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DSEI Germany Attracts Unprecedented Demand, Expanding into a Fourth Hall

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

3rd June 2026, Hannover, Germany – Following unprecedented industry demand, DSEI Germany has announced the opening of a fourth exhibition hall ahead of its debut in March 2027. DSEI Germany will be the leading exhibition for defence and security in Germany, featuring defence manufacturers, industrial suppliers, and emerging players from every level of the supply chain.

Taking place from 9-12 March 2027 at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds – Europe’s largest exhibition venue – the opening of another hall expands DSEI Germany’s indoor footprint to 100,000 square metres, alongside a further 25,000 square metres of outdoor display space, together covering an area equivalent to 18 football pitches. 

DSEI Germany comes at a pivotal moment for Europe’s defence, security, and strategic autonomy. With Germany’s annual defence budget set to rise to €180 billion by 2030, the show will support Germany, Europe, and NATO’s strategic priorities while creating opportunities for dialogue between military and political leadership and industry. 

With nine months until the inaugural edition of DSEI Germany, exhibition space in the original three halls was at capacity. The expansion into a fourth hall will accommodate greater representation across Air & Space, Land, Naval, and Cyber & Information.

The expansion also comes as the Federation of German Security and Defence Industries (BDSV) is confirmed as an industry partner. BDSV represents the collective interests of the German security and defence industries. The trade association supports over 400 companies and serves as a bridge between industry, the Federal Ministry of Defence, Bundeswehr, policymakers, institutions, and media.

“DSEI Germany’s decision to open an additional exhibition hall follows unprecedented demand from industry for a German defence and security exhibition that showcases military capability, industrial innovation, digital technologies, and new market entrants on an international stage”, said Bernd Kögel, Managing Director of DSEI Germany.

He added, “DSEI Germany aims to support NATO’s European members achieve greater independence in their ability to deter, and if necessary, defeat, an adversary. The response from industry is a clear sign of confidence in Europe’s defence and security sectors and the continent’s ability to scale up its industrial capacity and capability development”.

For more information, please visit dsei-germany.com (English) or dsei-germany.com/de (German)

DSEI Germany will be held in partnership with the Deutsche Messe AG and will take place 9-12 March 2027 at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds.

Posted in Enforce Tac, Press Release | No Comments »

Deal Finalised: Rheinmetall Divests its Civilian Division and Focuses on its Defence Business

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

With the sale of its civilian activities, the Rheinmetall Group has reached a milestone in its strategic realignment. Rheinmetall and the Munich-based industrial group AEQUITA have now signed a purchase agreement that paves the way for the future of Rheinmetall’s former Power Systems division under new management. 

For some time now, Rheinmetall has been focusing on the rapidly growing business with military customers and security agencies, while at the same time expanding its technological portfolio into the domains of air, sea and space. Since last year, the Group has been in talks with potential buyers for its civilian business, which have now been successfully concluded with the signing of an agreement to sell it to AEQUITA.

The transaction, which is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2026, is subject to approval by the relevant regulatory authorities. The provisional purchase price for 100% of the shares is €350 million and is subject to standard market adjustment mechanisms until closing. The actual final purchase price may therefore differ from this figure.

Following the sale of its large- and small-bore piston operations in 2023/2024, Rheinmetall is now, as announced, taking the decisive step in its exit from the automotive supplier business. 

The Power Systems division, which generated sales of around €2 billion in 2025, has been classified as a “discontinued operation” of the Group since the reporting for the fourth quarter of 2025.

All employees will be retained

AEQUITA intends to retain all of the approximately 6,250 Power Systems employees working worldwide at the companies being acquired. AEQUITA regards the highly qualified staff and their skills as the most important asset for future business development and will take on the entire workforce within the framework outlined above.

AEQUITA will operate the former Rheinmetall Power Systems division as an independent entity, with all trademark rights remaining within the company. The company will continue to operate on the market as usual under its long-established brands Pierburg, Kolbenschmidt and Motorservice.

“This is a significant milestone in the company’s history. We are focusing on the high-margin business with military customers, where we have excellent growth opportunities. Our stated objective was to place our civilian business operations in capable hands. We have found an excellent buyer in AEQUITA,” says Armin Papperger, CEO of Rheinmetall AG. “The internationally successful industrial 

holding company combines extensive experience in the industrial and automotive sectors with a focus on entrepreneurship, transformation and a long-term perspective.”

