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XS Sights to Display New Products at 2026 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits

Monday, April 13th, 2026

Fort Worth, Texas (April 10, 2026) – XS® Sights will be displaying its newest sights and accessories for personal defense, hunting, and target shooting at the 2026 NRA Annual Meetings and Exhibits in Houston, Texas, April 17-19. All NRA members are encouraged to stop by booth # 1716 in the George R. Brown Convention Center to meet with the XS team and learn more about the numerous XS products engineered to deliver an improved shooting experience.

Among the new products are the soon-to-be released Glock Gen 6 ACRO Optic Plate, the HK VP9 Optic Plates (ACRO and RMR footprints) and Fiber Optic Sights for target and competition shooting, as well as 5+ magazine extensions for Walther PDP and S&W M&P pistols. XS will also have many other products on display including their legendary Big Dot night sights, the R3D 2.0 sights, and handguards for Henry and S&W lever action rifles.

“We are excited to have the NRA show back in our home state of Texas and welcome the many loyal NRA members and their families from throughout the country who are as enthusiastic about the shooting sports as we are here at XS Sights,” said Jeff King, Marketing Manager, XS Sights. “We’re especially excited to show off some of the new products and line extensions, such as the optic plate bundles and magazine extensions. Whether for law enforcement, EDC, target and competition shooting, or hunting, we’ve been hard at work to give you the best products possible. We look forward to spending time with NRA members and helping them find the best solutions to improve their individual shooting experiences.”

XS sights are backed by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. The company also offers a 12-year illumination warranty on all tritium products. For more information, visit www.xssights.com.

Posted in Industry, NRA, Optics, Press Release | No Comments »

Daniel Defense Welcomes Casey Brinkley as Military Sales Manager

Monday, April 13th, 2026

Daniel Defense is proud to welcome Casey Brinkley as Military Sales Manager. Casey brings over 17 years of combined service with the United States Army, including 12 years on active duty, and continues to serve as a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army National Guard.

With a strong operational background and firsthand understanding of the needs of today’s warfighters, Casey adds valuable perspective to the team. In his role, he works closely with military partners to deliver dependable, field-proven solutions, backed by a commitment to performance, reliability, and service.

www.DanielDefense.com

Posted in Guest Post, Industry | No Comments »

Gun Tote’n Mamas Announces Partnership with Charter Arms

Sunday, April 12th, 2026

NORTHBROOK, Ill. – April 8, 2026 – Award-winning Gun Tote’n Mamas® (GTM), the leading provider of women’s protection solutions, is excited to announce its partnership with Charter Arms Manufacturing, an American revolver manufacturing company. GTM will showcase its latest concealed carry handbags and everyday protection solutions designed by women, for women.

GTM has been setting the industry standard for quality concealed carry handbags since 2009. This ultimately reflects its commitment to offering reasonably priced, high quality and multi-tasking concealed carry bags without compromising on design, construction and leather quality. GTM handbags are loved by firearm instructors, law enforcement and security personnel (men and women). GTM takes pride in the extensive testing conducted by instructors across the country to ensure the concealed carry leather bags meet the highest standards for ease of draw and functionality. Gun Tote’n Mamas rigorously tests each concealed carry leather handbag using leading firearms.

“We couldn’t be more excited about our new partnership with Gun Tote’n Mamas,” said Nick Ecker, owner, president and CEO of Charter Arms. “Their high-quality firearm handbags, designed for women, are second to none. We looked long and hard for the right partner for this and, based on their quality, style, price point, and the fact they are designed by women for women, we know they are the best fit.”

GTM’s most popular designs and new arrivals are available to shop now with Charter Arms. Including the new Clutch Concealed Carry Purse Distressed Buffalo GTM-CZY/22, released in December of 2025. These styles reflect trending silhouettes paired with discreet concealed carry features built into premium leather handbags. The bags featured were specifically selected by industry professionals as they fit Charter Arms firearms. To shop this curated collection, visit Charter Arms’ Accessory Store.

As a longtime champion of women’s protection, Gun Tote’n Mamas remains committed to creating functional, stylish solutions that support confidence and preparedness. Charter Arms provides an opportunity to highlight that mission while connecting with consumers and industry professionals from around the world.

GTM remains committed to prioritizing women’s protection. For more information, visit gtmoriginal.com or call 847-446-0700 Ext. 105.

Posted in Firearms, For the Ladies, Industry, Press Release | No Comments »

B.E. Meyers & Co. Announces Retirement of Master Prototype Machinist After 35 Years of Service

Friday, April 10th, 2026

10 April, 2026, REDMOND, WA — B.E. Meyers & Co., Inc., a Defense Technology Manufacturer specializing in advanced photonic solutions for military, law enforcement, consumer and aerospace applications worldwide has announced the retirement of Master Prototype Machinist, Paul Phelps, after more than three decades of service.

