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Army Sniper Course Tests Signature Management Tech to Enhance Health, Safety

Monday, April 6th, 2026

FORT BENNING, Ga. — The U.S. Army Sniper Course at Fort Benning is working to improve sniper survivability and lethality in large-scale combat operations by evaluating and integrating advanced signature management technology into training.

“What we’ve seen in the last few years in recent conflicts has been a lot of drone activity and having to hide from and defeat thermal and drone systems,” said Staff Sgt. Brett Bollinger, a USASC instructor. “That’s what really drove us to develop these plans because those are the type of assets our near-peer adversaries are going to have in large-scale combat operations.”

Bollinger further explained that boosting sniper effectiveness remains pivotal to military success even as modern warfare has changed traditional battlefield practices.

“Snipers are a critical asset to any commander on the battlefield. If the air is contested, and you can’t fly friendly drone assets, you still must have the ability to insert small, two- to three-man teams to conduct surveillance and then place accurate fire onto the enemy if needed,” Bollinger said. This observation has played out time and again in the Russia-Ukraine War where drones are playing a significant role in battle.

USASC’s new initiative, being done in collaboration with the Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Master Trainer course and industry partners, seeks to reduce the likelihood of detection across the electromagnetic spectrum, thereby helping Soldiers blend into their backgrounds when viewed by enemy systems and sensors.

According to Bollinger, the course has been testing multispectral thermal-defeating mitigation technologies provided by various companies.

“The materials we’ve been evaluating are full spectrum signature management camouflage systems,” Bollinger said. “We’ve been evaluating products with the objective of defeating thermal sensors, whether it be aerial or ground systems.”

The camouflage systems USASC has been working with look similar to camouflage nets, added Bollinger. They are designed to mask the visibility of a sniper’s movements.

The course gained interest in evaluating advanced signature management technology in early 2025 following an exercise with drones, according to Staff Sgt. Craig Mordaunt, also a USASC instructor.

“We had Soldiers from our sister company come out with drones and that’s when we started conducting tests of how students would react and adjust to air assets flying overhead during practical exercises for our stalk lanes,” Mordaunt said.

USASC has done much of their testing during stalk lanes, which prepare snipers for real-world missions. In these exercises, snipers must use elements of surrounding natural vegetation to further camouflage their ghillie suits and make their way through obstacles to eliminate a target while remaining undetected.

Bollinger said USASC began integrating thermal-defeating systems into stalk lane exercises following a presentation at a Fort Bragg, North Carolina, sniper class last summer from industry partners on their specific spectrum signature management camouflage systems.

“We had a local representative from one of those companies come out a few months ago with camouflage systems for instructors to use and they conducted the stalk lane as if they were the students and they were able to get quite close to the observer’s vehicle while remaining undetected,” Bollinger said.

In January, USASC, along with instructors from the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course, tested additional signature management products provided by the same company.

“We were able to camouflage a vehicle, set up a static hide site and then observe it with thermal products they brought out to see what such a scene would look like and how effective their technology is,” Bollinger said.

The Sniper Course is still in the early stages of integrating these new products into their training, tactics and plans, and is actively looking at developing and testing them further to keep pace with evolving battlefield technologies.

“For every measure that the world comes up with, there’s a countermeasure to it. And for every countermeasure there’s a way to counter that, so it’s just an ever-evolving circle of defeating new systems,” Mordaunt said. “We’re just trying to increase the survivability of our Soldiers that we send out to the force.”

By Daniel Murnin

Posted in Army, Camo, Guest Post | 1 Comment »

Angry Kitten – How Navy Engineers Turned a Threat Simulator into an Offensive Electronic Attack Weapon

Sunday, April 5th, 2026

A supervisory engineer at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division spent years building a jammer designed to defeat America’s own radars. The harder his team made it for friendly pilots to see through the jamming, the better they were doing their job.

Then the question changed: what if the same system could jam the enemy?

