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NAVIFOR Announces Winners of First Information Warfare Battle ‘E’ Awards

Thursday, February 12th, 2026

SUFFOLK, Va. – The Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR) command announced the winners of the first 2025 Information Warfare (IW) Battle Efficiency (Battle “E”) awards, recognizing commands that have demonstrated sustained, superior performance and strengthened warfighting readiness in the IW domain.

The Battle “E” award program was recently expanded by the Chief of Naval Operations to include the Information Warfare community, acknowledging the critical warfighting capabilities IW provides to the fleet. The winning commands represent the top ten percent of all IW commands, selected based on their performance throughout 2025.

“The competition was exceptionally demanding, with those nominated demonstrating sustained superior performance, strengthening overall warfighting readiness, and fostering a culture of excellence,” said Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, commander of Naval Information Forces. “This award is a clear reflection of Naval information warfare’s role as a primary warfighting capability, with our influence spanning from the seabed to space.To the entire IW enterprise: your dedication is pivotal to mission success. Your unwavering pursuit of excellence directly strengthens our warfighting readiness and I couldn’t be more proud of our winners for their remarkable performance.”

The winners of the 2025 Information Warfare Battle “E” are:

· O6 East: Fleet Weather Center Norfolk

· O6 West: Navy Information Operations Command Texas

· O5 East: Naval Information Warfare Training Group Norfolk

· O5 West: Naval Information Warfare Training Group Gulfport

The Battle “E” is not only a command achievement but also an individual honor. Sailors permanently attached to the winning units during the competitive cycle are now authorized to wear the Navy Battle “E” ribbon, a symbol of the hard work and dedication.

“The commands recognized today have set the standard for excellence in the Information Warfare community,” said Capt. Sharon Pinder, NAVIFOR’s Assistant Chief of Staff for Training. “Their success is a direct result of rigorous training, innovative thinking, and a relentless commitment to building a battle-ready force. These teams have demonstrated that superior readiness and a culture of continuous learning are the cornerstones of our warfighting advantage.”

NAVIFOR’s mission is to generate, directly and through our leadership of the IW Enterprise, agile and technically superior manned, trained, equipped, and certified combat-ready IW forces to ensure our Navy will decisively DETER, COMPETE, and WIN.

Note: A graphic celebrating the winners of the inaugural 2025 Information Warfare (IW) Battle Efficiency (Battle “E”) awards. The Battle “E” award recognizes commands for sustained, superior performance and strengthening warfighting readiness throughout the competitive cycle. The winners represent the top ten percent of all IW commands. (U.S. Navy graphic by Jason Rodman)

From Backpacks to Bird’s-Eye: Drones Transforming EOD at Hurlburt Field

Wednesday, February 11th, 2026

Across a stretch of open terrain at Hurlburt Field, Florida, two 1st Special Operations Wing Airmen began a race between machines. One guided a ground robot toward a simulated casualty, its treads working across dirt and grass. The other launched a small unmanned aerial system, or drone, which reached the site within seconds. From above, the drone’s camera streamed a clear view of the scene before the robot made it halfway there.

It’s a new kind of flight reshaping how Explosive Ordnance Disposal Airmen execute their mission—and how the Air Force strengthens readiness through innovation. Before the adoption of modernized drones, EOD teams relied primarily on heavy robotic platforms to inspect potential explosive threats. The systems still provide valuable standoff capability but require vehicle transport and setup time, limiting their use during dismounted operations. In those scenarios, Airmen may have to approach hazards themselves.

Compact and portable drones can now be carried in a backpack and launched within minutes. Operated from a safe distance, they stream real-time imagery that helps Airmen assess hazards without approaching them. The drones give teams an unmatched view of any environment. They combine optical and thermal cameras for day or night operations with advanced 3D scanning that produces precise digital models in minutes, whether documenting blast sites or mapping entire airfields.

Drone imagery can be used to establish a visual reference of a runway and to collect updated imagery after an incident. The data helps civil engineers quickly identify changes or damage, supporting timely clearance actions and repair planning to resume air operations.

