Large uncrewed aerial vehicle manufacturer to accelerate development and deployment of aircraft at volumes not seen since WW II

OXNARD, Calif.–Swarm Aero (Swarm), a developer of large uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) swarms, today announced the opening of its Advanced Manufacturing Center from a ribbon cutting event at the new 80,000 square foot facility in Fayetteville, Arkansas at Drake Field. Swarm, headquartered in Oxnard, California, will use this facility to accelerate the development and deployment of the company’s large UAV. Its Arkansas operations will have the ability to produce 1,000s of UAVs and will create hundreds of high-skill aerospace jobs over the next decade.

“We looked at over 20 states before deciding to put down manufacturing roots in Fayetteville, Arkansas. We chose Northwest Arkansas because of the exceptional talent and partners, and we’re thrilled to continue our growth here,” said Danny Goodman, CEO and Co-Founder, Swarm Aero. “Large UAVs are the future of armed conflict. When paired with our swarm command and control software, they can achieve major combat objectives by cooperating with superhuman dexterity while being several times cheaper than traditional aircraft. This is one of the most consequential developments in modern conflict and we have built an exceptionally talented engineering team to bring this vision to life.”

Swarm’s mission is to renew American air power by making large uncrewed aircraft that allow the U.S. to defend itself and its allies without putting pilots in harm’s way. Its Advanced Manufacturing Center is where this ambition becomes reality. Swarm’s pioneering approach to producing composite airframes allows manufacturing at volumes not seen since World War II.

“Swarm’s decision to open their manufacturing facility in Northwest Arkansas reinforces what we know to be true: our region is a destination for advanced manufacturing and next-generation aerospace innovation,” said Nelson Peacock, President and CEO, the Northwest Arkansas Council. “Swarm’s presence here will create meaningful, high-quality jobs while opening new pathways for collaboration with our universities, technical schools, and workforce programs. Just as importantly, Swarm’s mission strengthens the role our region can play in supporting technologies that are critical to America’s national security and industrial resilience. We are proud to welcome Swarm to Northwest Arkansas and look forward to supporting their growth as part of our community.”

Swarm intends to double its aircraft team in 2026 and is actively hiring across the organization. To learn more and apply to open roles, please visit: job-boards.greenhouse.io/swarmaero

Where Capital Gets TacticalSOFWERX, in collaboration with USSOCOM, will host an Private Capital Investor Cohort (PCIC) Assessment Event to identify private capital organizations with novel technology companies that align with the Special Operations Forces Acquisition Technology and Logistics (SOF AT&L) portfolio.

USSOCOM requires a private capital cohort to help accelerate capability development across all USSOCOM Program Executive Offices. Private capital organizations must understand markets and technologies aligned with SOF interests and have expertise in academic and accelerator services. Understanding that awardee maturity can happen through commercial revenue, Prime partnerships, Phase III contracts, private investment, and other government opportunities, a solution provider must have expertise on all means to actualize the capability.

Objective
The objective is to provide a purpose-driven community around accelerating SOF capability to solve operational problems. This program will host in-person and virtual events focused on best practices to deliver new capabilities at speed and scale to the SOF warfighter.

Who Should Submit?
Criteria for inclusion in the Cohort are:  

Company should have a record of investing in defense technology. A record of investments in technologies aligned with the SOF AT&L portfolio of programs is highly desirable. A record of investing in defense technology companies who have had successful exits (merger, acquisition, initial public offering etc.), is also highly desirable.

Company may have a record of investing at the Seed and Series A stages of company growth.

Company may have a record of later stage investing; Series B and beyond.

Company may be considered growth equity and/or traditional banking.

Company should have raised an investment fund and be in the process of deploying capital over the period of performance.

The Company need not meet the definition of a Venture Capital fund as given meaning by the Investment Advisors Act of 1940 (15 USC 80b), though Companies must be accredited investors as defined by Rule 501 of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933.

The General Partnership and employees of the Company must be U.S. Citizens.

Passive Limited Partners that are non-U.S. entities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis but may not be otherwise prohibited or restricted from doing business with the Government. For example, entities on the DoD “Section 1260H” list (P.L. 116-283), the Office of Financial Asset Control Specially Designated National list, or the Bureau of Industry and Security Entity List.

Why You Should Participate
USSOCOM seeks to enter into non-FAR or FAR-based agreements with Industry, Academic, and National Lab partners whose solutions are favorably evaluated by USSOCOM Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). As such, the follow-on Assessment Event (AE) is considered competitive and solutions will be evaluated independently of one another primarily for technical merit. This serves dually as notification of the intent to research the feasibility of an agreement under 10 U.S. Code, Section 4022 and/or Section 4022(f), and as notice of pre-solicitation activities IAW FAR 5.204.

To learn more, visit events.sofwerx.org/pcic26

Submit NLT 27 February 2026 11:59 PM ET

CLEVELAND, Ohio – February 3, 2026 – Team Wendy®, a leading provider of innovative head protection systems, announced that its full lineup of ballistic helmets, bump helmets and accessories is now available through GovX. GovX is a widely used verification platform within the military and first responder community, enabling eligible military members, first responders and search-and-rescue (SAR) professionals to receive 10% off their order after completing quick GovX verification at checkout.