The system is Angry Kitten, an electronic warfare pod that NAWCWD engineers integrated and matured over a decade. Built to simulate hostile jamming during training, it is now headed to contested airspace as an offensive weapon, giving pilots a proven, government-owned jammer to suppress enemy air defenses.

That transformation spans three military services and a partnership between NAWCWD and Georgia Tech Research Institute that began with one requirement: the Air Force needed better threat pods.

In 2013, aggressor squadrons at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, needed advanced jamming pods to create realistic electronic warfare environments during training. Georgia Tech Research Institute had developed Angry Kitten’s core technology. The Air Force needed a team to package it into a flyable, maintainable pod system.

They chose NAWCWD’s Airborne Threat Simulation Organization. The organization had spent decades building and fielding threat simulation jammers for Navy and Air Force training ranges, working directly with intelligence agencies to replicate the electronic warfare environments U.S. pilots would face in combat.

Its engineers brought deep knowledge of the threat signals being replicated and the friendly radars being tested.

The Air Force wanted Georgia Tech’s Angry Kitten technology but needed a team to integrate and field it. They chose NAWCWD.

“They knew that’s our expertise and we’re really good at integration,” said the NAWCWD supervisory engineer.

First flights came in 2017. The early years tested the engineering team as much as the pods.

Antenna covers cracked during high-speed flights at Nellis, creating foreign object debris risk to aircraft engines. The Air Force grounded every pod. The program’s credibility was on the line. NAWCWD engineers worked with Georgia Tech to redesign the radome and returned the fleet to flight status within months.

The fix demonstrated more than engineering discipline. It proved the strength of a partnership where Georgia Tech develops and prototypes the electronic warfare technology and NAWCWD integrates it onto aircraft, certifies it for flight and sustains it in the field.

At the core of that technology is Angry Kitten’s Technique Description Language architecture. Georgia Tech designed TDL as a hybrid that pairs dedicated hardware modules for speed and bandwidth with software for complex decision-making.

The practical result: government programmers can reprogram the jammer to counter new threats without sending it back to the contractor for expensive, time-consuming code changes. When an adversary adapts its radar tactics, NAWCWD’s team can update the jammer’s response in days instead of waiting months for a contract modification.

“This enabled the government operators of the pods to generate a huge variety of high-performance electronic attack techniques at vastly reduced costs and development times, as compared to other systems,” said Roger Dickerson, principal research engineer at Georgia Tech Research Institute.

That reprogramming speed attracted units beyond the training world.

The Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Command Test Center in Tucson secured an agreement to use Angry Kitten pods. Operators discovered that the red adversary simulator could fill a gap left by delays to the Air Force’s next-generation jammer program.

By 2024, what started as a borrowed training asset had become an operational test bed.

They validated the pods’ offensive potential through exercises and range testing. In a March 2025 statement, Christopher Culver, electronic warfare technical lead at the test center, said operators were reprogramming techniques and pushing real-time updates to the pod. The approach enabled rapid optimization of jamming against threat systems.

AATC secured authorization to bring Angry Kitten to theater.

“We developed this system as a training tool to test our radars, and now we’re bringing that same capability to warfighters as an offensive electronic attack jammer to protect their aircraft in real situations,” said the NAWCWD supervisory engineer.

The dual role works because electronic warfare allows it. A threat simulator and an offensive jammer use the same physics, the same signal processing, the same hardware. What changes is the target.

NAWCWD’s threat expertise made the system realistic enough to train against. That same realism made it effective enough to fight with.

“We take the lessons learned from jamming our own radars and bring that capability to our operators in harm’s way,” said the NAWCWD supervisory engineer.

Story by Michael Smith, Photos by Kimberly Brown and Katie Archibald

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division

Posted in Aviation, EW, Guest Post | Comments Off on Angry Kitten – How Navy Engineers Turned a Threat Simulator into an Offensive Electronic Attack Weapon

Army Reaches Conditional Agreement with Private Industry for Hyperscaled Data Centers

Sunday, April 5th, 2026

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army has conditionally selected two companies to enter into exclusive negotiations to build and operate commercial hyperscaled data centers on two Army installations. The initiative demonstrates a model for industry relationships under the Army’s Enhanced Use Lease program.

