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UK MoD Publishes Guide for Servicewomen Preparing for Special Forces Selection

July 15th, 2026

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence recently published “Science of Human Performance: A guide for servicewomen preparing for arduous courses” a handbook for females training for selection for that nation’s Special Forces units. However, while it’s obvious this is the intent of the handbook, they never come out and say it. Instead, the Minister for Veterans and People, the Right Honourable Calvin Bailey MP mentions, “Opening Ground Close Combat (GCC) roles to women.” I’ll point out that Mr Bailey is a retired RAF Wing Commander.

Subjects in the handbook include Endurance, Strength and Load Carriage Training as well as Injury Prevention, Nutrition, and Supplements. There are additional chapters on physiological issues peculiar to the female such as hormones.

Get your copy here.

Posted in For the Ladies, Human Performance, International, Warrior Athlete | No Comments »

Quantum Systems selected for Japan’s Counter-UAS Proof-of-Concept Program

July 15th, 2026

Quantum Systems has been selected by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) to participate in Japan’s Counter-UAS Proof-of-Concept Program, supporting the evaluation of next-generation interceptor drone capabilities.

Tokyo/Japan, 15 July 2026 – Quantum Systems has been selected by Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) to participate in Japan’s Counter-UAS Proof-of-Concept Program. The initiative forms part of ATLA’s Early Acquisition Program, which aims to accelerate the evaluation and deployment of next-generation interceptor drone capabilities for the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Quantum Systems’ selection reflects the company’s internationally sought-after expertise in counter-UAS technologies and expands its engagement with allied defence stakeholders in the Indo-Pacific region.

Martin Karkour, Chief Revenue Officer at Quantum Systems, said:

“Our selection by ATLA reflects the growing international demand for interoperable counter-UAS capabilities. Participating in ATLA’s programme allows us to contribute our operational expertise while deepening long-term industrial and defence cooperation. We look forward to further strengthening our long-term partnership with one of the Indo-Pacific’s most important defence innovators.”

The programme represents another milestone in Quantum Systems’ international growth and reinforces the company’s commitment to delivering interoperable autonomous capabilities that address rapidly evolving airborne threats.

Posted in C-UAS, International, Press Release | No Comments »

VSS Books – International Travel

July 15th, 2026

Don’t learn travel the hard way. Read “International Travel: A How-To Guide for Beginners and Seasoned Travelers.”

From pre-trip planning to money, tech, transportation, and the problems most travelers don’t see coming, a practical guide for first-time and seasoned travelers alike, business or pleasure.

Get your copy here.

Posted in Media | No Comments »

Iridium Announces Commercial Availability of Iridium PNT ASIC, Bringing Resilient GNSS Protection to Devices Worldwide

July 15th, 2026

Ultra-compact chip delivers trusted positioning, navigation, and timing resilience amid rising spoofing and jamming threats
MCLEAN, Va., July 14, 2026 – Iridium Communications Inc. (Nasdaq: IRDM), a leading provider of global voice, data, and positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) satellite services, today announced the commercial availability of the Iridium PNT ASIC, a first-to-market chip designed to help protect GPS- and GNSS-dependent devices from jamming, spoofing, and other growing threats.

Since the Iridium PNT ASIC’s unveiling in October 2025, Iridium has received unprecedented demand from more than 150 organizations worldwide, spanning maritime, unmanned and autonomous systems (UXV), aviation, telecommunications, and other critical infrastructure sectors.

“The market response to the Iridium PNT ASIC has reinforced what we’re hearing from customers around the world: assured PNT is becoming an essential capability across critical industries,” said Dr. Michael O’Connor, executive vice president, PNT, Iridium. “With commercial availability, we’re enabling manufacturers to integrate trusted timing and location capabilities into smaller, more efficient designs, making assured PNT accessible to more applications than ever before.”

Measuring just 8 by 8 millimeters and weighing less than 0.2 grams, the application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) represents a major step forward in expanding access to assured PNT technologies at scale. The chip delivers cryptographically secure timing and location data from the Iridium satellite network through one-way signal bursts that are powerful enough to work where traditional GNSS often cannot, including inside structures and in contested environments.

By continuously validating signal integrity and delivering trusted PNT data anywhere on Earth, the Iridium PNT ASIC provides a powerful new foundation not only for resilient navigation, but also timing. Financial markets, telecommunications networks, power grids, and governments all depend on precise time synchronization to coordinate operations and maintain reliable service.

