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Tiberius Aerospace Announces Invictus Has Moved into Formal Engineering Testing and Evaluation, Bringing Scalable Long-Range Precision Strike Across Multiple Domains

August 21st, 2026

Tiberius Aerospace, the modern defense technology company building next-generation weapon systems and AI-powered defense solutions for the United States, United Kingdom and allied nations, today announced that Invictus is moving from early laboratory investigation to prove the concept into formal engineering Test & Evaluation (T&E) development, marking a major step towards fielding its next-generation long-range precision strike system.

Invictus is a tube-launched, multi-mission system designed for integration across multiple platforms and domains. Its architecture is intended to support launch from vertical launch systems and autonomous vehicles operating across land and sea, giving warfighters greater flexibility in how long-range precision effects are delivered.

Tiberius Aerospace launched its first ramjet munition, Sceptre, in May 2025 and recently announced successful ramjet ignition during live firing in the US. This rapid development and learning has facilitated the accelerated transition of the Invictus programme from exploratory laboratory development into a proven engineering program focused on validating propulsion, flight performance, guidance, platform integration and manufacturability through formal testing. Direct- connect testing of the Invictus ramjet engine is already underway at Purdue’s Zucrow Laboratories, where the engine has demonstrated excellent operability using Jet-A across all conditions tested to date.

The program is advancing against an increasingly urgent strategic challenge: the need for the United States and its allies to rebuild long-range precision strike capacity faster than traditional defense production can replenish it. The U.S. Army used virtually all of its stockpile of ATACMS and Precision Strike Missiles during the five-month conflict with Iran, intensifying concerns about readiness for future contingencies. Across Europe, Western missile inventories have also come under growing pressure, driving NATO governments and manufacturers to accelerate production and rebuild stockpiles.

Invictus is being designed to address both capability and capacity, combining long-range precision with an architecture built for adaptability and scale. The Invictus-200 will pair a ramjet with an integral booster to deliver speeds up to Mach 3 and precision strike at ranges of up to 200 kilometres, with targeting precision of 5.5-meter CEP depending on guidance configuration. Its 10– 15 kilogram payload capacity and modular, open architecture will allow the system to be configured for different missions and evolve as operational requirements change.

“The move into formal engineering, testing and evaluation is a major step toward turning Invictus from a promising technology into a deployable capability,” said Chad Steelberg, Founder and CEO of Tiberius Aerospace. “Invictus and Sceptre have been designed from first principles to deliver cost-effective lethality from the outset, using our AI powered platform GRAIL to maximize the combat effect delivered for every dollar spent by simplifying the weapon, engineering it for high-volume production and building in an open architecture that can evolve without replacing the entire system. We have used GRAIL to enable a Silicon Valley approach to product development, connecting program requirements with domestic and allied suppliers capable of producing components and systems and therefore supporting a broader and more resilient industrial base. Invictus will bring together long-range precision, multi-domain flexibility, cost-effective lethality and scalable production in a weapon designed not only for today’s operational requirements, but for continuous adaptation throughout its service life.”

SOFWERX – UxSAI Mission Autonomy Systems Assessment Event

August 21st, 2026

SOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM Program Executive Office SOF Digital Applications (PEO-SDA), will host a series of events to identify and evaluate decentralized and collaborative mission autonomy solutions for heterogeneous, multi-platform, multi-domain unmanned systems in support of the Unmanned Systems Autonomy and Interoperability (UxSAI) program. 

Fielding and sustaining autonomy on unmanned systems requires mission autonomy software capable of executing diverse missions within complex, rapidly changing environments and traditional vertical-stack autonomy is constrained by proprietary, vendor-locked software architectures and is highly vulnerable to communications denial in contested electromagnetic environments. Decentralized mission autonomy addresses this gap by enabling peer-to-peer coordination, dynamic re-tasking, and localized planning without real-world communications or centralized command constraints. The UxSAI Program is seeking a mission autonomy software solution that can seamlessly integrate into the government-owned Collaborative Heterogeneous Autonomy Operations Software (CHAOS) baseline, allowing program personnel to rapidly field new capabilities independently.

The goal is to identify mission autonomy software providers capable of delivering decentralized and collaborative autonomy solutions that integrate with the CHAOS baseline for multi-platform, multi-domain unmanned systems. The selected provider should deliver an open, modular capability that UxSAI personnel can configure and sustain organically, without ongoing vendor dependency for software development, and the UxSAI program intends to complete test and evaluation (T&E) on vendor deliverables as a part of this event. 