Phelps, whose craftsmanship has been a cornerstone of the company’s success, joined B.E. Meyers & Co. in 1991, during a critical moment in the company’s history, when it transitioned from its initial focus on night vision devices toward specialized and advanced laser systems.

Over the course of his 35-year career with B.E. Meyers & Co., Phelps has had a personal hand in every product in the company’s catalog, transforming raw materials into the precision technologies trusted by the most specialized operators around the globe.

“None of our success would have been possible without the dedication and skilled craftsmanship of our employees,” Matt Meyers, CEO of B.E. Meyers, & Co., reflects. “Paul’s expertise inprecision movement and time is unparalleled. His involvement in every product has helped shape who B.E. Meyers is today.”

Phelps maintained a singular standard, “Quality work on time, every time.” Known for his ability to execute complex designs with robust precision, ensured that the company’ products maintained their repute for durability in the most demanding environments.

To honor his monumental contribution to the company’s legacy, B.E. Meyers & Co. has commissioned a custom, commemorative timepiece from Ares Watch Co., an American brand known for its mission-ready timepieces. Known for its shared values of American craftsmanship and uncompromising reliability, Ares watches are built by artisans. The collaborative Ares Automatic Field Watchwatch serves as a functional celebration of Phelps’ career with B.E. Meyers, & Co.

SPECS:
FIELD-1 Movement

The FIELD-1 Mission Timer is manufactured with a precision Swiss movement:

• Swiss Automatic: ARES currently uses ETA Swiss movements for our automatic DIVER-1 (ETA 2824)

FIELD-1 Case, Caseback, Crown & Bezel

• Turned from a solid bar of 316L stainless steel in Ogden, UT

• Hand finished in bead blast Urban Stainless

Crystal, Dial & Hands

• Domed sapphire crystal with inner anti-reflective AR coating

• Brass dial with Super LumiNova C3 printed hour indicators, painted minute indices and logo

• Brushed hands with C3 in brushed stainless

Performance & Testing

• Individually tested and certified, fully assembled, to 35BAR = 350M.

• Anti-magnetic rating 18.8Oe, shock resistant to NIHS-91-10 standards, and thermo-compensated -0 to 50+ C

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Industry, Watches | No Comments »

Red Cat Announces Strategic Partnership with Ukraine’s Spetstechnoexport to Advance Multi-Domain Uncrewed Systems Collaboration

Monday, April 6th, 2026

SALT LAKE CITY, March 30, 2026 — Red Cat Holdings, Inc.?(Nasdaq: RCAT), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, today announced it has entered a strategic partnership with Spetstechnoexport (STE), a state-owned enterprise under Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense, to accelerate collaboration on next-generation unmanned and robotic systems.

The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) establishes a framework for cooperation across air, land, and maritime domains. The collaboration is designed to support the integration of advanced technologies, expand production capabilities, and enable broader access to U.S. and Ukrainian defense innovations in global markets. This partnership positions Red Cat as one of the first U.S. companies to formally collaborate with a Ukrainian state-owned defense enterprise on the advancement of multi-domain unmanned systems.

The announcement follows a joint event held in Ukraine earlier this month, where Red Cat and STE convened defense stakeholders, technology developers, and operational end users to showcase emerging unmanned systems and identify opportunities for deeper cooperation.

“This partnership reflects a fundamental shift in how allied nations collaborate to rapidly develop, scale, and deploy unmanned systems,” said Chris Ericson, Chief Operating Officer at Red Cat. “Ukraine has become a proving ground for new defense technologies, and STE plays a critical role in connecting those innovations to global partners. Together, we are creating a pathway to accelerate capability development and deliver mission-ready solutions across multiple domains.”

STE serves as a key integrator of Ukraine’s defense technology ecosystem, facilitating international partnerships, export coordination, and the scaling of advanced systems for operational deployment. Through this partnership, Red Cat will work alongside STE and Ukrainian developers to explore joint initiatives that align with evolving mission requirements in contested environments.

The collaboration builds on Red Cat’s broader strategy to deliver a fully integrated Family of Systems, combining aerial, ground, and maritime platforms with secure communications and scalable manufacturing, to support modern military and security operations. As global demand increases for rapidly deployable, resilient, and interoperable unmanned systems, the partnership underscores the importance of allied cooperation in advancing defense innovation and strengthening industrial capabilities.