As global reliance on GNSS continues to grow, so does the frequency and sophistication of signal interference such as jamming and spoofing. Recent incidents including the May 2026 in-flight jamming of United Kingdom Defence Secretary John Healey highlight increasing operational and safety risks associated with GNSS spoofing and jamming across commercial transportation, aviation, and critical infrastructure environments. According to a 2019 study sponsored by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a GPS outage was estimated to cost the U.S. economy approximately $1 billion per day. Adjusted for inflation, that figure would exceed $1.3 billion per day in 2026, underscoring the growing importance of reliable backup solutions.

Compact Assured PNT Integration Underway

Solace Communications, a provider of mission-critical communications solutions for demanding and remote environments, is one of several Iridium partners integrating the Iridium PNT ASIC. Its Vector family of assured PNT products combines Iridium PNT with multi-band GNSS and inertial sensing to deliver resilient positioning, navigation, and timing with continuous confidence scoring, while LTE and Iridium Short Burst Data® (SBD®) provide secure telemetry and messaging.

“The Iridium PNT ASIC supports our wider strategy of building one of the first edge-native, confidence-scored assured PNT platforms around multiple sources of positioning, timing, and motion data,” said Adam Elcock, co-founder, Solace Communications. “Future navigation systems must do more than report a position. They must continuously determine whether that position and its timing can be trusted. That is the role Vector has been designed to fulfill and is now being deployed.”

Skyband Systems, a developer of aviation-grade, PNT-resilient navigation hardware, will integrate the Iridium PNT ASIC into its M100 LRU for business and commercial aviation. The M100 combines Iridium PNT with onboard inertial sensing to alert crews to GNSS jamming and spoofing while providing aircraft location for enhanced situational awareness.

“Iridium’s secure and powerful global service is the perfect platform for Skyband’s resilient navigation product,” said Robert Wiggenhorn, co-founder, Skyband Systems. “We are excited to partner with Iridium as they launch the Iridium PNT ASIC and look forward to further strengthening their legacy of aircraft innovation and safety.”

Iridium continues to engage with developers, original equipment manufacturers, integrators, and technology providers to incorporate assured PNT capabilities into next-generation solutions. Those interested in ordering the Iridium PNT ASIC are encouraged to visit www.iridium.com/pnt/asic.

Posted in Comms, Press Release | No Comments »

Ghostworks Unveils MRLN, the Multirole Remote Littoral Node

July 15th, 2026

Developed with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. and Mercury Marine, MRLN enables Ghostworks’ M-Hull and powercat vessels to perform multiple missions from a single platform, without trading off speed, range, or payload.

CARLISLE, PA — July 14, 2026 — At the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit, hosted by U.S. Senator Dave McCormick at the U.S. Army War College, Ghostworks today unveiled MRLN (Multirole Remote Littoral Node), a remote-pilot autonomy system that equips a single vessel to take on multiple mission types under human-in-the-loop command and control. MRLN is not a vessel; it is the mission systems layer that deploys across Ghostworks’ proprietary M-Hull and powercat hull forms, turning each vessel into a multirole platform.

Minerva, Ghostworks’ 40-foot carbon fiber M-Hull, under way. Minerva carries MRLN, the Multirole Remote Logistics Node, a remote-pilot autonomy system developed with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and Mercury Marine and unveiled July 14 at the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense and Innovation Summit.

MRLN was developed with three partners, each contributing a core piece of the system:

  • Ghostworks designed, engineered, and built a 40′ carbon fiber Minerva-class M-Hull, with speed, range, and payload currently unrivaled in the industry.
  • General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) brought decades of autonomy and sensor experience from remotely piloted aircraft and adapted it to the maritime domain.
  • Mercury Marine contributed its drive-by-wire propulsion technology and Command Gateway product, giving MRLN the endurance to transit contested and congested environments and to maintain station for extended periods in demanding conditions.

