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Archive for the ‘weapons’ Category

Lockheed Martin and Department of War to Accelerate Air Dominance Missile Production Under New Agreement

Monday, September 21st, 2026

DALLAS, Sept. 17, 2026 — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) signed a framework agreement with the U.S. Department of War to rapidly accelerate the production and delivery of the AIM-260, Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM).

WHY IT MATTERS

JATM is the most sophisticated air dominance missile, capable of deterring and defeating current and projected enemy air threats. This state-of-the-art weapon has increased range and effectiveness over existing air-to-air weapons and provides an asymmetric advantage to the joint force. JATM is compatible with a variety of Air Force and Navy aircraft including the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II, making it a highly versatile combat system.

EXPERT PERSPECTIVE   

“This agreement builds on years of collaboration to deliver this critical air dominance capability to the warfighter,” said Tim Cahill, president, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “We will deliver JATM at the speed our nation and allies demand while providing value for taxpayers and our shareholders.”

ADDITIONAL CONTEXT

Internal Investment: JATM is produced by Lockheed Martin in partnership with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. Lockheed Martin will support necessary investments to drive the production increase under this agreement. 

Multiyear Procurement: This agreement forms the foundational agreement for a multiyear procurement contract, pending Congressional approval, that provides long-term demand to strengthen and expand the defense industrial base for the program. 

Global Deterrence:  Australia recently announced a nearly $736 million investment to equip the Royal Australian Air Force with JATM. This agreement strengthens Australia’s air dominance, enhances interoperability, and provides a credible deterrent that supports the security of the United States and its allies.

Acquisition Transformation: This agreement is another direct outcome of the Department of War’s Acquisition Transformation Strategy, one of the most significant reforms to U.S. warfighting acquisition in decades. It reflects years of collaboration to modernize acquisition and deliver critical capability at the speed and scale required by today’s security environment.

Global Military Products Unveils Scorpion Medium 120mm Mobile Mortar System on Army’s Infantry Squad Vehicle

Tuesday, September 15th, 2026

TAMPA, Fla. (Sept. 14, 2026) — Global Military Products is unveiling the first and only auto-lay 120mm mobile mortar system integrated on an Infantry Squad Vehicle-Utility (ISV-U) this week: the Scorpion Medium. The new system combines lightweight electric components from the Scorpion Light with components from the Scorpion Heavy, including the larger non-seating baseplate and mortar barrel. The all-new Scorpion Medium will be displayed with the 75th Ranger Regiment at the Army Maneuver Warfighter Conference at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Built with mobility in mind, the Scorpion Medium 120mm mobile mortar system is light enough for the Army’s ISV-U and still carries 16 mortar rounds. The all-electric system has the same architecture and upgrade capability of the Scorpion Light 81mm mobile mortar system, which streamlines training and logistics and capitalizes on Army investments in modernizing mortar technology. The Scorpion Medium is compatible with U.S. government fire control requirements and has more than 95% parts commonality with the Scorpion Light, currently on contract with the U.S. Army.

“There is an incredible amount of value to this system, and we’re excited to unveil the Scorpion Medium at Fort Benning this week. Operationally, it provides soldiers with a new capability – the first and only 120mm solution on an Army ISV that is all-electric and easy to operate,” said James Knight, director of Business Development, Global Military Products. “And because of the commonality with the Scorpion Light, which is already under contract, the Army can leverage architecture investments for quicker, less costly integration of U.S. fire control while securing a much-needed capability for light infantry units.”

A single button controls the emplacement and displacement of the Scorpion Medium 120mm mobile mortar system, taking roughly 10 seconds. The autonomous targeting and auto-lay capabilities and single-operator functions remain the same. Its patented non-seating baseplate allows it to fire from almost any surface – even concrete or paved ground.

Scorpion mobile mortar systems have unique characteristics that have already made them invaluable to Army soldiers. Designed to enhance expeditionary indirect fire capabilities, the next-generation Scorpion mobile mortar systems deliver a highly mobile, digitally enabled mortar platform capable of rapid emplacement, autonomous targeting and precision engagement in support of distributed operations. The integration of advanced fire control architecture significantly accelerates the sensor-to-shooter kill chain, enabling faster target acquisition, digital fire mission processing, and rapid engagement of multiple targets with reduced crew workload and increased survivability.