Posted in Drone, Industry, International, Press Release | No Comments »

Fortastra Expands Leadership Team to Accelerate Development of Mission-Ready Space Systems

Thursday, April 2nd, 2026

Industry Veterans from Relativity Space, Hermeus, Astrion and Divergent Join to Elevate Engineering, Product, and Organizational Growth

LOS ANGELES, CA., — April 2, 2026 — FortastraCorporation, a developer of advanced space systems supporting national security and commercial missions, today announced the appointment of Josh Jetter, Sahil Desai and Arnold Nowinski to its leadership team. These new hires strengthen Fortastra’s engineering, product, and organizational capabilities as the company continues scaling to support modern space infrastructure operations.

Josh Jetter will take on the role of Chief Technology Officer at Fortastra, where he will spearhead the company’s engineering organization across design, manufacturing, integration and operations. Jetter brings top-level experience building advanced aerospace systems across both startup and traditional ecosystems. Previously, he served as Senior Director of Avionics Engineering and Manufacturing at Relativity Space, and as Director of Engineering at Impossible Aerospace. Earlier, he held engineering leadership roles at Momentus Space, contributed to hardware development for Starlink at SpaceX, and supported multiple space systems programs at Sandia National Laboratories. At Fortastra, Jetter will work closely with customers to align product roadmaps with evolving technical requirements and mission needs.

Sahil Desai joins Fortastra as Vice President of Product, where he will head up product strategy and growth to ensure Fortastra’s technology delivers mission-ready capabilities for defense and commercial partners. Desai started his career as an Intelligence Community Officer supporting national security initiatives. He later served as Director of Programs at Hermeus Corporation, teaming up with Fortastra CEO Mike Smayda, where he established the company’s program management function and helped secure key hypersonics contracts. Most recently, as Vice President of Aerospace and Defense Programs at Divergent Technologies, Desai helped scale the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies in defense technology environments.

Arnold Nowinski joins Fortastra as Vice President of People, bringing more than 25 years of experience supporting commercial, civil, and Department of Defense programs. He most recently served as Vice President and General Manager of the Space Launch and Sciences business unit at Astrion, where he staffed and led a team of more than 250 engineers and scientists across multiple NASA and U.S. Space Force programs. Arnold also spent time developing the flight safety system for Falcon 1 at SpaceX. Earlier in his career, he served as a developmental engineer in the United States Air Force, assisting in research and development at the Air Force Research Laboratory and mission assurance of National Security Space launches.

“Fortastra is building technology that will define the next era of space operations and achieving that vision demands leaders from across disciplines and industries,” said Mike Smayda, CEO of Fortastra. “Josh, Sahil, and Arnold bring world-class experience spanning engineering, product strategy, and organizational leadership from some of the most demanding and innovative sectors. This diversity of expertise provides a unique advantage as we continue developing mission-critical systems for our government and commercial partners.”

“I’ve spent my career building aerospace systems that push the boundaries of what’s possible and am thrilled to be joining this organization securing critical assets in orbit,” said Josh Jetter, Chief Technology Officer at Fortastra. “Fortastra is tackling some of the most complex challenges in space operations, and I’m happy to be a part of the journey as we build reliable, scalable systems.”

“Modern space missions demand advanced technologies that are operationally ready,” said Sahil Desai, Vice President of Product at Fortastra. “Fortastra is uniquely positioned to deliver that capability, and I’m excited to help guide the product strategy to bring these innovations to customers who need them most.”

“The space economy is growing rapidly, and building the teams most capable of supporting that growth is essential,” said Arnold Nowinski, Vice President of People at Fortastra. “Fortastra is curating an exceptional group of experts and I’m excited to help develop the organizational foundation that will support the company’s expansion.”

Fortastra recently raised over $8 million in seed financing, led by Upfront Ventures, with participation from Generational Partners, Wave Function Ventures, Bloomberg Beta, and Forward Deployed VC.

About Fortastra

Fortastra designs and operates maneuverable spacecraft for on-orbit security. Headquartered in Torrance, California, Fortastra combines modern engineering practices, high-rate spacecraft manufacturing, and advanced autonomy to protect critical space infrastructure and deliver consistent operational advantage for the United States and its allies. Learn more at www.fortastra.com

Posted in Industry, Press Release, Space | Comments Off on Fortastra Expands Leadership Team to Accelerate Development of Mission-Ready Space Systems

Rheinmetall and Boeing Partner on German MQ-28 Ghost Bat

Wednesday, April 1st, 2026

Rheinmetall and Boeing Australia have entered into a strategic partnership to offer the MQ-28 Ghost Bat as a mature solution for the Bundeswehr’s procurement of collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) into Germany by 2029.

