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ISTEC Celebrates Over 80,000 Weapon Mounts and Ancillaries Sold Globally Since the First DVD in 2001

Thursday, September 17th, 2026

ISTEC Services Ltd is a British company with nearly 4 decades of operationally proven experience in the design, manufacture and supply of complex weapon mount integration solutions, smoke dischargers and other ancillaries, such as weapon stowage, for military platforms across the Land, Sea and Air domains globally.

At this, the 18th DVD event since the inaugural event in 2001, ISTEC is celebrating the sale of over 80,000 weapon mounts and ancillaries to enhance the force protection and firepower capabilities of military platforms around the world. Having exhibited at 15 of 17 events in the past, ISTEC will be displaying a range of its products, including its ring mount, swing arm and universal gun mount fitted to a Fering Pioneer X vehicle on Stand SP-01. At DVD you will also find ISTEC products fitted to various vehicles on the GM Defence (OR-10), Supacat (OR-27), GD Land Systems (OR-32), Babcock (OR-20), Fering (OR-38), Polaris (OR-28) and Ricardo (OR-18) stands.

ISTEC has a long pedigree and operationally proven record of supplying high-quality weapon mounts to the British military, with mounts fitted to a wide range of platforms currently in service, including Land Rover RWMIK, Jackal, Coyote, Foxhound, Husky, Mastiff, Ridgeback, Wolfhound, Viking and MLRS. ISTEC mounts are specifically designed to maximise individual vehicle survivability with wide arcs of fire and recoil reduction to increase flexibility with common mounting solutions, so users can quickly and easily switch between mounted weapon systems.

ISTEC has also recently been awarded a four-year contract for the supply of weapon mount spares across all three services via the Babcock ‘Service Provision and Transformation Contract’ (SPTC), so the MOD has the necessary infrastructure and support services to enhance and maintain its existing capability.

ISTEC products are platform, OEM and weapon agnostic. Combined with having a UK-centric supplier and manufacturing base (consisting of over 70 vetted suppliers), ISTEC is extremely well placed to support the upcoming LMP contract and the UK economy, by creating and sustaining local skilled employment.

Mick Coulson, Managing Director at ISTEC said, “We are very pleased to be celebrating this significant milestone at the 18th DVD, and it is very rewarding to see this global recognition of our product quality. We are also very proud of our ongoing support of the UK Armed Forces and our commitment to its wider community via our Silver Covenant award last year, support to veteran employees and sponsorship of military charities such as Legion 7s and the Royal British Legion.”

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on ISTEC Celebrates Over 80,000 Weapon Mounts and Ancillaries Sold Globally Since the First DVD in 2001

NP Aerospace Lands New Contract Bringing Its Total Protected Cab Order Book to Over 60 units

Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

NP Aerospace, a global vehicle integrator, armoured system design and manufacturer has announced the receipt of another order for protected vehicle cabs from an undisclosed customer. This takes its total protected cab order book to more than 60 units. The milestone reflects the company’s established position as an OEM agnostic integration partner for defence primes and military fleets, worldwide.

The company delivers end-to-end survivability systems, from concept design and safety certification to manufacture, integration and through-life support. NP Aerospace has successfully engineered protected crew solutions across a broad spectrum of threat levels, including up to STANAG 4569 Level 4, spanning multiple vehicle classes such as military logistic trucks, specialist engineering equipment, EOD vehicles and recovery vehicles.

Remaining OEM agnostic, NP Aerospace can work with multiple vehicle manufacturers, enabling defence customers to select the optimum base vehicle while drawing upon proven protection expertise. This flexible business model allows the company to deliver complete cab assemblies, knock-down kits, armour integration packages, or licensed production options tailored to specific customer requirements and platform constraints.

