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Iten Defense Officially Joins NP Aerospace Global Enterprise

Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

Completion of acquisition of Iten Defense by NP Aerospace establishes U.S. manufacturing presence and expands global armour and survivability capabilities

COVENTRY, UK – 14 September 2026 – NP Aerospace, a leading global armour technology manufacturer and vehicle integrator, today confirms the successful completion of its acquisition of Iten Defense, a U.S.-based specialist provider of advanced defence protection solutions, from Edgewater Capital Partners and other minority shareholders.

The transaction concluded on September 10, following the definitive agreement announced on 22 June 2026 and the completion of the required closing conditions and regulatory approvals under the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

The completion of the acquisition signals the next phase of both companies’ growth plans. Iten Defense will continue to operate under the Iten Defense brand and existing leadership team. NP Aerospace will continue to run its operations and support global customers from its two manufacturing sites in Coventry, UK, and its operation in London, Ontario, Canada.

The combination of complementary expertise and technical know-how is expected to accelerate growth and increase revenues across the NP Aerospace global enterprise.

James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Iten Defense team to our global enterprise. Their focus on protecting and saving lives is a strong fit with our mission, and customers will benefit from complementary capabilities and increased manufacturing capacity as the integration progresses.”

Damon Walsh, CEO, Iten Defense, said: “Joining NP Aerospace marks an exciting new chapter for Iten Defense. Our shared commitment to advanced protection makes this a natural fit, creating new opportunities to strengthen our capabilities, support our customers and accelerate growth from our Ashtabula facility.”

Iten Defense, headquartered in Ashtabula, Ohio, gives NP Aerospace an established U.S. manufacturing presence and significantly expands its advanced armour production capability. The business specialises in opaque and transparent composite armour solutions for land, maritime and aerospace applications, complementing NP Aerospace’s portfolio of personal protection, platform survivability, vehicle systems and engineered composites.

Iten Defense will continue to operate from its Ashtabula facility, ensuring continuity for customers and employees while the businesses identify opportunities across engineering, manufacturing and product development. The Ohio site is also set for further expansion, with plans to accommodate up to 100 new jobs over the next several years.The acquisition has been supported with funding from Export Development Canada (EDC) and NatWest Group PLC, providing financing for the transaction and additional working capital to support NP Aerospace’s continued international growth.

Completion represents an important milestone in NP Aerospace’s long-term international strategy, strengthening its position as an international provider of advanced armour, survivability and engineered protection solutions.

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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 »

PROOF Research Announces Sean Murphy as Director of Sales and Marketing

Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont. – September 16, 2026 – PROOF Research is proud to announce the hire of Sean Murphy as director of sales and marketing. Murphy joins PROOF Research with 15 years of experience in the firearms industry, spanning sales, marketing, product management and training in the premium optics, suppressor and firearms sectors.

Murphy most recently served as vice president of sales and marketing at Sons of Liberty Gun Works, where he played a key role in driving the company’s commercial, law enforcement and military growth. Previously, he held positions with Nightforce Optics and KGM Suppressors, building a broad understanding of both civilian and professional markets.

“Sean brings an incredible combination of industry experience, sales leadership, competitive shooting expertise and knowledge of PROOF Research,” said KK Jense, CEO of PROOF Research. “His knowledge of multiple markets will be an essential contribution to our work as we continue to expand our reach. We’re excited to welcome Sean to the PROOF team in this new capacity and look forward to what we’ll accomplish together.”

Murphy’s experience extends well beyond the business side of the industry, having been a competitive shooter for 20 years across various disciplines, including action shooting and long-range precision. He has also been a member of the PROOF Research Shooting Team for a decade, giving him a longstanding firsthand understanding and appreciation of PROOF’s technology. Additionally, he formed a highly successful long-range duo with Greg Hamilton, PROOF Research’s director of special projects, further deepening his familiarity with PROOF’s approach to performance-driven product development.

“I’m excited to join the PROOF Research team that I’ve known and loved for many years,” said Murphy. “Being no stranger to the capabilities of their barrels and rifles, the company is leading the industry with innovations in technologies for next-generation weapon systems and unlocked performance previously unimaginable. It is an exciting time to be in the small arms industry and to join the great team at PROOF. I look forward to being a part of the company’s continued success.”

In his new role as director of sales and marketing, Murphy will focus on expanding PROOF Research’s sales efforts and strengthening relationships across different markets. His combination of industry leadership and firsthand knowledge of PROOF’s products and technologies positions him to help drive the company’s ongoing growth. Murphy’s addition to the team comes as PROOF Research continues to advance its lineup of next-generation small-arms technologies designed to deliver exceptional performance.

For more information about Proof Research, visit ProofResearch.com.

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Xtremis Wins Defense Innovation Unit’s Spectrum Strike Prize Challenge

Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

WEST FORK, Ark., Sept. 15, 2026 — Xtremis announced that its spectrumOS platform was selected as the winner of the Spectrum Strike Prize Challenge, a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) competition to modernize how the U.S. military plans, coordinates, and authorizes use of the electromagnetic spectrum – the frequencies allocated for activities like wireless communications and radar.

