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US Army Selects Four Contractors for Engineer Autonomous Breaching Capability to Automate Battlefield Breaching Operations

Friday, July 10th, 2026

DETROIT ARSENAL, Mich. – The Capability Program Executive Mission Autonomy announced today the selection of four companies for the Engineer Autonomous Breaching Capability (EABC) initiative, a key effort to modernize engineer support for Soldiers on the battlefield.

This project will develop and prototype autonomous systems capable of rapidly breaching complex obstacles and minefields under direct observation and fire, minimizing personnel exposure and ensuring the safe passage of follow-on forces. The selected contractors will provide advanced robotic systems designed for beyond-line-of-sight autonomous control, directly enhancing the Army’s ability to conduct multi-domain operations.

The four selected companies – Caterpillar (Irving, Texas), Forterra (Clarksburg, Md.), IDV USA (York, Pa.) and Overland AI (Seattle) — were chosen for their innovative approaches to autonomous breaching. Their proposed technologies range from autonomous commercial equipment to purpose-built robotic platforms, both featuring modular payloads to support varied breaching requirements.

Formal contract awards for the EABC initiative are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. Once awarded, the project will advance into a series of demonstrations and assessments, culminating in a Transformation in Contact unit assessment in early 2027. This rotation will allow the Army to collect direct, unit-level feedback to inform the production decision for the next generation of autonomous engineer systems.

By Ashley John

Posted in Army, Breaching, Contracts, Guest Post, Robotics | Comments Off on US Army Selects Four Contractors for Engineer Autonomous Breaching Capability to Automate Battlefield Breaching Operations

Major Order from Ukraine: Rheinmetall to Supply Artillery Ammunition – Contract Value in the High Double-Digit Millions of Euros

Thursday, July 2nd, 2026

Ukraine has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply long range artillery ammunition. The order comprises 155-mm artillery shells and propellant charges in the low five-figure range. The contract value, which will be recognised in the second quarter of 2026, is in the high double-digit millions of euros. Production has already begun, and the contract is due to be completed in the first quarter of 2027.

The ammunition is being manufactured at Rheinmetall Expal Munitions in Spain. The ER02A1 B/B projectiles and the M203 propellant charges are already in use by various NATO countries. They can be fired from a wide range of 155 mm weapon systems and offer a long range and high effectiveness.

Rheinmetall continues to invest heavily in expanding the capacity of existing facilities and establishing new production sites in order to meet the growing demand for modern 155-mm projectiles and propellant charges. Rheinmetall is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of large-calibre ammunition. The Düsseldorf-based technology group has been expanding its production capacity since 2022 and aims to produce around 1.5 million 155 mm artillery shells per year by 2030.

Posted in Ammo, Contracts, International, Press Release | No Comments »

Lackawanna Police Department Visits Gentex Corporation to Take Delivery of Ops-Core FAST Helmet Systems

Monday, June 29th, 2026

CARBONDALE, PA, June 29, 2026 — Gentex Corporation, a global leader in personal protection and situational awareness solutions for defense forces and emergency responders, recently welcomed the Lackawanna Police Department at its headquarters in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. During the visit,officers took delivery of Ops-Core® FAST® helmet systems and participated in product familiarization and feedback sessions with the Gentex team.

“The Lackawanna County SWAT Team is extremely grateful to Gentex Corporation for their generous support over the years,” said Guy Salerno, Blakely Borough Police Chief, President of Lackawanna County Chiefs of Police Association, Lackawanna County SWAT team member. “They directly support the safety and readiness of our team. We sincerely appreciate their investment in the protection of our operators and the community we serve.”

The visit marks another step in Gentex’s ongoing commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies through direct partnership, product innovation, and engagement with the officers who rely on their equipment on the job. It also highlighted the company’s connection to the local community, where many Gentex employees live and work alongside officers who serve the region every day.

“Supporting the officers who protect our communities is something we take great pride in at Gentex,” said Fred Grimm, VP of Commercial Sales Americas at Gentex Corporation. “Hosting the Lackawanna Police Department at our facility gave us the opportunity to not only deliver and train on their new helmet systems but also hear directly from the officers about the challenges they face in the field every day. Those conversations are critical to ensuring we continue developing solutions that meet the evolving needs of law enforcement.”

The Ops-Core FAST helmet systems being fielded are designed to provide advanced ballistic protection, comfort, and modularity for a wide range of law enforcement missions. Built on a legacy of proven performance, these systems integrate features that support extended wear, communications equipment, and mission-specific accessories, helping officers operate effectively in dynamic and high-risk environments.

Posted in Advertiser, Contracts, Helmets, LE, Press Release | 2 Comments »

ThayerMahan’s Outpost Acoustic Intelligence Payloads Selected for Large-Scale Deployment

Sunday, June 28th, 2026

GROTON, Conn., June 25, 2026 — ThayerMahan, Inc. has been awarded a contract to deliver dozens of Outpost® acoustic intelligence payloads, along with TransparenSea® processing software, to an international defense customer. The award represents one of the largest fielded deployments of unmanned acoustic sensing systems supporting persistent undersea surveillance and USW (Undersea Warfare) missions.

