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Introducing the Thrive HD 1-8×24 SFP LPVO: Setting a New Standard in Field of View

Tuesday, March 18th, 2025

When it comes to Low Power Variable Optics (LPVOs), there’s one feature that can make or break your shooting experience: the Field of View (FOV). It’s more than just a spec—it’s the difference between spotting a target in time or missing it entirely. Enter the Thrive HD 1-8×24, a scope designed with one of the widest FOVs in its class.

Why FOV Matters

Imagine tracking a fast-moving target through dense brush or scanning open terrain for elusive prey. At 1x magnification, the Thrive HD gives you an industry-leading 124.79 feet FOV at 100 yards, letting you see more of your surroundings while keeping your target in view. Even at 8x magnification, you still enjoy 15.29 feet of FOV, ensuring clarity and awareness for medium-range engagements.

Engineered for Performance and Durability

The Thrive HD isn’t just about optics—it’s built to handle whatever you throw at it. Crafted from 7075-T6 aluminum, this LPVO combines strength and reliability with a lightweight design. Add in waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof construction, and you’ve got an optic that’s as tough as it is versatile.

Illuminated Reticles for Every Scenario

With two reticle options—PHR 4 and German 4—the Thrive HD adapts to your style:

• PHR 4: A modern reticle with sub tensions permitting speed and leading moving targets.

• G4: A classic style reticle for fast, intuitive target acquisition.

Both reticle options are illuminated, ensuring visibility in low-light situations, whether you’re hunting at dawn or dusk.

Designed for Versatility

From close-quarters engagements to medium-range precision, the 1-8x magnification range covers all your bases. The second focal plane (SFP) reticle permits maximum visibility over the entire magnification range, giving you confidence in every shot.

See the Bigger Picture with Thrive HD

The Thrive HD 1-8×24 SFP LPVO isn’t just an optic—it’s your ticket to better situational awareness and precision. With its exceptional FOV, rugged construction, and advanced features, it’s setting the bar for LPVO performance. Ready to see what you’ve been missing? Get your Thrive HD today and experience the difference.

Key Features

G4 Reticle: Classic illuminated reticle with a clear centeraiming point for quick target acquisition.

Wide Field of View (FOV): 41.6 meters (124.79 feet) at 1x magnification for enhanced situational awareness.

SFP Configuration: Perceived reticle size remains constant across all magnifications for ease of use when hunting.

Durable Build: Aircraft-grade 7075-T6 aluminum construction for strength and reliability in the toughest conditions.

Magnification Range: 1-8x versatility suitable for close-quarters and medium-range shooting.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Focal Plane, Second (SFP)

Reticle calibrated magnification power (SFP only), 8x

Magnification Range, 1-8x

Objective Lens Diameter, 24mm

Maintube Diameter, 30mm

Maintube material, 7075 – T6

Zero Stop, No

Turret Index Value, 0.25MOA

Internal Elevation Adjustment, 90MOA

Internal Windage Adjustment, 90MOA

Parallax Adjustment Range, Fixed – 100 Meters

Exit Pupil Diameter, Low: 8mm; High: 3mm

Eye Relief, 3.5 – 4in

Field of view @ 100 Yards, Low: 124.8; High: 15.5

Objective Outer Diameter, 30mm

Lens Coating, Fully Multi Coated (FMC)

Ocular Outer Diameter, 45mm

Weight, 22oz

Available Reticles, PHR 4 & G4

Illumination, Yes

Waterproof Rating, IPX7

Posted in Optics, Press Release | 1 Comment »

Lantac Enhanced Bolt Carrier Group

Tuesday, March 18th, 2025

The Lantac E-BCG® (Enhanced Bolt Carrier Group) is one of the most significant evolutions Lantac-USA has brought to market.

Introduced in 2014, the Lantac E-BCG is regarded as the leading product in its class. Independent testing has confirmed that no other enhanced bolt carrier on the market effectively enhances a standard AR15 BCG or addresses the shortcomings of a standard mil-spec BCG the way Lantac’s E-BCG does.