Command of the iron triangle: the long-standing tradeoff between speed, range, and payload has quietly dictated naval procurement for a generation. Rather than optimizing for one at the expense of the others, Ghostworks designs its vessels to maximize performance across all three metrics. Ghostworks’ Minerva-class vessel can carry 17,500 lbs at a cruise speed of 30 knots and handles sea state 4. Minerva is the first to employ MRLN, allowing operators to control the craft remotely, mission to mission, whether delivering fuel to an isolated craft, carrying a high-value load, or racing to conduct a rescue. Deployed across Ghostworks’ proprietary hull forms, MRLN provides granular control over that performance tradeoff for the first time.

MRLN pairs its modular, subsystem-agnostic architecture with a proven, serious payload capacity. The system is human-in-the-loop: a human operator retains situational awareness even as the vessel runs autonomously and can take control of the craft at any time. Operators can reconfigure mission profiles in the field, giving commanders a platform that adapts to the fight instead of forcing the fight to adapt to the platform. That freedom is the point. MRLN was built to function anywhere, anytime with its own connectivity.

“For decades, naval planners have had to accept that speed, range, and payload pull against each other. Optimize for one and you sacrifice the others,” said Brooke Kerschbaumer, CEO, Ghostworks. “Our vessels were architected to break that constraint. MRLN gives operators human-in-the-loop command and control over that tradeoff space, mission to mission, without changing platforms.”

“Leveraging our development of world-leading autonomy for air-vehicles into the maritime domain is a natural progression,” said Jeff Hettick, vice president of GA-ASI’s Agile Mission Systems. “This partnership really highlights how bringing together the best in the defense industry can yield exciting new capabilities for our warfighters in a timescale that is relevant.”

“Our role was to prove that MRLN could meet the control and reliability demands of sustained surface operations,” said Carl Greiner, Director of Government & Advanced Maritime Systems, Mercury Marine. “This integration expands what’s achievable in a remote-piloted maritime system.”

Five Missions, One Platform

MRLN-equipped vessels are designed to support:

  • ISR: persistent, low-signature surveillance in contested littoral zones
  • Logistics resupply: autonomous delivery of materiel to forward-deployed forces
  • Mine countermeasures: detection and neutralization without placing crews at risk
  • Communications relay: extending network connectivity across dispersed operating areas
  • Littoral combat support: direct integration into combat operations in shallow, contested waters

Summary

MRLN is a remote-pilot autonomy system, developed with GA-ASI and Mercury Marine, that equips Ghostworks’ M-Hull and powercat vessels to perform five distinct missions from one platform. By letting commanders reconfigure mission profiles in the field, MRLN breaks the traditional tradeoff between speed, range, and payload, delivering flexibility that the littoral battlespace has not had before.

www.ghostworksmarine.com

Posted in Maritime, Press Release, UxS | No Comments »

Rangers Assess Bumblebee V2 at Fort Benning for Homeland Defense

July 15th, 2026

FORT BENNING, Ga. — Joint Interagency Task Force 401 and the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, completed a comprehensive five-day operational training exercise July 6-10, 2026, at Fort Benning to evaluate and employ the Bumblebee V2 counter-drone system in defense of military installations and domestic critical infrastructure. This training represents the latest tactical integration of low-cost, low-collateral air-to-air interceptors designed to secure domestic airspace and installations from drone threats.

The training at Fort Benning marks a major step forward in transitioning cutting-edge, artificial intelligence-enabled drone technology into the hands of elite rapid-response warfighters. Developed under an initial $5.2 million agreement in early 2026 and scaled under a landmark three-year, $500 million contract awarded in May 2026, the Bumblebee V2 is a next-generation, first-person-view multi-rotor drone designed specifically to hunt and neutralize hostile small unmanned aircraft systems.

“Our Rangers train to deploy rapidly and operate under the most challenging, high-stakes conditions in the world,” said Lt. Col. Jon Peterson, commander of the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. “The Ranger Regiment has a long history of pioneering the integration of advanced technologies and operational concepts that can then be rapidly proliferated across the Army and the joint force. Developing top-tier counter-UAS is a priority that requires our immediate action.”

Unlike traditional battlefield kinetic effectors that utilize energetic or explosive payloads, the Bumblebee V2 operates via a pure physical-collision mechanism. The system uses high-speed, direct kinetic energy upon physical contact to render both the interceptor and the threat inoperable, providing a safe, low-collateral solution. This precision-impact capability is optimized for domestic homeland defense under Title 10, Section 130i authorities, allowing commanders to protect critical military installations and national infrastructure without risking lives or property on the ground.