Submit NLT 07 September 2026 11:59 PM ET

Learn more at events.sofwerx.org/uxsaimissionautonomy.

US Military Affirms SIG SAUER M17 and M18 as “Safe and Reliable”

August 21st, 2026

Results of unprecedented analysis, including inspection of nearly 114,000 pistols, “reinforce confidence and assurance” in the SIG SAUER firearm

NEWINGTON, N.H., (August 20, 2026) – Following an extensive inspection and analysis of the SIG SAUER M17 and M18, both the Department of War (DoW) and Department of the Air Force (DAF) confirmed the firearms are “safe and reliable.”

On August 7, 2026, DoW confirmed the SIG SAUER Modular Handgun System pistols, including the SIG SAUER M17 and M18, are safe and reliable, saying it underwent extensive testing where more than 1.5 million rounds were fired and “all investigated incidents of alleged ‘uncommanded discharges’ have been traced back to the trigger being pulled, and not due to an issue with the firearm.” The full DoW statement is available on the U.S. Army’s Capability Program Executive website.

Following the inspection of 113,479 M18 firearms, DAF said the results “reinforce confidence and assurance that the M18 remains safe and reliable for DAF missions.” DAF’s inspection found “100% of the inspected weapons exhibited no signs of any condition that could have allowed the weapons to experience an ‘uncommanded discharge.’” The full DAF letter dated January 23, 2026, is available at Soldier Systems.

“The U.S. military analysis further validates the technology, engineering, and performance behind the P320,” said Phil Strader, VP of Consumer Affairs, SIG SAUER. “This was an unprecedented level of inspection, extensive for both the volume of firearms analyzed and for the level of evaluation on each product. Nearly 114,000 firearms were disassembled to methodically examine individual components and reassembled for final functional testing, and the product stood up to the test.”

Following an incident in July 2025, the Air Force Global Strike Command ordered an evaluation of the M18, which is a carry version of the P320 pistol, while the M17 is a full size. The initial evaluation showed that no weapon discharges were attributable to a malfunction. Global Strike Command reinstated the M18 in August 2025, while DAF completed its inspection, which is summarized in its January 2026 letter.

For more information, visit www.P320Truth.com, a website dedicated to accurate information on the P320.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller Headline the Launch of the Integrated Warfighter Ecosystem (IWE)

August 21st, 2026

Approximately 150 American companies, many of them veteran-owned, are joining forces to create the IWE to help solve the defense industrial base crisis
PAYSON, Utah, Aug. 21, 2026 — Utah Governor Spencer Cox and former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller today participated in the launch of the Integrated Warfighter Ecosystem (IWE). The IWE is a coalition of approximately 150 predominantly small to midsized American companies, many of them veteran-owned businesses, that have joined forces to close capability gaps, bridge the defense industrial base’s ‘Valley of Death,’ and deliver integrated solutions to the warfighter faster. CenCore, an Utah-based company, is the integrator and founder of the IWE. 

“For generations, Utah has answered the call to support our nation’s defense,” said Utah Governor Spencer Cox. “The launch of the Integrated Warfighter Ecosystem reflects our state’s continued leadership in bringing together innovators, manufacturers, veterans and national security partners to solve difficult challenges. Utah’s entire defense ecosystem, working alongside collaborators across the country, is helping deliver critical capabilities to America’s warfighters faster.” 

Today’s event took place at the new CenCore 55,000-square-foot global headquarters in Payson, Utah, and gathered IWE CEOs and members, operators, investors, and elected officials in one place. CenCore, a national security company, founded this ecosystem and acts as the orchestrator of the IWE — a persistent, structured pathway that connects industry capability, government demand, and mission need and moves them toward field readiness. 

Roughly 80 percent of IWE members are small, non-traditional businesses, spanning capabilities in autonomy, communications, command and control, counter-UAS, edge AI, ISR, power, and manufacturing.

“This work is personal to me. Small and mid-size companies like mine and many of those in the IWE — working behind the scenes — are the backbone of America. The skill, the commitment, the patriotism, the dedication poured into everything they do is seen and felt out at the edge of the force,” said Chris Miller, former Acting Secretary of Defense, Founder and CRO of FPF Defense.