Over the past two years, the U.S. Army and Global Military Products have collaborated through Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP) initiatives and Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) efforts to refine and test the Scorpion Light Mobile Mortar System and incorporate direct soldier feedback into its development. These iterative efforts have significantly advanced the platform’s mobility, lethality, survivability and operational effectiveness – and that investment directly benefits the Scorpion Medium 120mm mobile mortar system.

Global Military Products will also display the Scorpion Light 81mm mobile mortar system on the Army’s ISV-U at the Maneuver Warfighter Conference in booths 805 and 806. The company was recently awarded a $13 million contract from the Army for this system and has already begun shipping fully integrated systems for Army test and evaluation.

US Air Force Seeks Ground-Based, Medium-Caliber Gun Weapon System To Protect Assets

Thursday, September 10th, 2026

In a Request For Information issued to industry earlier this week, the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), C3BM Directorate, Wright Patterson Force Base (WPAFB), Ohio is conducting market research seeking vendor interest for a Ground-Based, Medium-Caliber Gun Weapon System. This means a 20mm to 50mm weapon with ammunition and sensors.

Raid Hunter is Northrop Grumman’s 50mm Gun-Based Air Defense (GBAD) system.

They are looking for a weapon that fires affordable munitions, enables defense against air and missile threats with an initial focus on subsonic cruise missiles (CM) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) (groups 1-5) to provide persistent defense in support of United States Air Force assets. 

To effectively assess and compare air defense weapon system performance, there are fifteen critical baseline operational and technical parameters that must be analyzed in unison. These key metrics begin with the system’s Salvo Probability of Kill (Pk) evaluated against both Cruise Missiles (CM) and Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Groups 1-5 at maximum range and altitude, ensuring robust lethality against diverse modern threats. The physical footprint of the engagement envelope is defined by its Effective Slant Range and Elevation Coverage, while the capacity for sustained operations is dictated by Magazine Depth and the system’s ability to execute Raid Handling against saturating attacks. Furthermore, modern multi-domain operations require seamless Integrated Sensor Capability, deep C2 System Integration, and broad System Interoperability across joint networks. From an efficiency and sustainment standpoint, the system must balance its Cost Per Engagement and Manpower requirements, supported by a reliable Built-in-Test (BIT) framework for rapid diagnostics. Finally, tactical utility is rounded out by the platform’s overall Transportability, stringent Weapon Safety protocols, and its comprehensive Multi-Domain Engagement Capability to counter threats across various operational environments. 

Fifteen Baseline Requirements: 

  1. Salvo Probability of Kill (Pk) vs CM at max range and altitude 
  2. Salvo Probability of Kill (Pk) vs UAS Groups 1-5 at max range and altitude 
  3. Effective Slant Range 
  4. Elevation Coverage 
  5. Magazine Depth 
  6. Raid Handling 
  7. Integrated Sensor Capability 
  8. C2 System Integration 
  9. System Interoperability 
  10. Cost Per Engagement 
  11. Manpower 
  12. Built-in-Test (BIT) 
  13. Transportability 
  14. Weapon Safety 
  15. Multi-Domain Engagement Capability 

When designing and evaluating next-generation defense systems, the development team must navigate critical trade-offs across three primary Trade Space Attributes to balance lethality, situational awareness, and operational flexibility. First, the system must optimize Munition Performance versus Munition Cost and Gun Capability, ensuring that the interceptor’s velocity, maneuverability, and terminal effects are maximized without driving the cost-per-engagement to unsustainable levels or exceeding the physical constraints of the host platform. Second, developers must carefully select the Organic Sensor Capability and Phenomenology—integrating the right mix of radar, electro-optical, infrared, or radio-frequency sensors—to ensure reliable target acquisition and tracking across varying weather conditions, environments, and countermeasure scenarios. Finally, the entire architecture must remain Rapidly Deployable, maintaining a lightweight, modular, and transportable footprint that can be swiftly projected into austere theater environments to meet emergent threats. 

Trade Space Attributes: 

  • Munition Performance vs. Munition Cost/Gun Capability 
  • Organic Sensor Capability and Phenomenology 
  • Rapidly Deployable 

Industry has until 09 OCTOBER 2026, 1700, EST to respond. Late responses may not be reviewed. 