“This makes AEQUITA the ideal partner to work with the Power Systems management team to implement the strategy that has been developed and to ensure the long-term success of the Kolbenschmidt and Pierburg brands in the market,” explains Marcus Gerlach, lead negotiator for Rheinmetall AG.

“We are very proud that Rheinmetall has chosen AEQUITA as the new owner of the Power Systems division. The company is an excellent addition to our Automotive division, which will now generate revenues of approximately €5 billion. In the years to come, our focus will be on actively supporting the long-term, successful and sustainable development of the company. This also involves realising synergies within our automotive portfolio,” says Dr Axel Geuer, Chairman and Co-CEO of AEQUITA.

KS Huayu AluTech, Dermalog SensorTec and the Abadiano plant in Spain are excluded from the sale

Excluded from the sale are the three German locations of KS Huayu AluTech GmbH (Neckarsulm, Walldürn and Langenhagen), which will remain within the Rheinmetall Group as a joint venture in the medium term – and continue to be classified as a “discontinued operation”. 

The stake in Dermalog SensorTec GmbH, however, will remain within the Rheinmetall Group on a permanent basis. It will be integrated into the Weapon and Ammunition division, and its employees will continue to be based at the Neuss location.

Pierburg S.A.’s Abadiano plant in Spain will also remain with Rheinmetall, along with its workforce and tangible assets. For a transitional period, it will operate as a hybrid site, manufacturing both civilian and military products until the switch to military production is complete.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release | Comments Off on Deal Finalised: Rheinmetall Divests its Civilian Division and Focuses on its Defence Business

All-American Firepower: Elbit America, Anduril Team to Offer SIGMA Mobile Tactical Cannon to Soldiers

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – June 2, 2026 – Elbit Systems of America (Elbit America) and Anduril Industries (Anduril) announce a strategic teaming agreement to offer the SIGMA Mobile Tactical Cannon for the U.S. Army’s Self-Propelled Howitzer Modernization program. The teaming pairs Elbit America’s experience as a systems integrator and manufacturer of large ground vehicles with Anduril’s expertise in C5ISR, battle management and autonomy software. Together, the companies will provide an innovative, all-American solution for the U.S. Army, offering soldiers the edge on the future battlefield. SIGMA will enable sustained fires from a connected, mobile and survivable platform.

“We’re proud to team with Anduril to reduce network integration risk and accelerate fielding,” said Luke Savoie, president and CEO of Elbit America. “Built in the U.S. with a fully domestic supply chain, SIGMA is a combat-proven system that provides the modernization and reliability the Army needs now.”

If awarded with the program, SIGMA’s communication with the U.S. fire control network and Army Command and Control systems will leverage Anduril’s unique capabilities and experience. Anduril will also integrate its Lattice software platform into future variants of SIGMA, unlocking autonomy, while further enhancing mobility and lethality.

“On Team SIGMA, we’re providing expertise in software, edge compute and autonomy to deliver a connected, software-defined mobile artillery solution that will integrate seamlessly into existing Army Command and Control and fire control architectures,” said Michael Roder, managing director at Anduril.

The Elbit America-Anduril partnership strengthens Team SIGMA, which also includes Oshkosh Defense, manufacturer of the system’s 10×10 platform. Oshkosh brings world-class mobility and protection for the cannon’s chassis, while more than 300 U.S. suppliers contribute engineering depth, manufacturing resilience and support. Together, this domestic network aims to deliver a highly maneuverable, digitally integrated and production-ready solution that can meet the Army’s modernization timelines.

“Excited to see Elbit Systems of America and Anduril Industries working together to manufacture a cutting-edge military vehicle right here in America. The men and women at Elbit America’s headquarters in Fort Worth are truly at the forefront in developing the capabilities to strengthen America’s warfighters and preserve America’s national security,” said U.S. Rep. Craig Goldman.

www.elbitamerica.com/sigma

Posted in Industry, Press Release, weapons | No Comments »

Cadre Holdings Subsidiary Safariland Selected as Ballistic Provider for FBI Armor Contract

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

Award Underscores Competitive Strength of Cadre’s Product Segment and Mission-Critical Market Position

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CDRE), a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of safety equipment and other related products for the law enforcement, first responder, military and nuclear markets, today announced that its subsidiary Safariland® has been selected as the ballistic panel provider integrated into Predictive Ballistics LLC’s Overt Armor Kit (OAK). Predictive Ballistics was recently awarded a five-year, $61 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The OAK system is also available to the United States Marshals Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration and other Department of Justice agencies.