Testing and evaluation conducted on the E-BCG with 75,000+ rounds of full auto (primarily suppressed fire) concluded massive lifespan gains over traditional mil-spec BCG’s. The Crane NAVSEA’s 2015 report indicated that the average lifespan of a mil-spec bolt was approximately 9625 rounds!

Some of the primary enhancements of the E-BCG include:

1- Lower operating pressure for cycling – resulting in a smoother recoil impulse and more reliable cycling.

2- The patented CPR-360 Domed Head Cam Pin to reduce internal wear to the cam channel

3- The patented flared tail on the rear of the carrier increasesconcentricity within the upper receiver to enhance accuracy

4- Forward-facing enlarged venting ports to reduce particulate and overpressure from venting into the shooters face, and reduces SPL readings at the shooters ear

5- Patented advanced UCT EXO coating process for increased lubricity and improved cycling.

More detail, testing, and evaluation of the E-BCG can be found on the Lantac-USA website at under their white paper section: www.lantac-usa.com/e-bcgwhitepaper

The Lantac E-BCG is the perfect upgrade for shooters seeking a smoother, more reliable and dependable solution for the AR15 platform.

You can watch a short video overview of the Lantac E-BCG on Lantac’s YouTube channel here: youtu.be/f7BW_kDUQSM

For more information visit lantac-usa.com

Posted in Press Release, Weapon Accessories | 2 Comments »

GForce Arms Introduces the 12HAMMER: A Versatile 12-Gauge Semi-Automatic Shotgun

Monday, March 17th, 2025

Reno, NV – March 12, 2025 – GForce Arms is proud to announce the release of the 12HAMMER, a 12-gauge semi-automatic shotgun engineered for exceptional versatility and reliability across various shooting applications.

The 12HAMMER distinguishes itself with its ability to cycle a wide range of ammunition without the need for high-velocity loads. Unlike many Turkish-made MKA-1919 style shotguns that require 1300fps velocity ammunition, the 12HAMMER efficiently cycles light 7.5 shot loads up to 3? T-shot and steel, making it a highly efficient shotgun that accommodates almost any ammunition.

Key features of the 12HAMMER include:

Gas-Operated Buffertube System: Ensures smooth and consistent cycling under various conditions.

18.5-Inch 4140 Full Steel Barrel: Provides durability and precision.

Benelli Mobile Choke System: Comes with five factory chokes—CYL, IMP CYL, MOD, IMP MOD, and FULL—for customizable shot patterns.

Robust Construction: Features a T6-7075 hardened aluminum upper receiver and a rugged polymer lower receiver for strength and reduced weight.

Adjustable Length: Overall length ranges from 31.1 inches to 48.2 inches, offering adaptability for various shooting scenarios.

Weighing 8.4 pounds, the 12HAMMER strikes a balance between manageability and recoil reduction. Its compact size and reliable operation make it suitable for home defense, while its adaptability caters to sport shooters and tactical users alike.

The 12HAMMER is now available through authorized GForce Arms dealers nationwide. For more information, visit GForce Arms’ official website.

Posted in Press Release, weapons | 1 Comment »

Defense Innovation Unit Selects Four Companies To Provide Long-Range, One-Way Unmanned Platforms Prototypes for Evaluation

Monday, March 17th, 2025

Mountain View, CA (March 14, 2025) –The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) announced that four companies were awarded contracts for Artemis, a project to operationally evaluate long range, one way platforms. DIU is partnering with the Department of Defense Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment (A&S) to execute a FY24 Budget line item directing operational testing of platforms in relevant Electronic Warfare (EW) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) denied environments.

Congressional direction for this effort had a goal to provide loitering munitions capable of operation in an electromagnetic contested environment, at a price point that allows for mass deployment.