As the Air Force considers fielding more and more sophisticated air defense systems such as this and the Common Ground Based Launcher it appears that the promise of a new careerfield to wield them is likely. It also indicates that they are looking beyond just drones and are considering a more robust air defense capability.

FlyFocus to Unveil Polish-Made TASACK Precision Loitering Munition at MSPO 2026

Wednesday, September 9th, 2026
  • New 110-km system combines cost-focused design, top-attack capability and a predominantly Polish-made technology stack
  • TASACK is a new 15 kg precision loitering munition with a flight range of up to 110 km and 5 kg payload
  • A stabilised EO/IR gimbal enables operators to identify and track targets and execute attack profiles ranging from flat to vertical
  • Simplified internal and external architecture is designed to reduce production costs, with the majority of components manufactured in Poland
  • A point-and-click interface allows operators to engage targets without requiring the extensive piloting skills conventional FPV systems demand
  • FlyFocus debuts TASACK on 8 September at MSPO in Kielce, Poland

WARSAW, Poland (September 8, 2026) — FlyFocus, a Polish defence technology company specialising in unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and avionics, unveiled TASACK, its new precision loitering munition, for the first time at MSPO 2026 in Kielce, Poland. With its interface built around a point-and-click design, TASACK’s operator does not need real piloting skills to engage a target, unlike conventional FPV systems, which require extensive pilot training.

Designed for precision engagement of stationary and moving targets, TASACK combines a flight range of up to 110 kilometres with a 5 kg payload and speeds of up to 300 km/h. The system has been engineered around a deliberately simplified, modular architecture intended to reduce manufacturing costs while allowing rapid assembly, maintenance and upgrades as operational requirements change.

A key feature is TASACK’s stabilised daylight or infrared gimbal, which provides visual targeting and enables operators to approach targets using attack profiles ranging from flat trajectories to near-vertical top attacks. This allows the system to observe and track targets before engaging them from the most appropriate direction. The system provides visual targeting accuracy of 1 m CEP50, according to FlyFocus specifications.

The majority of TASACK’s components, including its gimbal, are manufactured in Poland. This continues FlyFocus’ broader strategy of building unmanned systems around secure, NATO-aligned supply chains while retaining control over critical UAV technologies.

“TASACK has been designed around what we believe matters most for this class of system: precision, simplicity and the ability to manufacture at meaningful scale,” said Igor Skawi?ski, CEO and co-founder of FlyFocus. “Modern militaries need sophisticated capabilities, but they also need systems that can be produced affordably, deployed quickly and adapted as battlefield conditions change. Our objective with TASACK is to bring those requirements together in one platform.”

TASACK also shares a common ground control interface with FlyFocus’s existing Polaris, CableGuard and Striker platforms. By maintaining a consistent operator environment across different UAV classes, FlyFocus aims to reduce the additional training required when personnel move between systems.

The 15 kg electrically powered aircraft can remain airborne for up to 1.5 hours and provides an 80 km datalink range. Midcourse navigation combines enhanced GNSS and inertial navigation, with radio-navigation available as an option. The modular airframe can accommodate different warheads depending on mission requirements and can be prepared for launch in approximately five to seven minutes.

TASACK is presented publicly for the first time at MSPO alongside FlyFocus’s wider portfolio of unmanned systems and avionics. The company expects TASACK to achieve production readiness in Q1 2027.

US Army Awards $13M Contract to Global Military Products for Scorpion Light Mobile Mortar Systems Integrated on Infantry Squad Vehicles

Thursday, September 3rd, 2026

TAMPA, FL – (Sept. 3, 2026) –  The U.S. Army has awarded Global Military Products a $12.9 million contract for the procurement and integration of Scorpion Light mobile mortar systems under the Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC) Other Transaction Authority (OTA) framework. The award supports the integration of Scorpion Light 81mm mobile mortar systems with U.S. Army digital fire control technologies and government-furnished M253 mortar barrels onto the Army’s new Infantry Squad Vehicle–Utility (ISV-U) platforms. 

