Author: Jack Bogart

American Rheinmetall, Auburn Hills, MI, has successfully delivered the first of eight Lynx XM30 combat vehicle prototypes to the U.S. Army, marking a pivotal step in the competitive program to replace the legacy M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Following its delivery, the initial prototype immediately enters government-led developmental and performance testing. This critical evaluation is a key component of the program’s broader Phase 3/4 Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) contract valued at approximately $764 million, which encompasses digital design, physical prototyping, and full-system validation. “Delivering our first prototype to the Army is an important step as the XM30 Combat Vehicle program…

The UCO story began in 1971, when the company started manufacturing metal parts for outfits like Boeing, K2, and JanSportin Washington State . The Original Candle Lantern arrived in 1981 and became the brand’s signature product—simple, reliable, and still going strong decades later. In 2005 the company rebranded as Industrial Revolution while keeping the UCO name for its outdoor gear line. Today it is best known for lanterns, stormproof matches, mess kits, fire-starting tools, and other practical camp staples. More recently UCO expanded into folding knives, first with accessible models such as the Whidbey Pushfold, and now with the Hannegan…

CARBONDALE, PA, September 1, 2026 – Gentex Corporation, a global leader in advanced personal protection and situational awareness solutions, today announced its continued support of Allied Forces worldwide through the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) contract, equipping military personnel in more than 20 NATO nations with proven, mission-ready headborne systems and capabilities. The contract reinforces Gentex’s commitment to delivering trusted, high-performance solutions that enhance protection, interoperability, and operational effectiveness for allied partners. Recent program awards further accelerate this momentum, reinforcing Gentex’s Ops-Core® brand’s position as a trusted partner to allied forces worldwide. Gentex’s Ops-Core was selected by the Czech…

James Brand has released its latest knife-based multitool, fleshing out a branch of their offerings that until now had consisted of a single model. The Helton takes the minimalist approach to deliver additional utility while still remaining lightweight and thin. Knife-based multitools, as a genre, are built really upon a single company, and that’s Victorinox (there used to be two companies working regularly in this space, but eventually Wegner was acquired by its competitor). When knife companies begin exploring the realm of the multitool, more often than not they follow in the footsteps of Leatherman and the plier-based MT concept.…

KÖNIGSLUTTER, GERMANY (1 September 2026) At SMM 2026, Mehler Protection is set to unveil SCILT NAVAL, a new active counter-UAV system developed specifically to protect ships from close-range threats. The threat posed by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is evolving: Recent conflicts have demonstrated that even heavily armed warships can be vulnerable to small, low-cost drone systems deployed in large numbers. While modern naval forces have powerful air defence systems capable of engaging threats at long range, significant challenges remain when it comes to close- and very-close-range protection. This is particularly true in ports, when navigating confined waterways such as canals,…

The X1 Atlas is the first fixed-blade knife released by TEKTO Knives. After 7 years of folders and automatic OTFs, it is a deliberate departure: full tang, no pivot, no lock, no moving parts at all. The blade is CPM MagnaCut, hardened to 60-62 HRC. MagnaCut has earned its reputation by refusing the usual trade-o?. Most steels ask you to pick two of edge retention, toughness, and corrosion resistance, and give up the third. MagnaCut delivers all three, which is why it has moved from enthusiast curiosity to production standard in a few short years. For TEKTO, the corrosion side…

We look at a slew of different and interesting 9mm Luger loads, America’s favorite pistol cartridge.The 9mm is, without a doubt, the most popular defensive handgun round in America. Shooters are blessed with not only a steadily growing number of guns chambered for this cartridge, including pistol-caliber carbines and an expanding array of SBR products. The cartridge is right in the middle of cost and performance, as well as accuracy and power. It makes sense in big guns and small guns, long guns and short guns.As the 9mm market has expanded, so have the ammunition offerings. The variety is expansive…

Springfield Armory has been a major player in the U.S. firearms market for more than five decades now. Its initial offering in 1974 was the M1A, a semi-auto version of the famed M14 rifle which is still used by special units in the U.S. military. Then, the company expanded into a line of quality 1911 pistols, and there was no looking back. Today, Springfield Armory offers a firearm for almost any need.While the tendency of many firearms manufacturers tends to be “dance with him that brung ya”, Springfield has shown a willingness to expand its line — but only when…

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Eight Army National Guard information operations officers graduated from a newly developed Psychological Operations Qualification Course July 24 at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, marking a significant milestone in Army transformation. For the first time, Soldiers from all three components — Regular Army, National Guard and Army Reserve — are training together to combat modern cognitive warfare threats. As adversaries increasingly rely on sophisticated disinformation campaigns and information warfare to undermine global stability, the Army recognized a need for a unified response. The new integrated training model ensures that Army…

Saab Receives Order for RBS 70 NG from Finland Saab has signed a contract and received an initial order from The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command for deliveries of the RBS 70 NG air defence solution. The order value is SEK 1.2 billion. The new contract also enables Finland to place additional future orders for the RBS 70 NG as well as training, spare parts and maintenance equipment. “We are proud to continue supporting Finland’s Defence Forces and contributing to keeping the nation’s skies safe. With RBS 70 NG, Finland will receive a state-of-the art short-range air defence capability to…