The intent of the IWE is to create a nationwide network of aligned U.S. companies, run by CenCore, that can deliver at scale and at the tactical edge. By opening participation in the DIB beyond the traditional primes, the IWE draws on the full capabilities of the partner companies to support the warfighter — commercial manufacturers, predominantly small and medium businesses, and veteran-owned firms whose capacity has not historically been counted toward defense production.

“The warfighter is our shareholder. That is not a tagline — it is how CenCore decides where its time and capital go,” said Adam Fife, CEO of CenCore. “The capability to meet the warfighter’s need already exists in this country. What has been missing is the connective tissue between industry, government demand, and mission need. The IWE is built to be exactly that.” 

Founded in 2010, CenCore is a trusted partner in delivering innovative security solutions in an ever-evolving threat landscape. The company designs and builds deployable, containerized, ICD-705-compliant secure facilities — mobile SCIFs and deployable data centers — and delivers U.S.-built, tech-agnostic security platforms that ensure global secure communications. CenCore employs approximately 1,700 people across 27 sites nationwide, is privately held, and takes no outside investors. CenCore prioritizes cost-effective, high-performance solutions over superficial appeal. 

FirstSpear Friday Focus: General Purpose Pockets

August 21st, 2026

Every loadout has gear that doesn’t fit neatly into a magazine pocket or a radio pouch. The FirstSpear GENERAL PURPOSE POCKET family is built to handle exactly that, providing durable, modular storage solutions that mount cleanly to any 6/9™ or 6/12™ compatible platform and adapt to whatever the mission requires. Whether you are organizing medical supplies, tools, admin essentials, or mission-specific gear, the GP Pocket family gives you a purpose-built solution in three distinct configurations, each designed around a different capacity and use case.

Features

  • 6/9™ AND 6/12™ ATTACHMENT — MOLLE COMPATIBLE
  • THREE SIZE-SPECIFIC CONFIGURATIONS
  • DUAL ZIPPER AND G HOOK CLOSURE SYSTEMS
  • CORDURA MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION — LIGHTWEIGHT AND DURABLE

The Structured GP Pocket, Small is a compact, streamlined solution built for smaller items, featuring a dual zipper closure and a low-profile footprint that minimizes bulk on a tight loadout. The General Purpose Pocket, Medium is constructed from 500D Cordura material and features an elastic daisy chain on both interior sides, with an additional belt attachment option. The General Purpose Pocket, Large is a flat pocket measuring 7″ x 7″ x 2″ with a zippered mesh internal compartment, dual zipper and G Hook closure, and a button hole at the top for routing a hydration tube or communication wire. The General Purpose Pocket, Large is available in Black, Coyote, MultiCam, Foliage Green, and Ranger Green. The General Purpose Pocket, Medium is available in Black, Coyote, MultiCam, and Ranger Green. The General Purpose Pocket, Small is available in Black, Coyote, MultiCam, and Ranger Green.

Built for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and prepared professionals who demand reliable equipment, the FirstSpear General Purpose Pocket family delivers modular, mission-ready storage across three configurations to fit any loadout. FirstSpear is the premier source for cutting-edge tactical gear for military, law enforcement, and those who train. To request an estimate, visit First-Spear.com/Request-For-Estimate. For more information, visit First-Spear.com.

Department of War Confirms Modular Handgun System (MHS) is Safe and Reliable

August 21st, 2026

PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ  –

Despite public speculation and online misinformation regarding the pistol’s safety, Project Manager Soldier Lethality (PM SL), the Department of War’s official lead for the Modular Handgun System (MHS), confirms that there has never been a mechanically-caused accidental discharge. All investigated incidents of alleged “uncommanded discharges” have been traced back to the trigger being pulled.

Rigorous Testing and Safety by Design

The MHS, comprised of the M17 (full-size) and M18 (compact) 9mm striker-fired pistols, is a thoroughly tested, safe, and reliable weapon system for the modern Warfighter. Since the first systems were fielded to the 101st Airborne Division in 2017, the MHS has replaced the legacy M9 and M11 pistols and is now in service with over 400,000 pistols across the U.S. Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy.

The MHS was designed with four internal safety mechanisms (primary sear notch, secondary sear notch, striker safety lock, and a disconnector safety mechanism) and features an external ambidextrous manual safety, bringing the total number of safety mechanisms to five.