The selection of Safariland’s SX™ HP ballistic panel, introduced in 2025, as the ballistic package for this contract demonstrates accelerating commercial adoption of the product and validates Cadre’s ongoing investment in next-generation protective equipment. The SX™ HP was chosen over 11 competing products following a rigorous evaluation process that assessed ballistic performance, construction quality and extensive end-user testing for function, fit and comfort, including some of the most demanding ballistic testing protocols in the industry.

“This award represents a major accomplishment for our team and underscores the constant commitment to innovation that remains at the heart of everything we do,” said Brad Williams, President of Cadre Holdings. “After introducing the Safariland SX™ HP ballistic panel in 2025, we are pleased to see broader adoption and enthusiastic feedback from customers that we have engineered one of the thinnest, lightest and most protective hybrid ballistic armor on the market. With best-in-class brands and a steadfast commitment to our life-saving mission, we believe Safariland is well positioned to drive growth over the long term.”

The contract adds to Cadre’s growing pipeline of federal law enforcement business and reflects the company’s strategy of developing highly engineered, mission-critical products that serve demanding end markets with rigorous performance standards and high barriers to entry. Federal agency contracts of this nature are typically characterized by multi-year terms, defined delivery schedules and strong recurring demand driven by equipment modernization cycles.

Posted in Armor, Contracts, LE, Press Release | No Comments »

D&M Holding Company Acquires Czech-Based EKOCHEM 94 s.r.o.

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

TAMPA, FL (June 3, 2026) – D&M Holding Company, Inc. (D&M), the global leader in delivering complete solutions for ammunition, primer, and propellant manufacturing facilities, has acquired EKOCHEM 94 s.r.o. of the Czech Republic. This acquisition further strengthens D&M’s capabilities as the company continues to support the United States, NATO allies, Ukraine, and other friendly foreign governments seeking long-term ammunition independence.

Headquartered in Pardubice, Czech Republic, EKOCHEM 94 is an engineering, design, and industrial project company specializing in chemical, mechanical, and process industries, including for propellants and propellant raw materials. Its specialties include:

  • nitrocellulose production equipment
  • propellant production equipment
  • design of complete energetics
  • distillation systems
  • combustible cartridge case production lines
  • diethyl ether production lines
  • explosive-material processing equipment

“The acquisition of EKOCHEM 94 is a key part of our aggressive global growth strategy as we extend our footprint in Europe and beyond,” said Dan Powers, President and CEO, D&M Holding Company. “Escalating global conflicts and supply chain issues are driving the soaring demand for reliable supplies of ammunition, primers, and propellants. This geopolitical instability has created deep urgency among nations for ammunition independence. They want to manufacture it themselves, and we are uniquely positioned to help them do that.”

“We are pleased to become a part of the D&M family and look forward to expanding our capabilities,” said Boris Fukatko, founder and President of EKOCHEM 94.

As friendly nations race to achieve their defense industrialization goals, D&M is increasingly sought after as a trusted, specialized design, engineering, and manufacturing partner. D&M not only manufactures the machinery and systems needed to build ammunition; the company also trains its clients and transfers the technical knowledge required to operate facilities independently.

 

About D&M Holding Company

D&M Holding Company, Inc. (D&M) is an ammunition and energetics engineering company headquartered in Tampa, Florida, with additional operations in Cabot, Arkansas. D&M specializes in the design and manufacture of ammunition and energetics equipment, as well as in the turnkey factory solutions for customers worldwide. D&M Holding International Sp. z o.o. in Warsaw, Poland is D&M’s European sales office which supports international sales and Ukraine projects. D&M Novatrax, LLC, based in Kyiv, Ukraine is an engineering and investment company dedicated to the Ukraine defense industry. White River Energetics, LLC (WRE) is a wholly owned subsidiary of D&M, located in Des Arc, Arkansas, with the objective of manufacturing energetics for the ammunition industry.

For more information visit D&M Holding Company and White River Energetics.

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

Battelle Supports the Development and Test of the US Army’s New Hand Grenade

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026

COLUMBUS, Ohio (May 27, 2026) – Battelle recently partnered with the U.S. Army Close Combat Systems Program Office to support the Full Material Release (FMR) of the new M111 Offensive Hand Grenade (OHG), the first new offensive hand grenade since 1968.

