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Avon Protection Launches EXOSKIN-S2 High-Performance CBRN Protective Suit

February 13th, 2026

11th February 2026, Cadillac, MI: Avon Protection has expanded its EXOSKIN protective ensemble range with the EXOSKIN-S2 high-performance CBRN suit, designed for operators in the military, first responder and special forces segments.

Avon Protection’s EXOSKIN-S2 high-performance CBRN suit.

With the commercial availability of the EXOSKIN-S2, users now have increased options for their protective suit requirements across the spectrum of CBRN threat environments: the EXOSKIN-S1 low-weight (4.4lbs), low-burden system for lower risk operations, and the EXOSKIN-S2, which offers a protection profile tailored toward operations with higher threat levels.

EXOSKIN-S2 leverages an advanced Avon Protection design that utilizes an activated carbon fabric (ACF) inner layer for enhanced protection against aerosol threats, vapor, liquid and particulate chemical warfare agents (CWAs). Combined with a low-noise emitting outer layer, the suit provides improved protection for operations in CBRN environments of up to 24-hour duration for longer time in the field.

EXOSKIN-S2 retains the ‘suit as a system’ ensemble design of the original EXOSKIN-S1 suit with its focus on seamless integration with essential CBRN protective equipment, including Avon Protection respirators, EXOSKIN-B1 boots and EXOSKIN-G1 gloves. Key enablers include an integrated hood with double elasticated aperture that ensures a protective seal around the respirator, maximizing protection without restricting movement. It also features hook and loop adjustable tabs on the lower legs, a thumb loop and inner leg gaiter with stirrup to prevent ingress when worn.

Other common design elements across the EXOSKIN suit range include a quarter zip and full zip options with hook and loop fastening for improved integration with body armor; and multiple outer fabric pattern and color design formulations to minimize user detection in hostile environments.

“Our EXOSKIN range has been designed to protect operators from CBRN threats while reducing the physiological burden, so they stay more comfortable for longer,” Steve Elwell, President, Avon Protection, said. “With EXOSKIN-S2, we are giving users a greater choice of protection levels and continuing to deliver the Avon Protection quality assurance they know and trust to keep their operators safe in demanding environments.”

www.avon-protection-plc.com

Posted in CBRNE, Press Release | No Comments »

FirstSpear Friday Focus: Tubes Gas Mask Pouch

February 13th, 2026

The FirstSpear TUBES™ GAS MASK POUCH is built for professionals who require immediate access to critical respiratory protection in high-threat environments. Compatible with the Tubes™ Attachment Accessory and Tubes™ Belt Mount Accessory, it mounts securely to plate carriers or belt rigs to match mission requirements.

The wide-opening design enables rapid deployment and efficient re-stowage when seconds matter. A protective hooded top shields the mask from debris, dirt, and adverse weather conditions. Retention is handled by a dual closure system combining hook-and-loop with a side-release (SR) buckle, ensuring the mask stays secure during movement while remaining instantly accessible.

This balance of speed and security supports operations where reliability is non-negotiable. Constructed for durability in austere conditions, the pouch withstands the rigors of hard use.

The Tubes™ Gas Mask Pouch keeps essential respiratory gear protected, locked in, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.

To request an estimate click image above or visit First-Spear.com/Request-For-Estimate. FirstSpear is the premier source for cutting-edge tactical gear for military, law enforcement and those who train. For more information visit First-Spear.com.

Posted in Advertiser, CBRNE, FS Friday Focus, Guest Post, Load Carrying | 1 Comment »

Fort Benning Trains Army Leaders to Integrate Robotic and Autonomous Systems in Combat

February 13th, 2026

FORT BENNING, Ga. – The U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence (MCoE) at Fort Benning launched the first pilot of the Robotic Autonomous Systems Leader Tactics Course (RASLT) yesterday as part of Army-wide Transforming in Contact (TiC) initiatives.