Before fielding, the MHS underwent extensive Production Verification Testing, where over 200 pistols fired more than 1.5 million rounds. This testing regimen included evaluations for reliability, durability, accuracy, rough handling, drop safety, and performance in extreme environmental conditions. Early in this process, engineering changes were implemented to address and rectify all initial drop-test concerns, and these updates were applied to every  MHS pistol before it was fielded.

To ensure quality and safety during production, the government performs Lot Acceptance Testing (LAT) for each production lot. During LAT, Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) Quality Assurance Representatives (QARs) randomly selects a statistically significant number of samples from each production lot to undergo LAT. If any weapon fails LAT, the entire lot is rejected. All lots of weapons produced to date have passed LAT prior to being fielded to warfighters.

Investigating Field Incidents

When a potential uncommanded discharge is reported in the field, the Army follows a stringent investigation protocol to determine the cause. According to the Army Safety Management Information System 2.0 (ASMIS 2.0), reported firearms mishaps account for less than 0.006% of all MHS pistols issued.

When a report is filed within ASMIS, the weapon is promptly shipped to the contractor in the same configuration as it was when the incident occurred. Once the weapon arrives at the contractor’s facility, the Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Small/Medium Caliber Weapons Branch Chief is notified. DCMA will have the contractor open the box to verify the serial number.  After the serial number is verified, the weapon is escorted and secured under U.S. Government property control pending the investigator’s arrival. Once the investigator is present, the weapon is brought out of the property cage and the investigation begins.

The investigation process is meticulous:

  1. Visual inspection of the weapon in its current state
  2. Examination of the weapon to check all safeties, internal and external, are functioning correctly
  3. The weapon is taken into the range where it is functionally tested with live ammunition.  At least 1 (One) 21 round magazine is used to verify proper function of all safeties.
  4. After the range, the weapon is moved back to the armorer’s bench where the striker operation is thoroughly tested
  5. Finally, the weapon is broken down to each individual part to ensure all the parts look normal.
  6. After this, the weapon is cleaned and returned to the original unit.

To date, all investigated incidents of alleged “uncommanded discharges” have been traced back to the trigger being pulled, and not due to an issue with the firearm. Investigators have been unable to induce a discharge without disengaging the manual safety and pulling the trigger.

Joint Service Confidence

Most recently, a review of the MHS was initiated after the Air Force reported a potential “uncommanded discharge” involving the tragic loss of an Airman. As the lead for the MHS program, PM SL immediately engaged with our Air Force partners to assist in developing and implementing a Supplemental Inspection Criteria (SIC) as a precautionary action to investigate the incident and validate the weapon’s integrity.

The USAF’s SIC effort mandated a 100% inspection of the DAF’s “in-use” M18 inventory. It is confirmed that of the nearly 114,000 pistols inspected to date, none exhibited any conditions that could have led to an uncommanded discharge. 

PM SL is confident that the MHS pistol continues to meet and exceed that standard for the entire Joint Force. The DAF’s Director of Security Forces, Brig. Gen. Brian Filler, affirmed this, stating, “It can now be stated that the M18 is safe and reliable for DAF missions.”

By CPE Ground Army

Mehler Protection and UF PRO to Showcase Protection and Tactical Clothing Solutions at The Emergency Services Show 2026

August 20th, 2026

FULDA, GERMANY, KOMENDA, SLOVENIA (19 August 2026)

Mehler Protection and UF PRO, brands of the Mehler Systems Group, will exhibit at The Emergency Services Show 2026, taking place on 16–17 September at the NEC Birmingham, United Kingdom. Visitors can meet the teams in Hall 5 at Stand G42.

The Emergency Services Show brings together professionals from across police, fire and rescue, ambulance, search and rescue, and other frontline services to explore the equipment, technologies and solutions shaping emergency response, resilience and public safety.

Mehler Protection and UF PRO will present ballistic protection and tactical clothing for a range of applications, from everyday police duties to specialist tactical operations and challenging environmental conditions.

Mehler Protection will present a selection of modular and configurable personal protection solutions, including the HYVE modular vest system and the M.U.S.T. modular protection system. The display will also feature the overt vests, hard and soft ballistic protection, and ballistic helmets, providing an overview of the company’s capabilities across different law enforcement applications.

UF PRO will showcase tactical clothing designed to support mobility, durability and comfort during extended operational use. The selection will include products from the P-40 range for everyday police and response duties, as well as combat clothing from the Striker family for more demanding tactical operations.

