Author: Jack Bogart

Jan. 16, 2026 – Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, Inc. (‘KONGSBERG’) held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for its first state-of-the-art US-based missile production facility in James City County, Va. Speakers at the event included Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (Norway) President Eirik Lie, James City County Board of Supervisors Chair Dr. John McGlennon, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Hon. Shep Miller, U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (VA-1) and Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Anniken Huitfeldt.   This facility, located in Toano, Va, between Richmond and Williamsburg and conveniently near Naval Station Yorktown, will help the company meet global demand for its precision strike…

I take you through Douglas Barrels’ factory to show you how they’ve been handcrafting super precise barrels for over 75 years.When I began wildcatting the 2Fity-Hillbilly cartridge—now the .25 Creedmoor—a decade ago, I had two rifles made up for it. The second rifle was a Remington Model Seven with a 1:8 twist barrel, and when Hornady introduced the .25 Creedmoor, I was excited to finally have factory ammo for my rifle. Unfortunately, Hornady’s factory ammo is loaded with bullets that require a 1:7.5-inch twist, and the ammo did not shoot well in my rifle.So, I was left with a dilemma:…

RTS Tactical Designer Shilo McBee gave us a look at their newest products. He is well known in the industry and has best experience in various aspects of load carriage. The Sustained Operations Plate Carrier (SOPC) available now. Offered in Black, Ranger Green, and MultiCam, with sizing based upon plate size. Features: FlexFit Compression Cummerbund –Engineered to move as you move, this system locks tight under load yet flows seamlessly with every stride, climb, and crouch. The result: uncompromised stability and enhanced range of motion when it matters most. Rapid-Adjust Sizing System (Patent Pending) – Glide from Small through XL…

By Eugene Nielsen Posted in #History During the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union raced to develop weapons that could tip the balance of power. Among the most audacious creations of this era was the M65 Atomic Cannon, an enormous artillery piece capable of firing a nuclear shell. Nicknamed “Atomic Annie,” this weapon symbolized both the ingenuity and the anxiety of a world teetering on the edge of nuclear confrontation. Though it fired only one live nuclear round in its operational history, the M65 remains a potent symbol of Cold War military strategy. Origins…

SHOT Show 26 – WARQ GEN 2 Force-on-Force Helmet WARQ exhibited their new GEN 2 Force-on-Force Helmet. Enhancements: • EN 1385 bump certified: The only bump-certified force-on-force helmet on the market. • D3O Halo 7 pad system: Advanced blunt impact absorption. • Reinforced fiberglass shell. • Improved sizing ratchet and retention system. These are on top of the existing features of the helmet: • Complete anti-fog ventilation system • Extra-wide 210° visor for enhanced situational awareness • One-size-fits-all adjustability • Made in Europe • EN 166A and ASTM F1776 certified protection standards • Industry leading 5 year warranty Available through…

Spotlighting The World Factbook As We Bid A Fond Farewell One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. The World Factbook served the Intelligence Community and the general public as a longstanding, one-stop basic reference about countries and communities around the globe. Let’s take a quick look into the history of The World Factbook.   Over many decades, The World Factbook evolved from a classified to unclassified, hardcopy to electronic product that added new categories, and even new global entities. The original classified publication, titled The National Basic Intelligence Factbook, launched in 1962. The…

Peace Vans announced its VW ID. Buzz electric campervan conversion back in the fall of 2024, but it wasn’t until January 2026 that it brought its most-requested feature to market. The electric VW van pop-top has arrived! “A pop top is one of the most iconic road trip and camping features,” says Harley Sitner, CEO of Peace Vans. “When VW confirmed the ID. Buzz was coming to the U.S., we knew we had to produce this. As the largest vintage VW Camper restoration and repair shop in the U.S., the VW camper van and pop tops are such a deep…

Allen-Vanguard, the global leader in providing customised solutions and enabling technology across the Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) domain, has recently received multi-million dollar orders for EQUINOX NG (their vehicle-based Electronic Countermeasure (ECM) system) and SCORPION 2 (their manportable ECM system). Due to the sensitivity of the purchasing nation’s operations, it is not possible to disclose specific customer details. However, this initial multi-million dollar order is a major capability uplift for the end user, will deliver enhanced protection to their personnel operating in high-risk Radio Controlled Improvised Explosive Device (RCIED) environments and help mitigate the threat posed by the increasing…

It’s a fine week to be surfing the web for sweet new gear to take outside. This week’s lineup includes lots of cooler-than-normal collaborations, many of them focused on upcoming events, like the chilly Winter Olympics in Italy or ultramarathons in the Arizona desert. Other new releases are content with creative opportunities to share the love on Valentine’s Day, or to trim down backpacking gear in the never-ending race to make our gear lighter and more packable. Find all that and more in this week’s Emerging Gear. Stars and Stripes Olympics Shades The Winter Olympics kick off today! And you…

When the mercury drops, standard slippers often fall short. For true winter living — whether you’re navigating a frozen cabin, de-booting in a snowy parking lot, or fighting the chill of hardwood floors — the best down booties offer a level of warmth and packability that regular footwear can’t match. While this category is defined by down insulation, we’ve included high-performance synthetic options to provide a complete look at the market. Natural down remains the gold standard for its warmth-to-weight ratio, but modern synthetics often resist moisture better and come at a more accessible price point. Our selection covers a…