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How Anduril and the Army Are Rewriting Fire Missions with NGC2

Thursday, October 2nd, 2025

Only eight weeks after Anduril was awarded a $99.6 million prototype Other Transaction Authority agreement for the Army’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2), the 4th Infantry Division became the first unit to use NGC2 in live fire training. The event, known as Ivy Sting 1, demonstrated a division-level targeting process running entirely on Anduril’s Lattice Mesh and Palantir’s Target Workbench (TWB) from headquarters down to the gun line—firing faster, more reliably, and more resiliently than legacy systems.

NGC2 is the Army’s initiative to modernize the command and control ecosystem. Built on an open, modular architecture, NGC2 connects the entire battlefield—soldiers, sensors, vehicles, and commanders—with resilient, real-time data. Anduril leads the effort alongside partners Palantir, Striveworks, Govini, Instant Connect Enterprise™ (ICE), Research Innovations, Inc. (RII), and Microsoft, integrating their capabilities into a single ecosystem.

For decades, artillery fire missions required soldiers to manually compute firing data with charts and protractors—a slow, error prone process that tied up fire direction centers. The process was digitized in the 1990s with the development of the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS). But while it was progress, AFATDS was slow to set up and unable to interface easily with other systems.

At Ivy Sting 1, the Army’s new Artillery Execution Suite (AXS) replaced that model. Integrated into NGC2, AXS delivered fire control at speed. The gains were measurable. With AFATDS, gun crews often spent time troubleshooting digital connections before they could fire. Using AXS on Lattice Mesh, crews were digitally ready in under 30 seconds.

Running on Voyager rugged edge computing kits, Lattice Mesh, Anduril’s software backbone, kept the workflow seamlessly connected and resilient in concert with Palantir’s software platform. Ghost, Anduril’s modular UAS platform, also ran on the mesh, providing immediate battle damage assessment through full-motion video, and Army Forward Observers fed inputs directly into Lattice via Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) integrations. Palantir’s TWB managed, tracked, and allocated resources for each target taking geolocation data and translating it to actionable targets to process through the kill chain.

This was no tabletop exercise. Soldiers fired 26 live missions with M777 howitzers on Fort Carson’s live-fire ranges, running AXS side-by-side with legacy crews. The contrast was visible: one team struggling with delays, the other firing digitally in seconds. Ivy Sting 1 proved that NGC2 works under operational conditions and set the stage for future events that will scale across more nodes and integrate partner applications.

To make it all happen, Anduril’s NGC2 engineering team embedded directly with the AXS developers using the NGC2 Software Development Kit (SDK). The SDK gives third-party developers the tools and open interfaces needed to rapidly build and integrate new applications and data services for NGC2, ensuring flexibility and avoiding vendor lock-in. That integration allowed the Army to move faster than planned—pulling a milestone originally set for January 2026 into Ivy Sting 1. The first M777 round was fired just 12 hours after the beta software was installed.

The workflow demonstrated has now been adopted as the division’s standard operating procedure for artillery fire control. Every future 4ID training event will build on Ivy Sting 1 mission thread, reinforcing and refining the process.

Ivy Sting 1 is only the beginning. Anduril and its partners will expand the number of nodes integrated into Lattice Mesh and use the NGC2 SDK to pull new mission threads into the data fabric. What started with fires will extend to sustainment, aviation, logistics, counter-UAS, and medical evacuation within Army operations. During Ivy Sting 2, a new mission thread will demonstrate how Lattice Mesh connects data generated by AXS to Ark, Govini’s sustainment application, enabling warfighting functions to interoperate seamlessly across the division. By Ivy Mass in May 2026, the division will be operating those workflows on Lattice at scale, treating the event as a full dress rehearsal for Project Convergence Capstone 6 in July.

Ivy Sting 1 showed how fast the Army and industry can deliver when they work as one team. In just two months, Anduril and its partners delivered a live-fire NGC2 capability that connected headquarters, artillery crews, and autonomous systems on a single mesh network.

Posted in Army, C5ISR, Press Release | Comments Off on How Anduril and the Army Are Rewriting Fire Missions with NGC2

Two New Additions to Reptilia’s AUS Mount System

Thursday, October 2nd, 2025

Hillsborough, North Carolina – October 2, 2025 – Reptilia®, a leading innovator in firearm accessories and mounting solutions, today announced the launch of two new products in its AUS™ Mount System: the AUS™ Offset for MDT SEND IT® GEN2 and the ROF™- 90 for Leupold® Delta Point Pro – 35MM.

