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NIOA, Defence Sign Long-Term SMALL Arms Support Deal

November 24th, 2025

NIOA has signed a new long-term small arms support contract with the Australian Department of Defence.

The new support contract engages Australian-owned NIOA for the through-life support of select ADF in-service weapons as well as the next generation LAND300 Lethality Program systems until 2032.

NIOA was appointed by Defence in September 2022 as the prime contractor for Tranche 1 Stage 2 of LAND300 which includes new sniper systems, surveillance and target acquisition devices, pistols, shotguns and personal defence weapons for Australia’s soldiers, sailors and aviators.

NIOA General Manager – Weapons and Munitions Mick Ahern said: “NIOA’s team of expert Project Managers and Engineers have built a unique skill set in planning, conducting and delivering small arms test programs to meet LAND300 and wider Defence needs.

“This new contract marks an important milestone in the delivery of new capability and the continued support to existing small arms capabilities for the Australian warfighter while recognising the efforts of and confidence the Commonwealth has in NIOA’s Weapons and Munitions teams.”

Posted in Contracts, Industry, International, weapons | No Comments »

“Earn It”

November 24th, 2025

This short video by the USASOC PAO features CSM JoAnn Naumann. As a former SOT-A member it was amazing to see another crypto linguist be selected as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to Army Special Operations. She has moved on to US Strategic Command, breaking even more ground for intelligence professionals.

Posted in Profession of Arms | No Comments »

2025 Black Friday / Cyber Monday Sales Page – Sponsored By Tactical Distributors

November 23rd, 2025

Once again, our friends at Tactical Distributors are sponsoring our Black Friday/Cyber Monday master list. To see it, updated regularly with the latest sales info, click here.

Posted in Advertiser | 1 Comment »

European Consortium Launches iMUGS2 to Advance Interoperable Unmanned Ground Systems

November 23rd, 2025

A European consortium uniting leading defence, research, and technology organisations from across the Union has launched the iMUGS2 project to develop the next generation of interoperable unmanned ground systems, following its successful proposal to the European Commission under its European Defence Fund (EDF) programme. The project is coordinated by Milrem Robotics.

Building on the achievements of the first iMUGS project, iMUGS2 aims to enhance Europe’s autonomy and robotics capabilities by developing a scalable, interoperable, and secure system-of-systems architecture for both unmanned and manned platforms. The project reinforces Europe’s technological sovereignty in key defence areas, including AI-driven autonomy, systems integration, communications, and command and control.

“With iMUGS2, Europe takes another significant step towards developing truly interoperable and scalable robotic forces that enhance the continent’s defence capabilities,” said Raul Rikk, Capability Development Director at Milrem Robotics. “The project promotes innovation and cooperation among European nations, ensuring that future AI-based autonomous systems can operate seamlessly together on the battlefield.”

iMUGS2 begins immediately with extensive conceptual, operational, and technical development across multiple domains. Partners will design and refine operational concepts, system architectures, and technological solutions that advance manned–unmanned teaming, autonomous functions, secure communications, and electronic protection.

In parallel, the project focuses on system integration, lifecycle efficiency, and interoperability, laying the groundwork for upcoming demonstrations and capability deployment across Europe’s defence landscape. These developments will ensure resilient, cost-effective, and future-ready unmanned systems.

About iMUGS2

With a total value of approximately €55 million and nearly €50 million in EDF funding, iMUGS2 pursues three strategic objectives: to develop and demonstrate combat-ready unmanned ground systems that support dismounted troops; to define operational concepts showing how unmanned ground and aerial systems can improve infantry battalion operations and cross-domain cooperation; and to advance modular, open architectures and lifecycle management frameworks that ensure interoperability across both legacy and future platforms.

About the Consortium:

The iMUGS2 Consortium comprises 29 partners from 15 European Union member states. The group includes large corporations, mid-sized businesses, SMEs, and research organisations. Each partner provides leading expertise in their respective fields, supporting a comprehensive vision throughout the project’s lifecycle. This diversity allows the consortium to tackle potential challenges and deliver strategic, effective solutions.

The iMUGS2 Consortium includes the following entities: AVL List, Bittium Wireless, Bureau Veritas, Czech Technical University in Prague, Cybernetica, Delft Dynamics, Diehl Defence, dotOcean, Elettronica, Escribano Mechanical and Engineering, FN Herstal, GMV, Huta Stalowa Wola, Insta Advance, Integrated Systems Development, John Cockerill Defense, Kepla, KNDS France, KNDS Germany, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, Latvijas Mobilais Telefons, ?ukasiewicz – PIAP, Milrem Robotics (project coordinator), Nortal (Talgen Cybersecurity), Norwegian Defence Research Establishment, the Royal Military Academy of Belgium, Safran Electronics & Defense, Svensk Konstruktionstjänst and TNO.

