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US Naval Academy Announces New School Focused on Super Intelligence, Information Warfare, and Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Names Dean Capt Mathias Roth

Monday, October 19th, 2026

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Baldock

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The United States Naval Academy (USNA) announced a major academic restructuring today that will establish both a standalone school for computing, cybersecurity, super intelligence, robotics and autonomous systems and a standalone school of engineering. Transitioning from the former School of Engineering, Computing and Weapons, this strategic division formalizes the presence of the Information Warfare (IW) community at the U.S. Naval Academy and creates a dedicated organizational hub to advance critical capabilities in emerging technologies. The restructuring is expected to be complete by Summer 2027.

The new School will consolidate the departments of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Weapons, Robotics, and Control Engineering; Computer Science; and Cyber Science, which will continue to be physically housed in Hopper Hall. As part of this realignment, the Center for Cyber Security Studies will be renamed the Center for Cyber Security and Emerging Technology, and oversight of USNA’s Special Security Office (SSO) and Information Warfare pipeline activities will transition directly to the new School.

“This new school represents a massive leap forward for both the Naval Academy and the broader Information Warfare enterprise,” said U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent, Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte. “By aligning our world-class computing faculty, cutting-edge Hopper Hall infrastructure, and operational community leadership under this School, I am establishing a premier focal point to drive the Navy and Marine Corps’ institutional priorities in SI, robotics, and autonomous systems, which will lay the foundation for tomorrow’s naval leaders.” In keeping with the Academy’s leadership model where School Deans and Division Directors are post-command O-6 officers dual-hatted as service community leaders, the new Dean will serve as the Senior Information Warfare community leader at the U.S. Naval Academy. Borgschulte chose U.S. Navy Capt. Mathias Roth, to serve as the inaugural Dean of the School.

A 2002 Naval Academy graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography, Roth earned his Doctorate in Physical Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2016. He brings a powerful mix of operational, technical, and manpower expertise to the role, having begun his career as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard USS Preble (DDG-88) as the Auxiliary Officer, followed by subsequent sea time aboard USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) and USS Essex (LHD-2). He later gained deep insight into community force structure while serving as an Information Warfare detailer in Millington, Tennessee. Roth’s command experience includes leading Information Warfare Training Group (IWTG) Gulfport and commanding Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center (FNMOC) in Monterey, California.

“Capt. Roth is the perfect leader to establish the new School,” said U.S. Naval Academy Provost, Dr. Samara Firebaugh. “He is an absolute rockstar, with an outstanding reputation as a thoughtful and well-spoken leader. This initiative is central to our efforts to modernize our curriculum in order to produce officers who are equipped to operate in a warfighting environment that is being rapidly reshaped by super intelligence, robotics, and autonomous systems.”

Capt. Roth will report to the U.S. Naval Academy this October where he will lead the transition team for this initiative.

The establishment of the School parallels information warfare and robotic and autonomous systems integration initiatives in the Fleet, ensuring these foundational capabilities are woven into every warfare domain, kill chain and training pipeline. Midshipmen will graduate with deck-plate relevant skillsets and technological literacy needed to lead hybrid units, master technical advancements, operate ethically and build combat resilience.

The U.S. Naval Academy is a prestigious four-year service academy that prepares midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically to become professional officers in the naval service. More than 4,400 men and women representing every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries make up the student body known as the Brigade of Midshipmen. U.S. News and World Reports has recognized the Naval Academy as the #1 top public school, #3 national liberal arts college, and #5 best undergraduate engineering programs. Upon graduation, midshipmen earn a Bachelor of Science degree in a choice of 26 different subject majors and go on to serve at least five years of exciting and rewarding service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.

Story by Elizabeth Wrightson
United States Naval Academy

Posted in AI / ML, Guest Post, Navy, Robotics, Unmanned Systems | No Comments »

Long-Range Penetrating Force Remains at Forefront of Bomber Operations

Saturday, October 17th, 2026

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 together bomber, mobility, and aerospace industry leaders to assess the strategic airpower environment.

Throughout the dialogue, panel members emphasized that while long-range strike operations have proven decisively effective in recent combat campaigns, maintaining that asymmetric advantage demands continuous modernization, seamless cross-command teamwork, and a strong partnership with the defense industrial base.

Maj. Gen. Ty Neuman, Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center commander, began by highlighting the inherent stamina of the nation’s bomber fleet.