Global Investment Firm Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) was selected for a project on about 1,384 acres at Fort Bliss, Texas, and CyrusOne, a portfolio company jointly held by funds managed by KKR and BlackRock, was selected for a project on approximately 1,201 acres at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. The companies were chosen through a rigorous and competitive process and will be responsible for financing, building, operating, maintaining, and decommissioning the data centers on underutilized but non-excess Army land at no upfront cost to taxpayers.

“AI is a strategic asset for the Army,” said Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll. “It is a force multiplier, supports future transformation and requirements, keeps the Army ahead of our adversaries, and generates resiliency across the force. These data centers are a critical resource to support that strategic imperative.”

This strategic effort, which aligns with the White House’s 2025 executive order on Accelerating Federal Permitting of Data Center Infrastructure, is authorized by Title 10 U.S. Code § 2667, which allows military departments to lease non-excess property.

“By partnering with the private sector to develop cutting-edge data centers on our installations, we are bolstering our national security, driving technological innovation, and building a more resilient and modern Army,” said David R. Fitzgerald, Deputy Undersecretary of the Army. “Our new data center initiatives made possible by enhanced use leasing, are a direct investment in Army priorities.”

The Army is rapidly advancing its data center initiative, with Initial Operating Capability (IOC) at Fort Bliss projected for Fiscal Year 2027, and IOC at Dugway Proving Ground projected for Fiscal Year 2029. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will play a key role in the projects’ development, as they conduct lease negotiations and provide critical technical expertise, to include environmental review.

“Ensuring lethality through modernization is a fundamental mission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,” said Lt. Gen. Butch Graham, USACE commanding general. “We are leaning forward with our full spectrum of talent and expertise to support the Army’s Data Center EUL program. By delivering these critical facilities on an accelerated timeline, we are not just building infrastructure; we are engineering a strategic competitive advantage for the Army and the Nation.”

While the selection is a major milestone, the deal is not yet final. It allows the Army and our private industry partners to enter an exclusive negotiation period to finalize lease and other terms. The initiative will enhance computational capability for the warfighter, create a projected significant number of American jobs, and advance the Army’s role as a key economic partner.

Insights From Our Partners:

“We are pleased to have been selected to enter exclusive negotiations with the U.S. Army on this initiative to advance next-generation digital infrastructure. With deep roots in Washington, D.C., Carlyle brings experience at the intersection of government and industry, along with a strong track record investing in and building large-scale energy and digital infrastructure. We look forward to engaging with the Army, as negotiations progress to deliver integrated solutions at scale.”

Ferris Hussein, Partner, Global Infrastructure at Carlyle

“We are honored to be selected by the U.S. Army to enter exclusive negotiations for the Dugway project. This represents a unique opportunity to support the Army’s modernization objectives through a long-term, commercially driven development. We look forward to working collaboratively with the Army as this initiative progresses.”

Eric Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of CyrusOne.

“U.S. leadership in the global AI race will be decided in large part by who can build the infrastructure fastest. We commend Secretary Driscoll and the Army for recognizing that and developing an innovative public-private model to accelerate it. Through CyrusOne, KKR brings together land, power, and development expertise in an integrated way that cuts through the complexity of large-scale digital infrastructure delivery. We are proud to offer that capability in service of the nation.”

Waldemar Szlezak, Global Head of Digital Infrastructure at KKR.

“We are proud to partner with the Army on this important initiative, bringing together our experience in digital infrastructure and innovation. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing technology solutions that help meet the demands of a continuously changing global landscape.”

Will Brilliant, Partner and Global Head of Digital Infrastructure at Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock.

