Sinai

JordanAhmed Husni deals with fallout from Amman's position on war in Ukraine

FranceANSSI's threat intelligence department gets new chief

France, UAE
Manar Military Consultancy opens up Emirati market for French naval defence industry

The advisory firm founded by former French special forces operator Freddy Riaud is trying to win a contract with the UAE's Tawazun to conduct a preliminary study for the future construction of an ammunition recycling plant.

Spotlight | Austria, Egypt, UAE
Erik Prince's shadow hovers over Egypt's secret spy plane project

To strengthen security in the Sinai Peninsula, the Egyptian interior ministry is looking to develop its intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capacity, an asset long hoped-for by the defence ministry, which relies mainly on the CAE Aviation aircraft operated for France's DRM military intelligence service.

Syria, Turkey
Turkish AKP ally Khalil Ibrahim controls electricity supplies to northern Syria

After its military operations in northern Syria, Turkey is starting to monopolise the supply of electricity in the region via AK Energy, a move that has also created work for Turkish companies close to the Syrian border.

Spotlight | Cyprus, Israel
Israeli Eitanium emerges from woodwork financed by sector heavyweights

Cyber intelligence start-up Eitanium, whose shareholders include Circles co-founder Eric Banoun and Erik Prince, founder of the private military company Blackwater, is beginning to recruit specialists in Israel.

Spotlight | United States
Studebaker-Executive Outcomes forge US-South African alliance to rival Russia's Wagner

South African financier Heine van Niekerk and African private military veteran Eeben Barlow are constructing a response to Russian hybrid warfare operators in Africa in partnership with the US firm Studebaker, which employs former Pentagon and CIA officers.

Jordan
Former Blackwater PR rallies support for Bassem Awadallah in Washington

Bassem Awadallah, who was condemned to prison in Jordan for 15 years along with Hassan bin Zaid and who holds US citizenship, is appealing to his friends in Washington with help from crisis PR expert Mark Corallo.

France, UAE
Despite its exposure in Libya, IGG still a favourite among French firms Atos and co

Last week's Idex fair gave International Golden Group (IGG), both the UAE partner of foreign defence groups and tool to Mohammed bin Zayed's regional diplomacy, an opportunity to showcase its latest industrial alliances, including a partnership with Atos, Chinese group Norinco and the Israeli Elbit.