With active programmes running across the UK, Europe and North America, NP Aerospace combines sovereign UK engineering and manufacturing expertise with established international delivery infrastructure. Through its global operations, the company provides defence customers and OEMs with a single partner capable of supporting local manufacturing, technology transfer and built-to-print requirements. This capability makes it an ideal partner for upcoming modernisation initiatives, such as the UK MoD’s Future Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) and Heavy Recovery Vehicle (HRV) programmes.

James Kempston, CEO at NP Aerospace said, “NP Aerospace has developed a proven armoured cab capability through the successful delivery of protected crew solutions across military logistics, engineering and specialist vehicle platforms. As future logistics and recovery vehicle programmes progress, we are focused on delivering low risk, exportable survivability solutions that support both national capability and international growth.”

With current active pursuits and quotations exceeding 100 cabs globally, NP Aerospace continues to position itself as the trusted UK survivability and armoured cab integration partner, enabling both national and sovereign capability and international fleet growth across defence markets.

Posted in Armor, Contracts, International, Mobility, Press Release | No Comments »

Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, US Special Operations Forces Co-Host Bilateral Engagement to Align Capabilities

Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

CAMP KISARAZU, Japan —

U.S. service members assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command and U.S. Special Operations Command Pacific, alongside the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, conducted a bilateral engagement at Camp Kisarazu, Japan, Aug. 24-28, 2026, reinforcing the enduring alliance between the U.S. and Japan.

The five-day event centered on interoperability and collaborative capabilities. It consisted of briefings, discussions and working groups focused on air-to-ground integration and humanitarian assistance and disaster response in a joint environment. By synchronizing on these capabilities, U.S. special operations forces and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force aim to ensure effective collaboration during both crisis response and sustained regional operations.

“This engagement is a critical step in building our partnership,” said Brig. Gen. Clay Freeman, AFSOC deputy commander. “By integrating our air-to-ground capabilities and aligning our disaster response frameworks today, we ensure that the U.S. and Japan can respond instantly and cohesively to any crisis in the Pacific. Upcoming international seminars will further solidify this foundation, turning shared concepts into enduring regional security.”

The engagement also served as the foundation for a Building Partner Aviation Capacity Seminar, which will be co-hosted in Japan at a later date. Together, these events will provide AFSOC and U.S. Special Operations Command with a unique platform to facilitate communication with key regional allies in the Pacific Command region.

Col. Matthew Taylor, 353rd Special Operations Wing deputy commander, was a senior mentor throughout the bilateral engagement. In this role, he guided and advised working groups through joint planning and problem-solving frameworks to address PACOM-specific challenges in communications, logistics, and command and control.

“Integration with our Japanese partners is both a tactical and a strategic imperative,” said Taylor. “This engagement allows the 353rd Special Operations Wing and the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force to move beyond broad concepts and focus directly on the mechanics of Air-to-Ground Integration. Our goal is to maximize interoperability during bi-lateral activities to support both nations’ security interests—now and into the future.”

Representatives from the JGSDF highlighted that the exchange successfully strengthened tactical coordination, paving the way for more integrated operations during future bilateral missions.

“This exchange event allowed us to enhance our mutual understanding and build a strong foundation of trust,” said Maj. Gen. Yoshichika Ito, 1st Helicopter Brigade commander. “Building on this momentum, we look forward to further strengthening our partnership and working together to contribute to regional stability and security.”

The collaboration in Japan supports ongoing cooperation within the U.S.-Japan alliance, demonstrating a shared commitment to regional security and mutual defense capabilities.

Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs

Posted in Air Force, Guest Post, International, SOF | No Comments »

Quantum Systems Launches Maritime Domain, Introducing Seavex and Subvex

Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

Quantum Systems is expanding into the maritime domain, connecting autonomous operations above and below the waterline with its existing capabilities in the air and on land. With the launch, the company introduces Seavex and Subvex, its first two maritime systems designed for persistent surveillance, critical infrastructure protection and Counter-UAS operations.

Sesimbra, Portugal, 14 September 2026 – Quantum Systems today announced the launch of its maritime domain, expanding its unmanned systems portfolio from air and land to sea.

