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Groundbreaking Held for KONGSBERG’s Missile Manufacturing and Maintenance Facility in James City County, Virginia

Sunday, February 8th, 2026

Jan. 16, 2026 – Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, Inc. (‘KONGSBERG’) held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for its first state-of-the-art US-based missile production facility in James City County, Va.

Speakers at the event included Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (Norway) President Eirik Lie, James City County Board of Supervisors Chair Dr. John McGlennon, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Hon. Shep Miller, U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (VA-1) and Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Anniken Huitfeldt.

 

This facility, located in Toano, Va, between Richmond and Williamsburg and conveniently near Naval Station Yorktown, will help the company meet global demand for its precision strike missiles. 

 

“This new KONGSBERG factory will provide additional production capacity, sustainment and in-country tech refresh capabilities for our Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM) – both highly advanced, fifth generation cruise missiles capable of both maritime strike and land attack,” said Lie.

 

The United States Navy awarded KONGSBERG a multi-year procurement contract for NSM in 2024 for the Navy’s Over-the-Horizon weapon wystem, as well as the Marine Corps’ NMESIS (Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System). The United States Air Force selected the JSM in 2024 for use on the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.

 

“We are proud to invest in defense manufacturing in the United States and excited to onshore our world-class capabilities in James City County, Va. The state of Virginia, including the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Hampton Roads Alliance, have been integral in this process and we look forward to growing our presence in the US as we ramp up hiring,” said Heather Armentrout, KDA, Inc. president and general manager. 

 

The KONGSBERG facility was announced in September 2024 and will create more than 180 jobs in the James City County area. It will inject more than $100 million in economic benefits, as well as create opportunities for local suppliers to support the production and manufacturing of these weapons.

 

Preparatory site work has commenced with construction expected to begin by Q2 2026. Missile manufacturing will begin in late 2027, ramping up to full rate production by the end of 2028.

The NSM has been selected by 14 countries and the JSM by 5 nations, including the US.

Milrem Robotics and EOS Defence Systems Sign Teaming Agreement to Advance Unmanned Ground Systems Capabilities

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading developer of robotics and autonomous systems, and EOS Defence Systems, a global leader in advanced remote weapon systems and integrated defence solutions for Counter-UAS, have signed a teaming agreement to jointly pursue new business opportunities and advance network-centric collaborative combat robotics.

The agreement establishes a framework for cooperation across marketing, product development, and research and development, enabling both companies to combine their complementary expertise in unmanned platforms, weapon systems, and integrated defence solutions.

“By combining Milrem Robotics’ unmanned ground vehicle expertise with EOS Defence Systems’ advanced weapon and integration capabilities, we are strengthening our ability to deliver scalable and mission-ready solutions for modern armed forces,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. “This teaming agreement reflects our shared commitment to innovation, interoperability, and responding to evolving operational requirements.”

“The drone threat environment is increasingly mobile and contested, and effective defence can no longer be confined to fixed sites or crewed platforms,” said Andreas Schwer, CEO of Electro Optic Systems (EOS). “This teaming agreement extends EOS’ world-leading counter-drone systems onto unmanned ground platforms, supporting more flexible and layered defence approaches.”

Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate to identify business opportunities in new markets and customer segments of mutual interest, as well as to develop and execute joint marketing initiatives. The cooperation also enables the potential co-development of products, technologies, and integrated solutions aligned with the companies’ respective areas of expertise.

A key focus of the partnership is joint research and development, including the integration of advanced weapon systems, sensors, and effectors onto Milrem Robotics’ unmanned ground vehicles. Planned activities may include non-ITAR counter-UAS solutions, missile and grenade launcher integrations, large-calibre weapon systems for heavy UGVs, and the integration of laser-based capabilities on medium and large uncrewed platforms, in cooperation with selected international partners.

The agreement further supports the sharing of relevant intellectual property, technical know-how, and research outcomes to accelerate the commercialisation and deployment of jointly developed or marketed solutions.

The collaboration will initially focus on selected markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, and Europe, with opportunities in the United States assessed on a case-by-case basis. Target markets include the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, and selected European programmes where joint offerings can deliver a clear competitive advantage.