Flame-retardant clothing will form an important part of the presentation. The Striker X FR Combat Shirt and Combat Pants are designed for operations where protection against heat and flame must be combined with mobility, comfort and compatibility with tactical equipment.

Visitors will also be able to explore UF PRO outerwear for changing weather and temperature conditions, including softshell, winter and wet-weather solutions from the Hunter, Delta, AcE and Monsoon ranges. Selected garments will be available for try-on, allowing visitors to experience their fit, mobility and functionality first-hand.

By exhibiting together at The Emergency Services Show, Mehler Protection and UF PRO will provide police and emergency-service professionals with an opportunity to explore both individual products and complete equipment configurations developed around different operational needs.

Visit Mehler Protection and UF PRO in Hall 5, Stand G42, at The Emergency Services Show, taking place on 16–17 September 2026 at the NEC Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Denmark Selects Terma to Deliver Nationwide Counter-Drone Defense System

August 20th, 2026

Terma will deliver a sovereign, integrated counter-drone defense system that connects existing and future sensors into one shared drone situational picture. With AI-supported processing of sensor data, the system will give the Danish Armed Forces and other authorities a stronger foundation to detect, understand and act on drone threats in real time.


Per Pugholm Olsen, Head of DALO (Left) and Terma CEO Henriette Hallberg (Right)

Lystrup, Denmark – 19 August 2026 – The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) has entered into an agreement with Terma for the delivery of a new, integrated command-and-control system for counter-drone defense. The system will create a shared drone situational picture for the Danish Armed Forces and other authorities.

“I am pleased to sign this agreement, which will strengthen Denmark’s ability to maintain an up-to date drone situational picture. This new agreement with Terma is an important cornerstone in the ongoing effort to build a strong counter-drone capability, both within the Danish Armed Forces and Danish industry,” says Lieutenant General Per Pugholm Olsen, Chief of DALO.

From individual sensors to a shared drone situational picture

Denmark already operates sensors across the Armed Forces, civilian authorities and critical infrastructure, but today the information remains in separate systems and at different locations. The solution is built on Terma Helion, Terma’s sovereign multi-domain data backbone. Helion connects existing and future sensors and brings their data together into one shared drone situational picture. The platform integrates distributed systems and transforms large volumes of data into information that supports tactical decision-making at both local and central levels.

“In a security environment where drones represent a persistent and growing threat, the ability to detect, classify and act on threats across domains is fundamental to national security,” says Henriette H. Thygesen, CEO of Terma. “The ability to connect sensors, process data and turn information into timely decision support is essential to effective counter-drone defense. By creating a shared drone situational picture, we give the Danish Armed Forces and other authorities a strong foundation to act faster and with greater confidence. We are proud of the trust Denmark has placed in Terma. It confirms our ability to deliver mission-critical defense solutions that strengthen security in Denmark and across Europe.”

The solution also integrates OSL Technology’s FACE® platform for command and control and data fusion. OSL Technology became part of Terma in 2025. FACE brings together and processes data from Terma’s radar and surveillance technologies as well as third-party sensors and countermeasures. AI supports the processing, classification and prioritization of sensor data, enabling operators to rapidly identify and act on relevant incidents.

The solution builds on OSL Technology’s operational experience from complex civilian and military environments. Since 2019, OSL has been the prime contractor and system integrator for Heathrow Airport’s counter-drone system and also delivers counter-drone systems to the Ørland and Evenes air bases under a multi-year framework agreement with the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (FMA). Combined with Terma’s radar, surveillance and multi-domain capabilities, this creates a market-leading, open and modular counter-drone solution.

National control and flexibility for future threats

The solution will ensure national control over operational sensor data while enabling technologies from multiple suppliers to be integrated. It will be delivered in cooperation with other Danish industry partners and draw on expertise from across the Danish defense industry.

The scalable architecture allows sensors, sites, countermeasures and other capabilities to be continuously added over time. The solution can therefore support the management of drone incidents at military installations, airports, ports, energy facilities, government buildings and other critical infrastructure.

Facts

Together, the technologies enable authorities to:

  • Detect, classify and track drone activity
  • Fuse and prioritize sensor data using AI
  • Maintain a shared drone situational picture
  • Coordinate decisions and actions at Danish Armed Forces locations
  • Integrate new sensors and countermeasures as threats evolve