The FBI, the inspector general office at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have warned the general public to be vigilant against potential scammers that want to illicitly obtain money from people interested in getting access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The bureau said Monday that it received vaccine-related fraud complaints and will coordinate with industry and other law enforcement organizations to address emerging schemes.

Fraudulent activities include advertised offers that ask potential victims to pay for fake vaccine reservations and additional medical testing and claims of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for unverified coronavirus treatments.

Some scammers also falsely claim to be an official associated with vaccine centers, insurance companies and medical organizations, the FBI noted.

The FBI advises U.S. citizens to consult state governments and the FDA's website for legitimate vaccine information and double-check online portals and email addresses in case they are just imitations of the actual ones.

The Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) has selected Siemens Government Technologies (SGT) for its 100 most innovative technology companies in 2020, the company reported on Tuesday. The council also selected Tina Dolph, president and CEO of SGT and 2020 Wash100 Award recipient, as a NVTC Tech 100 Executive.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this recognition from NVTC. I am very proud of our SGT and Siemens teams that do mission critical work for our government customers each day,” said Dolph. 

SGT was recognized for its innovation across the technology sector. The company has supported the government contracting (GovCon) and federal sectors throughout the year. SGT has supported its customer base with its portfolio across smart infrastructure, energy and digital transformation technologies. 

For example, SGT partnered with the Army Corps of Engineers and Haugland Energy to support the conversion of a convention center to a fully functioning medical center to combat COVID-19. 

Through Siemens’ Digital Industries Xcelerator portfolio, the company has also supported the U.S. Air Force and Navy. SGT has provided digitalization expertise to the service branches, advising them on how to effectively manage the technical and manufacturing data produced by prime contractors. 

In addition, SGT has worked with government customers to optimize their operations through digital twins. The company’s support has enabled customers to gain efficiencies and insights, and advance maintenance and sustainment activities. 

“This year has presented so many challenges, but through it all, our team hasn’t wavered in their grit and resolve to help our government customers fulfill their missions of national consequence,” Dolph added. 

Boeing and the U.S. Navy have recently tested the F/A-18 Super Hornet capabilities, proving that the aircraft can operate from a “ski jump” ramp, Boeing reported on Monday. The recent tests, which were conducted at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., have demonstrated the aircraft’s suitability for India’s aircraft carriers.

“The first successful and safe launch of the F/A-18 Super Hornet from a ski jump begins the validation process to operate effectively from Indian Navy aircraft carriers,” said Ankur Kanaglekar, India Fighter Sales lead for Boeing. 

Boeing’s test proved that the Super Hornet would work well with the Indian Navy’s Short Takeoff but Arrested Recovery (STOBAR) system. Additionally, the testing proved results from Boeing’s earlier simulation studies.

“The F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet will not only provide superior war fighting capability to the Indian Navy but also create opportunities for cooperation in naval aviation between the United States and India,” added Kanaglekar.

If the Super Hornet is selected by the Indian Navy, it would benefit from investments in new technologies, including advanced networking, longer range through conformal fuel tanks, infrared search and track, and a new advanced cockpit system, by the U.S. Navy and others. 

“This milestone further positions the Block III Super Hornet as a versatile next-generation frontline fighter for decades to come,” said Thom Breckenridge, vice president of International Sales for Strike, Surveillance and Mobility with Boeing Defense, Space & Security. 

Boeing will work to deliver advanced technologies and create value in the Indian aerospace sector by developing local suppliers and shaping academic and research collaborations with Indian institutions.

“With its proven capabilities, affordable acquisition price, known low documented life-cycle costs and guaranteed delivery schedule, the Block III Super Hornet is ideally suited to meet fighter aircraft requirements of customers in India, North America and Europe,” Breckenridge added. 

The Boeing-Navy demonstrations follow the delivery of two Block III flight-test aircraft to the U.S. Navy. In June 2020, the Navy received a pair of F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet jets Boeing manufactured for flight testing use. Boeing delivered one single-seat E variant and a two-seat F variant of the modernized fighter aircraft to the service branch. 

The tests aim to get pilots acquainted with the new touchscreen display and networking systems of the Block III configuration, which includes modifications to aircraft range, radar signature, communications equipment. The U.S. Navy ordered 78 new Super Hornets from the company through a contract award last year.

The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) is examining the potential of analytics technology with commercial radio frequency data to support GEOINT applications as part of a pilot program that commenced in September 2020.

NGA said Wednesday it works with combatant commands to determine how insights from the experimental effort can help the U.S. military increase awareness across the maritime domain and share unclassified information with regional allies.

“This pilot is an example of NGA’s commitment to exploring how we can integrate new and emerging commercial data sources into our analytic platforms to better support our mission partners’ needs," said Scot Currie, director of the agency's source operations group.

Herndon, Virginia-based analytics company HawkEye 360 helps the agency fuse RF data through the Predictive GEOINT Prototype under an integration study contract. The agency noted it wants to know the use of such information in mapping activity associated with radar imaging satellites and electro-optical sensors.

“Moving forward, we want commercial industry to develop automated imagery exploitation algorithms, bringing multiple sources together, including RF geolocations, so we have a stream of information and activity updates feeding our national security algorithms," said Dave Gauthier, director of NGA's source commercial business and operations group.