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Mehler Vario System GmbH Prevails in Design Rights Dispute with NFM AS on Appeal

October 21st, 2026

Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf Confirms: Mehler Protection’s Grid Carrier Does Not Infringe NFM AS’s Design Rights

FULDA, GERMANY (20 October 2026)

Mehler Vario System GmbH, the legal entity operating under the Mehler Protection brand within Mehler Systems, has been successful in the appeal: The Higher Regional Court of Düsseldorf upheld the dismissal of the claims against the allegations made by NFM AS and confirmed that the Mehler Protection’s Grid Carrier does not infringe the asserted design rights. The Court did not allow a further appeal.

The proceedings focused on the extent to which design protection can be claimed for modular load-bearing systems in a market shaped by technical requirements and industry-wide standards. Taking into account the high density of prior designs in this product segment and the limited design freedom available to manufacturers, the Court concluded that the Mehler Protection’s Grid Carrier creates a different overall impression and therefore does not infringe the asserted design rights.

“This decision provides important clarity for us, our customers and partners and the market. It confirms that the allegations of design right infringement raised against our Grid Carrier were unfounded and that industry-standard interfaces and functional standards must remain available to all market participants,” said Dr. Christian Rödel, Head of Development New Products at Mehler Protection | Body Armour.

Mehler Protection welcomes the decision as a confirmation of its legal position and as a contribution to fair competition in a market characterized by technical standards, interoperability and functional requirements.

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

AUSA 26 – Winchester Drone Defense Ammunition

October 21st, 2026

At AUSA, Winchester touted their new 12 ga shells for counter-drone use.

Utilizing Tungsten #9 shot, they achieve 100+ yard engagements with proper choke.

Posted in Ammo, AUSA | No Comments »

AUSA 26 – Whippet Unmanned Ground Vehicle

October 21st, 2026

The US Army currently has a ratio of about one aircraft for every 39 ground vehicles. I believe that is a good analogue to what we should expect in the future regarding unmanned systems. So if you think drones are everywhere, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

AUSA had a wide variety of new UGVs including the Whippet UGV from Outrider USA.

Weighing 400 lbs it boasts a 400 lbs payload. The four-wheel, silent electric UGV has a top speed of 35 mph and a 60 mile radius. Whippet is a modular system with payload swaps in 20 minutes by crews in the field and exports 10 kW of power for payloads.

Posted in AUSA, Unmanned Systems, UxS | No Comments »

AXL Advanced Introduces LPX Structural Shoulder Pads

October 21st, 2026

A slimmer, contoured profile designed for mobility.

WYLIE, TX — AXL Advanced introduces LPX Structural Shoulder Pads, bringing a slimmer fit and contoured profile to its Structural Shoulder Pads family, with the quality and reliability users have come to expect from AXL Advanced.

LPX Structural Shoulder Pads combine structural support with a fit that prioritizes mobility. Their hourglass shape contours around larger trapezius muscles and accommodates broader necklines, providing a closer fit around the neck and shoulders.

LPX features a structural core, X-Pac wings, and elastic routing tabs, with provisions for organizing communications cables and hydration tubes while maintaining a low profile. The pads are compatible with most plate carrier systems.

LPX expands the Structural Shoulder Pads lineup, giving users another option to configure their carrier around their build, equipment, and preferred fit. For those seeking a slimmer setup, LPX emphasizes neckline contour and mobility.

Made in the USA, LPX Structural Shoulder Pads weigh 4 ounces per set and are available now for $74.95 in MultiCam, Ranger Green, Coyote Brown, and Black. Each set includes two shoulder pads.

Learn more and order at AXL Advanced’s LPX Structural Shoulder Pads product page.

AXL Advanced. It’s Advanced for a Reason.–

Posted in Load Carrying, Press Release | Comments Off on AXL Advanced Introduces LPX Structural Shoulder Pads

US Army Task Force Partners With Acquisition Directorate to Accelerate Counter-Drone Tech in Africa

October 21st, 2026

U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa announced a partnership with the Army’s Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate to test emerging drone systems in Africa and deliver them to soldiers within 180 days.

The command’s first accelerated capability event is scheduled for spring 2027 in Tan-Tan, Morocco. It will focus on counter-unmanned aircraft systems and force protection, targeting capability gaps in protecting early-entry command posts and operating locations against small UAS.

Africa offers an open spectrum, uncongested airspace and diverse terrain that training ranges in the United States and Europe cannot easily match. These conditions allow soldiers to validate solutions in theater and scale them across the service.

Operating under the Army Pathway for Innovation and Technology Office, the acquisition directorate embeds personnel within Army service component commands. These teams translate urgent commander priorities into executable requirements, giving field commanders access to acquisition authorities at the tactical edge. The teams already operate within U.S. Army Europe and Africa, U.S. Army Pacific and U.S. Army Central.

Army Col. Christopher Hill, director of the Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate, described the organization as the Army’s answer for putting innovative solutions in the hands of the warfighter.

“[Army service component commands have] always had priorities, they’ve always had capability gaps, but the two things they’ve never had is acquisition authority and research, development, test and evaluation dollars,” he said.

Because the directorate maintains visibility across multiple commands, Hill said its personnel can align modernization efforts, maximize funding and transition proven theater solutions Army wide.

The unit assigned a team to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa this summer to link immediate operational needs with rapid acquisition resources. Together, the commands will use the accelerated capability event framework as a fast-track pathway to identify, evaluate and deliver field-ready technology.