Xtremis was selected from 43 respondents after a multistage evaluation culminating in a live, hands-on demonstration at Fort Carson, Colorado. Government spectrum managers used spectrumOS to process operational data, model the radio-frequency environment, identify potential conflicts, and prepare spectrum authorization requests for review.

Project Spectrum Strike addresses a longstanding operational challenge: military spectrum authorizations can take 75 to 180 days and still rely heavily on manual processes and disconnected systems. Those timelines are increasingly strained by the rapid decision-making demands of modern warfare. DIU challenged participants to demonstrate an enterprise approach that could adapt to dynamic electromagnetic environments and sharply reduce planning and coordination time through automation.

“Today, the electromagnetic spectrum is a decisive maneuver space. Almost every aspect of modern warfare relies on effective, efficient navigation of this invisible environment, but the processes used to manage that access have not kept pace with wireless demand,” said Adam Jay Harrison, CEO of Xtremis. “What made Project Spectrum Strike particularly meaningful was putting spectrumOS directly in the hands of the people responsible for these decisions. Spectrum managers and electronic warfare personnel used the platform against an operationally relevant problem and saw what it could do. We are proud of the result and the team that built it.”

spectrumOS is Xtremis’ spectrum management and orchestration platform, helping military decision-makers see, understand, plan, and act with unprecedented speed and accuracy in complex electromagnetic environments. It combines agentic artificial intelligence, software automation, physics-based radio-frequency modeling, and real-time sensor data to accelerate time-intensive data processing, modeling, and coordination while preserving human authority over consequential spectrum decisions. This enables faster action without sacrificing the judgment and oversight complex operations require.

Xtremis’ Spectrum Strike solution builds on the company’s established spectrum warfare work across the Department of War. The Advanced Dynamic Spectrum Reconnaissance (ADSR) system, a distributed electromagnetic spectrum situational awareness capability developed by Xtremis, has operated continuously with U.S. military and allied units since 2023. The Spectrum Strike selection follows other recent Department of War milestones, including selection for the Advanced Spectrum Coexistence (ASC) program and participation in the Army’s Project Convergence Capstone 6 (PCC6) experiment. Together, these efforts expand Xtremis’ role from persistent awareness and operational ground truth to spectrum planning, coexistence, and orchestration.

The Spectrum Strike result positions Xtremis in a large and growing mission area. A June 2026 GAO report found that the Department of War – the largest federal spectrum user by total frequency assignments – faces rising demand as it escalates deployments of spectrum-intensive systems. This demand will only increase as competition over spectrum access in modern conflict environments like Ukraine intensifies.

The commercial telecommunications and wireless industry faces a parallel constraint: wireless demand continues to grow while usable spectrum remains finite. U.S. wireless data consumption reached a record 132.5 trillion megabytes in 2025 after growing roughly 35 percent annually over the previous three years. Xtremis’ dual-use technology can provide the observation, verification, and assurance needed to reduce interference and support more intensive, authorized spectrum sharing. That capability can strengthen military spectrum advantage, help telecommunications providers expand capacity across 5G, emerging 6G, and other wireless services, and position Xtremis for substantial growth in defense and commercial markets.

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Garmin Acquires Applied Ballistics, a Leading Provider of Research and Technology for Long-Range Shooting

Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

Garmin Ltd. (NYSE: GRMN) has acquired Applied Ballistics, a leading provider of ballistic research, projectile data and integrated solver technologies dedicated to enhancing accuracy. The acquisition extends Garmin’s ability to provide comprehensive solutions for customers across its tactical, shooting sports and hunting markets.

“Applied Ballistics is a natural complement to Garmin’s outdoor and tactical product portfolio. Building on a successful relationship spanning nearly 10 years, this acquisition brings industry-leading software, proprietary projectile data and precision firing solutions in-house. By bringing our teams together, we can accelerate innovation and deliver even more capable, integrated solutions to customers who depend on accuracy.” —Brad Trenkle, Garmin Co-Chief Operating Officer

Applied Ballistics develops professional-grade ballistic solvers and radar-validated projectile models for hunters, competitive shooters and other long-range customers. The company continues to expand its ecosystem of connected products, helping users improve accuracy, better understand their equipment and share trusted ballistic data across devices and applications—providing an unparalleled, science-based approach to long-range shooting.

Headquartered in Howard City, Michigan, the Applied Ballistics portfolio includes the Applied Ballistics Quantum app, a premier ballistic solver and ecosystem management program that enables users to optimize their performance and make informed decisions. Financial terms of the acquisition will not be disclosed.

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionized the aviation, automotive, fitness, marine and outdoor markets. Dedicated to helping people make the most of the time they spend pursuing their passions, Garmin believes every day is an opportunity to innovate and a chance to beat yesterday.