Ford and Darley Collaborate to Equip Broncos for Search and Rescue Teams Nationwide

Wednesday, February 4th, 2026

Detroit, MI – February 3rd, 2026 – At the Detroit Auto Show, Ford announced a nationwide search to donate five Bronco Badlands models equipped with the Sasquatch Package to under-resourced search and rescue (SAR) organizations across the country. These donations are part of the Bronco Wild Fund’s commitment to provide five specialized vehicles in 2026. Two recipients, Kern County Fire & Rescue (CA) and Teton County Search & Rescue (WY), are already confirmed, and Ford is now inviting applications for the remaining three.

To ensure these vehicles are mission-ready, Ford is collaborating with Darley, a trusted provider of defense and rescue equipment, and Public Safety Direct, a leading emergency vehicle upfitter. Together, they will equip each Bronco with advanced capabilities designed for the most demanding environments and that meet the special needs of the recipients which may include special features and technology such as:

  • Starlink satellite connectivity for reliable communications in remote or disaster-impacted areas
  • Integrated drone technology for real-time aerial reconnaissance and situational awareness
  • Advanced lighting, winches, and recovery systems engineered for rugged rescue operations

Peter Darley, Executive Vice President and COO of Darley, said: “We’re proud to collaborate with Ford because we share a commitment to innovation and supporting those who serve. By combining Ford’s legendary vehicles with Darley’s expertise in rescue and communications gear, we’re helping search and rescue teams operate at their best, even in the toughest conditions.

Kevin Sofen, Technology & Innovation Manager for Darley, added: “Search and rescue teams don’t need complicated technology, they need tools that work every time they show up for work. These Broncos are purpose-built with reliable connectivity and integrated rescue capabilities designed specifically for how SAR teams operate. It’s a vehicle teams can rely on in demanding conditions, without having to question whether it’s going to hold up when lives are on the line”

Search and rescue organizations interested in applying for one of these specialized Broncos can visit nasar.org/page/AnswerTheCall for details.

Learn more on our websites: www.darley.com and shop.darley.com.

Atrius Development Group Issues Call to Industry

Friday, January 30th, 2026

We received this statement from Atrius Development Group:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — STATEMENT ON RARE BREED PATENT ALLEGATIONS

January 30, 2026

Atrius Development Group issues the following statement to its distributors and retail partners regarding the frivolous patent assertions made by Rare Breed against the Second Amendment community.

Prior to bringing the Atrius products to market, Atrius has opinions from numerous large patent law firms that Atrius products do not infringe on any existing patents.

Atrius Development Group stands behind its products and will support our distribution and retail partners whose Second Amendment rights are being violated via patent litigation by Rare Breed,” said Ryan Spadafore, CEO of Atrius Development Group.

The false and frivolous Rare Breed claims have been evaluated and will be addressed directly in the appropriate forum. We believe the bullying tactics of Rare Breed are dishonorable and an insult to the Second Amendment community.

Rare Breed has made allegations concerning our Atrius products and has chosen the cowardly action of opening/threatening litigation against those in our dealer network in an attempt to destabilize what the Super Safety Community has built in the wake of Rare Breed bending the knee to the ATF. They prefer to feed their greed and use unethical lawfare against individuals like Tim Hoffman, of Hoffman Tactical, all while claiming benevolence and altruism.

Atrius Development Group is the backstop to these actions.

Atrius Development Group encourages any distributor or retailer in receipt of frivolous claims from Rare Breed relating to Atrius products to promptly notify Atrius leadership so the company can coordinate an appropriate response and provide immediate support. Atrius remains confident in its legal position and in the continued supply and availability of its products. We will continue to fight for the expanded access of parts and accessories that advance the Second Amendment, no matter what forces stand in our way.

More power to the Dealers. Together we win.

Stay Blessed,

TEAM ATRIUS

AV and CAL Analytics Launch Operational BVLOS Airspace Management Facility in Partnership with the U.S. Air Force and Ohio Department of Transportation

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – January 27, 2026 –AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV), a global defense technology leader delivering software-enabled disruptive autonomous systems, and CAL Analytics, an innovator in advanced airspace management technologies, today announced the completed installation and initial operation of a new Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) airspace management facility at the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) at Springfield-Beckley Municipal Airport in Springfield, Ohio. 

Initially developed under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), the project now features an upgraded installation that integrates AV_Halo™ COMMAND, AV’s command and control (C2) architecture, with CAL Analytics’ Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) enterprise platform to establish the nation’s premiere test environment and management facility, where Department of War operators can safely conduct BVLOS missions in shared airspace utilizing existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ground radar feeds. 