The course will prepare Army leaders for future conflicts where autonomous and robotic systems will play a more prominent role. The course is slated for three pilots in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Each pilot will be three weeks long and run five days a week.

Lt. Col. Alan Hastings, commander of the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment, the unit overseeing RASLT, said this training is critical for Army leaders as the force integrates new robotic and autonomous systems formations.

“What we hope RASLT will provide is a touchpoint within an officer or NCO’s professional military education timeline where they are exposed to this subject matter and they develop a foundation for building proficiency and expertise in planning tactical operations, combining arms with these new capabilities,” Hastings said.

According to Capt. Alison Darby, the RASLT course director, the unit is targeting officers from first lieutenant to major for participation, and enlisted personnel ranked sergeant first class and above. She recommends eligible enlisted personnel graduate first from Scout Leader Course or Battle Staff NCO Course and eligible officers should ideally be Maneuver Captain’s Career Course graduates before attending RASLT.

“We’re looking for leaders (who) are returning to the operational force where there is likely to be one of these robotics and autonomous systems formations integrated at the company, battalion, or brigade level,” Darby said.

The three-week course will follow a structured format.

In the first week, students will have broad discussions to gain understanding of different types of autonomous systems before learning about unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) types and their capabilities. The week will end with a cognitive exercise where students will develop a plan as a company commander within a mobile brigade combat team with RASLT assets attached.

“This is our first chance to test their ability to plan and execute their plan based off the injects they’re getting from the instructor acting as a thinking, adaptive enemy,” Darby said.

In the second week, students will explore small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) capabilities, limitations, and considerations. They will then learn about electromagnetic spectrum management and the impact of terrain and weather on the systems. Students conclude the second week by conducting a defensive tactical decision exercise (TDE) where they act as an armor company commander with robotics systems attached to their combined arms formation.

During the third week, students will discuss leadership, ethics and other general considerations of robotic and autonomous systems. In a final tactical decision exercise, students must incorporate robotic and autonomous systems to enable an offensive maneuver.

“Graduates of this course should be able to understand the capabilities and limitations of several types of robotic and autonomous systems that are already being implemented in the force or are a proposed idea to add into the force,” Darby said. “Whatever unit they go to, students will have the capability and understanding of how to plan and utilize these systems to enable the maneuver formations.”

The Army is continuously transforming by using the latest technologies for warfighting advantage to remain the most lethal and ready land force in the world. Initiatives like RASLT ensure the Army can deliver trained, cohesive, and lethal teams to meet future challenges in complex operational environments.

By Daniel Murnin

Posted in Army, Guest Post, Robotics, Training | No Comments »

Echodyne to Open Major New Manufacturing Facility to Meet Rapidly Growing Global Demand

February 12th, 2026

· $40M investment in 86,350-square-foot facility in Washington State, USA

· Annual production capacity of >30,000 radars across product lines

· More than 200 employees at full capacity

· Start of production in summer 2026

Kirkland, WA, February 11, 2026 – Echodyne, the radar platform company, today announces a major near-term expansion in its advanced radar production capacity.

Echodyne’s new 86,350-square-foot facility will provide enough manufacturing and warehouse space to produce and ship more than 30,000 radars per year. The company’s modular manufacturing approach allows production capacity to flex to match varying demand across product lines as well as seamlessly introducing new product lines and capabilities. The investment reflects Echodyne’s continued commitment to: enhancing security and safety as UxS become ubiquitous on the battlefield and in society in general, staying ahead of the accelerating demand in the U.S. and in Allied countries around the globe, and strengthening America’s defense industrial base.

Counter-UAS (C-UAS), beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations for drone-as-first-responders (DFR), force protection, border security, and on-the-move (OTM) are among the applications and capabilities driving accelerating demand for high-resolution radar surveillance of air and surface domains. The company’s patented metamaterials electronically scanned array (MESA®) technology delivers unrivaled data fidelity – pinpoint accuracy, track stability, AI-based classification of threats, and well-defined high-speed application programming interfaces (APIs) for easy integration into systems of systems – in a compact, solid-state, commercially-exportable radar product.

