The Navy accepted a newly manufactured C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft from Lockheed Martin during a ceremony in Marietta, Georgia, Oct. 15, marking the first step toward fielding the future E-130J Phoenix II. The aircraft will serve as the host platform for the Navy’s next-generation “Take Charge and Move Out” mission system, providing survivable, reliable and secure communications among the president, the secretary of war and U.S. Strategic Command. The new airframe begins a planned transition, honoring decades of service from the legacy E-6B Mercury aircraft while laying the foundation for the future fight. The program designation Phoenix II symbolizes rebirth and nods to the EC-130Q Hercules platform the Navy used to execute the Take Charge and Move Out mission during the Cold War. This modernized capability ensures the nation’s nuclear command, control and communications architecture remains resilient and reliable. The updated platform also delivers the enhanced endurance, capacity and operational reach necessary to support mission success in complex global environments. The event spotlighted the close partnership between the Navy and the defense industrial base. The newly delivered aircraft is the extended C-130J-30 variant, part of an initial procurement of three aircraft the Navy acquired in September 2024. During the ceremony,…
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MoreSHOT Show 26 – DFND Tahoe Wool Mesh Baselayer We’ve mentioned DFND’s Tahoe Wool Mesh Baselayer in the past but it’s starting to gain traction. Mesh baselayers have long been used in the Nordic countries but haven’t caught on in the US. However, as US troops work more with our…
White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to meet Friday in Istanbul to discuss a possible nuclear deal, according to a Monday report from Axios. Subscribe Today Get daily emails in your inbox The meeting would mark the first direct contact between…
SHOT Show 26 – SureFire M64OT PRO High-Candela Weaponlight SureFire exhibited their new M64OT PRO High-Candela Weaponlight. This Turbo weaponlight is IPX7 rated and offers 700 lumens / 70,000 cadelas for a 1.5 hour runtime. The body incorporates the Low-Profile Mount (LPM). Offered in Black and Tan versions. No pricing…
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SHOT Show 26 – Apex Defense USA RailRunr Military Hip Pack During my meeting with Apex Defense USA they showed me a new waistbag system designed by Tsuga. Originally developed for mountain biking, they showed it to some SF medics who were immediately drawn to the concept. Since then, Apex…
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MoreAUSA 26 – Defendtex Defendtex remains one of my favorite companies thanks to their constant innovation. No matter where I see them, they’ve lasted got something new. For AUSA they had the latest version of their Dispenser for the Drone 155 which can act as a mothership for the the…
AUSA 26 – Colt Optics LP5X-P Laser Aiming Device Officially launched back in mid-Summer, the LP5X-P Laser Aiming Device is based on the Brolis Defense model of the same name which is used by several NATO countries. Four co-aligned lasers do the work of an entire aiming suite: a visible…
AUSA 26 – Next Generation Hot Weather Combat Uniform by GORE-TEX Brand GORE-TEX Brand gave us an excellent surprise, woven fabric technology to improve the performance of hot weather uniforms. Although this example is cut like a IHWCU, rumor has it the Army plans to develop a specific uniform for…
AUSA 26 – SIG SAUER Advanced Concepts Demonstrates SPINE SIG’s newest business unit has introduced SPINE the Smart Payload Interface for Next-Gen Equipment. It’s a patented, modular quick-attachment architecture for small Unmanned Aerial Systems offering integrated power (up to 300 a) and data. It can be mounted top or bottom…
AUSA 26 – Drone Round in 6.8×51 Drone Round showed us their new 6.8×51 round for use with Next Generation Weapons System. Here, you can see it next to the 5.56mm NATO version. The counter drone ammunition will be offered in both K & L variants which feature different dispersal…
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MoreVeterans interested in drone careers can begin with free membership, practical training and access to a nationwide community. Vets to Drones is a Veteran-led nonprofit focused on workforce development in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. The organization offers free membership for Veterans and free preparation for the Federal Aviation…
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In a post on X, Katie Zacharia confirmed Saturday that she was no longer serving as White House press secretary. “President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man,” she wrote. “It was an honor to work for him.” Zacharia, a relatively unknown figure prior to her…
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Iranian strikes on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz have surged recently, with four tankers coming under attack in the last day and around two dozen vessels reported hit in the last two weeks. This makes October the worst period for shipping since the opening weeks of the war. …
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Rheinmetall, one of the largest ammunition manufacturers in the Western world, is pressing ahead with its ‘Firepower’ project and continues to significantly expand its production capacity. In October 2026, its subsidiary Rheinmetall Expal Munitions will commission its new modern medium-calibre production facility at the Albacete site. An expansion ceremony was…
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NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AFNS) — Operations Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury — or at least the lessons learned — were the topics of discussion at a long-range airpower panel during the Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Sept. 15. The panel brought…