“This installation establishes the blueprint for how airports and states across the country can safely integrate uncrewed aircraft into existing airspace,” said Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at AV. “As the FAA defines the future of BVLOS rule-making, this facility provides the real-world operational data, safety validation, and interoperability framework regulators need. The system we’ve installed in Ohio isn’t just a mock-up or a test site — pending FAA approval it will be an operational and scalable model for nationwide deployment and the foundation for truly integrated air mobility.” 

The integration will support flight tests, evaluation, and day-to-day operations by routing AFRL’s access to the FAA’s ground-radar network through AV_Halo™ COMMAND — AV’s modular, software-driven C2 architecture that fuses multiple enhanced sensor feeds, into a single, secure operating picture, giving operators continuous situational awareness for BVLOS mission planning and airspace safety. 

“AV_Halo is the connective tissue that turns a collection of sensors, radars, and platforms into a living, breathing airspace system,” said Stephen Lloyd, Senior Director C2, CUAS, and Tracking at AV. “By fusing FAA ground radar, and COTS surveillance sensors into a single, secure operating picture, AV_Halo delivers the assured visibility and machine-speed decision support needed for predictable BVLOS operations—and makes it possible to scale effortlessly from a single site to an entire statewide corridor.” 

When combined with CAL Analytics’ AAM enterprise platform, the system unifies radar and advanced DAA into a single real-time airspace view—enabling detect-and-avoid, extending autonomous BVLOS operations with precision and confidence.  

“Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations are the key to unlocking the next generation of air mobility,” said Dr. Sean Calhoun, Managing Director of CAL Analytics. “This facility will prove that BVLOS can be executed safely and reliably in shared airspace—and that matters because it sets the foundation for statewide corridors, national standards, and an entirely new layer of transportation infrastructure that will reshape how we move people, goods, data, and critical services across the country.” 

Pending full FAA approval, the facility will support local missions and real-time monitoring of UAS activity as AFRL, ODOT, the FAA, AV, and CAL Analytics collaborate to validate airspace-safety technologies, advance air-mobility corridors, drive economic development, and shape national BVLOS rules and integration standards. 

Plans are already underway to extend the system to enable corridors between Springfield and Columbus, Ohio, adding new radar sites and expanding detect-and-avoid coverage to support broader BVLOS operations across Ohio and additional sites nationwide. 

Reveal Technology Acquires Anomaly Six, Expanding Operator-Focused Intelligence Capabilities

Thursday, January 29th, 2026

Acquisition Strengthens Defense Company’s Tactical-Edge Ecosystem with Multi-Domain Intelligence Tools

BOZEMAN, Mont., Jan. 29, 2026 — Reveal Technology, a veteran-founded defense technology company, announced today the acquisition of Anomaly Six (A6), a multi-domain digital intelligence company. The acquisition strengthens Reveal’s operator-focused intelligence capabilities, by integrating A6’s global location and behavioral-pattern solutions with Reveal’s autonomous tactical ecosystem. Unifying these intelligence streams gives warfighters at the tactical edge complete, real-time insight where and when it’s needed most.

Anomaly Six brings a mature suite of commercially derived intelligence tools used to map global digital activity, understand connectivity networks, and analyze operational behaviors.  These capabilities directly complement Reveal’s Farsight geospatial platform and Identifi human terrain solution, allowing operators to correlate physical location data with behavioral patterns and network relationships in real time. Together, the companies are delivering one of the few platforms purpose-built for the tactical edge, unifying physical, human, and digital terrain into a single operational capability.

“This acquisition reinforces our vision to position Reveal as the rare intelligence provider delivering layered, tactically-relevant intelligence at the point of decision,” said Garrett Smith, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Reveal Technology. “We take very seriously the needs of tactical decision makers, and they need our depth across intelligence, autonomy, and decision-support capabilities, at the speed of tactical relevance.  By integrating Anomaly Six’s intelligence capabilities with Reveal’s other products – Farsight and Identifi – we’re establishing Reveal as the digital arms room for the modern warrior across all tactical intelligence domains.”

Led by teams with deep military and intelligence experience, both veteran-founded companies understand how intelligence is operationalized. As global threats evolve, the acquisition unifies previously disconnected intelligence streams into a single environment, enabling faster decisions and eliminating the friction of complex integrations.

