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Groundbreaking Held for KONGSBERG’s Missile Manufacturing and Maintenance Facility in James City County, Virginia

Sunday, February 8th, 2026

Jan. 16, 2026 – Kongsberg Defense and Aerospace, Inc. (‘KONGSBERG’) held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for its first state-of-the-art US-based missile production facility in James City County, Va.

Speakers at the event included Kongsberg Defence and Aerospace (Norway) President Eirik Lie, James City County Board of Supervisors Chair Dr. John McGlennon, Virginia Secretary of Transportation Hon. Shep Miller, U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (VA-1) and Norwegian Ambassador to the United States Anniken Huitfeldt.

 

This facility, located in Toano, Va, between Richmond and Williamsburg and conveniently near Naval Station Yorktown, will help the company meet global demand for its precision strike missiles. 

 

“This new KONGSBERG factory will provide additional production capacity, sustainment and in-country tech refresh capabilities for our Naval Strike Missile (NSM) and Joint Strike Missile (JSM) – both highly advanced, fifth generation cruise missiles capable of both maritime strike and land attack,” said Lie.

 

The United States Navy awarded KONGSBERG a multi-year procurement contract for NSM in 2024 for the Navy’s Over-the-Horizon weapon wystem, as well as the Marine Corps’ NMESIS (Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System). The United States Air Force selected the JSM in 2024 for use on the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter.

 

“We are proud to invest in defense manufacturing in the United States and excited to onshore our world-class capabilities in James City County, Va. The state of Virginia, including the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Hampton Roads Alliance, have been integral in this process and we look forward to growing our presence in the US as we ramp up hiring,” said Heather Armentrout, KDA, Inc. president and general manager. 

 

The KONGSBERG facility was announced in September 2024 and will create more than 180 jobs in the James City County area. It will inject more than $100 million in economic benefits, as well as create opportunities for local suppliers to support the production and manufacturing of these weapons.

 

Preparatory site work has commenced with construction expected to begin by Q2 2026. Missile manufacturing will begin in late 2027, ramping up to full rate production by the end of 2028.

The NSM has been selected by 14 countries and the JSM by 5 nations, including the US.

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

SHOT Show 26 – HK 421 7.62 MG

Thursday, February 5th, 2026

Heckler & Koch exhibited a variant of the HK 421 machine gun in 7.62 mm NATO. While they would only mention that its inclusion in the booth was intended to demonstrate how important the company considers the US market its important to note that USSOCOM is currently seeking a Light Machine Gun Assault also in 7.62mm with possible future caliber swaps to high pressure ammunition.

The staff was very kind to allow me to photograph the gun but I must point out that the lighting in the hall is very challenging. This post will essentially serve as a photo dump to allow you to see the features of this variant of the HK 421.

Posted in SHOT Show, weapons | 2 Comments »

USAMU Builds Lethality During M7 Fielding with 25th Infantry Division

Monday, February 2nd, 2026

Soldiers assigned to the 25th Infantry Division are training on the Army’s newest service rifle as part of the ongoing fielding of the M7, with instructors from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit providing hands-on support focused on marksmanship fundamentals.

USAMU instructors are working alongside Soldiers to reinforce proven shooting techniques that apply across weapon systems. While the M7 introduces new capabilities, instructors emphasized that effective marksmanship still depends on mastering the basics.

“We’re not here to reinvent the wheel,” said Sgt. 1st Class Alexander Deal, team chief for the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Service Rifle Team. “The fundamentals of marksmanship don’t change, even when the weapon system does.”

Deal said the training focuses on consistency and efficiency behind the rifle, especially as Soldiers transition to a new platform.

“When Soldiers pick up a new weapon, it’s easy to focus on the equipment,” Deal said. “What we’re reinforcing is that grip, trigger control, and follow-through still matter. If you have solid fundamentals, the weapon becomes easier to run.”

According to Deal, the techniques taught by USAMU instructors are rooted in competition shooting, where performance is measured under pressure.

“Competition shooting forces you to balance speed and accuracy,” Deal said. “Those same principles translate directly to combat. You have to be accountable for every shot, and you have to be consistent.”

Throughout the fielding, instructors observed Soldiers adapting quickly as they applied those principles during live-fire training.

“We’ve seen Soldiers gain confidence fast once they trust the fundamentals,” Deal said. “When they understand what right looks like, their performance improves.”

Deal said the intent of the training is to give units tools they can continue to use long after the fielding event ends.

“Our goal is to leave units better than we found them,” Deal said. “If leaders and Soldiers walk away with a stronger foundation in marksmanship, that training continues long after we leave.”

Training like this supports the Army’s broader effort to increase lethality across the force by pairing modern equipment with disciplined marksmanship.

SFC Timothy Hamlin

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Training, weapons | 1 Comment »

SHOT Show 26 – Colt Exhibits Drone Mounted 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher

Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

Colt is displaying their Mk47, a 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher which they acquired a few years ago from General Dynamics, mounted to the Survice Engineering TR150 which is a USMC program of record quad copter.

