Author: Jack Bogart

Merlin Successfully Completes Critical Design Review for C-130J Autonomy Program with USSOCOM CDR approval marks the completion of the final design configuration for the C-130J, advancing the program to the aircraft integration phase BOSTON, June 04, 2026 — Merlin, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRLN), an aerospace and defense technology company building the operating system of record for autonomous flight, today announced the successful completion of the Critical Design Review (CDR) for its C-130J autonomy program with the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). Completion of the CDR is a milestone in the program’s maturation, validating the system’s design readiness and advancing Merlin from…

If you’re a millennial like me, chihuahuas likely bring up two images: the dog from the Taco Bell commercials and a tiny animal tucked in Paris Hilton’s purse. So, needless to say, images of scaling a mountain or fording a stream aren’t the first things that come to mind when you think of these diminutive, moon-eyed dogs. And yet, based on my 6 years with just such a pint-sized pup, I can safely say chihuahuas (and other small dog breeds) are the best kind of dog to have if you’re an outdoorsy, adventurous person. My 9-pound chihuahua mutt Bailey might…

Mt. McKinley — North America’s highest peak — has been the site of multiple fatalities in recent weeks, and on Thursday, another tragic accident unfolded. According to the National Park Service (NPS), a ranger died on the peak in Denali National Park. Details about the incident remain thin, but it is the fourth death in just a week on the same peak. Climbing season on McKinley is off to a deadly start. Fourth McKinley Death This Season: What Happened According to a NPS press release, Robin Pendery had been working as a seasonal mountaineering ranger since 2024. He assisted in…

For decades, buying night vision or thermal optics online could have felt like a gamble. “Industry-standard” marketing has relied almost entirely on static Hoffman Pictures taken on an ANV-126A test set. While those static tube photos serve as a decent benchmark for clarity, they leave the end-user completely in the dark when it comes to real-world context. A flat image offers little to no ability for a buyer to perceive the actual size, depth, or relative screen coverage of a system. US Night Vision (USNV) decided that settling for those stock, static tube pictures just isn’t customer-centric, informative, or a…

Overland Expo West is the mother of all North American overland rallies, held in Flagstaff, Ariz. Started in 2009, the show brings in overlanding enthusiasts, travelers, instructors, and vendors alike. According to Overland Expo, this year there were 420 exhibitors, 132 instructors, and 28,500 attendees from all 50 states and 21 countries. At the heart of the event were some of the coolest vehicles you can travel in. Whether large or small, these are 10 vehicles that stood out at Overland Expo West 2026. Our Top Rig Picks 2000 Land Rover Defender 90 Land Rovers have been synonymous with overland…

Montana’s Glacier National Park is an iconic landscape. Its mountains, alpine lakes, and wildlife attract millions of visitors a year. The park has faced overcrowding and parking challenges for years, but a recent policy change is frustrating visitors and causing access issues. Previous Policy In recent years, Glacier National Park has often topped 3 million visitors annually. To deal with crowds, the park implemented a day-use reservation system from 2021 to 2024. Essentially, visitors had to reserve the day they’d enter the park in advance. Then, in 2025, the park piloted a timed-entry system that was already in use at…

New York State Police Select LWRCI IC-9 as Standard Issue – Aimpoint Duty RDS to Enhance Trooper Readiness and Accuracy Albany, NY 6/1/2026 – The New York State Police (NYSP) has selected the LWRC International (LWRCI™) IC-9 as the new standard issue 9mm Pistol Caliber Carbine for troopers statewide, following a rigorous testing and evaluation process. The platform will be paired with the Aimpoint® Duty RDS®, providing enhanced reliability, precision, and operational capability for troopers across diverse mission environments. “This selection underscores LWRCI’s commitment to equipping America’s law enforcement professionals with best-in-class technology,” said, David Ridley, Senior Vice President of…

By Scott Conditt Posted in #Gear At its launch in 2025, the Springfield Armory Kuna quickly established itself as a premier PDW-style 9mm pistol. This was due not just to its well-considered feature set and ergonomics, but also to its performance — driven in no small part by its roller-delayed operating system. This system allows the pistol to offer the seemingly physics-defying combination of light weight and low-perceived recoil. Last year, I had the honor of being awarded one as a “Cantius Award” winner for The Armory Life and was thrilled to be able to add it…

In 2025, 5,800 public lands employees lost their jobs, and now even more employees’ jobs are at risk. In an executive order on June 3, President Trump reclassified over 8,000 government workers, stripping away job protections and making it easier to fire them. The administration sees the move as a way to implement accountability, while opponents worry about how understaffing could lead to ineffective public lands management. The Policy The executive order, entitled “Implementing Schedule Policy/Career in the Excepted Service,” applies to a specific class of federal employees known as GS-15. This is the highest tier of civil servants, with…

Kestrel Knives is growing its business and making a name for itself in the fixed blade scene. Since opening its doors in 2011, the Pennsylvania-based shop has focused on ultralight outdoors knife designs that speak both to niche users and the broader knife community. Kestrel’s most well-known piece is the Mountain Scalpel, an ultimate statement of intent for a company focused on weight-saving knife design. The name “scalpel” isn’t just meant to evoke something light and sharp; the Mountain Scalpel literally uses replaceable scalpel blades, the same seen on dental/medical implements – a choice that turns the Mountain Scalpel into…