For more information, please visit imugs.eu.

Posted in Industry, International, Press Release, Robotics | No Comments »

Responding To Overwhelming Demand, American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit Extended Through 2027

November 23rd, 2025

Hundreds of sites in all 50 states have clamored to host the interactive exhibit from American

Battlefield Trust and Daughters of the American Revolution

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2025 — While millions of Americans are contemplating the people, places and events of our War for Independence, thanks to the acclaimed Ken Burns documentary airing this week on PBS, the American Battlefield Trust and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) are taking that history off the screens and bringing it into communities across the country. Responding to immense public appetite for high-quality educational materials to support programming for the 250th anniversary of the conflict, they have extended the run for their joint traveling exhibit, the American Revolution Experience, by two full years, through 2027. Further, two additional copies of the exhibit are being put into circulation to reach the more than 600 sites clamoring to welcome the project, which focuses on the contributions of ordinary people to the American Revolution, rather than generals or statesmen.

“As Americans eagerly seek out ways to remember the story of our nation’s origins during this 250th anniversary period, this exhibit provides an outstanding and accessible way to honor the myriad individual stories of courage, determination and hope that set us on our path,” said Trust President David Duncan.

“The overwhelming response to the American Revolution Experience perfectly illustrates the passion of DAR members and chapters, as they look to introduce their communities to the remarkable men and women who rose to the challenges demanded of them along our path to liberty,” said DAR President General Ginnie Sebastian Storage.

More than 70,000 visitors from all 50 states have experienced the exhibit so far, which includes 12 panels that spotlight individuals who were deeply touched by the Revolutionary War – stories that transcend time and connect the viewer to America’s patriot history, brought to life with custom illustrations by artist Dale Watson. The panels are complemented by three digital kiosks containing contextual information about the broader conflict.

The American Revolution Experience launched digitally during the summer of 2022, swiftly winning the Bronze Award in the Education, Art, & Culture division at the second annual Anthem Awards, which celebrate purpose and mission-driven work, and becoming a finalist in the “People’s Choice” category of the?Webby Awards, which highlight “the Best of the Internet.” Funding to transform the online product into a physical exhibit suitable for pop-up display at a wide variety of sites came from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and via a matching grant from the federal American Battlefield Protection Program.

Thanks to the extension, additional sites are welcome to host the exhibit in the coming months and years. Application details, hosting information and the full tour schedule are available at www.battlefields.org/ontour.

About the Organizations

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution?was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With nearly 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. Learn more at www.dar.org.

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has protected more than 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and Civil War across 160 sites in 25 states. Learn more at www.battlefields.org.

Posted in History, Press Release | No Comments »

You Never Know Where They’ll Show Up

November 23rd, 2025

Long time reader SL is on a road trip and sent me this photo and note:

“Just off of I-10 is the birthplace of John Rambo in Bowie AZ. I don’t recall if the hometown is mentioned in any of the movies or the original version of the First Blood novel.

The mural is on the side of a truck stop which has an Indian restaurant inside. That’s America: Indian food, trucks, and Rambo coffee cups and shot glasses in the same place.”

Thanks man! Have a safe trip!

Posted in KCRF | 1 Comment »

Launching the AI Model Arena

November 22nd, 2025

The Defence AI Centre has worked with industry to develop a new tool that will help redefine how Defence evaluates and procures AI technologies.

The Defence AI Centre (DAIC) is launching the AIModel Arena to help redefine how Defence evaluates and procures artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

The tool, developed in partnership with UK AIcompany Advai and the National Security Strategic Investment Fund (NSSIF), will pilot a secure, standardised platform for suppliers to more rapidly test and demonstrate their models against Defence use cases.

The AI Model Arena will:

help UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) identify the best AI solutions and provide an objective ‘demonstration by doing’ mechanism for triaging into the Defence Tech Scaler and innovation pathways
enable more dynamic supplier interactions, significantly reducing timelines by assessing up to 100 models simultaneously and providing constructive feedback to suppliers, helping them to iterate their solutions
communicate priority Defence use cases and initial key requirements, ahead of the more comprehensive testing associated with pre-deployment stages, for any solutions that are triaged

The AI Model Arena will be a secure, vendor-neutral evaluation platform that can objectively assess models across 4 critical categories: performance, reliability, robustness, and security. These data-backed evaluations will be based on Defence-specific requirements such as JSP 936. Up to 100 suppliers can be phased through a down-selection process, ensuring the best-in-class solutions progress.