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Ty Neuman (center), Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Operations Center commander, speaks at the Long-Range Airpower: Lessons From Midnight Hammer and Epic Fury panel during the 2026 Air, Space and Cyber Conference at the National Harbor, Md., Sept 15, 2026. The annual conference is an opportunity for Department of the Air Force senior leaders to meet and address Airmen, Guardians, allies, partners and industry leaders. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Shelby Thurman)

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“We are a ready force that demonstrated our endurance,” Neuman said, emphasizing how Eighth Air Force’s constant readiness provides tailored deterrence and reassurance across the globe.

Reflecting on the sheer logistical and operational coordination demanded during Operation Epic Fury, Neuman praised the joint commitment across the enterprise, noting that “everyone has been all in.” He stressed that the unmatched long-range strike capability demonstrated in both Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Epic Fury delivers an unmistakable message to adversaries: no one should question the readiness or capability of the United States to hold targets at risk anytime, anywhere.

Panelists later discussed the necessity of denying adversaries safe havens and operational sanctuaries, where Neuman outlined why standoff weapons alone cannot shoulder the strategic burden. Potential adversaries continue to harden facilities, bury critical infrastructure, and construct heavily defended anti-access perimeters.

“Not every target can be hit by long-range standoff weapons; we need a penetrating force,” the Eighth Air Force commander said. “Modernizing the legacy bomber fleet is an imperative to denying sanctuary to our adversaries.”

To outpace emerging threats, the Air Force is advancing a complementary mix of weapons and platforms, including standoff systems and stand-in penetrating capabilities. Ongoing modernization efforts include expanding the B-1’s beyond-line-of-sight communication systems, outfitting the B-2 Spirit with advanced radar enhancement programs to bolster survivability in anti-access environments, and exploring expanded payloads for the B-2 fleet.

When operating against advanced air defense systems, stealth remains paramount. “All-aspect low observable weapon systems are a non-negotiable price to entry,” Neuman underscored.

The conversation then moved to the future viability of stealth in an era of proliferating air defense systems.

Neuman affirmed that low observability is not a passing technological phase, but a foundational requirement for the future fight.

He emphasized that the Air Force must pursue both low-observable aircraft and low-observable complementary munitions to survive and deliver effects inside contested airspace. Echoing this assessment, the panel moderator noted that stealth is fundamentally about disrupting the enemy’s integrated kill chain, denying adversaries the ability to detect, track, and engage U.S. strike platforms before mission completion.

The evolving nature of the battlespace, where multi-domain environments are saturated with unmanned systems, electromagnetic interference, and missile salvos, was another topic of discussion.

Industry panelist Jamie Burgess of Boeing cautioned that sheer data volume does not automatically equate to combat capability.

“One can drown in data and starve for information,” Burgess remarked, pointing out the necessity of delivering processed, actionable intelligence directly to aircrews and operational commanders.

The panel discussed how the battle network and integrated command, control, and communications architectures must synthesize real-time data from space, cyber, and airborne assets into coherent situational awareness that accelerates combat decision-making.

Diving into fleet viability and continuous modernization, the general highlighted the operational strain and lessons realized from long-duration strike missions. During Operation Epic Fury, bomber sorties averaged 38 hours in duration — demanding extraordinary human stamina, aircraft reliability, and extensive air refueling support.

According to the Air Mobility Command panelist, “it took dozens and dozens of tankers to execute Operation Epic Fury,” illustrating the indispensable synergy between Air Force Global Strike Command and AMC.

When looking at the service’s age of the inventory, Neuman noted that “our youngest bomber is 30-plus years old.” While airframes have proven durable, sustained investment in modern digital avionics, resilient beyond-line-of-sight connectivity, and modern propulsion is essential across every platform.

The bomber force commander called for a fundamental pivot in weapons integration philosophy: rather than undertaking costly and complex modifications to alter legacy aircraft around new weapons, future munitions must be intentionally designed to seamlessly integrate into existing bomber bays and pylons.

“Bombers must deliver strategic options to the president,” Neuman emphasized, noting that modernization ensures the commander in chief retains flexible, credible conventional and nuclear response options.

Examining the role of industry innovation, Neuman praised the ingenuity of maintenance and logistics Airmen who keep vintage platforms flight-ready, but stressed that the service cannot accomplish sustainment alone.