Built-in artificial intelligence also allows drones to operate with a high degree of autonomy. The system can identify and track targets, hold position, and navigate around obstacles with minimal operator input. These capabilities boost mission tempo and efficiency while augmenting the work of Airmen, keeping them out of harm’s way and allowing them to focus on critical decision-making.

Drones have not yet replaced every function of traditional robots, but the two technologies currently complement one another on the battlefield. “The big thing [a drone] doesn’t currently have is manipulation,” explained an 1 SOW Airman. “I can’t pull a battery off something or flip something over [with a drone], but a robot can.” Still, drones are increasingly assuming tasks once limited to ground platforms, expanding options for commanders and reinforcing the Air Force’s ability to adapt faster than its adversaries.

Introducing any new technology brings challenges, but EOD Airmen at Hurlburt Field have moved quickly to overcome them. Through local innovation projects, the team acquired and tested drones early, giving them a head start in integrating the capability into daily operations. “We’ve had the ability to work through a lot of the growing pains much faster,” said a 1 SOW Airman. “Now we’re able to disseminate those lessons throughout the career field.”

That progress continues as Airmen refine training and certification standards while identifying where drones provide the most operational value. “A lot of this is going to fluctuate based on use cases, because we all have a general idea of how we’d want to use this… but there’s still a lot to learn,” said an Airman.

1 SOW Airmen emphasized that the success of drone integration depends as much on institutional understanding as on technology itself. They said progress requires high-level advocacy to navigate the policies and risk assessments that come with operating in shared airspace, along with trust between ground units employing the systems and aviation communities managing them. As one Airman explained, the future fight will rely on an enterprise that adapts quickly and learns from those already proving what’s possible.

At Hurlburt Field, 1st SOW EOD Airmen are showing how small systems can yield big results. The shift from large ground robots to backpack-sized drones is transforming how they detect, respond, and recover—bringing speed, precision, and safety to every mission. “These are coming. This is the way of the future,” said a 1st SOW Airman. “If it’s not in your shop currently, it probably will be in the very near future. Get ready.”

Story by Alexandra Broughton 

Headquarters Air Force, Office of the Director of Civil Engineers

Michigan’s NADWC Designated as National Range for Deep Uncrewed Aerial Systems Training

Tuesday, February 10th, 2026

LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center, or NADWC, was designated by the U.S. Department of War as a National Range for Deep Uncrewed Aerial Systems, or UAS, Training.

“Today’s designation of the NADWC as a national test site shows that Michigan can lead the future of aerospace and continues to play a key role in protecting our national defense,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Over the last few years, we held an autonomous drone competition, released a statewide Advanced Air Mobility Initiative and secured a new fighter mission at Selfridge Air National Guard Base. Now, thanks to this new national test site, we are building on that momentum, becoming an even more attractive place for cutting-edge defense and aerospace companies to invest in, create good-paying, high-skill local jobs and grow our economy. You can already see Michigan-made products on roads around the world, and soon, we’ll be in the sky too.”

This designation cements the NADWC as the nation’s premier proving ground for advanced UAS and Counter Uncrewed Aerial Systems, or C-UAS, positioning Michigan at the forefront of America’s defense innovation economy. Selected by the U.S. Army and National Guard Bureau, NADWC offers an unmatched environment for drone development and testing and training, one that is squarely focused on the warfighter and on doing what is best for the force. By combining permissive operating authorities, cutting-edge infrastructure and close ties to Michigan’s world-class technology and manufacturing ecosystem, this designation amplifies our ability to train at speed and scale.

Anchored by nearly 200,000 acres of maneuver space at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and more than 17,000 square miles of special-use military airspace at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, NADWC delivers a level of scale and realism few training environments can match. These Joint National Training Capability–certified sites feature diverse terrain, robust electromagnetic spectrum access and a true four-season climate, allowing units to stress systems, tactics and formations in conditions that replicate multiple theaters of operation and prepare forces for the next fight.