The Bumblebee V2 features an advanced three-camera array with improved gimbal rotation and artificial intelligence-driven automated target recognition. This feature reduces the cognitive load on operators, allowing soldiers to maintain full situational awareness while the drone autonomously tracks and executes hard-kill intercepts in mid-air with operator oversight.

“Securing our domestic airspaces and safeguarding critical infrastructure is both a modern battlefield reality and a vital homeland defense imperative,” said Army Brig. Gen. Matthew Ross, director of JIATF-401. “The Bumblebee V2 gives installation commanders a cost-effective, reliable interceptor that can neutralize threats without endangering our own forces or surrounding infrastructure. As the threat of drones continues to evolve, having a low-collateral kinetic option is essential for homeland defense.”

This training exercise builds directly on earlier operational assessments. These include tests conducted by paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in April 2026.

As part of the evaluation event, JIATF-401 assessed a UAS target management capability from DRACOE. Based in North Carolina, DRACOE is a veteran-owned and operated business providing low-cost UAS components paired with a flight software management system that automates representative targets for counter-UAS training. Reducing the training cost and time is a pivotal aspect of JIATF-401’s approach to delivering state-of-the-art counter-UAS capability to warfighters.

By partnering with the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, JIATF-401 leverages a formation uniquely suited to rapidly evaluate emerging technologies under realistic operational conditions. The Ranger Regiment’s ability to integrate, refine and validate new capabilities helps accelerate the transition of promising technologies into operational use across the Army and the broader joint force. Through this collaboration, JIATF-401 continues to systematically expand the joint force’s capacity to employ layered, non-explosive kinetic defenses against evolving drone threats at home and abroad.

By LTC Adam Scher

Posted in Army, Drone, Guest Post | No Comments »

Kopin Achieves Three Critical Milestones Advancing US Army Color MicroLED Technology for Ground Soldier Vision Applications

July 14th, 2026

New bonding capability, breakthrough brightness performance, and rapid progress toward full?color MicroLED integration mark major steps toward future programs such as Soldier Borne Mission Command (SBMC)

WESTBOROUGH, Mass., July 14, 2026–Kopin Corporation (NASDAQ: KOPN), a leading provider of application-specific optical systems and high-performance microdisplays for defense, training, enterprise, industrial, consumer and medical products, today announced three major milestone achievements in its color MicroLED development program for the U.S. Government’s Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program. These accomplishments represent significant progress toward establishing a fully U.S.?based MicroLED manufacturing capability and advancing next?generation soldier vision systems.

Milestone 1: Breakthrough MicroLED Performance Achieved

Kopin achieved a significant performance milestone, reaching over 150,000 nits of single-panel, full-color brightness—exceeding the program’s threshold target. This early performance result demonstrates strong initial capability, with planned improvements expected to push brightness even higher over time.

These results represent a major step forward in the development of high?brightness, defense?ready MicroLED displays suitable for advanced vision systems, augmented reality, and other mission?critical applications.

Milestone 2: Progress Toward Full?Color MicroLED Integration for Ground Soldier Integrated Vision Systems

Kopin has reached a second crucial milestone: successful early integration progress of its color MicroLED technology for U.S. Army ground soldier vision applications. This advancement brings Kopin closer to enabling future soldier?borne systems such as the SBMC solution, where lightweight, high?brightness, full?color MicroLED displays are essential for real?time situational awareness, digital overlays, and mission execution.

This milestone reflects Kopin’s ability to translate MicroLED performance gains into application?specific optical solutions designed for rugged, field?ready soldier systems.

Milestone 3: U.S. Bonding Equipment Delivered and Installed

Kopin has received and begun installation of its new MicroLED bonding equipment, a key asset supporting the IBAS program and Kopin’s broader effort to onshore critical MicroLED manufacturing processes. The equipment shipped in June and is scheduled to be fully installed by the end of July at Kopin’s U.S. headquarters.

This advanced bonding system enables the precise attachment of the backplane to the MicroLED array, creating a fully bonded display assembly—an essential step in MicroLED production. With this installation, Kopin will have U.S.?based bonding capability, a foundational requirement for scaling domestic MicroLED manufacturing.

Kopin expects to transition to manufacturing product in mid?2027, positioning the company as a key U.S. supplier of next?generation MicroLED display technology.