Posted in Ammo, Industry, Press Release | 2 Comments »

HII to Advance Airdrop Technologies for US Army Soldier Sustainment

Wednesday, September 16th, 2026

MCLEAN, Va., Sept. 15, 2026 — HII’s (NYSE: HII) Mission Technologies division announced today that it was awarded a task order to research improved airdrop and combat feeding techniques to support U.S. Army soldier sustainment.

Under the five-year task order, HII will advance new cargo and personnel airdrop technologies for precision-guided and conventional aerial delivery systems across manned and unmanned aircraft. The effort encompasses improving equipment reliability, safety and interoperability between systems while advancing sensing technologies, autonomous capabilities and cybersecurity protections to mitigate environmental and operational threats.

“Our troops’ safety and mission success depend on their ability to stay supplied and mobile even in the most difficult and austere environments,” said Todd Gentry, president of Mission Technologies’ All-Domain Operations group. “Driven by innovation, our team is uniting cutting-edge research, engineering, and an operator’s mindset to tackle these critical challenges, ensuring our forces are always ready wherever duty calls.”

The task order was awarded under the Information Analysis Center Multiple Award Contract, administered by the Defense Technical Information Center for the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center. HII has extensive expertise in soldier sustainment technologies, with nearly 60 active task orders on the IAC MAC program.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Logistics, Parachuting, Press Release | No Comments »

GA-ASI Opening a New Facility in Dayton, Ohio

Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

World Leader in Uncrewed Aircraft Establishing an Innovation Hub for Hardware and Software Development Supporting USAF Programs

DAYTON – 14 September 2026 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), the world leader in Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS), Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, JobsOhio and the Dayton Development Coalition today announced that GA-ASI is expanding its footprint with a new 22,000-square-foot innovation hub in Dayton, Ohio, focusing on hardware and software development for U.S. Air Force (USAF) programs. With the support of Synergy Building Systems, the new facility will open in Spring 2027 near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), home to the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).

The new facility is in addition to GA-ASI’s existing location outside WPAFB that opened in 2014. The addition will expand GA-ASI’s local footprint by more than seven times the existing square footage. It is expected to employ 50 full-time employees initially, drawn primarily from the local community, with support from JobsOhio and the Dayton Development Coalition, which will help promote and fill these new positions. Anyone interested in applying for a position at GA-ASI should go to www.ga.com/careers.

“GA-ASI’s decision to choose Ohio for its new innovation hub speaks to Ohio’s aviation heritage and the ingenuity of our people,” said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine. “This continued growth is part of a long-term strategy to deliver the facilities, infrastructure and talent necessary to ensure UAS pioneers can scale operations and succeed here in Ohio.”

The facility will serve as a central hub for open, modular, and affordable hardware, software, and autonomy development, supporting rapid prototyping, integration, and testing of next-generation UAS capabilities. It will also feature a state-of-the-art mission operations center, enabling remote flight control of GA-ASI aircraft, as well as experimentation, training, and demonstration activities in close coordination with the company’s USAF and industry partners.

“Growing our footprint in Dayton allows GA-ASI to bring its long-standing UAS and sensing expertise to a region recognized as a premier center for advanced technology. This expansion will enable closer collaboration with local industry and more frequent interaction with our U.S. Air Force customer,” said GA-ASI Vice President of DoD Strategic Development Patrick Shortsleeve.

“GA-ASI’s latest investment in Ohio reinforces our state’s vital role in strengthening America’s national defense,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “In partnership with the Dayton Development Coalition, we welcome this cutting-edge facility, which will advance critical aircraft hardware and software systems, create 50 new jobs in Beavercreek, and position GA-ASI closer to its private-sector partners and customers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.”

Ohio’s Aerospace & Defense sector is built for the speed our mission now demands. More than 640 aerospace facilities and 400 defense contractor organizations — supporting 418,000 jobs and roughly $55 billion in annual economic output — operate in collaboration with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the NASA Glenn Research Center, and the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE). That concentration shortens the distance from concept to manufacturing: in Ohio, companies can dream it, build it, test it, and scale it without leaving the state.

Synergy Vice President John Kopilchack said: “We are very excited to welcome General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. into our growing Synergy Defense portfolio. Synergy remains committed to clients like GA-ASI who are inventing and pioneering modern solutions for our warfighters.”

GA-ASI has been a supplier of UAS, including the Predator® and Reaper® platforms, to the U.S. Air Force for the past 30 years. In June, GA-ASI was awarded a production contract from USAF to build the new FQ-42A Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), a purpose-built uncrewed fighter jet developed as part of ongoing investment in next-generation semi-autonomous combat aircraft.

JobsOhio plans to provide assistance for the project, which will be made public after a final agreement is executed. In addition, the project may pursue a Job Creation Tax Credit from the Ohio Department of Development at a future Tax Credit Authority meeting.

Posted in Aviation, Industry, Manufacturing, Press Release | Comments Off on GA-ASI Opening a New Facility in Dayton, Ohio

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 »