“At Reptilia, every product we design starts with a simple mission: give professional end-users the tools they need to move faster, stay accurate, and perform with confidence,” said The Reptilia Team. “The AUS Mount System has always been about modularity and precision, and these two new additions make it even more versatile.”

Engineered in direct response to feedback from military, law enforcement, and professional shooters, the new releases address real-world challenges in both precision shooting and rapid engagement scenarios.

AUS™ OFFSET FOR MDT SEND IT GEN2

The AUS Offset Mount for SEND IT GEN2 positions the electronic level at the perfect angle for quick, glanceable confirmation—allowing shooters to stay level without ever breaking their sight picture. With four mounting positions, left or right side, the mount adapts to individual setups and shooting styles.

Machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum, Type III hardcoat anodized
Nitrided 4140 steel hardware
Weight: 30 g
Made in USA

The ROF – 90 provides a secure mounting position for a Leupold® Delta Point Pro on Reptilia® AUS or Geissele® Super Precision™ 35mm optic mounts. Specifically designed to clear Leupold® Mark 5 turrets, it delivers a reliable, unobstructed sight picture and enables seamless transitions between magnified optics and a close-range red dot.

Machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum, MIL-STD Type III anodized
Weight: 23 g
Compatible with AUS and Geissele 35mm mounts
Made in USA

SHOP NOW – reptiliacorp.com

Posted in Advertiser, Optics, Press Release, Weapon Accessories | Comments Off on Two New Additions to Reptilia’s AUS Mount System

Major Order from the USA: Rheinmetall to Supply Artillery Ammunition to Eastern European Customer – Total Worth €444 Million

Wednesday, October 1st, 2025

Rheinmetall has been commissioned to supply ammunition to an Eastern European customer. As a subcontractor to Global Military Products, a company commissioned by the US government, Rheinmetall Expal Munitions will supply 155 mm M107 projectiles with M4A2 propellant charges and 105 mm M1 projectiles to the customer. The total value of the contract is around €444 million. Of this, €170 million has already been booked as a pre-order, meaning that a further €274 million in new orders has now been booked. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2026 and be completed in June 2027.

The order underscores Rheinmetall’s high level of expertise and manufacturing capacity in the field of ammunition. The Düsseldorf-based technology group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of large-calibre ammunition. Rheinmetall has been increasing its production capacity since 2022 and aims to be able to produce up to 1.5 million 155 mm artillery shells per year by 2027.

Rheinmetall is also one of the world’s leading manufacturers of weapons and ammunition systems. Its product range extends from medium-calibre ammunition for armoured personnel carriers and anti-aircraft guns to tank and artillery ammunition, aircraft armaments and high-energy laser applications.

Posted in Ammo, Contracts, Press Release | Comments Off on Major Order from the USA: Rheinmetall to Supply Artillery Ammunition to Eastern European Customer – Total Worth €444 Million

Katadyn Group Introduces Aquifer 3000 Portable Desalination System

Wednesday, October 1st, 2025

Military-grade water purification technology delivers 3,000 gallons of fresh water daily

PETALUMA, Calif., Sept. 29, 2025 – Katadyn Group, a global leader in sustainable hydration, nutrition and cooking solutions, today announced the release of the Aquifer 3000, a new portable desalination system developed with input from the U.S. military. The system is one of the most advanced water purification technologies designed for remote military operations.

Capable of producing 3,000 gallons (11,350 liters) of safe drinking water per day, the Aquifer 3000 provides 500 people with 6 gallons of drinking water per person per day from seawater, brackish, or fresh sources. It comes in two rugged transport cases, each under 190 pounds, for two-person carry. Tool-free assembly, intuitive controls, and rapid setup and takedown make the system reliable for mission-critical operations.

The Aquifer 3000 is the newest product in the Aquifer Series from Spectra Watermakers, a Katadyn Group brand. The series includes solutions designed for military, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief applications. The 3000 offers a dedicated defense solution, combining mobility, quick setup, daily redeployment, and durability proven through MIL-STD-810H testing.

“The Aquifer 3000 was developed for the U.S. military to deliver dependable water supply in the most demanding conditions,” said Chris Voxland, president, North America, Katadyn Group. “Its combination of portability, output, and durable military-grade design ensures readiness in environments where failure is not an option.”

The system operates in two modes for maximum flexibility. High Mode (3,000 gallons per day) is used under normal conditions, while Low Mode (1,600 gallons per day) is suited for solar applications, smaller power sources, or reduced sound signature. The Aquifer 3000 is tested to MIL-STD-810H for durability and is compliant with the Buy American Act and Berry Amendment.