U.S. Army Communications and Outreach Office

Posted in Acquisition, Army, Guest Post | Comments Off on Army Reaches Conditional Agreement with Private Industry for Hyperscaled Data Centers

What Happens At: SSC MindGym

Saturday, April 4th, 2026

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. —

In today’s contested and increasingly complex operational environment, the concept of “lethality” is expanding beyond the physical realm of weaponry and into the cognitive domain. Space Systems Command (SSC) is investing in the mental readiness of its warfighters through MindGym, an innovative, science-backed training capability designed to sharpen focus, accelerate recovery, and strengthen the mental edge essential for lethality and dominance in space operations.

“MindGym was conceived to equip our Guardians and Airmen with neuroscience-backed tools to unlock peak mental performance,” said Mr. Colin Lim, the Licensed Mental Health Provider on the Guardian Resilience Team at Los Angeles Air Force Base.

According to Lim, just a few sessions on MindGym can reduce reaction times under stress by some 29% and boost mood by up to 46%. These results stem from MindGym’s powerful fusion of neuroscience, cutting-edge technology, and immersive art in a fully self-guided pod that lets users train their minds with the same deliberate intensity and rigor as physical conditioning.

At its core, MindGym harnesses neuroplasticity, the brain’s lifelong ability to reorganize neuronal pathways, strengthen connections, and adapt in response to targeted experiences and training. Through controlled sensory isolation, dynamic light patterns, reflection, and therapeutic sound, MindGym creates an optimal environment to regulate the nervous system, cultivate deep focus, reduce cognitive overload, and forge lasting mental muscle memory. This isn’t just optional wellness training: it’s the decisive edge that elevates capable operators into unstoppable forces.

“You can think of it as a flight simulator for the mind,” said Lim. Sessions orient users to the present moment, quiet mental noise, and reinforce a high-performance mindset, turning reactive stress into proactive resilience that transforms potential burnout into sustained mission dominance.

With a repeatable, measurable approach, users gain optimized mental performance, enhanced focus, superior stress recovery, and the ability to thrive under pressure. By proactively training resilience, not just reacting to fatigue, MindGym combats cognitive fatigue across demanding operational tempos, delivering fast stress recovery, sharper clarity—even under pressure—and enduring cognitive readiness.

Sessions are efficient (10-20 minutes), accessible, and seamlessly integrate into the duty day or workout at the gym. Guided audio cues pair with immersive light and sound to reset, recover, recharge, and elevate cognitive sharpness without disrupting missions.

MindGym is deployed across nearly 40 installations worldwide, supporting Air Force, Space Force, Army National Guard, and Joint Force units. Deployments span major commands including Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Forces, and Guard and Reserve units. Notable installations include Hill Air Force Base (Flightline), Barksdale Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

For SSC, MindGym is available to Active-Duty Service Members, civilians, contractors, family dependents, and others with base access to Los Angeles Air Force Base, Patrick Space Force Base, Cape Canaveral Space Force Base, and Vandenberg Space Force Base.

Getting started is intentionally effortless: Eligible participants can create an account directly at the MindGym kiosk in minutes, then access it as often as desired. Schedule at www.lumenalabs.com/booking.

New and returning users are invited to join the Mental Edge Challenge, a structured 30-day program with guided sessions to build habits and track real, measurable impact. lumenalabs.com/30daychallenge.

As SSC spearheads warfighting capabilities at speed and scale, elite mental training is as critical as physical readiness. MindGym delivers a proven, science-driven path to train focus, recovery, and resilience, ensuring Space Force and SSC personnel are mentally primed to operate, decide, and lead when it matters most.

By Linda Rivera, SSC Public Affairs

Posted in Guest Post, Medical, Space | Comments Off on What Happens At: SSC MindGym

Army Under Secretary Tours Scranton Army Ammunition Plant

Saturday, April 4th, 2026

SCRANTON, Pa. — The Under Secretary of the Army, Honorable Michael Obadal, visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant on March 19.