As the largest joint training range east of the Mississippi River and home to the flagship Northern Strike Exercise, NADWC is purpose-built to enhance readiness. Its all-weather, all-domain environment enables warfighters and our allied partners to train together at full operational tempo, integrating uncrewed systems into live-fire, combined arms and advanced swarm operations. The result is a more lethal, more prepared force, better equipped to succeed on the future battlefield.

“This designation is about staying focused on the warfighter and doing what’s best for the force,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “The NADWC gives us the scale, airspace and all-domain environment we need to amplify our ability to train and prepare for the next fight. It allows our Soldiers, Airmen, joint partners and allies, to develop, test and employ uncrewed systems at operational tempo under realistic, all-weather conditions. That kind of training directly translates to readiness and ensures our forces are positioned to succeed on the future battlefield. I want to thank Governor Whitmer and Michigan’s congressional delegation for their steadfast support in making this effort possible, which will ensure the men and women of the U.S. military and our allies will be prepared for any future conflict.”

By Michael Kroll, Michigan National Guard

Department of War Launches LYNX to Help Businesses Enter and Compete in Defense Markets

Monday, February 9th, 2026

The Department of War (DoW) Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) announced the launch of LYNX, a new digital platform designed to strengthen supplier readiness, improve visibility into business capabilities, and expand participation across the defense industrial base. Registration is now open at www.lynxconnect.io for businesses seeking to connect with mission-aligned partners and opportunities. Businesses begin by creating a company profile and completing an initial assessment to establish a readiness baseline and identify next steps.

“LYNX turns readiness into action,” said Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy Michael Cadenazzi. “It’s designed to help companies present their capabilities clearly, prioritize the right steps, and move toward mission-aligned opportunities with greater speed and confidence.”

LYNX is built for new entrants, small businesses, non-traditional suppliers, and growing defense contractors that have strong technical capabilities but face challenges navigating defense requirements, readiness expectations, and partner discovery. For many companies, the barrier to entry is not innovation or expertise, it is understanding how to move from capability to credible participation in mission-aligned opportunities.

LYNX is a platform designed as a comprehensive suite that empowers businesses to navigate the complex government contracting landscape with greater confidence and precision. The platform also benefits the Department by addressing long-standing challenges such as limited visibility into supplier readiness and fragmented pathways to engagement. LYNX creates a shared environment where companies can demonstrate readiness and DoW can more effectively identify, assess, and engage suppliers aligned to priority mission and technology needs.

“LYNX reflects OSBP’s commitment to reducing barriers to entry and expanding participation across the defense industrial base,” said James Mismash, Director of Small Business Programs. “By providing a common framework for readiness and capability, LYNX supports faster engagement, smarter collaboration, and more resilient supplier growth.”

Through LYNX, companies can present their capabilities with confidence, assess readiness across key dimensions, and receive Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML)-informed roadmaps that help focus investment on actions most likely to advance defense participation. At the same time, the platform improves discovery and connection which enables more precise partner matching and opportunity alignment tied to mission and technology priorities.

LYNX supports supplier readiness and Department priorities by helping companies to:

  • Increase visibility with a credible company profile that is easy to build, update, export, and share
  • Clarify readiness through in-depth assessments that identify needs and prioritize actions
  • Turn goals into execution using AI/ML-informed roadmaps aligned to business objectives
  • Accelerate discovery of teaming partners and opportunities through advanced search and AI-driven matching
  • Pursue more strategically by evaluating opportunity fit against capabilities and readiness
  • Build capability and confidence through training resources and access to expert support

LYNX is part of DoW’s broader effort to improve visibility into supplier capabilities and support industrial base growth in priority technology areas. Register now at www.lynxconnect.io.

About the Office of the Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (OASW(IBP)) 

The Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Policy (ASD IBP) works with domestic and international partners to forge and sustain a robust, secure, and resilient industrial base enabling the warfighter, now and in the future. 

About the Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) 

The Department of War Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) expands small business participation in defense acquisition by reducing barriers, accelerating pathways, and connecting companies with mission needs.