The M111 was developed over many years of close collaboration between the Army and Battelle to ensure a safe, high-quality, and repeatable manufacturing process. Battelle supported various stages of the development, starting with an initial concept, completing Process Verification Testing (PVT) and executing FMR by prototyping nearly 7,000 grenades and conducting first article and lot acceptance tests.

Battelle and the Army worked closely together over multiple years to refine the technical processes required to improve the grenades’ safety and performance for the warfighter. This new system provides soldiers with a safer alternative to the M67 fragmenting grenade by utilizing a blast over pressure effect, removing fragmenting effects and providing an alternative to better achieve mission success with less risk for fratricide.

“Battelle’s support to the M111 program has enabled the Army to qualify and transition the M111 to full-rate production,” said Sam Knutson, Division Manager forAdvanced Materials and Energetics. “With our unique position as a trusted development partner, we were able to ensure the government is now positioned to meet current and future production needs.”

“Through our work with the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armament Center (DEVCOM AC) and customers across the military, Battelle is focused on rapidly advancing innovative solutions that directly benefit the warfighter,” said Dan Pikora, General Manager of Battelle’s National Security Business. “We are excited to continue collaborating with DEVCOM AC to deliver technologies that support mission success.”

Posted in Armor, Press Release, weapons | No Comments »

NATO DIANA Unveils Six New Challenges to Tackle Evolving Defence and Security Needs

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026

LONDON – 1 June 2026 – NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic (DIANA) has launched six new challenges aimed at finding game-changing solutions that help build a safer future for the Alliance.

Innovators can submit their proposals for DIANA’s challenges until 12:00 UTC +1/BST on Friday 3 July 2026.

Selected innovators will become part of DIANA’s 2027 cohort of innovators, participating in a six-month accelerator programme that will begin in January 2027. These innovators will help identify and adopt solutions that can deliver cutting-edge technologies to Allied armed forces faster – strengthening NATO’s operational edge

Innovators can submit proposals for one of six challenge areas including:

  • Human Survivability
  • Multidomain Autonomy of Uncrewed Systems
  • Multidomain Sensing and Advanced Data Processing for Intelligence and Surveillance
  • Operational Resilience in Contested Environments
  • Responsive Logistics
  • Scalable and Adaptable Countermeasures for Air Defence

DIANA formulates its challenges based on the priorities of NATO and its nations, the latest trends in emerging and disruptive technologies, and market potential. Through these challenges, DIANA aims to accelerate the development and adoption of cutting-edge technologies – turning innovation into capabilities that lead to real-world impact.

Selected innovators will receive:

  • €100,000 of contractual funding to enable them to continue iterating their solution to the challenge.
  • Access to more than 200 test centres across Europe and North America to undertake testing, evaluation, validation and verification activities.
  • Guidance from our experts and mentors to grow their businesses, navigate complex defence procurement processes, and supercharge their network with industry partners, military end-users and potential investors.
  • Exposure to the defence ecosystems of all 32 NATO members, fostering cross-border collaboration, and bridging the gap between innovative ideas and real-world adoption.

UK-based innovator JET Connectivity is part of NATO DIANA’s 2025 cohort of companies and was recently selected for Mission Track, DIANA’s follow-on support pathway for solutions with strong defence adoption potential.

“JET Connectivity has surged forward in capability thanks, in no small part, to NATO DIANA’s programme, through the funding, mentoring and networking we have received, and through the support from the VTT Dual-Use Launchpad in Finland, one of DIANA’s accelerator sites,” said James Thomas, JET Connectivity Founder and CEO.

A range of companies can benefit from DIANA’s programme – including early-stage innovators, defence-focused start-ups, established civilian businesses, and SMEs. Whether focused on developing cutting-edge dual-use technologies for armed forces, scaling proven solutions, or seeking to enter new defence and security markets, the programme offers tailored guidance and resources to help companies accelerate growth and market impact.

“Our new challenges for the 2027 cohort serve one clear goal: accelerating the adoption of technologies that can strengthen the Alliance’s operational edge. By connecting innovators to NATO’s defence networks, we catalyse the transformation of innovative ideas into superior military capability for the Alliance,” said Jyoti Hirani-Driver, Acting Managing Director at NATO DIANA.