Eben Frankenberg, the CEO of Echodyne, commented:

“We are proud to be opening this new facility in Washington State, the location of our headquarters and a long-time global hub for tech innovation and advanced manufacturing. The extraordinary performance of MESA radar stands in marked contrast to the purposeful simplicity of its design, making high-fidelity radar broadly accessible for defense and civilian safety and security applications. This new investment in manufacturing capacity will allow us to supercharge production to meet the rapidly growing global demand for our products.”

Echodyne expects to continue to hire at a rapid pace to support its expanding manufacturing operations. Open positions can be found at Echodyne.com/careers.

Posted in Industry, Press Release | No Comments »

Mauser Introduces New M98 Das Original Bolt-Action Rifle

February 12th, 2026

San Antonio, Texas (February 11, 2026) – Mauser is pleased to introduce the new Mauser 98 Das Originalbolt-action rifle. Harnessing a combination of advanced technology and old-world craftsmanship, this modern iteration of one of the world’s most iconic rifles delivers the accuracy and reliability embraced by millions of Mauser owners for more than a century. And it is now available in .300 Win Mag for the first time ever!

The original M98 was prized for its controlled round feed, extreme strength, reliability and safety. The new M98 Das Original is designed with these same features along with improvements including a Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating on the bolt for extra protection from wear, a gold-colored trigger, and elegant hand-selected Grade 5 wood. The magnum configurations come with a red safari recoil pad system for improved comfort.

“The Mauer 98 Das Original edition was built in Germany for American hunters and collectors who appreciate perfection and top-tier engineering,” said Jason Evans, CEO, Blaser Group. “The new Das Original delivers the legendary reliability of the original M98 with enhanced features and, for the first time ever in a Mauser 98, this edition is now available in .300 Win Mag.”

New Features:

– DLC Bolt components

– Gold Colored Trigger

– Gold colored lettering on Floor plate (Since 1898 Das Original)

– Hand Selected Grade 5 wood

Magnum configuration with red safari recoil pad:

– 375 H&H

– 416 Rigby

MSRP: $14,500

Standard Configuration:

– 308 Win

– 30-06

– 300 Win Mag (This caliber has never before been offered in a Mauser 98)

MSRP: $12,000

For more information about the company and product lines, visit: www.blaser-group.com.

Posted in Firearms, Press Release | No Comments »

Strategic Sciences LLC Completes Successful Phase II Government Inspection & Performance Verification for the Multi-Function Muzzle Device (MFMD)

February 12th, 2026

Salt Lake City, UT — February 9, 2026 — Organization of Strategic Sciences LLC (Strategic Sciences) today announced the successful completion of a Phase II Government Inspection & Performance Verification (GIPV) for its Multi-Function Muzzle Device (MFMD), marking a significant milestone in the development and maturation of the company’s next-generation suppressor technology.

Building on a multi-year development effort spearheaded by the ASW Special Operations & Low Intensity Conflict (SO/LIC) Capability Development & Innovation (CD&I) Office, the Phase II GIPV validated both performance and manufacturability attributes of the MFMD system under government oversight. Completion of this inspection confirms the system’s readiness to transition from advanced development toward broader fielding. This multi-year program has yielded the integration of the MFMD into 68 specific weapon platforms across 13 calibers from 5.56 to .50BMG.

The MFMD is a hybrid suppressor architecture that integrates flash suppression, sound reduction, and recoil mitigation into a single, compact device—without increasing weapon length or introducing the trade-offs commonly associated with legacy muzzle devices. By treating gas flow and energy management as a unified system rather than isolated functions, the MFMD delivers balanced performance across all three domains.