Spotlighting The World Factbook As We Bid A Fond Farewell

Saturday, February 7th, 2026

One of CIA’s oldest and most recognizable intelligence publications, The World Factbook, has sunset. The World Factbook served the Intelligence Community and the general public as a longstanding, one-stop basic reference about countries and communities around the globe. Let’s take a quick look into the history of The World Factbook.  

Over many decades, The World Factbook evolved from a classified to unclassified, hardcopy to electronic product that added new categories, and even new global entities. The original classified publication, titled The National Basic Intelligence Factbook, launched in 1962. The first unclassified companion version was issued in 1971. A decade later it was renamed The World Factbook. In 1997, The World Factbook went digital and debuted to a worldwide audience on CIA.gov, where it garnered millions of views each year.

The World Factbook appealed to researchers, news organizations, teachers, students, and international travelers. Some readers even inquired whether their preferred geographic designation or world entity could be included on the high-profile site.

Finally, only CIA insiders would know that officers donated some of their personal travel photos to The World Factbook, which hosted more than 5,000 photographs that were copyright-free for anyone to access and use.

Though the World Factbook is gone, in the spirit of its global reach and legacy, we hope you will stay curious about the world and find ways to explore it… in person or virtually.

-Via CIA

Editor’s Note – The Map Resource remains online here.

FirstSpear Friday Focus: Everyday Sock (EDS)

Friday, February 6th, 2026

The FirstSpear EVERYDAY SOCK (EDS) is built for professionals who demand comfort, durability, and reliability from their gear. Constructed from an 82% Merino wool, 12% nylon, and 6% Lycra blend, these socks are engineered to perform under daily operational use. 

The Merino wool provides natural temperature regulation and moisture management, keeping feet dry and comfortable in changing environments. A thick, cushioned profile delivers comfort without sacrificing breathability during long hours on your feet. 

Reinforced heel and toe boxes are designed to withstand high-wear stress points common in boots. Enhanced arch ribbing provides added support and stability, reducing fatigue over extended movements.

An extra-light top panel improves heat dissipation, preventing hot spots during sustained activity. The reinforced cuff is built to stay locked in place, eliminating sagging or bunching inside footwear.

A subtle FirstSpear logo on the front reflects professional-grade design without unnecessary flash. These socks are equally suited for training, operations, or off-duty wear. 

To request an estimate click image above or visit First-Spear.com/Request-For-Estimate. FirstSpear is the premier source for cutting-edge tactical gear for military, law enforcement and those who train. For more information visit First-Spear.com.

Army Transforms Acquisition Process to Enhance Ammunition Support for Warfighters

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. – The U.S. Army has established the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Agile Sustainment and Ammunition, PAE AS&A, at Picatinny Arsenal under the command of Maj. Gen. John T. Reim. The move is a key part of broader Continuous Transformation efforts intended to increase efficiency and accelerate the delivery of critical capabilities to the warfighter.

The new organization was activated at a ceremony held on January 20 at Picatinny Arsenal where several thousand team members from all involved organizations were introduced to the new command. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, the Honorable Brent Ingraham, presided over the ceremony and spoke to the significance of the new organization as a key part of the Army’s Acquisition reform initiative.

Following the ceremony, Ingraham witnessed a live demonstration featuring the Purpose Built Attritable System and a TRV-150 drone dropping smoke and a M69 training grenade onto a target simulating a small group of enemy Soldiers with a vehicle. This showed off one of DEVCOM’s latest innovations, the Picatinny Common Lethality Integration Kit or Picatinny CLIK. These are just a few of the of lethal UAS and counter-UAS technologies being developed by U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center. The DEVCOM Armaments Center now serves as the Systems Center, a key enabler, of the PAE AS&A.

Subject matter experts from the PAE AS&A and DEVCOM Armaments Center then also briefed Ingraham on other lethal UAS, counter-UAS munitions, advanced artillery, next-gen energetics, expeditionary logistics and supply chain enabling systems that are the result of joint efforts of the two Picatinny based organizations.

“This marks a significant milestone in our journey to modernize Army Acquisition,” Ingraham said as he addressed the audience. “We are combining the capabilities of the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition with critical combat logistic capabilities from PEO Combat Support and Combat Support Services to ensure fully capability alignment under our new structure.”