The MK47 is a lightweight 40mm automatic grenade launcher with an integrated fire control system, capable of functioning as a standard automatic grenade launcher or with programmable airburst capability.

Dimensions:

Gun Weight: 39.6 lbs (18 kg)

Length: 37″ (940 mm)

Length (barrel detached): 24.02″ (610 mm)

Width: 10.04″ (255 mm)

Height: 8.07″ (205 mm)

The TR150 is an electric system which boasts an amazing 150lbs payload and has hot swappable Lithium Ion batteries.

After initial flight tests to determine how the Mk47 flies on the drone, the team will work on a dedicated weapon mount, development of a ammo box and feed system, live fire tests and possible mission configuration of the weapon.

Posted in Drone, SHOT Show, weapons | No Comments »

SHOT Show 26 – Northrop Grumman Selects Barrett Firearms to Manufacture Precision Grenadier System

Wednesday, January 21st, 2026

Striding into the Barrett Firearms booth I saw a curious Sight, the Northrop Grumman Precision Grenadier System on display. I asked around and while no one would go on record regarding its presence, they did verify that Northrop Grumman had selected them to manufacture the 25mm system as the PGS program continues for the US Army.

PGS is a soldier portable, shoulder fired, semi-automatic, magazine fed, integrated armament system (weapon, ammunition, fire control) that enables rapid, precision engagements to destroy personnel targets in defilade and Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) targets at close range. 

As this effort has progressed the Northrop Grumman launcher which was developed early on, has served as a baseline system for the Army as it considers all candidates.

The Northrop Grumman ammunition is 25mm and so far consists of air burst, proximity, close quarter battle as well as target practice. The airburst is a programmable, dual-warhead high-explosive fragmenting round that can be fired in both airburst and point detonate. By dual-warhead they mean that there are explosive charges at both the front and rear of the warhead. No word on whether they will also transition to production of the ammo to NIOA Group who owns Barrett.

The next phase of the program will down select to two systems and insiders tell me that Barrett has established a separate team with cut outs to satisfy both Army and Northrop Grumman.

Barrett already has their own candidate in the PGS program. Developed in conjunction with MARS, Inc, this 30mm systems has already performed well in competition.

The Barrett team has developed CQB, HEDP, HEAB, Proximity AB, and TP rounds.

Posted in SHOT Show, weapons | No Comments »

SIG Teams with IAI for the Firestorm Armed Quadcopter

Tuesday, January 20th, 2026

We first mentioned the Firestorm UAS during AUSA but leaned more about this armed quadcopter during the SIG Defense Range Day. With an APUS 60 airframe from Israeli Aerospace Industries combined with a lightweight remote weapon station and M250 machine gun and 200 rounds of 7.62mm NATO ammunition from SIG SAUER, the system offers persistent, dedicated close air support. Essentially, it is an airborne machine gun.

Thanks to its multi-fuel internal combustion engine, boasting on station time of three hours, a unit equipped with several Firestorms could stagger sorties in order to offer 24-hour coverage. Unlike battery powered drones with short flight times and long recharge times leads to severe gaps in operations.

Another factor for the duration is that the engine runs as a fixed RPM and speed and station keeping is achieved through changing the blade pitch. This allows the Firestorm to take off and land in up to 23 knot winds and fly in winds up to 40 knots. The use of altered blade pitch reacts 10x faster than traditional engine RPM changes. This offers another advantage. The engine doesn’t change pitch as the UAS reacts to control input making it less likely to be detected by sound.

What’s more, in spite of its long hover time, the Firestorm retains ample power for the onboard weapon station. The max takeoff weight is 72kg with a payload weight of 35kg.

The Micolight remote weapon station is based on the General Robotics Bulldog but is more compact and smaller weighing just under 10kg. It is optimized for use with the SIG Medium Machine Gun chambered in 7.62mm NATO. The weapon station can see out your 25km, incorporating an electro optical sensor with 10x zoom and the Infrared sensor offers 5x zoom. Additionally, there is a laser range finder and the software includes automatic target recognition and tracking functions.

An interesting feature is that the training burden is lower than with other larger drones and utilizes a unified control system for both remote weapon station and flight. In fact, when the weapon is engaged, the Firestorm assumes a hover but can quickly transition into a move and scoot mode by the operator to balance survivability and target engagement. While engagement has only been tested so far in hover, the development team is working on the ability to engage while moving.

The system is easily transportable with foldable arms which are quickly placed into action and has undergone testing with foreign customers.

We will provide more information on this system as we receive it.