“We engineered the Aquifer 3000 to be simple to operate and exceptionally durable,” said John Mohrman, mechanical engineer, Katadyn Desalination LLC. “Its tool-free assembly and military-grade construction make it reliable for quick setup and daily redeployment in the field.”

In addition to desalination systems, Katadyn Group’s portfolio includes the compact Hands-Free Desalinator (HFD), and lightweight filtration solutions such as the BeFree AC Microfilter, Steripen Defender UV system and Micropur MP1 purification tablets, designed for rapid hydration on the move.

The Aquifer 3000 is available now for military customers in North America. For sales inquiries, contact Chad Reams, military business development manager, Katadyn Desalination, at 415-526-2780.

Posted in Press Release, Sustainment | Comments Off on Katadyn Group Introduces Aquifer 3000 Portable Desalination System

FN Wins US Army Development Contract for the Precision Grenadier System

Wednesday, October 1st, 2025

(McLean, VA — October 1, 2025) FN America, LLC is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a Prototype Project Opportunity Notice (PPON) contract valued at $2 million, by the U.S. Army to further develop its submission for the Precision Grenadier System, a next-generation primary soldier weapon system and family of ammunition that enables precision engagements to destroy targets with increased lethality and precision compared to legacy grenade launchers.

The FN Multi-purpose Tactical Launcher 30mm (MTL-30™) that was designed in the U.S. and will be manufactured by FN America at its plant in South Carolina is a soldier-portable, semi-automatic, medium-velocity, flat trajectory grenade launcher that enables warfighters to engage targets at extended ranges with more effective payloads over existing technologies. After extensive testing, FN’s solution has successfully met the DoD’s key performance criteria while also delivering desired characteristics. In addition, the FN solution is easily manufacturable and logistically supportable due to state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques, ensuring the program will be cost-effective.

“This program is a U.S. Government priority with the shift in modern warfare and engagements, and FN is honored to be selected to develop this new, innovative solution,” said Mark Cherpes, President and CEO for FN America, LLC. “Once developed and implemented, this weapon system could radically change future battlefield strategies. It will offer new capabilities at the squad level and upgraded tactical options, giving the warfighter a more effective system.”

FN’s solution, the FN MTL-30, is the first in this family of launchers and ammunition, as FN works with the Department of Defense (DoD) to help solve one of the world’s most pressing battlefield needs.

“The FN MTL-30 shoulder-fired launcher can engage in close-quarter warfare, defeat targets in defilade, and engage unmanned aerial systems (UAS). It could also be networked with FN remote weapon stations to create a multi-layered defense against UAS,” said John Bungard, Sr. Director, Military Development Programs for FN America, LLC. “Providing solutions that can counter multiple threats is critical for future battlefield engagements. We are excited that the Army is interested in maturing our PGS solution. We are fully committed to this system and its development.”

The FN MTL-30 is chambered for 30mm medium-velocity grenades and features a detachable box magazine with 3- or 5-round capacity. At just 35 inches in length and 8.5 inches tall, the weapon weighs just over 10 lb. The bolt catch, magazine release and safety selector are all ambidextrous, plus there is an M4-style telescoping buttstock with a modular cheek riser. The modular rail system has a contiguous top rail for mounting of visual augmentation systems (VAS) and other devices, plus side M-LOK® slots with a MIL-STD Picatinny rail.

For the soldier, the FN MTL-30 is lighter and more streamlined than previous options. Real time soldier feedback has led to a prototype that is far more user-friendly, incorporating a footprint users will be familiar with due to the M4-style controls, grip and buttstock. The system features a soft shooting launcher with low-felt recoil, enabling rapid target engagement with effective payloads from an extremely controllable system. In addition, FN’s modular system is fully serviceable at the user level and has high parts commonality with existing components.

“The technologies we have incorporated have allowed FN to create a system that is much lighter, more compact and more maneuverable than previous soldier-operated grenade launchers,” said Jim Williams, Vice President, Military Programs for FN America, LLC. “This will improve soldier capabilities on the battlefield, offering a robust solution for close combat, engaging targets beyond 500m or to potentially combat other threats such as unmanned aerial systems.”