“Today we turn the page to an exciting new chapter in Army Acquisition,” Ingraham continued. “Every role in the organization plays an invaluable part in this journey. Cross organization engagement and agility are essential in ensuring the success of this transition. The future of Army Acquisition is bright and PAE AS&A is poised to lead the way.”

Ingraham’s visit underscored the installation’s vital role the various commands at Picatinny Arsenal play in maintaining readiness — delivering the capabilities, expertise, and innovation that ensures our Warfighters and allies are equipped to succeed in any environment.

“As we embark on this journey, we align our actions with the strategic guidance provided by our leadership including the President of the United States, the Secretary of War, the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army,” said Reim who followed Ingraham. “This initiative is not merely a restructuring of our acquisition processes. It is a fundamental rethinking of how we approach the delivery of capabilities to our Soldiers, our joint warfighters, and our international partners.”

Legacies of Excellence

The Army is fundamentally restructuring its acquisition process to prioritize speed and efficiency over traditional approaches. As part of this initiative, the Army is establishing six Portfolio Acquisition Executives with increased focus on capabilities over specific programs.

The transformation includes the integration of the former Program Executive Office Combat Support and Combat Service Support, PEO CS&CSS, into the Capability Program Executive for Combat Logistics, CPE CL, led by Brig. Gen. Camilla White. PEO CS&CSS brings an unmatched history of logistics and sustainment support to the new CPE CL. It encompasses more than 200 programs spanning the Army’s transportation, ordnance, quartermaster, engineer, and training equipment portfolios.

As the CPE CL, it will continue to develop and deliver modernized tactical wheeled vehicles, engineering equipment, watercraft, power generation systems, and other force sustainment capabilities to Army, Joint, and global partners.

At the same time, the Joint Program Executive Office for Armaments and Ammunition, JPEO A&A, will realign into the Capability Program Executive for Ammunition & Energetics, CPE A&E, led by Col. Jason Bohannon. JPEO A&A has consistently delivered innovative acquisition solutions to provide Joint Warfighters and allied partners with overmatch capabilities. The JPEO was comprised of four project offices covering Combat Ammunition Systems, Close Combat Systems, Maneuver Ammunition Systems and Joint Services.

As the CPE A&E, it retains responsibility for life-cycle acquisition management of all conventional ammunition, which includes integrating budgets, acquisition strategies, research and development and life-cycle management across all ammunition families.

CPE CL will be headquartered at Detroit Arsenal, Michigan, while CPE A&E will remain at Picatinny Arsenal. Unlike the previous Program Executive Offices, each PAE will have comprehensive responsibilities and accountability for managing the full spectrum of acquisition activities, including requirements development, technology maturation, product development, testing, contracting, fielding, sustainment, and international sales. This flattened acquisition system empowers PAEs to make timely, risk-based decisions and accelerates capability delivery to Warfighters through problem-focused requirements, smarter contracts, informed risks, and faster pivots.

“This restructure achieves unity of command by establishing and empowering PAE AS&A with the full authority to direct research and development, prototyping, testing, production, and sustainment,” said Reim. “By prioritizing outcomes over processes, this new construct empowers us to award contracts faster by cutting through bureaucracy. Overall, this approach unburdens the acquisition enterprise and allows us to deliver warfighting capabilities at speed and scale.”

Accelerating Ammunition Acquisitions

Under the leadership of Maj. Gen. Reim, PAE AS&A will oversee an entire capability area including all conventional ammunition requirements including direct and indirect fire ammunition, close combat systems, explosives, and pyrotechnics, in addition to logistics, fielding, and sustainment. PAE AS&A will have oversight of the organic munition production facilities.

