GIP

France, Saudi Arabia
Saudi 4G military communications overhaul in jeopardy

Intelligence and security bodies are increasingly reticent about a much needed but repeatedly delayed mobile mission critical communication of the kingdom's defence.

The Intelligence Gazette
French Senate, Taipei, AUKUS, Houthis

Appointments, reforms and the issues at stake: every Monday, Intelligence Online serves up snippets big and small from the global intelligence community. This week, we bring news from France, Taiwan, London and Riyadh.

FranceDGSE monitors battle for chair of French Senate foreign affairs and defence commission

ChinaBeijing ramps up media presence in Taiwan

United KingdomDavid Williams, AUKUS's mainstay in London

IsraelRiyadh eagerly awaits data on the Houthis from Mossad

Saudi Arabia
Qudra Industrial trains Saudi intelligence in electronic warfare

The discreet Saudi defence contractor teaches the General Intelligence Presidency to use electronic warfare equipment purchased by the Kingdom.

Saudi Arabia
Al Jaber and Al Ibrahim brothers' legal battle exposes their defence connections

Saudi-Austrian real estate tycoon Mohamed bin Issa Al Jaber on one side, and his former partners Waleed bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim and Majid bin Ibrahim Al Ibrahim on the other, are piling up legal action against each other in a dispute over a $30m payment made in 2002.

Spotlight | Russia, Saudi Arabia
Ajlan & Bros looks to supply Russian electronic warfare tools to Saudi Arabian intelligence

Sepha, founded by Saudi conglomerate Ajlan & Bros to do business with the Russian defence industry, is putting together a catalogue of Russian-built electronic warfare tools, which it is hoping to supply to the Saudi intelligence services.

Yemen
Saudi Arabia's General Intelligence Presidency counts on Moscow to mediate in Yemen conflict

Increasingly involved in Yemen, Russia has mobilised its external intelligence service to cooperate with Riyadh in identifying how Iran is getting weapons to the Houthi militia forces.

Saudi Arabia
Khaled Biyari, chief of Saudi Arabia's mission-critical communications network

Sidelining Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industries, Mohammed bin Salman has tasked the deputy defence ministry with overseeing the construction of a mission-critical communications network for the country's defence institutions.

United Kingdom
New ISR-oriented consulting firm Pinnacle Atlas launches in Middle East

ISR technology firm Seven Technologies' insolvency last month has been swiftly followed by the creation of other firms, including Pinnacle Atlas, which is well-connected in Saudi Arabia.

China, United Kingdom
UK parliamentary committee pleads for greater oversight in face of Chinese threats

China's sweeping cyber operations are putting the parliament's intelligence oversight to the test. While UK agencies have ramped up their intelligence work to counter Chinese and foreign threats, the Intelligence and Security Committee laments not having oversight over these new players.

Saudi Arabia
MbS's reform of Saudi space sector homes in on Saudi Space Commission

Tightening his grip on Saudi Arabia's space sector, Mohammed bin Salman ordered the restructuring of the Saudi Space Commission (SSC) into an agency at the expense of strategic prerogatives.

Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia
Saudi spymaster Khaled bin Ali Al Humaidan mediates between Islamabad and Kabul

Keen to resolve tensions with its Taliban neighbours, Pakistan has called on Saudi Arabia's help to mediate but those efforts have been unsuccessful for the moment.

Saudi Arabia
MBS spares veteran spymaster Khaled bin Ali Al Humaidan in Saudi shake up

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was appointed prime minister in September, has made another step towards the title of king. He is meanwhile ushering his young guard into the bastions of power - except for the intelligence service, which remains untouched.

Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's SNC ICT gears up for intelligence IT offset contracts

With Riyadh progressively returning to the US fold, Western defence companies are hoping to sign new contracts with Saudi Arabia's defence and security entities. Such deals go through local partners such as SNC ICT, a rising star in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's defence apparatus.