Through a three-phase model, submission and preparation, soldier-led demonstrations and follow-on operational evaluation, capability events deliver rapid solutions within an accelerated acquisition timeline.

By Army CPT Tucker Chase, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa

Posted in Army, C-UAS, Guest Post, International | No Comments »

Podcast Host and Former Navy SEAL Shawn Ryan Teams Up with SIG SAUER to Donate Firearms and Emergency Kits to Local Sheriff’s Department

October 20th, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Shawn Ryan, former Navy SEAL and host of “The Shawn Ryan Show,” has partnered with the SIG SAUER Charitable Foundation to donate essential firearms and equipment to the Hickman County Sheriff’s Department. Ryan and the SIG Team presented the donation in person today alongside local county sheriff’s deputies, the mayor, and city council members.

Driven by a mission to support law enforcement, Ryan acted after learning the department was facing severe budget constraints and utilizing equipment over 25 years old.

“How are these men and women supposed to protect our community if they’re not properly equipped?” said Ryan. “As a Tennessee resident, I knew I needed to step in and help support our local community.”

“When Shawn brought the Hickman County Sheriff’s Department to our attention, we knew we had to help,” said Jason Wright, VP of Marketing at SIG SAUER. “This initiative aligns perfectly with the SIG SAUER Charitable Foundation’s mission, and we are proud to partner with Shawn to make it happen.”

The donation equips the department with 30 SIG SAUER M400 rifles, ROMEO 5 electro-optics, SLX suppressors, and FOXTROT-MSR compact mounted lights. Additionally, the department will receive top-of-the-line emergency kits to ensure officers are prepared for critical situations. At the event, SIG SAUER announced they will provide advanced rifle training for the department as well.

To learn more about Shawn Ryan, visit shawnryanshow.com. Additional information on the SIG SAUER Charitable Foundation is available at sigsauer.com.

Posted in Advertiser, LE, Nonprofit, Press Release | No Comments »

Global Ordnance Holdings and Sparkz Establish First Fully Domestic-Sourced and Manufactured Drone Battery Production

October 20th, 2026

This partnership targets a critical U.S. defense supply chain need for drone technologies, with domestic battery manufacturing starting early 2027

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 20, 2026 — Global Ordnance Holdings, a U.S.-owned defense company delivering integrated munition systems, ordnance, energetics, UAS and counter UAS solutions to the United States and its allies, signed a Master Supply Agreement with Sparkz Inc. initially targeting 210,000 battery packs beginning early 2027 , partnering to strengthen the U.S. defense supply chain for high energy density batteries for drones. The agreement establishes the first fully domestic manufacturing for high-performance drone batteries as the U.S. Department of War directs more attention and funding to domestic drone technologies.

Signed during AUSA 2026, the agreement meets the need for a reliable supply of American-made batteries as the Pentagon expands its use of unmanned systems. The batteries will come from a fully U.S. supply chain, including all base materials and assembly, with 100% U.S. content. The companies will deliver NDAA-compliant batteries for U.S. defense applications, with batteries expected to be available in early 2027 and full manufacturing capacity expected to start in Q2 2027. Domestic demand for batteries is expected to rapidly grow as 2027 forecasts for the DoW will reach approximately one million drones with forecasted demand for 2028 and beyond expected to continue to grow rapidly.

Sparkz will manufacture and supply batteries, while Global Ordnance will lead sales and distribution through its defense market relationships and distribution network. The high-energy-density batteries will be configurable to meet the power output and operational requirements of different unmanned systems.

“Putting more drones into service requires a dependable supply of the components that keep them flying,” said Jeffrey Brunozzi, president of Global Ordnance Holdings. “Batteries are central to that equation, and high energy density power supplies are critical for the missions they serve. This partnering agreement brings Sparkz U.S. battery manufacturing together with our understanding of defense customers’ operational requirements to build a fully domestic source they can plan around.”

The agreement comes as the Pentagon places greater emphasis on the origins of drone components and the industrial capacity needed to supply them. Its Drone Dominance Program supply chain framework calls for progressively tighter sourcing requirements, with the ultimate goal of a wholly domestic small-drone supply chain.

For military customers and unmanned systems manufacturers, the challenge extends beyond obtaining a finished aircraft. Sustaining deployment requires access to critical components that meet performance requirements and can be supplied reliably as operational needs change.

“Domestic battery production has to deliver the performance customers need for their specific systems,” said Sanjiv Malhotra, CEO of Sparkz. “By combining our technology and manufacturing capabilities with Global Ordnance’s defense market reach, we intend to give U.S. drone manufacturers and defense customers an American-made battery option tailored to their applications.”

The initiative supports Global Ordnance Holdings’ broader work in autonomy, unmanned systems, and mission-tailored defense solutions, connecting advanced technologies with the equipment and supply capabilities required to support operational readiness.

Posted in Advertiser, Drone, Manufacturing, Press Release | No Comments »

AUSA 26 – Improved Army Temperate Weather Boot

October 20th, 2026

GORE-TEX Brand is one of those companies that has a direct impact on the Soldier every day.

During AUSA they showed off the commercially available McRae Terassault T2 GTX which they propose for adoption Army-wide as the Improved Army Temperate Weather Boot.

Built on the redesigned Army Hot Weather Boot, it adds a waterproof / breathable membrane, extending its use in place of the Army Temperate Weather Boot. Meeting those specifications, it’s almost 40% lighter and 25% more breathable than the current Army Temperate Weather Boot.

Posted in Advertiser, Army, AUSA, Boots | No Comments »