The launch takes place in Portugal on the sidelines of a major NATO maritime exercise and introduces two new systems, Seavex and Subvex. Both systems will test and validate capabilities as part of sea trials, extending Quantum Systems’ autonomous capabilities above and below the waterline in an operational environment.

Seavex and Subvex are fully integrated into MOSAIC UXS, enabling their deployment alongside unmanned air and ground systems through a common software architecture. The result is an interoperable system across air, land and sea that can be expanded with additional platforms, sensors and third-party technologies.

“We started in the air, expanded to land, and now we are going to sea. But the real step forward is not adding another domain. It is connecting them,” said Florian Seibel, Co-CEO and Founder of Quantum Systems. “With Seavex and Subvex integrated into MOSAIC UXS, we are building one autonomous system across air, land and sea. That is where unmanned operations are heading, and that is what we are delivering.”

Seavex and Subvex: autonomous capabilities on the water and below the surface

Seavex is a long-endurance unmanned surface vehicle (USV) designed for persistent maritime ISR missions. With an endurance of up to two months, the system includes surveillance radar, counter-drone radar and electro-optical sensors with onboard AI processing. Seavex launches and recovers UAVs while docking, recharging and retrieving mission data from UUVs.

Subvex is an AI-enabled unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) designed for autonomous ISR missions at depths of up to 6,000 metres. Equipped with sonar and acoustic sensors as well as onboard edge processing, the system can operate for up to four days in active movement and supports distributed operations with multiple Subvex vehicles. It can also remain on the seabed in passive surveillance mode for persistent underwater monitoring for weeks.

Together, both systems extend reconnaissance from the surface into the deep sea and support missions including the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, maritime border security, anti-submarine surveillance and blue-water surveillance. Their integration into MOSAIC UXS enables sensor information from different systems and domains to be combined within a single operational environment.

The expansion comes as maritime security is gaining strategic importance, with coastlines, ports and critical marine infrastructure facing a growing need for persistent surveillance. At the same time, threats increasingly span the air, surface and underwater environment, requiring information from across the waterline to be detected, connected and understood as part of one operational picture.

“Maritime operations have a fundamental challenge: the areas are vast, while crews and assets are limited,” said Dirk Zademack, VP Quantum Maritime at Quantum Systems. “In the air and on land, we have built an ecosystem in which unmanned systems operate together rather than individually. We are now applying the same principle at sea with Seavex and Subvex: extending collaborative presence on the water and below the surface and compiling the information for the operator.”

The launch marks the next step in Quantum Systems’ consistent expansion as a global deep-tech defence prime. The company has expanded beyond aerial systems into a broader portfolio of unmanned capabilities, while building the software, AI and system integration expertise to connect them. With MOSAIC UXS as the common software backbone, Quantum Systems brings these capabilities together into an integrated, scalable system.

Posted in International, Maritime, Press Release, Unmanned Systems, UxS | No Comments »

Wescom Defence Introduces Its ATMIS Mobile Signature Management System to Market at DVD 2026

Monday, September 14th, 2026

Wescom Defence, a trusted global manufacturer and solutions provider to the defence industry, specialising in advanced pyrotechnics, multispectral camouflage, soldier survivability, operational infrastructure and prime contracting support, reveals its ATMIS Mobile Signature Management system for the first time at DVD 2026. The advanced concealment technology, designed and supplied by BCB International, is being showcased alongside Wescom Defence’s other concealment products and capabilities at Stand C3-L02.

BCB International is a Wescom Defence brand, with both BCB International and Wescom Defence developing and delivering innovative survivability solutions. Together they combine specialist engineering and field-proven tactical equipment with Wescom’s broad global manufacturing and distribution footprint. Backed by over a century of engineering heritage, Wescom Defence creates specialised technologies to address the most demanding tactical environments across the globe.