Team Wendy has long offered discounts to active duty and retired members of the law enforcement, fire, military and SAR communities. With GovX verification now integrated directly into the Team Wendy checkout experience, eligible customers can confirm their status in just a few clicks and have the discount applied automatically without emailing an ID or requesting a code.

“Our focus is building head protection systems people can trust when the stakes are high,” said Kevin Hatgas, Digital Marketing Manager at Team Wendy. “We wanted the discount process to be as dependable as our gear—fast verification, automatic savings, no extra steps. GovX lets us meet customers where they are.”

Eligible shoppers can receive the discount in two ways: by completing GovX verification during checkout on TeamWendy.com, or by starting on GovX.com and being directed to Team Wendy’s online store to complete their purchase. The discount is 10% off the total order and can be reused on future purchases by logging in through GovX.

The entire Team Wendy product lineup is available through GovX, including the RIFLETECH™ rifle-rated ballistic helmet and other recently launched innovations such as the EXFIL® Rescuer™ and EXFIL® Maritime Rescuer™, designed specifically for search-and-rescue operations across land and water. The selection also includes Team Wendy’s liner systems, retention systems and accessories like helmet covers, face shields and rail mounts to support mission-specific configurations.

For more information or to verify eligibility, visit www.TeamWendy.com.

Saluda, NC – January 14, 2026 – Sawgrass, drawing on 30 years of expertise in precision laser cutting and processing of high-end materials, today announced that it has been appointed the exclusive global distributor of ULTRACOMP laminate material, effective January 14, 2026.

ULTRACOMP is the first material included in a new division dedicated to high-performance technical fabrics and composites. This strategic move solidifies Sawgrass’s role as the go-to material experts and innovators, providing the industry with advanced solutions from cutting-edge materials to optimized processing.

The inaugural product in this new portfolio is ULTRACOMP, a revolutionary high-performance coated fabric laminate materialthat will immediately enhance the capabilities of Sawgrass’s clientele.

“For years, our customers have relied on Sawgrass for unparalleled laser cutting precision and deep material knowledge,” said Matt Widincamp, President of Sawgrass. “The addition of a dedicated technical fabrics line is a natural evolution. We’re not just selling fabric; we’re providing the industry’s most innovative materials, starting with ULTRACOMP, to help our partners design and manufacture superior products. This marks our commitment to leading innovation not only in how materials are processed, but in the quality and capability of the materials themselves.”

Introducing ULTRACOMP®: The Next Generation of Performance Fabric

ULTRACOMP is a composite material engineered for demanding applications that require a perfect balance of strength, weight, and durability. Sawgrass is excited to highlight several key benefits ULTRACOMP offers to manufacturers:

• Exceptional Strength-to-Weight Ratio: ULTRACOMPdelivers superior tensile and tear strength while remaining remarkably lightweight, making it ideal for gear and components where reduced bulk is critical.
• Superior Abrasion Resistance: ULTRACOMP is highly resistant to wear and tear, significantly extending the lifespan of finished products in harsh environments.
• Dimensional Stability: ULTRACOMP maintains its shape and integrity even under extreme stress and temperature fluctuations, ensuring reliable performance.
• Hydrophobic:  ULTRACOMP stays dry and light, absorbing less than ½ the water weight when compared to other laminate materials.
• Flame Resistance: ULTRACOMP offers remarkable ability to self-extinguish when exposed to flame without melting or dripping.

Sawgrass Commitment to Material Innovation and Future Growth

Sawgrass is a technology and manufacturing company specializing in precision laser cutting, material processing, and advanced material solutions. With a focus on innovation and quality, Sawgrass serves critical industries by providing the expertise and technology required to bring the next generation of products to market.

Sawgrass will leverage its expertise in material science and laser optimization to vet and introduce materials and composites that meet the highest standards of industry performance.

The launch of ULTRACOMP is just the beginning. Sawgrass has ambitious plans to expand the technical fabrics and composites offerings throughout 2026.   Several additional specialized materials are slated for release to serve a diverse range of technical applications within defense, medical, aerospace and industrial markets.

Additional details regarding ordering processes, regional availability, and customer transition plans will be communicated to partners and customers in advance of the January 14, 2026 effective date.

Contact:

Mark Smith
Director of Business Development
mark@sawgrassproduction.com
(828) 634-6955

www.sawgrassproduction.com

When seconds matter and the environment is hostile, the LODEOut®? Rapid Deployment Stretcher (RD Stretcher) is built to move.

Designed for maximum versatility, it mounts seamlessly onto LODEOut®? single/double danglers, back panels, and integrates perfectly into the Ops Pack or deployment rolls for mass casualty scenarios.

Rapid to deploy. Easy to stow. Purpose built to extract injured personnel from the point of wounding to cover and an area of saftey, fast!

When you’ve got a man down, the LODEOut®? RD Stretcher has your back.

Offered in:

MultiCam

Wolf Grey

Black

MultiCam Alpine

www.zuluorigin.com/medical