“We are excited about the non-traditional companies who are providing low-cost, adaptable, long-range, UAS platforms with the potential to maximize operational flexibility for the Joint force,” said Trent Emeneker, DIU program manager for the effort and contractor. “This was the intent of Congress’ direction to rethink how to get capabilities to the warfighter at speed and scale that can deliver much faster than traditional Programs of Record.”

The four companies on contract include Swan, a U.S. software company partnered with a Ukrainian unmanned aerial systems (UAS) firm; Dragoon, a U.S.-based firm; Aerovironment, a U.S. based firm; and Auterion, a U.S. software company partnered with another Ukrainian UAS firm.

In just over four4 months, DIU and A&S developed a problem statement, launched a solicitation, evaluated 165 proposals, conducted flight demonstrations to verify stated capabilities of down-selected companies and entered into contract negotiations.

In order to have a successful prototype by the end of FY 2025, the next step is meeting an aggressive testing and integration schedule to complete prototyping and demonstrate success by the end of May 2025. Project Artemis goals are directly tied to observations of current real world combat conditions as well as feedback from end users across the DoD on what capabilities may be needed in this space to face near peer threat capabilities around the world. With Artemis, DIU and A&S are moving rapidly to provide an option for Services and Combatant Commands to choose from, delivered years in advance of current Program of Record timeframes.

The final Artemis capabilities will be ground-launched, affordable one-way UAS platforms that operate at ranges from 50-300 km+, launch quickly and expeditiously, navigate at low altitudes, carry a variety of payloads, are rapidly updatable and upgradable, and functional in disrupted, disconnected, intermittent and low-bandwidth and Global Navigation Satellite System denied environments.

Posted in Contracts, Press Release, UAS | Comments Off on Defense Innovation Unit Selects Four Companies To Provide Long-Range, One-Way Unmanned Platforms Prototypes for Evaluation

Overwatch and Milrem Robotics Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Unmanned Defence Capabilities

Monday, March 17th, 2025

Overwatch, a British aerospace and defence business specialising in the design and manufacture of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and Milrem Robotics, the world’s leading robotics and autonomous systems developer, have signed a collaboration agreement to drive product development, production, and sales of cutting-edge unmanned defence solutions worldwide.

Under this collaboration, Overwatch and Milrem Robotics will undertake joint research and development assessments to explore possibilities for integrating capabilities, payloads, and effects between Overwatch’s UAVs and Milrem Robotics’ unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), with the aim of developing highly interoperable unmanned systems.

Both parties will engage in collaborative test and evaluation efforts to advance operational capabilities and deliver enhanced performance under realistic mission conditions.

“Overwatch is thrilled to embark on this strategic collaboration with Milrem Robotics,” said Drew Michael, CEO of Overwatch. “By leveraging our respective strengths in UAV and UGV technologies, we aim to deliver unparalleled unmanned defence capabilities to meet the evolving needs of our customers worldwide.”

“We look forward to working closely with Overwatch to expand our product portfolios and address emerging market demands,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem Robotics. “By combining our expertise and jointly exploring R&D and testing, we expect to develop integrated solutions that will significantly enhance operational effectiveness and mission success for our clients,” he added.

The companies will also coordinate marketing activities to promote each other’s products beyond their domestic markets, opening up new business opportunities across global defence sectors.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release, Robotics | Comments Off on Overwatch and Milrem Robotics Announce Strategic Collaboration to Advance Unmanned Defence Capabilities

SkyFi Partners with GoTAK to Set New Standard with TAK Plugin Delivering Real-Time Satellite Imagery to End-User Devices

Sunday, March 16th, 2025

Austin, TX & Virginia Beach, VA – SkyFi, an Earth intelligence platform, today announced a strategic partnership with GoTAK, the end-to-end provider of plug?and?play situational awareness solutions. This collaboration will result in the development of a TAK (Team Awareness Kit) plugin that integrates high?resolution satellite imagery directly into any ATAK EUD (End-User-Device) on-demand.