Throughout its history, FN has been one of the largest suppliers of small arms to the U.S. military and continues to develop innovative, future technology. In addition to this opportunity, the company currently holds contracts for the FN® M240 and its variants, the FN® M249 lightweight machine gun; the FN® MK 46, MK 48, MK 17 and MK 20 SSR for USSOCOM and various other contracts. FN has decades of experience designing and supplying various grenade launching systems. The company produced the MK 19 fully automatic 40mm launcher, the MK 13 EGLMthat was a part of the SCAR program and currently sells the FN 40GL® standalone launcher internationally.

For more information about FN’s military product line or current U.S. military contracts, please visit www.FNAmerica.com.

Posted in Army, Contracts, Press Release, weapons | 3 Comments »

Jacob Grey Firearms Unveils the Nox 9: Precision, Control, and a Grip That Fits Like a Glove

Wednesday, October 1st, 2025

[Prosperity, South Carolina, USA – October 1, 2025] – Precision meets power with the release of the Nox 9, the newest innovation from Jacob Grey Firearms. Built on a 4140 pre-hardened steel frame and packed with Armored Billet™ fully CNC machined components, the Nox 9 is setting the bar for Jacob Grey to lead the way forward with a new standard of precision components, coatings, comfort, recoil management and new revolutionary designs.

The Nox 9™ marks the next chapter in Jacob Grey’s handgun lineup. More than 12 years in the making, “Jacob” left no stone unturned, leveraging advanced equipment to finally bring to life a design that’s been in his head for years. By combining our aerospace heritage with deep 1911 experience, Jacob Grey Firearms has positioned itself to build something truly different. With millions invested in the most advanced CNC equipment in the world, every pistol is produced to exact tolerances — down to the micron — delivering a slide-to-frame fit and consistency that eliminates the need for hand fitting or filing. The result is production that runs like a streamlined work of art.

“The Nox 9 is more than just another pistol launch — we’re making a statement to the world that Jacob Grey deserves respect. Our goal is to disrupt the space with new standards, higher expectations, and a firearm priced according to real numbers,” said Todd Neice, President of Jacob Grey Firearms. “We’ve invested heavily in automation and technology that allow us to manufacture with aerospace-level precision and without shortcuts. The result is the Nox 9: superior consistency, performance, and craftsmanship.”

The Nox 9 features:

• 5-inch ported slide and integrally compensated barrel for reduced recoil and flatter shooting.

• Fuly CNC Machined from billet 4140 pre-hardened steel frame, DLC coated for improved slide-to-frame fit and longevity compared to aluminum frames.

• Innovative Grip Module – designed to allow your hand to lay perfectly on the backstrap allowing for a high grip for complete control

• Armored Billet™ ignition components — hammer, sear, disconnector, oversized mag release and safety levers — all CNC-machined from tool steel and DLC/PVD coated.

• 2.5 lb Controlled Radius Trigger™ with over-travel adjustment and enhanced hammer/sear engagement.

• Optic-ready with RMR footprint plate positioned rear of the ejection port for unobstructed function.

• Exclusive patented ejector design, unique to the Nox 9 platform.

The Nox 9 will be available in extremely limited quantities directly through Jacob Grey’s dealer network and eCommerce site. It is our goal to work with our grass roots partners to supply the market at a strategic pace that allows for perfection and growth at Jacob Grey.

jacobgreyfirearms.com

Posted in Firearms, Press Release | Comments Off on Jacob Grey Firearms Unveils the Nox 9: Precision, Control, and a Grip That Fits Like a Glove

WATCHTOWER Defense and Its Owners Successfully Closed a Sale Transaction, Acquiring Substantially All the Assets of WATCHTOWER Firearms in its Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case

Tuesday, September 30th, 2025

SPRING, TX (Sept. 30, 2025)— Veteran-founded firearms manufacturer WATCHTOWER Firearms today announced an exciting new future for WATCHTOWER Defense following a recent sale transaction that was approved by the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. The consummation of this sale transaction is an exciting time for employees who will transition from WATCHTOWER Firearms to WATCHTOWER Defense, as the new company and its future ensure stability and growth not only for employees but for future customers of WATCHTOWER Defense.

For a short period following the consummation of this sale transaction, WATCHTOWER Firearms and WATCHTOWER Defense are working cooperatively, through a transition services agreement, to transition to a new era. This transition services agreement allowed WATCHTOWER Defense to begin developing new plans for its company and to prepare for many changes that are on the horizon without pausing production or delay in satisfying customer orders.