SCAAP is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility, and is one of 17 arsenals, depots, and ammunition plants that are subordinate installations of the Joint Munitions Command.

JMC provides the conventional ammunition life?cycle functions of logistics sustainment, readiness and acquisition support for all U.S. military services, other government agencies, and allied nations, as directed. JMC is also the logistics integrator for life-cycle management of ammunition providing a global presence of technical support to frontline units.

SCAAP was established in 1953, and U.S. Hoffman Machinery was the contractor until 1963 when Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation took over. General Dynamics-Ordnance and Tactical Systems assumed the operation of SCAAP in 2006 and is the current contractor.

SCAAP manufactures large-caliber metal projectiles to ensure warfighters have the ammunition they need to carry out missions around the globe. SCAAP has played a vital role in producing 155 mm artillery rounds, enabling allied nations to strengthen both their defensive and offensive capabilities.

SCAAP is in the middle of one of the most significant modernization efforts in its history, driven by the need to increase U.S. production of 155 mm artillery shells. Demand for these shells has surged, and the Army has responded by investing hundreds of millions to overhaul equipment, expand capacity, and update aging infrastructure. Much of the plant’s machinery had been in service for many decades, well beyond its intended lifespan.

Obadal was briefed on SCAAP’s production and modernization operations and saw the new 155 mm production lines while being briefed on the importance of SCAAP’s redundant production capabilities. The tour also included the legacy 155 mm rough turn and finish turn production lines, where Obadal witnessed numerous production processes from billet forge to heat treat.

“We welcome connecting face?to?face with senior leadership and providing them with a visual understanding of SCAAP’s production capability,” said Rich Hansen, SCAAP’s commander’s representative. “Their firsthand perspective drives home the importance of the work we carry out in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in support of those who defend our nation.”

While at SCAAP, Obadal underscored the need to maintain optimal production levels. He emphasized that future requirements must be factored into future planning.

“We value the opportunity to speak directly with senior leadership during their visits,” said Jason Shradnick, SCAAP’s deputy commander’s representative. “Hearing their concerns allows us to align our efforts more precisely and effectively to accomplish the Army’s production goals.”

By Matthew Wheaton, Joint Munitions Command, Public and Congressional Affairs

Posted in Ammo, Army, Guest Post, Manufacturing | Comments Off on Army Under Secretary Tours Scranton Army Ammunition Plant

Headborne Systems – Modular Accessory Retention System (M.A.R.S.)

Friday, April 3rd, 2026

Headborne Systems’ Modular Accessory Retention System (M.A.R.S.) is a lightweight, low-profile solution designed to secure helmet-mounted accessories such as battery packs and night vision devices.

Developed in the Netherlands in collaboration with Flimmuur and produced by British Tactical in the UK, M.A.R.S. has been on the market for several years and continues to evolve through incremental updates. The latest laminate baseplate weighs just 3 grams (approx. 0.11 oz), keeping the system’s footprint minimal, while maintaining durability.

The system integrates with all ballistic and bump helmets and is available in MultiCam, Ranger Green, Wolf Grey, and Black. M.A.R.S. can be sourced via Geartown and Geardom, both shipping worldwide.

Posted in Guest Post, Helmets | Comments Off on Headborne Systems – Modular Accessory Retention System (M.A.R.S.)

FirstSpear Friday Focus – SOV Scalable Operator Vest

Friday, April 3rd, 2026

FirstSpear’s SOV SCALABLE OPERATOR VEST is built for high-threat environments where speed, protection, and adaptability aren’t optional—they’re expected. Designed to scale with the mission, it gives operators the flexibility to run slick or fully loaded without fighting their gear. Rapid-release Tubes make donning and doffing fast and painless—because nobody wants to wrestle their kit at the end of a long day.

The SOV supports soft armor for increased coverage without turning you into a statue. Its winged armor panel design ensures continuous side protection, closing critical gaps while still allowing you to move like you mean it. Reversible tube shoulders add comfort and adjustability, so you can set it up your way, not the vest’s.