Under GoTAK’s new “FORGE (Fused Operations with Rapid Generative-AI & Engineering)” program, the company has been selected to develop a fully featured, high-performance plugin that will seamlessly deliver satellite imagery from SkyFi’s extensive data library and on-demand tasking services. The integration is designed to empower tactical operators, law enforcement, military personnel, and first responders with immediate access to critical geospatial intelligence—directly on their EUDs—thereby enhancing situational awareness and decision-making in dynamic field environments.

“Through our FORGE program, GoTAK has consistently delivered bespoke, mission-critical solutions at breakneck speeds,” said Matthew Del Salto, CEO of GoTAK. “Partnering with SkyFi to integrate real-time satellite imagery into the TAK ecosystem is a natural extension of our commitment to innovation. This plugin will provide military, government, public safety, law enforcement and civilians with unprecedented access to vital geospatial data right when they need it most.”

“Speed and precision win in the field. This partnership with GoTAK ensures tactical operators can access and leverage high-resolution satellite imagery exactly when the stakes are highest, eliminating delays between insight and action. With this integration, SkyFi is arming decision-makers with the ultimate competitive advantage—rapid geospatial intel at their fingertips,” said Luke Fischer, Cofounder and CEO of SkyFi.

Posted in Press Release, TAK | Comments Off on SkyFi Partners with GoTAK to Set New Standard with TAK Plugin Delivering Real-Time Satellite Imagery to End-User Devices

Airbus U.S Space & Defense and Aerostar Expand Their Existing Collaboration with Contributions from Persistent Systems

Sunday, March 16th, 2025

Today, Airbus U.S. Space & Defense and Aerostar announced an expansion of their Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to include additional capabilities from Persistent Systems, LLC (“Persistent”).

This expansion culminated in the launch of a second joint Internal Research and Development (IRAD) stratospheric test flight that will enable continued testing of hardened communications systems. These can be used to support ISR sensor collection and network extension missions from the stratosphere, which both companies are working to operationalize. Aerostar offers a series of stratospheric High Altitude Balloon Systems and Airbus is leading the field of stratospheric fixed wing systems with its Zephyr HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo Satellite / High Altitude Platform Station).

Launched Feb. 6, 2025, from Sioux Falls, S.D., IRAD Flight HBAL717 is currently operating over the Pacific Ocean. This flight includes an Aerostar Thunderhead Stratospheric Balloon system, satellite communication terminals hardened by Airbus U.S. engineers, and Persistent’s networking system and over-the-horizon Cloud Relay™ technology.

“Each of our companies brings something special to the table and we’re united in the quest to operationalize the stratosphere in a complimentary fashion,” said Fabian Kluessendorf, Airbus U.S. UAS Engineering Director. “Ultimately, the goal of this flight is to test the integration, encryption, backhaul, and routing of ISR traffic to government cloud systems from anywhere on the globe. On top of this it will pave the way for trusted payload-automation using onboard AI/ML capabilities. Our technology will be tested and qualified for operations through a long-duration stratospheric flight.”

Prior to the flight, a cross functional team of engineers from all three companies worked together to rapidly prototype variants of their hardware for future stratospheric balloon or fixed-wing flights.

“Stratospheric platforms are the most cost-effective, long-duration, persistent flight vehicles in service today. Aerostar continues to invest R&D dollars into integrating warfighter-relevant end-to-end solutions for resilient communications and ISR collection in critical, contested theaters,” said Russ Van Der Werff, Aerostar’s VP of Stratospheric Solutions.

“Persistent Systems is proud to partner with Airbus and Aerostar to integrate, test, and deploy advanced network solutions in support of the Warfighter. By leveraging both our Cloud Relay technology and Wave Relay® mobile ad hoc network (MANET), our government end-users will gain enhanced ISR and network-extension capabilities,” said Tom Jennings, Director of Business Development at Persistent Systems. “The swift and effective collaboration between Airbus, Aerostar, and Persistent Systems underscores the commitment and agility of all stakeholders, and we are look forward to continued partnership and innovation.”