Maj. Gen. Sean Davis will serve as the new Deputy Portfolio Acquisition Executive adding the sustainment capabilities of the Army’s Combined Arms Support Command, CASCOM to PAE AS&A. CASCOM trains and develops adaptive Sustainment professionals for the total force while integrating innovative Army and Joint Sustainment capabilities, concepts and doctrine to sustain large scale combat operations in a multi-domain operations environment. It is also a part of Transformation and Training Command and is located at Fort Lee, Virginia. PAE AS&A is committed to supporting the warfighter through an innovative approach to ammunition acquisition and sustainment that leverages existing authorities to deliver tangible benefits, including accelerated capability delivery, smarter contracts, and informed risk management.

In addition to the two new CPEs, PAE AS&A will oversee multiple acquisition enablers including senior contracting officials, a test and evaluation integrator, the Sustainment Future Capability Directorate and the system center lead overseeing coordination among Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Centers. The PAE AS&A System Center Lead is Chris J. Grassano, the firector of the DEVCOM Armaments Center. The new structure will enable holistic management of conventional ammunition development, production and sustainment under a single command resulting in increased efficiencies and accelerated delivery of lethality aligned with the emerging Army Warfighting Concept.

Looking Ahead

In conjunction with this reform, the Army is investing $1.1 billion per year to overhaul depots, arsenals, and ammunition plants that produce and sustain Army equipment. This commitment will not only modernize facilities but also strengthen the defense supply chain and create jobs.

For industry partners, these reforms will mean faster contracts, clearer points of entry, and fewer bureaucratic hurdles. Soldiers will benefit from receiving new capabilities, such as drones, long-range fires, and next-generation command and control systems, years faster than before.

By Michael Chambers and Eric Kowal

War Department Announces Vendors Invited to Compete in Phase I of the Drone Dominance Program

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026

When Secretary of War Pete Hegseth took office a year ago, matching new technologies to threats was one of his core priorities. He commissioned an acquisition strategy to swiftly outfit our combat units with lethal drones.

The War Department today announced the 25 vendors invited to compete in Phase I of the Drone Dominance Program (DDP), an acquisition reform effort designed to rapidly field low cost, unmanned one way attack drones at scale as part of strengthening America’s Arsenal of Freedom.

“Drone dominance is a process race as much as a technological race,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth wrote in his July 2025 memorandum, Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance. “We are buying what works—fast, at scale, and without bureaucratic delay. Lethality will not be hindered by self imposed restrictions.”

The Phase I evaluation—the Gauntlet—will begin 18 February at Fort Benning, where military operators will fly and evaluate vendor systems. The Gauntlet will conclude in early March, when approximately $150 million in prototype delivery orders will be placed, with deliveries beginning shortly thereafter and continuing over the following five months.

Drone Dominance operationalizes the Secretary of War’s acquisition reformpriorities by sending a clear demand signal to industry—$1.1 billion over four phases, placing warfighters at the center of evaluation, and driving competitive, iterative cycles measured in months, not years. Across the program’s four phases, unit prices decrease, production volumes increase, and operational capability rises.

By 2027, the Department will be fielding hundreds of thousands of weaponized, one way attack drones ready for combat.

The Drone Dominance Program is sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of War and executed by the Defense Innovation Unit, the Test Resource Management Center, and Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division.

The funding is ready and steady. The timeline to build combat power is compressed. The competition begins now.

The Department has invited 25 companies to Gauntlet I, listed below alphabetically.

ANNO.AI, INC.
ASCENT AEROSYSTEMS INC
AUTERION GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS INC
DZYNE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
EWING AEROSPACE LLC
FARAGE PRECISION, LLC
FIRESTORM LABS, INC.
GENERAL CHERRY CORP
GREENSIGHT INC.
GRIFFON AEROSPACE, INC.
HALO AERONAUTICS, LLC
KRATOS SRE, INC.
MODALAI, INC.
NAPATREE TECHNOLOGY LLC
NEROS, INC.
OKSI VENTURES, INC.
PALADIN DEFENSE SERVICES LLC
PERFORMANCE DRONE WORKS LLC
RESPONSIBLY LTD
SWARM DEFENSE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
TEAL DRONES INC
UKRAINIAN DEFENSE DRONES TECH CORP
VECTOR DEFENSE, INC
W S DARLEY & CO
XTEND REALITY INC.

– Via Department of War