“Seven years ago, we founded Anomaly Six with a singular focus on solving complex global defense and intelligence challenges through best-in-class commercial capabilities,” said Jeff Heinz, Co-Founder of Anomaly Six. “By joining forces with Reveal Technology, we are not only sustaining commitment to our partners in the defense, intelligence, and commercial communities, but also accelerating our ability to deliver. This partnership allows us to combine our capabilities into a broader ecosystem allowing us to put mission-critical information directly into the hands of the warfighter and those operating at the tactical edge.”

Reveal has plans to integrate Anomaly Six’s capabilities into its broader platform in a phased manner, with enhanced digital terrain and multi-domain intelligence features becoming available to government and allied customers over time. Anomaly Six will continue operating from its Northern Virginia headquarters and serving its current customer base without disruption.

Viktos Public Service Announcement

Wednesday, January 28th, 2026

We are sharing this on behalf of our friends at Viktos:

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT // We’ve been made aware that someone is impersonating VIKTOS and emailing people about fake collaboration opportunities.

? This is a scam. Do not engage. ?

VIKTOS will never reach out for collaborations using a Gmail account, request fees, or ask for personal details in this manner. We’ve informed our IT team and are actively addressing the issue.

If you receive an email claiming to be from VIKTOS, check the domain. Official communications will always come from @VIKTOS.com.

We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and appreciate our friends, partners, and customers who brought this to our attention.

Stay safe. Stay vigilant. Stay united.

WWW.VIKTOS.COM //

This is what the scam looks like:

Raft Awarded Contract for Desert Sentry to Accelerate Operator-Centric AI for CENTCOM Missions

Saturday, January 24th, 2026

Raft’s AI Mission System empowers CENTCOM operators with on-demand computer vision tailored to real-world missions – broad-area satellite search, distributed maritime monitoring, and counter-UxS threat detection.

MCLEAN, Va., Jan. 22, 2026 — Raft, a leading defense technology company, powering the software-driven foundation of modern warfare, has been awarded a highly competitive Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) by the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO), in partnership with U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), following a five-day vendor bake-off. Hosted last fall by CENTCOM, the evaluation sought cutting-edge solutions to operationalize AI on the battlefield. Raft’s win underscores its ability to rapidly deliver deployable, operator-ready technology that meets the evolving demands of the modern fight.

Raft’s AI Mission System ([R] AIMS) delivers a no-code machine learning system that puts the power of computer vision directly into the hands of operators. Raft built and deployed a fully containerized, Agentic AI platform that enables operators to train, evaluate, and deploy new Computer Vision models with confidence and verifiability—no data science background required.

“This wasn’t about building another tool,” said Shubhi Mishra, founder and CEO of Raft. “This was about rethinking how AI gets built for mission-critical environments and how we empower operators to adapt when the mission demands it. Raft exists to turn operators into super-operators, and that starts by putting AI creation directly in their hands.”

By integrating seamlessly with NGA Maven workflows, [R]AIMS enables model refresh in days—supporting key use cases like:

Satellite Broad Area Search: Quickly train gap-filler models on-the-fly to support large-scale overhead imagery tasks

Distributed Monitoring: Enable task forces like TF-59 to deploy and adapt CV models across maritime environments

Counter-UxS Threat Detection: Build computer vision to detect, label, and characterize optical threats without waiting on centralized updates

Built with Raft’s agentic AI principles at its core, the system features built-in guardrails via [R]AIMS and machine-assisted feedback loops for Responsible AI—ensuring every model is traceable, adaptable, and aligned with mission intent.

“[R]AIMS Vision enables something we’ve been chasing for years: COCOMs building their own AI at the speed of the mission,” said Bhaarat Sharma, CTO at Raft. “This is how you scale intelligence across the force—by putting tools in the hands of operators and giving them the autonomy to iterate in real time.”

[R]AIMS validates what is possible when Agentic AI moves beyond conversational interfaces to deliver autonomous, operator-controlled computer vision that adapts at mission speed. Operators rapidly created new gap-filler models for unplanned ISR scenarios—without needing data scientists on call. The system even handled optical threat detection and object tracking in real time, including NITF and other complex formats. [R]AIMS is now positioned for rapid expansion across combatant commands, supporting faster intelligence cycles, better decision-making, and real-time adaptation on the battlefield.

For more information about Raft, visit www.teamraft.com.