Boeing’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat has completed more than 150 flights and has been designed, developed and manufactured in Australia for the Royal Australian Air Force and other allied nations.

A proven autonomous CCA, it will act as a force multiplier, teaming with manned platforms to provide critical combat mass in highly contested airspace. Its modular design and autonomous behaviours support a broad range of mission capabilities, including reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and the integration of weapons systems.

Under the partnership, Rheinmetall, with its experience in 5th-generation fighter aircraft and unmanned systems and its strong industrial base, will be the system manager for MQ-28 in Germany, overseeing system integration into existing and future command and weapon systems of the Bundeswehr, adaptation to national requirements and ensuring operational, maintenance, and logistical support.

“With Boeing Defence Australia as a partner, we are laying the groundwork to optimally tailor the MQ-28 to the Bundeswehr’s requirements,” said Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG. “As a system integrator, we ensure that integration, operation, and further development come from a single source while simultaneously strengthening industrial value creation in the form of an industrial hub in Germany and Europe. We see revenue potential for Rheinmetall in the range of three-digit millions of euros.”

The strategic partnership ensures a high level of national and sovereign value creation and supply security in Germany.

The MQ-28 Ghost Bat’s open, modular system architecture allows for continuous upgrades and rapid capability growth. Rheinmetall will support a dedicated digital environment in country, where engineers from both Germany and Australia contribute, test and validate new software and hardware innovations.

“This is not just a partnership between our companies but between two great countries, Germany and Australia, who share a similar strategy for integrating collaborative combat aircraft into their air forces,” said Dr. Brendan Nelson, president of Boeing Global. “Our partnership will see Germany’s industrial base leverage years of Australian innovation and investment to field and evolve MQ-28 for the Bundeswehr.”

The collaboration supports joint development, testing and the systematic growth of German content on the Australian-developed platform and offers the Bundeswehr considerable time savings in the deployment of a CCA capability by 2029.

Posted in Aviation, Industry, International, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

DroneShield Partners with Kinetic Interceptor Manufacturer with Origin Robotics MOU

Wednesday, April 1st, 2026

Sydney, Australia – 31 March 2026 – DroneShield (ASX:DRO), a global leader in counter-drone technology solutions, along with Origin Robotics, a defence technology company specialising in advanced autonomous systems, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to formally progress joint collaboration across defence and security projects.

Both companies bring battle-proven technologies already deployed in demanding operational environments. DroneShield contributes its advanced detection, electronic warfare and best-in-class sensor fusion and command-and-control capabilities. Meanwhile, Origin Robotics brings interceptor-focused autonomous platforms engineered for rapid launch, with its BLAZE platform, selected by multiple European governments and now entering operational service.

The MOU establishes a structured framework for the two companies to partner on joint projects that address emerging counter-UAS requirements. This collaboration also represents a pathway to providing operators access to a uniquely powerful combination: world-class detection and tracking from DroneShield’s SensorFusionAI and DroneSentry-C2, seamlessly cueing the proven precision of interceptor-drone defeat enabled by Origin Robotics’ autonomous systems.

DroneShield and Origin Robotics recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to further cooperation on counter-UAS opportunities.

As the threat environment evolves, driven by widespread use of long-range, low-cost kamikaze drones such as Shahed’s, interceptor drones are increasingly being explored as a complementary effector within modern layered counter-UAS architectures, such as DroneShield’s DroneSentry.

Angus Bean, Chief Product Officer at DroneShield said the collaboration positions both companies to move forward on global counter-UAS initiatives. “Counter-UAS has entered a phase where accuracy, speed and scalability are non-negotiable. Our sensor fusion capability delivers world-leading quality track data and allows operators to continuously strengthen drone detection. By partnering with Origin, we are creating a pathway that directly addresses the need to defeat Shahed-type threats, providing operators with a mature, affordable and operationally credible approach as part of a truly layered sensor and effector solution.”

Agris Kipurs, CEO of Origin Robotics said the alignment between the companies creates strong potential for future capability development. “Our autonomous interceptor platforms are built for the realities of modern conflict, where traditional systems can struggle to respond quickly or cost-effectively. Partnering with DroneShield allows us to combine best-in-class detection with real-time interception, creating a more responsive and scalable approach to counter-UAS operations.”

As Europe, the Middle East and the United States continue to invest in more resilient counter?UAS capabilities, this MOU positions DroneShield and Origin Robotics to jointly pursue emerging opportunities and offer pathways to operators seeking adaptable, scalable solutions.

Posted in C-UAS, Industry, International, Press Release | No Comments »