“It is about partnerships, clear and concise requirements, and giving industry the ability to run with it. It’s a team effort,” Neuman remarked, underscoring the urgent requirement to bolster the defense industrial base and maintain reliable supply chains for critical components.

The panel then concluded by addressing Total Force Integration.

“This is a Total Force Integration effort for every single component,” Neuman said.

“Allies and partners, we have your back. We are the free world’s only long-range strike capability, and we will continue to deliver anytime, anywhere.”

By Justin Oakes

Eighth Air Force and Joint-Global Strike Operations Center Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Forces Focus, Guest Post | No Comments »

Strider Solutions MultiCam 2-in-1 Balaclava

Friday, October 16th, 2026

Introducing the Strider Solutions MultiCam® 2-in-1 Balaclava — NOW IN STOCK.

MultiCam® is worn by military personnel around the world, yet finding a quality balaclava that actually matches your camouflage has been surprisingly difficult.

So we built one.

Designed by a former New Zealand infantryman who spent years in the field dealing with equipment that simply wasn’t up to the task.

We set out to build what we believe is the world’s best combat balaclava. No shortcuts. No compromises.

Featuring premium MultiCam® fabric supplied by the team at 1947, we’ve created a lightweight, versatile face covering with exceptional print quality, precision stitching and a design purpose-built for demanding field conditions.

ONE PIECE OF KIT. MULTIPLE CONFIGURATIONS.

Full balaclava coverage

Neck gaiter configuration

Face covering configuration

MultiCam® camouflage pattern

Premium stitching and construction

Ultra-lightweight — approximately 50 g

Comfortable under combat helmets

Designed for demanding infantry use

Every detail has been considered, from the fabric and construction to the fit, versatility and durability. The result is a piece of equipment we’re genuinely proud to put our name on.

A huge thanks to the team at 1947 for supplying the outstanding fabric that makes this product possible.

AVAILABLE NOW | SHIPPING WORLDWIDE

They’re already moving fast. Secure yours at www.stridersolutions.com

Posted in Clothing, Guest Post, Multicam | No Comments »

FirstSpear Friday Focus: RAGNAR Stretch Carbine 3 Magazine Pocket

Friday, October 16th, 2026

Three magazines. Fast access. Flat profile. The FirstSpear RAGNAR™ STRETCH CARBINE 3 MAGAZINE POCKET is a purpose-built flat pocket designed for operators who need to carry three 30-round 5.56 magazines in a low-profile, rapidly attachable configuration. Hook backing on the rear allows for fast attachment or removal from any loop-compatible surface, while a low-profile loop front keeps the exterior clean and snag-free. FirstSpear shock cord and Speed Tab retention secure each magazine independently, delivering positive retention with fast, consistent access under stress.

Features:

HOLDS THREE 30-ROUND 5.56 MAGAZINES
HOOK BACKING FOR FAST ATTACHMENT AND REMOVAL
LOW PROFILE LOOP FRONT
SHOCK CORD AND SPEED TAB RETENTION

At its core, the RAGNAR™ STRETCH CARBINE 3 MAGAZINE POCKET is built as a flat, low-profile solution that mounts directly to any loop-compatible platform without adding unnecessary bulk to the loadout. PFAS Free and Made in the USA. Available in Black, Coyote, Manatee Grey, MultiCam, and Ranger Green.

Built for military personnel, law enforcement officers, and prepared professionals who demand reliable equipment, the Ragnar™ Stretch Carbine 3 Magazine Pocket delivers fast, consistent access to three 5.56 magazines in a flat, low-profile platform. 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.

Posted in Advertiser, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post, Load Carrying | Comments Off on FirstSpear Friday Focus: RAGNAR Stretch Carbine 3 Magazine Pocket

Hegseth: Autonomous Warfare Command Has Always Been End State

Thursday, October 15th, 2026

Project Agincourt as a pathway to a four-star-led Autonomous Warfare Command has always been in the cards, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said today at the 2026 Association of the United States Army annual meeting and exposition.

Last month, Hegseth signed a memorandum detailing the creation of the short-term Project Agincourt, which is charged with laying the groundwork for creating the Autonomous Warfare Command, a new, functional combatant command that will lead the joint force in unmanned autonomous warfare.

“Project Agincourt is the end state of something we focused on since Day 1,” Hegseth told Owen West, the chief executive officer of the Pentagon’s Direct Reporting Portfolio Manager for Unmanned Systems, which leads the project.