Built on FirstSpear’s 6/12 laser-cut platform, the SOV cuts weight without cutting durability. Loop fields on the front, back, and 4” x 9” belly panel make it easy to mount mission-essential gear—ammo, comms, or whatever keeps the day going smoothly.

Bottom line: the SOV is scalable, reliable, and built to perform under pressure. It won’t make your job easy—but it won’t make it harder either, which is more than you can say for most gear.

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.

Posted in Advertiser, Armor, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post | Comments Off on FirstSpear Friday Focus – SOV Scalable Operator Vest

3rd Special Forces Group Pioneers Transformation for Multidomain Operations

Friday, April 3rd, 2026

In an era defined by rapid technological advancement and evolving warfare, special operations stands at the forefront of transformation. As the Army adapts to the pressing demands of a battlefield plagued with changing threats, 3rd Special Forces Group is spearheading a significant transformation.

In an invigorated effort to enable multidomain operations, 3rd Special Forces Group is transforming its legacy military intelligence company into a robust multidomain operations company. The move not only enhances the capabilities of special operations but also aligns with the broader initiative to foster interdependence, interoperability and integration across the force.

The transition to a multidomain company is just a small part of a comprehensive transformation strategy aligned with the Army’s modernization efforts. The new structure consolidates the group’s intelligence and electronic warfare capabilities under a single company, highlighting the significance of this shift in operational capabilities.

As battalions across the formation use their forces to meet strategic-level objectives, the newly structured company is taking on an increased responsibility for the training and readiness of signals intelligence and electronic warfare soldiers within the formation.

“One of the key initiatives that we have done is assumed responsibility of the advanced collection training team, which is helping to facilitate a streamlined training glidepath for the group’s [signals intelligence] and [electronic warfare] assets,” said Army Capt. Andrew Reynolds, multidomain operations company commander.

As the company adjusts to its new role in the group, it is returning to foundational intelligence practices, drawing on insights from 1980s doctrine.

“We are analyzing current [geopolitical] events, like the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the large-scale military drills in China, and applying decades-old doctrine to better understand how we can effectively counter near-peer threats during large-scale combat operations,” Reynolds explained as he emphasized the impacts of preparing soldiers for the complexities of modern warfare.

Despite ongoing advancements and an overall transformation of warfighting systems, the company is still developing new solutions to mitigate the challenges of integrating intelligence capabilities with the conventional force and joint partners.

“We are working to identify solutions to efficiently and effectively support the targeting process with real-time data,” Reynolds said. “The networks and systems we use do not always ‘talk’ to one another, leading our soldiers to use slow and outdated techniques to feed targeting.”

To enhance collaboration and integration practices across the force, Reynolds and his company are engaging with Army corps-level commands to execute comprehensive training that tests the company’s systems and capabilities. In line with Army transformation efforts, the formation is exploring the application of future artificial intelligence to feed joint systems, enhancing data analysis and streamlining the targeting process across the joint force.

Meeting the Army’s growing demands requires innovation, adaptability and realistic training. To meet these demands, the company is executing certification, validation and verification training events to ensure the formation’s readiness for deployment in support of large-scale combat and stability operations.

At higher command levels, the company is curating training and an operational support model that meets the unique demands of unconventional warfare in a contemporary warfare environment.

While the special operations enterprise is transforming at an unprecedented rate to meet the growing demands of warfare, no transformation is equal to it. The 3rd Special Forces Group’s tailored approach not only meets the unit’s unique needs but also reinforces the holistic objectives of multidomain operations.

Through this transformation, the multidomain operations company is positioning itself to lead the way in innovative intelligence solutions, ensuring the joint force is prepared to face future challenges.

By Army MAJ Justin Zwick, 3rd Special Forces Group

Posted in Army, EW, Guest Post, ISR, SOF | 3 Comments »