The AI Model Arena builds on work previously undertaken by the Royal Navy in partnership with Advai and the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE), a Home Office unit solving public sector data challenges, where MOD first conducted independent side-by-side testing of AImodels from multiple suppliers. This approach supports more confident procurement decisions while mitigating risks and ensuring performance, robustness, and security in mission-specific scenarios. It will also help with earlier identification of the most promising models and suppliers, reducing procurement bottlenecks, accelerating innovation, and ensuring the most promising AI solutions are triaged for procurement teams to investigate further.

Head of DAIC, Commodore Rachel Singleton said:

This initiative is central to our ambition to adopt AI responsibly and at pace, ensuring we maintain a strategic advantage in an increasingly competitive landscape. I encourage all AI suppliers to engage with the AI Model Arena. This is your opportunity to showcase your capabilities, drive innovation, and help shape the future of Defence AI.

The AI Model Arena pilot provides a scalable solution to procurement challenges, improving performance, boosting confidence, and delivering cutting-edge AI capabilities to our warfighters in a much shorter timeframe. Falling in line with the ambitions outlined in Action 43 of the AI Opportunities Plan (2025), the tool can automate the evaluation of AI models against Defence benchmarks. This approach will ultimately deliver the same insight as more intensive review techniques, but with significantly shorter timelines.

The AI Model Arena will speed up the rate of AIadoption, in support of matching the demand outlined in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR). Its vendor-neutral processes support a level playing field for industry and enables the growth of UK small and medium-sized enterprises by identifying where they have an edge, helping advance a stronger sovereign AI ecosystem.

Achieving these strategic ambitions will result in the efficient procurement of secure, compliant and operationally ready AI systems for Defence.

By streamlining how we evaluate and procure AItechnologies, the AI Model Arena will help to reduce barriers to innovation, strengthen our defence industrial partnerships, and ensure our warfighters have access to the most advanced AIsolutions to operate, deter, fight and win. The AIModel Arena directly supports the SDR’s recommendation to harness cutting-edge technology and innovation to maintain the UK Defence’s strategic advantage. As part of MOD’s Digital Function, the DAIC enables and accelerates AI across Defence. The Digital Function is part of the newly formed National Armaments Director Group, which brings together acquisition, science, innovation and support functions under unified leadership to deliver capabilities faster and more efficiently for our Armed Forces.

The Defence AI Centre are aiming for the Model Arena to be live by DAIC Connect 2026 being held in March next year.

Find out more about the Defence AI Centre and stay up to date by following the DAIC on LinkedIn.

From UK Ministry of Defence

Posted in AI / ML, Guest Post, International | No Comments »

Eligible Paratroopers Now Receive Increased Parachute Duty Pay

November 22nd, 2025

WASHINGTON — As of October 1, 2025, Soldiers who qualify for hazardous duty incentive pay (HDIP) for parachute duty are now receiving $200 a month for static line jumps, a $50 increase from the former rate. Qualified jumpmaster Soldiers are also eligible for a new monthly jumpmaster special duty assignment pay (SDAP) of $150.

“These pay increases demonstrate the Army’s continued appreciation for airborne service and acknowledge the distinctive challenges faced by our paratroopers,” stated COL Frank Pena, Chief of Total Army Readiness Division, U.S. Army G-1. “We’ve worked closely with airborne units and the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) to ensure accurate updates for those who qualify for the incentive pay.”

Soldiers eligible for HDIP include qualified parachutists, those in training to become parachutists, those assigned to positions requiring parachute jumps, and those ordered to perform parachute jumps from aircraft in flight. Jumpmaster Soldiers performing jumpmaster duties in authorized positions additionally qualify for SDAP. Eligibility for both incentives is contingent upon Soldiers meeting and maintaining the minimum performance standards detailed in DODI 1340.09.

The Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, announced the pay increase in May during the 82nd Airborne Division’s All-American Week event at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He commended paratroopers for the commitment and sacrifice, stating, “Here’s to our paratroopers, our jumpmasters, who do the difficult things in difficult places that most Americans can never imagine.”

Parachute duty involves significant physical demands and inherent risks, including potential injuries during jumps, exposure to challenging weather conditions, and the physical toll of rigorous training exercises. The increase aligns parachute duty incentive pay with other hazardous duty roles, such as military free-fall operations.

“This was long overdue, and I’m glad we were able to get this across the line,” said Lt. Gen. Brian Eifler, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, G-1. “Parachutists’ incentive pay hadn’t been adjusted since 1998.”

“The increase reinforces the value of this hazardous duty, and the vital contributions paratroopers make to Army readiness.”

By LTC Andrew Yang, U.S. Army Directorate of Military Personnel Management

Posted in Army, Parachuting, Press Release | No Comments »