Posted in Advertiser, UAS, weapons | 1 Comment »

SIG SAUER Introduces the P211 GT4 and GT5

Friday, January 16th, 2026

Continuation of SIG SAUER’s Legacy of Innovation

NEWINGTON, N.H., (January 16, 2026) – SIG SAUER, industry-leading manufacturer of cutting-edge firearms, optics, and ammunition, introduces the P211-GT4 and GT5 – the latest additions to SIG SAUER’s distinguished lineage of hammer-fired pistols.  The P211’s precision machining and reliability incorporate the timeless appeal and superior performance of SIG’s first double-stack 1911 pistol. The GT4 and GT5 variants deliver even more options for the serious pistol competitor, elite operator, or shooting enthusiast. 

The GT5 is a full-size pistol engineered to excel in both competition and duty/self-defense applications. Its full-length slide and 5” bull barrel provide excellent recoil characteristics and expand the P211’s use in the shooting sports. The GT4 combines the capacity and performance of a double-stack SAO pistol with the practicality of a 4” slide and low-profile magwell, making it the ideal choice for discreet concealed carry.  

GT5 Product Details:

  • 5” Target crown bull barrel
  • Steel frame with 3-slot accessory rail and full-length dust cover
  • Compatible with Picatinny rail-mounted accessories
  • Straight-pull trigger for a clean and consistent pull
  • Precision-engineered alloy grip module
  • Grip Safety, Ambidextrous Thumb Safeties, and Firing Pin Safety mechanism
  • Equipped with (2) 21-round and (1) 17-round P320 compatible steel magazines

GT4 Product Details:

  • 4.2” Target crown bull barrel
  • Steel frame with 3-slot accessory rail and carry-length dust cover
  • Compatible with Picatinny rail-mounted accessories
  • Straight-pull trigger for a clean and consistent pull
  • Precision-engineered alloy grip module
  • Grip Safety, Ambidextrous Thumb Safeties, and Firing Pin Safety mechanism
  • Low Profile Carry Magazine Well
  • Equipped with (2) 21-round and (1) 17-round P320 compatible steel magazines

The P211-GT4 and GT5 will be displayed in SIG SAUER’s booth at SHOT Show (booth #73039).  To learn more about the P211-GTO and all of SIG SAUER’s innovative and battle-tested products, visit sigsauer.com.

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

Introducing the FN 309: Peace of Mind Performance

Tuesday, January 13th, 2026

(McLean, VA — January 13, 2026) FN America, LLC makes owning and operating an FN pistol more accessible than ever with the launch of the FN 309™ MRD. A lightweight, optics-ready 9mm pistol with high- and low-capacity magazines and easy-to-use features, the FN 309 is the perfect choice for those who value both reliability and precision in personal protection.

“FN is a premium brand known for delivering professional grade products and the FN 309 is a personal defense pistol that brings the performance FN is known for to a larger audience.” said Dan Hines, Vice President Commercial and Law Enforcement for FN America, LLC. “With the FN 309, we’ve successfully created an FN-quality pistol that is easy to shoot, easy to use and easy to own.”

The FN 309 is intuitive and comfortable to shoot, thanks to a crisp 5-pound single-action trigger with clean reset and soft recoil. A newly designed neutral grip angle creates a natural point of aim, while a rounded rear U-notch combined with a green fiber-optic front sight gives an intuitive sight picture and quick target acquisition.

The pistol’s ease of use includes a slide that is designed to be 25% easier to rack than traditional tactical pistols, high-capacity polymer magazines that require 40% less spring loading force and include directional indicators. Having completed FN’s rigorous safety testing, the FN 309 delivers peace of mind through a safe and reliable design, including disassembly without pulling the trigger, available manual safety and multiple internal safeties, including a firing pin block.

Every FN 309 comes with a direct-mount optics-ready slide, compatible with pistol red-dot optics that share the Shield® RMSc and Leupold® DeltaPoint® Pro footprints1. The FN 309 also features an accessory rail that fits popular lights and lasers, plus a no-trigger-pull takedown for secure and easy cleaning. Finally, the FN 309 3.8-inch barrel is crafted from machine gun-grade alloy steel, ensuring FN’s century-plus reputation for reliability.

“Many gun buyers don’t see FN as an option, and we wanted to change that perception by making the brand accessible to people looking to spend $500 on a 9mm pistol,” said Chris Johnson, Senior Product Manager for Pistols for FN America, LLC. “With the FN 309 MRD we now have a trustworthy, easy-to-use pistol perfect both for new gun buyers and those looking to purchase their first FN. For us, it’s not just a new product, it’s FN’s commitment to offering the everyday user peace of mind and FN performance.”

Assembled in FN’s Columbia (SC) facility, the FN 309 will be available in both manual safety and non-manual safety options, along with high capacity (16+1 and 20+1 round) and low capacity (10 rounds) models. The pistol will be offered in black and will include a locking device.

The pistol will debut in the FN Booth (Booth 12805) at the 2026 NSSF SHOT Show, January 20–23 in Las Vegas. To discover more about the FN 309, please visit fnamerica.com/products/pistols/309. To purchase any FN firearms, find an FN dealer near you at fnamerica.com/find-a-dealer. 

Posted in Press Release, weapons | 1 Comment »

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