Designed to enhance expeditionary indirect fire capabilities, the next-generation Scorpion Light system delivers a highly mobile, digitally enabled mortar platform capable of rapid emplacement, autonomous targeting and precision engagement in support of distributed operations. The integration of advanced fire control architecture significantly accelerates the sensor-to-shooter kill chain, enabling faster target acquisition, digital fire mission processing, and rapid engagement of multiple targets with reduced crew workload and increased survivability.

“The enhanced capabilities provided by the next-generation Scorpion mobile mortar system directly support the Army’s Transformation Initiative and its transition toward smaller, more agile and highly lethal combat formations prepared to address emerging threats in complex operational environments,” said James Knight, director, Global Military Products. “Over the past two years, we have worked closely with Army stakeholders and soldiers to continuously evaluate, iterate and refine the Scorpion platform based on operational feedback. This contract award reflects the success of that collaboration and our commitment to delivering a fully integrated mobile mortar capability that increases lethality, improves operator safety, and provides unmatched tactical mobility for the warfighter.”

Over the past two years, the U.S. Army and Global Military Products have collaborated through Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP) initiatives and Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) efforts to refine, test, and incorporate direct soldier feedback into the development of the Scorpion Light Mobile Mortar System. These iterative efforts have significantly advanced the platform’s mobility, lethality, survivability, and operational effectiveness.

The latest evolution of the system integrates advanced digital fire control capabilities and the Nett Warrior (NW) networked communications architecture, enabling rapid target acquisition, precision fire missions and near instantaneous re-aiming with minimal crew intervention. This fully digital architecture streamlines and accelerates the sensor-to-shooter kill chain by enabling seamless target handoff between systems, digital fire mission processing and autonomous mortar engagement capabilities. For the first time, soldiers can rapidly prosecute multiple targets with a highly mobile, digitally enabled autonomous mortar platform, significantly increasing responsiveness, accuracy and operational tempo in contested environments.

Most recently, soldiers assigned to the Multi-Purpose Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division, evaluated the ISV-based 81mm Scorpion Autonomous Engagement System during Exercise Balikatan 2026 in the Philippines. During live-fire operations, soldiers successfully fired 20 rounds from two separate systems in under two minutes, demonstrating the platform’s speed, precision, and ability to deliver responsive indirect fires in support of distributed combat operations.

Georgia State Court Dismisses P320 Case After Police Officer Admits the Trigger was Pulled

Tuesday, September 1st, 2026

SIG SAUER has now successfully obtained more than 20 P320 lawsuit dismissals

NEWINGTON, N.H., (September 1, 2026) – SIG SAUER, an industry-leading manufacturer of cutting-edge firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, and advanced concepts, issued a statement today after the Georgia State Court of DeKalb County dismissed with prejudice all claims in Jordan vs. SIG SAUER Inc. on August 26, 2026.

The plaintiff’s lawsuit stemmed from a May 23, 2022, police training incident and alleged a defect to the SIG SAUER P320 firearm. The officer whose firearm discharged admitted in a deposition that he inadvertently pulled the trigger, which caused the plaintiff’s injuries.

The plaintiff did not submit any expert reports to the contrary and did not oppose SIG SAUER’s motion asking the court to dismiss the case. As a result, the court dismissed with prejudice all claims against SIG SAUER, finding that the P320 “performed exactly as was expected.”

The dismissal in Georgia state court follows other recent successful P320 legal outcomes, including more than 20 dismissals via voluntary dismissals by the plaintiff who brought the cases, motions by the court, and defense verdicts from juries. It also follows an extensive U.S. military inspection affirming the pistol’s safety and reliability.

Following an inspection of 113,479 firearms and testing that included firing more than 1.5 million rounds, the U.S. Department of War concluded the pistol is “safe and reliable” and “all investigated incidents of alleged ‘uncommanded discharges’ have been traced back to the trigger being pulled, and not due to an issue with the firearm.”

An innovative strike-fired pistol trusted by the U.S. military, elite law enforcement, and federal agencies, the P320 is among the most tested, proven, and successful handguns in the world. It cannot under any circumstance discharge without a trigger pull, which has repeatedly been verified through testing by SIG SAUER, the U.S. military, law enforcement agencies, and independent labs.

For more information, visit www.P320Truth.com, a website dedicated to accurate information on the P320.