“We started with drone dominance almost the minute we got here; [the] president put out an executive order,” Hegseth said. “We got $1 billion of funding on drone dominance, which we put straight into the hands of operators out into the field.”

The department plans to field hundreds of thousands of one-way attack systems this year, Hegseth told the audience. In coming years, he said, that’ll be in the millions.

Drones have been around for a long time, but they haven’t become inexpensive or proliferated across the force, Hegseth said. That’s partly due to the Pentagon’s bureaucracy — something that will change with Project Agincourt and, eventually, the Autonomous Warfare Command. He added that buy-in from the military services and combatant commands plays a critical role in making that happen.

“These services are not fighting us on that concept; they believe in it,” Hegseth said.

The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Space Force are all aiming toward autonomous warfare, and so are the combatant commands. The secretary cited U.S. Southern Command’s recently established autonomous warfare unit, as well as U.S. Central Command’s autonomous surface systems, which rescued two downed Apache pilots off the coast of Oman in June.

To advance the adoption of autonomous systems, Hegseth said, the War Department has made significant progress in modernizing the acquisition process and incentivizing industry partners.

However, he said widespread adoption and mastery of autonomous systems will come from the warfighters using those systems and with experts there to iterate on what’s happening to make them better — both of which are expected to happen with the Autonomous Warfare Command.

“This Autowarcom is what’s going to create that multidomain, that domain synthesis that you need so that, from space to what we’re doing sub-sea in autonomy, is able to work together in a contested environment,” Hegseth said.

Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle said just yesterday that the Army announced the creation of the Army’s Futures and Autonomous Systems Command.

“This is our way to make sure that we take all of the great work that’s been happening with the resources that we have today, and we centralize it,” he said. “We’re pushing autonomy down into our units, but when it comes to having and making sure that the left hand in the Army knows what the right hand of the Army is doing, this happens at Fascom; then Fascom feeds up into Autowarcom.”

Telle said Fascom will work with the other services to create scale for purchasing power and share best practices on autonomy.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao said his service is now increasing its use of and investment in autonomous systems.

“In the Strait of Hormuz, we used the Corsair … to recover two Apache helicopter pilots,” Cao said. “Then, we also used the unmanned underwater vehicles to demine that area.”

That kind of work, Cao said, can’t be done in a contested area unless it’s done using unmanned underwater vehicles. The Navy is now deploying with even more unmanned systems.

“The [Theodore] Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group just deployed on Oct. 8 with a medium-sized unmanned surface vessel,” he said. “This is the first carrier strike group to ever deploy with a large-size unmanned surface vessel — and this is a force multiplier.”

Cao said unmanned vessels are easier to build and will change the nature of surface warfare because they don’t need the complex systems required to sustain personnel on board.

The Air Force has always been dominated by manned aircraft, and Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink said it will continue to be so. However, he said unmanned systems will play a big part of the Air Force playbook now, too.

“There’s no question though that there’s a shift coming,” Meink said. “It’s adaptability, scalability and affordability; the only way we’re going to meet the threat is with autonomous systems.”

Affordability is an important consideration for the Air Force, Meink said, adding that autonomy may be cheaper than manned systems.

“We’ve got to make sure this stuff is affordable,” he said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re buying it efficiently. And depending on how you do the comparisons, we’re talking five to 10 times cheaper to field some combat power with these autonomous systems compared to not.”

Meink noted that the Air Force is already integrating autonomous fighters into experimental operations units out at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada.

“[It took] from a year from when they first flew to when we are integrating them into experimental ops units — that’s unheard of, and it only took two years to build the first one,” he added.

With those systems, Meink said, the Air Force is focused on rapid production, scalability and lowering costs.

By C. Todd Lopez, Pentagon News

Posted in Department of War, Guest Post | No Comments »

Future Focused: Vice Chief of Staff of the Army Details Army Autonomy Advancements

Wednesday, October 14th, 2026

WASHINGTON — General Christopher LaNeve, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army and Acting Chief of Staff of the Army, has selected U.S. Army Futures and Concepts Command for redesignation as U.S. Army Futures and Autonomous Systems Command (FASCOM).

Gen. LaNeve’s decision follows the release of Acting Secretary of the Army Adam Telle’s Army Autonomous Initiatives memo on October 1. “This goes beyond drones,” said Gen. LaNeve. “FASCOM will pioneer operational concepts that harness autonomous capabilities across all warfighting functions.”