Airbus, with the Zephyr platform designed and manufactured by its subsidiary AALTO, is a leader in stratospheric fixed wing aircraft; Aerostar has long tenure of balloon stratospheric operations for U.S. government customers; and Persistent is a leading vendor of scalable MANET devices and networking solutions for interoperability.

Posted in Comms, Industry, Press Release | Comments Off on Airbus U.S Space & Defense and Aerostar Expand Their Existing Collaboration with Contributions from Persistent Systems

Shell Shock Technologies Revolutionizes Military Logistics with Lighter Ammunition, Delivering Unprecedented Cost Savings and Efficiency

Sunday, March 16th, 2025

Innovative Ammunition Technology Enhances Transport Capacity, Cuts Fuel Costs, and Reduces Maintenance Burdens for U.S. Military.

Eubank, KY (March 2025) – Shell Shock Technologies, LLC. (SST), a leading innovator in the ammunition industry, recently unveiled groundbreaking findings demonstrating the significant operational efficiencies of its lightweight ammunition. Following the December 2024 release of “Weight Reduction of Lighter Weight Ammunition & Its Impact on Troops and Aircraft/Vehicles,” SST’s latest analysis highlights how a 30 percent reduction in ammunition weight translates to streamlined logistics, lower transportation costs, and substantial military savings.

Increased Transport Capacity and Cost Savings

SST’s lightweight ammunition enables more efficient transportation logistics. Traditional .50 caliber ammunition requires approximately ten pallets per transport vehicle, costing nearly $4,000 per trip. SST’s lighter ammunition increases payload capacity to fourteen pallets per vehicle, effectively eliminating the need for every fourth vehicle. This reduction in convoy size leads to fewer shipments, lower fuel consumption, and decreased risks associated with transport missions.

Moreover, for surface transport, every third 20-foot International Organization for Standardization (ISO) shipping container—costing around $22,000 per container—would be eliminated, further reducing military logistics expenses.

Aircraft Fuel Savings and Extended Range

The weight reduction extends beyond ground logistics. A 30 percent decrease in ammunition weight translates to a 9–15 percent reduction in fuel costs per aircraft mission. Given the U.S. military conducts approximately 200,000 aircraft missions per year, this equates to over $1.16 billion in annual savings.

Additionally, aircraft carrying lighter ammunition can remain on station longer, reduce refueling needs, and experience extended range capabilities. Lower weight also reduces wear and tear on airframes and engines, leading to decreased maintenance costs over time. Since fuel accounts for 40–50 percent of aircraft operational costs, reducing payload weight directly enhances efficiency and financial savings.

Maintenance and Equipment Longevity

Reducing ammunition weight has profound implications for maintenance and equipment longevity. The lower payload weight decreases stress on military vehicles, aircraft, and material handling equipment. SST’s collapsible lightweight ammo can (CLAC) further enhances logistics by reducing packaging weight and allowing for a fully loaded can (100-round belt) to decrease from 35 lbs. to approximately 26 lbs. This leads to longer-lived assets, lower operational strain, and fewer maintenance requirements, ultimately increasing overall military readiness.

Environmental and Reusability Benefits

In addition to cost savings and operational efficiencies, SST’s innovations contribute to environmental sustainability. The prototype CLAC is collapsible, reusable, and fully recyclable, reducing waste and procurement costs. These enhancements provide logistical advantages while aligning with the military’s ongoing sustainability efforts.

“Shell Shock Technologies’ innovative ammunition solutions not only provide a tactical advantage but also revolutionize military logistics,” said Peter Foss, Managing Partner and CEO of Shell Shock Technologies. “By reducing ammunition weight, we are enabling our armed forces to optimize transport efficiency, cut fuel consumption, and extend the lifespan of critical military assets. This is a game-changer for both cost savings and operational readiness.”

Shell Shock Technologies remains at the forefront of ammunition innovation, providing solutions that improve battlefield effectiveness while significantly lowering the financial and logistical burden on the military.

Keep up with Shell Tech’s advanced ammunition on the website.

Posted in Ammo, Press Release | 1 Comment »