The ATMIS Mobile Signature Management is a deployable camouflage panel system for multispectral concealment of vehicles, containers, and mobile platforms. The lightweight, rugged panels reduce detectability across visible, IR, and thermal spectrums. On the modern battlefield, thermal imaging, advanced radar and multi-spectral sensors mean that static and mobile assets are constantly exposed to threat detection. Failing to defeat these detection vectors leaves vehicles, equipment and personnel highly vulnerable to precision targeting. To maintain operational persistence, modern armed forces require signature management that can adapt dynamically to complex environments without hindering tactical mobility. Wescom has positioned itself firmly in this domain through its acquisition of BCB International and ATMIS.

As Wescom Defence’s premier signature management capability, ATMIS products are engineered with survivability as a first principle. It provides advanced static and mobile concealment systems that disrupt optical, thermal and radar detection.

Frances Hunt, Head of Defence Marketing at Wescom Defence said, “As a trusted provider of integrated survivability solutions, Wescom Defence is proud to showcase ATMIS at DVD 2026. ATMIS represents our signature management capability, expertly designed and supplied in-house by our highly innovative survivability brand, BCB International. By combining enhanced concealment with our broader portfolio of tactical pyrotechnics and mobility enablers, Wescom ensures NATO forces can conceal and protect themselves, whilst maintaining the initiative by out manoeuvring modern threat detection systems.”

Posted in Camo, International, Press Release | No Comments »

Galvion Demonstrates Cortex EVO HALO Upgrade Pathway for UK VIRTUS Helmet at DVD 2026

Monday, September 14th, 2026

Galvion, a world leader in the design and manufacture of innovative head systems, power and data management solutions, and integrated soldier systems, will showcase a new Cortex™ EVO HALO integration concept for the UK’s in-service VIRTUS helmet at Defence Vehicle Dynamics (DVD) 2026 (Booth C3-D22).

The integration concept illustrates how Cortex EVO HALO could provide a pathway to extend and evolve the UK’s existing VIRTUS helmet fleet, introducing advanced power, data and headborne capabilities while building on the proven protective platform already in service.

The VIRTUS helmet is Galvion’s Batlskin® Cobra Plus head system, with more than 270,000 delivered to the UK Ministry of Defence since 2015. The Cortex EVO HALO concept on display at DVD is integrated onto the high-cut VIRTUS variant currently in service, but the same upgrade approach can be applied to the full-cut helmets that make up the wider fielded fleet.

Cortex EVO is Galvion’s integrated headborne architecture, bringing protection, power, data and compute together within a unified system. Its HALO configuration, introduced at Eurosatory 2026, is externally mounted and designed to extend EVO capabilities to both new and fielded helmet platforms.

Alongside the deeply integrated Embedded configuration, HALO provides an alternative implementation of the same core Cortex EVO architecture, allowing users to select an approach aligned with their operational requirements, procurement strategies and lifecycle objectives.

The EVO architecture provides a common power and data backbone capable of supporting visual augmentation, sensing and awareness technologies, digital communications and other headborne capabilities. Galvion’s AlertCentr™ software enables mission-relevant information to be managed at the headborne level, including configurable visual and audio cueing designed to allow operators to access and act on critical information without diverting attention to secondary devices. Its open architecture also enables Galvion-developed and third-party technologies to operate within a common system environment.

“Cortex EVO represents an important part of where we believe soldier systems are heading – moving beyond passive protection toward intelligent, integrated systems that enhance capability at the headborne level,” said Peter Rafferty, President of Galvion UK. “VIRTUS has provided the UK with a proven protective head system for more than a decade, and what we’re showing at DVD is how that existing platform can continue to evolve. Cortex EVO HALO creates a potential pathway to introduce advanced headborne capabilities while building on the equipment, experience and investment already in place. For us, delivering whole-life value means continuing to support and evolve fielded equipment as operational requirements change.”

The VIRTUS Cortex EVO HALO integration concept will be on display at Galvion’s booth C3-D22 throughout DVD 2026.