Armaments Center Partners with Industry to Explore Concepts for Integrating Lethal Payloads to Unmanned Ground Vehicles

Wednesday, August 26th, 2026

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. — Tomorrow’s battlefield is expected to pair automated vehicles and artificial intelligence with human Soldiers, and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center helping explore what that future might look like through controlled experimentation with industry partners.

Via a cooperative research and development agreement with HDT Robotics, LLC, doing business as BLADE, the Armaments Center supported the successful delivery of an armed Hunter WOLF unmanned ground vehicle to the 3rd Mobile Brigade of the 101st Airborne Division for a technical demonstration. The Autonomous Weapons Architectures & Controls Branch Chief Andrew Wilson noted that this highlights both the Armaments Center’s teamwork with an established partner, expertise in its field and ability to swiftly deliver a product to the Soldier.

Originally designed for logistics and supply transport, the Hunter WOLF UGV was experimented with as an active tactical asset. It is equipped with a remotely operated .50-caliber machine gun on a wireless Common Remotely Operated Weapon Station, known as CROWS, enabling a rapid response weapons system that does not need an operator physically present and in the line of fire.

The Armaments Center’s Strategic Advisor to Project Acquisition Executive Layered Protection Josiah Fay, said this came together as a perfect storm — the 101st was “hungry for robots” for logistical matters. Separately, the Armaments Center was pre-positioned to demonstrate CROWS with wireless control ready for Soldier operation and reached out to industry.

BLADE responded and within a few weeks Soldiers were being trained on the system. BLADE provided the platform and its associated training while the Armaments Center provided its experience in weaponry, armaments integration, and lethality training to jointly provide the complete capability.

By deploying an armed, wirelessly controlled UGV, Soldiers can maintain a dominant battlefield presence while remaining safely out of harm’s way, granting commanders significant tactical flexibility. The platform’s integrated electronics significantly enhance situational awareness, battlefield planning, foresight, and mission execution, and its transport capabilities relieve Soldiers of the burdens of carrying heavy weaponry.

The 101st Airborne Division experimented with the Hunter WOLF in April at the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The Armaments Center has reached out to the division to obtain Soldier feedback and operational performance, which will allow for the center to improve its future performance.

According to Fay, the Armaments Center continues its efforts to reduce Soldier cognitive load by adding autonomous features while ensuring combatants remain on the loop, rather than in the loop. Though such weaponry can remain effective even without a Soldier physically piloting it, a Soldier is still fully preoccupied staring at the screen with today’s technology. By moving them on the loop instead, a Soldier is less likely to suffer from cognitive overload and may instead take more of a supervisory role over partially automated weapons systems, increasing their effective combat power and area of influence while retaining positive control of lethal decisions.

By Tyler Barth

Kongsberg to Deliver Remote Weapon Systems to Canada

Monday, August 24th, 2026

KONGSBERG, NORWAY – Aug. 20, 2026 – Kongsberg has signed a contract with General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada (‘GDLS-Canada’) valued at NOK 1.1 billion for the delivery of Protector RS4 Remote Weapon Systems. These systems will be integrated onto the Canadian Army’s Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV). 

The contract represents a continuation of the established partnership between Kongsberg and GDLS-Canada. This order is a follow-on procurement of RS4 systems for the ACSV program, building on previous deliveries to the same platform.

“This contract confirms our customer’s confidence in the Protector systems and further strengthens our long-term partnership with GDLS-Canada. We are proud that the RS4 continues to be selected as a key capability for the Canadian Armed Forces’ modern vehicle fleet,” said Kjetil Reiten Myhra, Executive Vice President, Kongsberg and President of the Defence Systems division.

Kongsberg has previously delivered RS4 systems to GDLS-Canada for integration on ACSV vehicles. The new deliveries will further enhance and expand the operational capabilities of the Canadian Army.

The RS4 is part of Kongsberg’s Protector family of Remote Weapon Systems, providing high levels of protection, flexibility, and situational awareness for vehicle crews.

The Protector RS4 is an advanced Remote Weapon System designed to enhance survivability, precision, and operational flexibility for modern military vehicles. The system is in service with defence customers worldwide and can be integrated onto a wide range of vehicle platforms.