Posted in NATO, Press Release | No Comments »

C2R USA LLC Vault Carrier Selected as Overt Armor Kit (OAK) by FBI, USMS, and DEA

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2026

Charlotte, North Carolina – 1 June, 2026 – C2R USA LLC has been awarded a contract to provide Overt Armor Kits (OAK) to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) United States Marshal Service (USMS) and Drug EnforcementAdministration (DEA) for their primary overt armor system.

C2R USA LLC are delighted to announce that in conjunction with our partners Predictive Ballistics and Safariland we have been awarded a five-year $61.0M Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award to supply overt armor kits (OAK) to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and partner agencies. The successful submission combines the innovative, modular VAULT Armor carrier (designed specifically for this solicitation) with Safariland’s latestgeneration NIJ 0101.06 IIIA SXHP ballistic package, anddelivered by the exceptional customer service and logistics that are the hallmarks of winning prime awardee Predictive Ballistics LLC.

By truly understanding the requirement and creating a hyper-modular solution, C2R USA LLC’s OAK armor package fully captures the features specified in the requirement deemedessential for dynamic law enforcement operations. This package consists of the multi-functional VAULT™ armor carrier from C2R USA™, utilizing Safariland’s® new NIJ 0101.06 IIIA SXHP ballistic package – offering an areal density of only 0.65 lb/sqft.

Selected after a thorough vetting process, the offering was evaluated on factors such as design, ballistic performance, quality of construction and with significant emphasis placed on the end-user evaluations for function, fit, and overall comfort. This award, issued by the FBI, is also available to other Department of Justice agency components, including but not limited to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and United States Marshal Service (USMS).

“The Vault Armor carrier was developed specifically for this requirement. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team over the last 2 years that we have been successfulin a field of other quality brands who submitted products for this opportunity. We are proud and honored to be able to add the FBI, USMS and DEA to the distinguished list of organizations wearing C2R products”, said Paul Tate, COO of C2R USA LLC. “We are grateful to both Safariland and Predictive Ballistics for their trust and look forward to ensuring that the delivery and fielding of the systems match the quality of our submission.”

“We spent a significant amount of time analyzing the requirement set forth by the FBI, USMS and DEA with the goal of truly understanding their unique operational needs.  We opted to build a completely bespoke solution to ensure that the system we proposed exceeded expectations. “Our experience creating bespoke carrier solutions for some of the world’s leading Law enforcement teams helped us to develop the Vault™ into the ideal system for US law enforcement. Developing and building systems in the United States is an honor for the team and this award is a testament to years of hard work.  We are delighted to have been successful and are grateful to the agencies for entrusting us with their armor solution.”

“This contract award is the validation of a multiyear team effort to pair a world-class carrier system, designed for law enforcement by C2R USA™ with a robust and incredibly lightweight ballistic package created by Safariland®.” said Scott Wyatt, President and COO of Predictive Ballistics. “Taking these two industry leaders and combining them into an adaptive, creative ballistic armor system, more lightweight and comfortable than anything on the market, is something that makes the team extremely proud.”

About C2R USA LLC
C2R USA delivers custom body armor and load carriage solutions for elite law enforcement agencies and specialist organizations across the globe. Our development process combines user input, operational experience and textile engineering to develop world leading products tailored to the users’ requirements. The VAULT armor systems encompass the latest features to deliver world class systems tailored specifically to the operational needs of federal law enforcement agencies. VAULT armor systems are built 100% in the USA.

About Predictive Ballistics
Predictive Ballistics combines best-in-class personal protective equipment with industry leading ballistic education to help public safety teams select the ideal product, for their unique mission. Working with hundreds of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, we sync the world’s best ballistic and tactical products with teams looking to excel and push their operational limits. Headquartered in California, Predictive Ballistics is a Certified Small Business with a GSA MAS contract.

About The Safariland® Group
The Safariland Group is a leading global provider of a broad range of safety and survivability products designed for the public safety, military, professional and outdoor markets. The Safariland Group offers a number of recognized brand names in these markets including Safariland® Armor, Duty Gear and Communications, Bianchi®, Break Free®, Hatch®, Med-Eng®, Identicator® and NIK®. The Safariland Group’s mission, “Together, We Save Lives®,” is inherent in the lifesaving and protective products it delivers. The Safariland Group is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. The Safariland Group is a trade name of Safariland, LLC.

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