“Successful completion of Phase II GIPV is a critical step in demonstrating that the MFMD is not only technically effective, but also producible and scalable,” said Russ Oliver, Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Sciences. “This milestone reflects years of disciplined engineering, close collaboration with government partners, and a relentless focus on operational excellence.”

The inspection included verification of system configuration, technical documentation, quality controls, and performance consistency, providing confidence in the MFMD’s ability to meet or exceed demanding

requirements for flash, sound, and recoil mitigation, as well as durability, reliability, repeatability, and future production readiness.

Strategic Sciences continues to advance MFMD development in alignment with end-user requirements and operational feedback, supporting the company’s core mission: TO PROVIDE TECHNOLOGICAL OVERMATCH THROUGH INNOVATION, SCIENCE, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF SERVICE.

More information about Strategic Sciences and its products can be found at www.strategicsciences.us, check out the full line-up of products here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9Pe5tmchco

Posted in Press Release, Suppressors | No Comments »

D-Fend Solutions Named in 2025 Gartner Emerging Tech: Top-funded Startups for Cyber Electronic Defense (CED)

February 12th, 2026

RA’ANANA, Israel and MCLEAN, Va., February 12th — D-Fend Solutions, the leader in field-proven radio frequency (RF) cyber-based, non-kinetic, non-jamming counter-drone takeover technology, has been named in the Gartner Emerging Tech: Top-funded Startups for Cyber Electronic Defense (CED).

According to Gartner, in a Key Finding of the report, “commercial counter-drone success hinges on nonkinetic, high-precision counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) technology. Solutions that can neutralize threats without causing collateral damage or disrupting legitimate civilian communications are favored.”

In a related Recommendation, Gartner advises organizations to “Secure commercial market leadership by prioritizing scalable, nonkinetic mitigation systems that guarantee low collateral damage. Do this by implementing AI-driven sensor fusion to precisely distinguish alien assets from legitimate communication signals and demonstrating practical efficacy.”

According to the report, “the drone detection and mitigation category received significant commercial investment, driven by the reality that inexpensive, widely accessible drones pose threats to private enterprises, energy grids, and public venues. Consequently, investment is heavily focused on companies providing scalable, nonkinetic solutions that can operate within urban and regulatory-sensitive environments without causing collateral damage.” D-Fend Solutions is an example of one such company.

Regarding Near-term Implications and Actions, Gartner states that “To protect against widely accessible, inexpensive drones in civilian settings, leaders must focus on solutions that are scalable, effective, and nondestructive. Product leaders should prioritize the development of modular, open-architecture C-UAS systems that leverage easily deployable detection sensors.”

Gartner subscribers can access the report here.

Gartner, Emerging Tech: Top-funded Startups for Cyber Electronic Defense (CED), 8 December 2025. GARTNER is a trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any company, vendor, product or service depicted in its publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s business and technology insights organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this publication, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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

Darley Defense Launches New Online Defense Platform Dedicated to Supporting the Military Community

February 12th, 2026

ITASCA, IL – February 11th, 2026 – Darley Defense, a leading provider of defense, fire, and emergency services equipment, is proud to announce the launch of its new online defense platform at darley.com/defense. This modernized online platform is built to best serve our customers and partners, delivering a unified user experience that streamlines navigation, accelerates content sourcing, and simplifies access to procurement information.

The updated site clearly highlights Darley’s innovative capabilities and longstanding legacy of service. By integrating intuitive design and improved functionality, the new Darley Defense page ensures that visitors can quickly find the resources they need while exploring solutions that support mission success.

“Darley has a long legacy of supporting those who protect and serve, and this launch marks a major step forward in how we connect our defense community to mission critical solutions,” said Audrey Darley, Vice President of Defense Supply Chain. “By integrating modern technology with decades of expertise, we’re providing a streamlined, intuitive experience that helps our customers move their missions forward.”

Learn more on our websites: www.darley.com and shop.darley.com.

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