Management Commentary

“Our team has delivered three major achievements that accelerate our path toward U.S.?based MicroLED manufacturing, and next?generation display performance,” said Michael Murray, CEO of Kopin Corporation. “Receiving and installing our bonding equipment is a foundational step in onshoring MicroLED production, surpassing 150,000 nits of single-panel, full-color brightness demonstrates the strength of our technology roadmap, and our integration progress for Kopin’s support of the IBAS initiative and moves us closer to enabling future programs like SBMC which could enable hundreds of millions in revenues for Kopin over the life of the program. These milestones reinforce Kopin’s commitment to building advanced display capabilities here in the United States and leading the future of high?performance MicroLED systems.”

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes statements that constitute forward looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “forecast,” “guidance,” “plan,” “estimate,” “will,” “would,” “project,” “maintain,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “prospect,” “strategy,” “future,” “likely,” “may,” “should,” “believe,” “continue,” “opportunity,” “potential,” and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters.

Forward looking statements are only predictions and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict and, in many cases, outside of our control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward looking statements. All forward looking statements are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. We undertake no obligation to update forward looking statements except as required by law. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward looking statements are detailed in the Company’s most recent Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This press release includes forward looking statements regarding Kopin’s breakthrough Micro-LED, our ability to turn these gains into field?ready soldier systems and our ability to enable hundreds of millions in revenues for Kopin over the life of the program. These statements also reflect anticipated strategic benefits associated with Kopin’s investment in bringing OLED display manufacturing processes in house. Forward looking statements are based on current assumptions and expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including changes in customer demand, program schedules, manufacturing performance, and broader conditions in the defense market.

For more information, please visit Kopin’s website at www.kopin.com.

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

Exiger’s Pennsylvania Defense & Innovation Summit Report Released at US Army War College

July 14th, 2026

AI Platform Looks Deep into Supply Chains Offering National Security and Economic Insights for Sen. McCormick’s Event with President Trump and the Nation’s Defense and Tech Leaders
WASHINGTON, July 14, 2026 — Exiger, the market-leading supply chain AI company and largest provider of supply chain risk technology to the U.S. Government, today unveiled its report, The Defense Industrial Base in Pennsylvania, at the 2026 Pennsylvania Defense & Innovation Summit in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Held at the U.S. Army War College on July 14th and 15th, the event convenes President Trump and leading defense and tech companies, including Anduril, Exiger, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, and Palantir.

Hosted by Senator Dave McCormick, the summit brings together military commanders, CEOs, investors, and entrepreneurs, like JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, to accelerate innovation and strengthen America’s defense industrial base using insights into the Commonwealth’s supply chains. Exiger’s summit report, developed using the company’s proprietary AI, reveals Pennsylvania’s central role in national defense readiness.

Exiger’s AI-powered analysis uncovers new insights into the Commonwealth’s defense economy and supply chains, which span 190K+ defense workforce and 8,900+ DIB companies, including 465k+ DIB-related parts manufactured, about 113k parts that are essential to weapon-system function, 288k parts for which Commonwealth suppliers are the single source, and some 2k weapon systems that rely on those single source providers. Exiger’s analysis identifies strategic opportunities for the Commonwealth in defense tech, defense production, space, and raw materials.

In a statement to New York Post, Senator McCormick said: “The comprehensive report compiled by Exiger underscores the indispensable role Pennsylvania’s defense industrial base plays in our nation’s security. The data speaks for itself. Pennsylvania is home to one of the strongest and most diverse defense industrial bases in the country,” adding that the summit “will showcase Pennsylvania’s profound role in ensuring America’s military remains the most formidable fighting force the world has ever seen.”

“Exiger’s AI can map supply chains in ways nobody else can,” said Exiger CEO Brandon Daniels. “Our report gives leaders convening at the U.S. Army War College deep visibility into the Commonwealth’s supply chain and into the role it plays in the larger defense industrial base while providing a blueprint to protect and grow Pennsylvania’s defense economy and the more than 8,000 businesses it sustains.”

Daniels is a speaker at the livestreamed event headlined by President Trump. On Day 2 of the summit, he will join Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler and United Nations Ambassador Mike Waltz for a fireside chat on The Intersection of Foreign Policy and American Prosperity at 10:15 a.m.

To download a copy of the full report, visit: www.exiger.com/penn

Posted in Industry, Press Release | No Comments »

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