Led by a three-star general officer, FASCOM will consolidate, integrate and ultimately accelerate the work of the Combat Capabilities Development Command, Medical Research and Development Command, 75th Innovation Command, Joint Modernization Command and the Transformation Decision Analysis Center. This change unifies expertise that the new Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Autonomy will depend on to meet Acting Secretary Telle’s directive to rapidly integrate autonomous technologies across the Army.

One of the first challenges Gen. LaNeve issued to FASCOM was to develop corps-level autonomous capabilities. Each of the Army’s five corps will test equipment, evaluate tactics and make recommendations on accomplishing autonomous mission sets. This approach leverages experimentation to validate concepts that can then be scaled across the Army, according to Gen. LaNeve. As this top-down approach is pursued, the Vice Chief of Staff noted that he will continue “clearing the way for Soldiers to innovate and solve tactical problems with the tools they have on hand.”

The Army’s autonomous development plan includes the testing of an autonomous fires battery and autonomous watercraft company in I Corps, an autonomous armored reconnaissance company in III Corps, an autonomous breaching company in V Corps, autonomous aerial ISR and lift companies in XVIII Airborne Corps, and the pairing of manned and unmanned rotary wing aircraft in 8th Army. This last experiment, initially conceptualized at the Army Aviation Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, gives attack aviation pilots direct control of UAS sensors to enable over-the-horizon targeting and synchronize manned-unmanned fires. “Fort Rucker is unique in that we can bring together warfighting experts and cutting-edge commercial capabilities to test technology the way we intend to fight it. To ensure that we move swiftly to achieve the Army’s autonomy goals, as of today Fort Rucker will serve as our UAS Autonomy Center of Excellence,” said Gen. LaNeve.

The Vice Chief of Staff’s direction to FASCOM also includes the creation of capability-based formations centered on autonomous long-range fires, protection, tanks, logistics and obstacle breaching. These capabilities were specifically selected for their role in enabling operational maneuver and are aligned to the four elements of convergence, strike, close battle, and endurance outlined in the operational warfighting guidance released by the U.S. Army last week.

Notably, these experimental formations will receive some of the Army’s first 390A Robotic Technicians. The move, first announced by Gen. LaNeve at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference in September, expands the assignment of trained autonomy and robotics specialists beyond special operations units to more swiftly proliferate expertise across the force.

“We’ve got to change our approach from bolting on technology to rethinking how we fight,” declared Gen. LaNeve. “Acting Secretary Telle and I see things the same way. Technology doesn’t fight; Soldiers do. Our job is to get them the best kit; theirs is to make it lethal. It’s that magic between industry, leadership, and Soldiers that keeps our Army ahead of anyone looking to do America harm.”

By U.S. Army Public Affairs

Posted in AI / ML, Army, Drone, Guest Post, Unmanned Systems | No Comments »

Florida National Guard Advances Battlefield Capabilities During Drone Crucible

Tuesday, October 13th, 2026

The future of military operations increasingly depends on the ability to see, understand and act faster with greater precision. During Exercise Drone Crucible 26.3 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Florida, Sept. 26-Oct. 2, the Florida National Guard put that principle into practice by integrating unmanned aircraft systems, communications technology and situational awareness integration capabilities to give commanders a more complete picture of the battlefield.

The U.S. National Drone Association hosted the event alongside the Florida National Guard and in concert with the War Department. Participants included personnel assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group; the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Florida National Guard; Navy SEAL Teams 10 and 7; the 2nd Marine Division; and U.S. Marine Forces Special Operations Command.

The exercise tested unmanned systems and operational information sharing among military units and mission partners. Industry partners provided a secure platform that connected tactical users and enabled data sharing, supporting the Florida National Guard’s integration with the National Guard Bureau and U.S. Northern Command’s Homeland Tactical Assault Kit architecture.

The Florida National Guard’s Situational Awareness Integration Team supported the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, during the exercise by integrating assault kit data and available video feeds into a common operating picture for the joint operations center. The kit allowed personnel in the field to share locations, threats and mission information, contributing to a more comprehensive operating picture.

During Drone Crucible 26.3, the Florida National Guard worked with Northcom and Joint Task Force National Capital Region to share kit data, unmanned aircraft telemetry and full-motion video. The effort connected the field activity with higher-level commands and demonstrated the potential to improve shared situational awareness.