Through new ownership, fresh capital, and expanded manufacturing capabilities, WATCHTOWER Defense will ambitiously push its company into defense and law enforcement markets. Also, as part of this new era, WATCHTOWER Defense is investing in a new 24,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility, where it will outfit production with modern machinery and tooling. This will not only result in even higher quality products, but the new and enhanced space will improve cost structures to ensure WATCHTOWER Defense is built for long-term strength and competitiveness.

While WATCHTOWER Firearms has been respected for its handmade 2011-style pistols, the new company, WATCHTOWER Defense will offer a duty-focused product line designed to meet the needs of military, law enforcement and defense customers. As a result, WATCHTOWER Defense’s brand will have a broader reach without sacrificing key core values: USA-made, veteran-owned, and backed by an industry leading lifetime warranty.

For WATCHTOWER Defense’s future dealer and distributor partners, the message is clear: A new day is dawning and WATCHTOWER Defense will be here to stay. Through consistent sales and customer service teams, dedicated leadership, and capital investments, partners will be able to count on Watchtower Defense’s brand for the long haul.

Through the Court-approved purchase of substantially all the assets of WATCHTOWER Firearms and the related transition services agreement between WATCHTOWER Defense, as purchaser, and WATCHTOWER Firearms, as seller, Watchtower Defense has positioned itself to deliver cutting-edge firearms for commercial, defense, and law enforcement markets—and to grow as a long-term American industry leader.

www.watchtowerfirearms.com

Posted in Firearms, Industry, Press Release | Comments Off on WATCHTOWER Defense and Its Owners Successfully Closed a Sale Transaction, Acquiring Substantially All the Assets of WATCHTOWER Firearms in its Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Case

Two Companies Selected to Support DIU’s Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems – NEXT Project

Tuesday, September 30th, 2025

The DOW and tech companies are leveraging commercially derived components and solutions to rapidly prototype and develop Counter UAS interceptors.

Mountain View, CA (September 29, 2025) — The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has started prototyping commercial and dual-use technology solutions to provide Counter UAS solutions that defeat group 3 and above adversarial threats, ensure the sovereignty of our national airspace, and protect our personnel, equipment, and facilities at home and abroad. Focus areas of the Counter NEXT project include providing a deeper interceptor magazine for our forces while preserving exquisite interceptors for exquisite threats, simplifying and accelerating the reloading process, addressing the cost asymmetry of the current threats and interceptors in use, and integrating with the existing combat systems.

Image taken during flight testing of Zone 5’s interceptor. (Source: Zone 5 Technologies)

DIU and our DoW partners selected Anduril Industries and Zone 5 Technologies to develop prototype solutions for the Counter NEXT program in fall 2024. These vendors were selected from more than 65 commercial and dual-use technology company applicants.

Less than a year later, both vendors completed initial design and developmental sprints and successful baseline flight testing of their proposed solutions. Based on the data gathered, warfighter feedback and knowledge gained during the first sprint, iterative improvements are being made to both systems to ensure the solutions address the capability gap before additional flight testing and safety/qualification testing occur in the months ahead.

Image taken during flight testing of Anduril’s AAV. (Source: Anduril Industries)

Counter NEXT vendors are incorporating commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components wherever possible to mitigate potential supply chain bottlenecks and keep costs low. The vendors are also leveraging modern air vehicle design concepts, ensuring air vehicles are not over-engineered for their intended mission but that they also minimize the use of expensive materials and enable high-rate production that is not possible with the more exquisite interceptors available today.

To enable future design improvements and rapid integration of subsystems and components as they improve, the Counter NEXT prototypes are utilizing a modular open systems architecture and being designed for mass production using modern manufacturing techniques. Additionally, all components of the solution will be qualified and certified to some of the most stringent military standards in order to provide an enduring capability to the warfighter wherever the solution is deployed.

“The Counter NEXT project is focused on leveraging the best-in-breed commercially derived technology and processes to accelerate the development, production, and fielding of these vital Counter UAS interceptors to our warfighters,” said Joshua Zike, Counter NEXT Program Manager for DIU. “While this solution is focused on a specific, pressing subset of the counter UxS problem set, variants for all domains should be developed and deployed to provide this vital layered kinetic counter UxS defeat capability to all our warfighters.”

Following Anduril and Zone 5’s recent successful flight demonstrations, both vendors received additional funding to further refine their rapid prototypes, integrate their systems with the mission partner’s combat systems, and conduct the safety testing required prior to a live fire test event in the summer of 2026.

Posted in C-UAS, Contracts, Drone, Press Release | Comments Off on Two Companies Selected to Support DIU’s Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems – NEXT Project