ThayerMahan to deliver dozens of Outpost acoustic intelligence payloads to international defense customer.

The selection followed a rigorous, multi-phase evaluation that included controlled validation, extended at-sea deployments, and head-to-head comparative trials against multiple payloads under representative mission conditions. Testing focused on detection performance, tracking reliability, system endurance, power efficiency, and integration with unmanned platforms.

During multi-month deployments, Outpost® and TransparenSea® demonstrated continuous wide-area acoustic surveillance, detecting, classifying, and tracking targets of interest at operationally relevant ranges, with near-real-time delivery of actionable acoustic intelligence to shore-based Maritime Operations Centers. The systems met or exceeded performance expectations for both surveillance and USW missions while operating within constrained power and size profiles typical of small, unmanned platforms.

Key factors supporting selection included:

Persistent coverage: Continuous operation over extended deployment periods
Detection and tracking performance: Reliable target hold and classification at range
Low power consumption: Enabling long-duration unmanned operations
Ease of integration: Minimal platform modification required
Near-real-time data delivery: Actionable data landed in shore-based Maritime Operations Centers for rapid decision making
Analyst usability: Intuitive interface reducing operator workload and training burden

“Persistent, wide area acoustic sensing requires consistent performance over time, which is why we spent the last decade perfecting our capability,” said Mike Varney, President Products & Engineering, ThayerMahan. “ThayerMahan sets the global benchmark for unmanned acoustic intelligence. Outpost and TransparenSea have been repeatedly validated under operational conditions, which was a key factor in this selection.”

The contract reflects increasing demand for scalable, unmanned acoustic sensing solutions that can rapidly be deployed to extend maritime domain awareness without reliance on traditional crewed assets.

“This award aligns with the need for operationally relevant, fielded capability that delivers consistent surveillance and USW performance,” said Mike Connor, Chairman and CEO. “The focus is on systems that work as deployed – reliably, at scale, and with immediate mission impact.”

The awarded systems are exportable and production-ready, supporting rapid fielding timelines and broader adoption of distributed, unmanned sensing architectures for undersea domain awareness.

Posted in Contracts, Maritime, Press Release, Sensors | No Comments »

Strengthening NATO’s Eastern Flank: Romania Orders Skyranger 35 Air Defence Systems from Rheinmetall

Saturday, June 27th, 2026

The technology group Rheinmetall has achieved another significant success in the field of ground-based air defence (GbAD) systems. The Romanian government has awarded the company a contract to supply Skyranger 35 air defence systems. This contract is part of a historic major order worth €5.7 billion covering combat vehicles, vessels and air defence systems, and includes not only 24 Skyranger 35 systems, but also seven Skynex systems and two Millennium Guns for maritime air defence solutions. Rheinmetall published a press release on this matter on 2 June 2026.

The Skyranger system will be integrated onto the proven Lynx KF41 tracked platform. The contract highlights Rheinmetall’s role as a leading system provider for mobile air defence solutions in Europe.

This major contract further strengthens the long-standing and trusting customer relationship between Romania and Rheinmetall. The country is therefore continuing to invest in the modernisation of its armed forces and in future-oriented technologies in order to protect its own territory and strengthen NATO’s eastern flank. The Skyranger 35’s enormous firepower and sensor capabilities, combined with the mobility and protection offered by the Lynx infantry fighting vehicle, provide an excellent response to modern threat scenarios. Recent geopolitical developments, including the incident involving an unmanned drone in Romanian airspace, have highlighted the urgent need for a thorough and highly mobile very short-range air defence (VSHORAD) system.

Oliver Dürr, Head of Rheinmetall’s Air Defence Division, emphasises the project’s strategic importance: “Romania’s decision to choose the Skyranger 35 on the Lynx platform is a significant milestone for European air defence. We are proud to continue our decades-long partnership with the Romanian government and provide the country with direct support in this critical security situation. The recent drone incident has shown how quickly airborne threats can become a reality. The Skyranger 35 provides Romania with a highly efficient and flexible solution for protecting soldiers reliably as well as critical infrastructure against modern threats at short and very short range”.

With this order, Rheinmetall sends a clear message in favour of standardisation and interoperability among NATO allies.

About Skyranger 35

The Skyranger 35 is specifically designed to effectively engage loitering munitions, swarm drones and conventional aerial threats in the immediate vicinity. It is equipped with a high-precision 35 mm revolver cannon and can use programmable AHEAD airburst munition. The integrated system combines state-of-the-art radar sensors and electro-optical tracking systems with the proven 35 mm anti-aircraft gun within a single protected vehicle. This enables the Romanian Army to conduct airspace surveillance and engage targets autonomously while on the move.

Posted in Contracts, International, Press Release, weapons | No Comments »

Avon Technologies Announces NG IHPS Delivery Orders

Friday, June 26th, 2026

Avon Technologies plc is pleased to confirm that Team Wendy Ceradyne has received delivery orders totalling over $40m from the US Army (ACC) and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) under the Next Generation Integrated Head Protection System (NG-IHPS) helmet contract, which was previously awarded in September 2021.