Posted in Admin, Helmets, International, Manufacturing, Press Release | No Comments »

Italy Orders Two More MQ-9A Block 5 Reapers

Thursday, September 10th, 2026

Additional Remotely Piloted Aircraft Grows Italian Air Force Fleet of MQ-9A

SAN DIEGO – 08 September 2026 – The Italian Air Force (ItAF) has ordered two new MQ-9A Block 5 Reaper® Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) from General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI). When the new aircraft are delivered at the end of 2027, they will increase the size of the ItAF fleet. The purchase is part of a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) with the U.S. Air Force that also includes Ground Control Stations.

“Italy has been a very important partner for GA-ASI for more than 20 years,” said GA-ASI President David R. Alexander. “The Italian Air Force has continued to be a leader in the utilization of MQ-9A to support a wide range of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in Italy, over the Mediterranean, and in support of NATO operations.”

MQ-9A Block 5 has endurance of up to 26 hours and can operate up to 45,000 feet (13,716 meters). It has a 4,600 pounds (2,087 kilogram) of payload capacity that includes 3,750 pounds (1,701 kilograms) of external stores. It provides long-endurance, persistent surveillance capability with Full-Motion Video, Synthetic Aperture Radar/Moving Target Indicator/Maritime Radar, and auto takeoff and landing. An extremely reliable RPA, MQ-9A Block 5 is equipped with a fault-tolerant flight control system and a triple-redundant avionics system architecture. It is engineered to meet and exceed manned aircraft reliability standards.

Posted in Contracts, International, Press Release, UAS | No Comments »

Elbit Systems UK Plays Key Role in Landmark Live Virtual Constructive Training Exercise

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026

Colchester, UK 08 September 2026 – Elbit Systems UK (ESUK) has partnered with the British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team to use its in-service training systems to undertake one of the largest live virtual constructive training exercises in the UK. The exercise, which included over 300 soldiers ranging from dismounted close combat to logistics, used the full suite of ESUK’s integrated Recce Strike Training System (RSTS). This includes the Joint Fires Synthetic Trainer (JFST), Deployable Virtual Constructive Simulator (DVCS), and Interim Indirect Fires Simulation (IIDFS). The partnership approach saw ESUK tailor each system to meet the soldiers’ needs.

The Live Virtual Constructive Training, known as Exercise Pegasus Athena, was undertaken over three days with JFST, DVCS and IIDFS integrated for the first time with the British Army. Soldiers were able to find targets using JFST and call in fires from the teams using IIDFS to strike these targets with the effect seen across all the simulators. DVCS was used to provide the synthetic layer where all virtual and live events were recorded, as well as providing the system for drone pilot operations. Alongside the integration of the three in-service training capabilities, ESUK was also able to collect data to measure outcomes and assess performance.

As well as the use of synthetic training, the exercise included realistic operational situations, including ammunition resupplies, dismounted combat operations and vehicle manoeuvres. Air assets were also deployed throughout the week, with Chinook helicopters being used to reposition the light guns during the exercise.

This training exercise was the first demonstration of ESUK’s integrated Recce Strike Training Solution, showcasing the value of integrated high-tech solutions provided to the British Army. It represents a step change in capability for the Armed Forces, allowing troops to conduct live and virtual training without the need for external assets and at a much lower cost than live fire exercises, without using ammunition stockpiles.

An Elbit Systems UK spokesperson said: “This exercise demonstrated what is possible when our training systems operate as an integrated capability, delivering the high-fidelity and operationally realistic training that our Armed Forces demand. As the first use of our integrated RSTS offer, it validates the concept and the technology, and we are looking at future opportunities to deploy this capability with the UK, as well as potential opportunities internationally.”

A 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team spokesperson said: “The integration of live and virtual constructive training has added a level of realism to our training that would be unachievable on a normal field exercise. ESUK’s support was important to the success of the exercise.”

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