The effort was designed to reduce the time between detection and decision-making during tactical lanes by bringing information from multiple systems and sources together in a way that supported commanders and operational teams.

“This exercise is giving us an opportunity to demonstrate how technology, innovation and strong partnerships can enhance the way we operate,” said Army Maj. Gen. Robert Carruthers, Florida Army National Guard commander. “By integrating unmanned systems and our latest situational awareness and mission command software together, we are eliminating stovepipe systems, reducing multiple devices and air-gapping of information while providing commanders with a clearer, fused operational picture that enables faster, better-informed decisions.”

The integration team provisioned about 82 assault kits and personal devices to the Florida National Guard server. At the same time, the operations center used eight video feeds to maintain situational awareness across the exercise.

During that time, the guard successfully shared assault kit position location information, operational overlays and full-motion video from unmanned systems with Northcom. The feeds included data from both unmanned surface vessels and unmanned aircraft systems.

“What we are building here has great value well beyond this exercise. Our goal is to develop a scalable capability that strengthens interoperability, speeds our kill chain, increases our situational awareness, and improves our ability to fight and win on a rapidly evolving battlefield,” Carruthers said.

The integration allowed Northcom in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and JTF-NCR in the Washington area to remotely view information generated during the exercise. The team ultimately demonstrated the capability at the combatant command level.

The team also supported the integration of multiple other teams through a modernization cell, while subject matter experts specializing in unmanned systems and tactical assault kits provided technical expertise and rapid user support. That structure brought together personnel from the National Guard and industry partners, creating an environment where service members could rapidly collaborate, troubleshoot and refine the technology while conducting the exercise.

“We’re taking emerging technologies and putting them to the test — validating the technology while also refining our standard operating procedures,” said a special operator assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group. “It’s about bringing the networks, hardware and software together, making sure those systems can communicate and determining how they support both our domestic and federal missions. It also gives us an opportunity to connect and operate with other states, units and government agencies.”

For the Florida National Guard, the significance of Drone Crucible 26.3 extends farther than the technology being tested.

“Beyond this exercise, the Florida National Guard team sees an opportunity to integrate this capability more broadly with conventional forces and partner agencies,” said Army 1st Lt. Lisa Casares, Florida National Guard situational awareness integrator.

“Having dedicated subject matter experts for each system has been critical to maintaining the common operating picture and resolving issues quickly,” she said. “Continued support from these experts will help the Florida National Guard sustain this capability and build a situational awareness framework that can scale beyond a single exercise.”

As unmanned systems and other emerging technologies continue to shape military operations, the ability to integrate information rapidly and provide commanders with a common operating picture is becoming increasingly important to how forces train, coordinate and respond.

“This exercise demonstrated how integrated unmanned systems strengthen soldiers on the battlefield,” said Army Col. Todd Hopkins, Camp Blanding Joint Training Center commander. “They do not replace soldiers — they extend their reach, awareness, protection and precision to help them move, fight and win.”

By Air Force Capt Brittianie Funderburk, Florida National Guard Public Affairs

Posted in Drone, Guest Post | No Comments »

MATBOCK Monday: Next Gen Tarsier Eclipse

Monday, October 12th, 2026

For more than a decade, the Tarsier Eclipse has been MATBOCK’s number-one selling product. Today MATBOCK introduces its successor, the Tarsier Eclipse Pro.

The original Tarsier Eclipse was built on the streets of Sadr City around one problem we kept facing: the need to see near and far targets simultaneously. The answer was a lightweight, infinitely adjustable iris with a replaceable sacrificial lens. It went from a trade show booth to team rooms across the world.

The Eclipse Pro keeps what worked and adds what users asked for next:

Redesigned body. Soft rubber exterior for shock absorption and a hardened interior for smoother action.

Kill flash built in. A honeycomb kill flash sits on a Gorilla Glass sacrificial lens with an anti-reflective coating, cutting objective glint without a separate accessory.

Fully closing iris. The anti-reflective coated iris closes completely, so one unit handles light control, daytime protection, and lens cover.

Simplify Logistics. The Pro is a native 37mm unit and ships with a barrel gasket for 34mm OD objectives (this covers 98% of NVGs)

Retention. An optional 50 lb test lanyard is included.

Email sales@matbock.com today for a quote or check out www.matbock.com/collections/night-vision/products/tarsier-eclipse-pro

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Optics | No Comments »