Jos Sclater, Chief Executive Officer, commented:
“Securing the highest share of both DLA and ACC delivery orders against competition is a strong endorsement of Team Wendy’s product performance and improving operational execution. These awards build our order book and provide important long-term visibility, underpinning our confidence in the Group as we continue to deliver and strengthen our position with the US DoW.”

Posted in Army, Contracts, Press Release | No Comments »

US Marine Corps Places First Polaris MRZR Alpha Order on New ULTV Contract

Friday, June 26th, 2026

Minneapolis – June 24, 2026 – The United States Marine Corps (USMC) has placed its first delivery order to Polaris Government and Defense on the new Ultra-Light Tactical Vehicle (ULTV) contract, ordering more than 70 MRZR Alphas and numerous accessories vital to mission success. More than half the vehicles ordered were the new 5kW export power variant and the remaining were the standard, 1kW version – all are green, four-seat vehicles.

Polaris accessories included in the order have been commonly incorporated on MRZR Alpha ULTVs for the Marines and include:

Roof Kit – reversible roof kit with multicam-patterned camouflage on one side and olive drab on the other for mission planning flexibility while protecting occupants from exposure to the elements.

Road March Kit – turn signals, horn, rear view and side mirrors to provide operators enhanced auditory and visual situation awareness during off-road administrative movements.

Modular Cargo System – siderails and tailgate enclose the rear deck to contain cargo and provide many attachment points for securing gear and other vehicle accessories. The heavy-duty tailgate can also drop down for additional cargo space in the down position. Aircraft rails are built in for optional accessories, like integration of litter mounts.

Fire Extinguisher – Class 5-BC fire extinguisher can be mounted to the roll cage in various spots, using a vinyl mount secured by two heavy duty Velcro straps with special rubber attached to ensure mount is securely fastened.

Towbar Mount – specifically designed clamps mount a towbar provision for storage during non-use.

“Polaris engineering and development efforts resulted in expanded accessories developed specifically for MRZR Alpha customers, like the Marines,” said Erin Telander, Defense program manager, Polaris Government and Defense. “That includes the ability to export 5kW of power directly from the vehicle itself, which the Marines will be able to leverage with their latest order.”

The MRZR Alpha is Polaris’ most advanced light tactical vehicle, engineered to meet the evolving demands of expeditionary forces. Designed for enhanced payload capacity, tactical air transport and off-road performance, the MRZR Alpha enables rapid unit deployment and exceptional maneuverability across difficult terrain while reducing logistical demand due to the vehicle’s superior durability.

The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract was awarded May 22, 2026, through Program Acquisition Executive Marine Corps (PAE-MC) and has a ceiling of up to $98M, with an order period of up to five years. This contract reinforces the value that Polaris brings to the warfighter – a responsive and engaged team with off-road engineering expertise, world-class manufacturing and a built-in global support network.

Commercial platforms like the Polaris MRZR Alpha have been instrumental in accelerating delivery of highly mobile systems to the field. Polaris provides global parts availability through its existing worldwide network of dealers and distributors, empowering greater self-sufficiency for distributed forces.

Posted in Contracts, Mobility, USMC | No Comments »

Nester Hosiery Awarded US Army and US Marine Corps Cold Weather Sock Contracts

Friday, June 26th, 2026

Leading U.S. sock manufacturer strengthens position as the warfighters choice for military cold weather performance hosiery.

June 25, 2026 – Mount Airy, NC – Nester Hosiery, a leading U.S.-based manufacturer of high-performance Merino wool socks, announced today that it has been awarded contracts supporting both the U.S. Army Cold Weather Sock Program and the U.S. Marine Corps Intense Cold Weather Sock Program following the successful novation of the programs from Fox River.

These awards reinforce Nester Hosiery’s position as a leading provider of Berry Amendment compliant cold weather and performance sock systems for the U.S. military, delivering mission-critical products that are designed, engineered, and manufactured entirely in the United States.

Under the awards:

Nester Hosiery will serve as the provider of record for the U.S. Army Cold Weather Sock Program under a three-year contract structure.

Nester Hosiery was also awarded the U.S. Marine Corps Intense Cold Weather Sock Program under a three-year term.

“These two major awards reflect the trust placed in our team, our domestic manufacturing capabilities, and our longstanding commitment to delivering premium performance products to the warfighter,” said Kelly Nester, CEO of Nester Hosiery.

With manufacturing operations rooted in North Carolina and a decades-long legacy of domestic sock manufacturing expertise, Nester Hosiery continues to invest in its U.S.-based workforce, product innovation, and resilient supply chain capable of supporting both military and commercial markets.

The company’s military programs are supported through advanced knitting technology, technical product development expertise, and a commitment to delivering consistent quality and performance in the most demanding of operational environments.

To learn more about Nester Hosiery’s support with the Military community, please visit nesterhosiery.com/military.

Posted in Army, Clothing, Contracts, Press Release, USMC | No Comments »