Tropo Performance

Gatorz Eyewear X Navy SEAL Foundation SENTIX

May 3rd, 2026

The GATORZ x Navy SEAL Foundation Sentix brings together American crafted durability and a mission that extends beyond the frame.

Built from aircraft grade aluminum and paired with TruRay Smoke Polarized lenses, each pair delivers the clarity and strength required in high performance environments. Custom Navy SEAL Foundation and THAT WARRIOR engravings reflect a mindset defined by resilience, discipline, and commitment.

A portion of proceeds from every purchase supports the Navy SEAL Foundation and its work providing critical care for warriors, veterans, and their families.

Get yours at www.gatorz.com/products/navy-seal-foundation-x-sentix.

Posted in Eyepro, Guest Post, Navy, Nonprofit, SOF | Comments Off on Gatorz Eyewear X Navy SEAL Foundation SENTIX

Air Force Special Warfare Employs Kinetic Interceptor in Counter-UAS Proof of Concept

May 3rd, 2026

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. —  

Air Force Special Warfare Airmen from the 48th Rescue Squadron, 7th Air Support Operations Squadron, and 316th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal conducted a proof-of-concept event on April 7, 2026. The event integrated a commercial off-the-shelf kinetic interceptor with an expeditionary counter-small unmanned aircraft system (C-sUAS) to address critical capability gaps for small teams operating “outside the wire.”

The demonstration took place at the Arizona Army National Guard Florence Military Reservation in Arizona. As adversaries increasingly employ low-cost, one-way attack drones, smaller, forward-deployed teams face growing risks without access to traditional, fixed-site air defense. This event focused on developing a lightweight, deployable capability to detect, track, and defeat Group 1–3 small unmanned aerial systems in austere environments.

The unit executed a layered approach to C-sUAS operations, integrating low-cost interceptor technology with expeditionary sensing and command-and-control systems. Through this proof-of-concept event, the Arizona Army National Guard, the Southwest Mission Acceleration Center, and multiple industry partners integrated detection tools, command-and-control systems, and various target aircraft.

During the event, AFSW Airmen executed four core functions: detect, assess, command and control, and defeat. The objective was to evaluate the ability to detect an enemy unmanned aircraft and provide tracking data through a common operating picture. The system then cued the interceptor to launch, track, and engage a UAS target, demonstrating a sensor-to-shooter kill chain at an operationally relevant cost.

“We are evaluating a range of layered detection and defeat capabilities,” said an AFSW Airman assigned to the 355th Wing. “By employing diverse target profiles, from fixed-wing systems to quadcopters across the Group 1-3 range, we can assess how, when, and where our C-sUAS systems are most effective. Our objective is a man-portable capability with a high degree of autonomy that can operate with minimal infrastructure while remaining fully interoperable within a broader C-sUAS architecture.”

The training highlighted the squadron’s continued evolution beyond its traditional rescue mission, expanding into offensive and defensive small UAS employment in contested environments.

“From a force protection and mission execution standpoint, each layer addresses different threats across varying distances,” the AFSW Airman said. “This approach adapts against near-peer threats while maintaining the cost-effective countermeasures required in modern conflict.”

This effort represents a significant step toward operationalizing expeditionary C-sUAS capabilities by integrating industry-developed and organically produced systems, with a continued focus on rapidly equipping the warfighter in forward environments.

By Senior Airman Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos

355th Wing

Posted in Air Force, C-UAS, Guest Post | Comments Off on Air Force Special Warfare Employs Kinetic Interceptor in Counter-UAS Proof of Concept

NEMO Partners with Storm Care Solutions as Exclusive US Distributor

May 2nd, 2026

High-performance gear care products support NEMO’s Adventure Forever® mission to extend product life and reduce waste.

{Dover, NH — April 27, 2026} — NEMO Equipment has partnered with U.K.-based Storm Care Solutions, LTD to serve as the exclusive U.S. distributor of the brand’s line of outdoor gear care products. For NEMO, whose Adventure Forever® mission includes extending the life of outdoor gear, offering rigorously tested, high-performing cleaning and waterproofing solutions is a natural extension of the company’s commitment to keeping gear on the trail and out of the landfill.

Well-maintained gear lasts longer and performs better. By distributing STORM through its retail partners and direct channels, NEMO gives customers access to care products that meet strict environmental and performance standards, helping gear reach its full potential season after season. NEMO will assort a full line of aftercare products for outdoor gear, apparel, and footwear, and retail partners can add STORM products to their Spring 2027 pre-season orders for delivery in January 2027.

“This partnership was built through shared values,” said Mike Welch, NEMO’s Senior VP of Sales & Marketing. “STORM, like NEMO, is driven by constant innovation and a deep commitment to sustainability, evidenced by their PFAS-free products, bluesign® partnership, and recycled/recyclable aluminum packaging. We’re excited to offer our retail partners a complementary, high-performing aftercare solution.”

Performance Grounded in Science

Developed and manufactured in England, STORM products undergo internal and independent testing to verify unrivalled PFAS-free performance. The brand’s unique chemistry enables its technical cleaners and waterproofers to work in a single wash cycle, saving time, water, and energy, a first in the industry. New for 2027, STORM is offering a range of super concentrated washes and waterproofers that provide more washes per bottle, reducing cost per wash, waste, water and weight while delivering a superior performing product.

Sustainable From Start to Finish

All STORM products are packaged in 100% recycled aluminum bottles and cardboard, offering an elevated shelf appeal and easy recyclability. PFAS-free since day one and bluesign® approved, the cleaners are odorless and free from optical brighteners. Perfectly pH balanced to clean natural or technical synthetic fabrics without damaging the manufacturers original DWR treatment, STORM’s patented wash-in proofing products also provide an abrasion resistant finish, extending the life of gear and apparel.

“In our search for a partner to lead the distribution of STORM in the U.S., we not only wanted a business who could scale the brand, but one who valued product integrity and performance, customer care, and family values. We feel NEMO meets and exceeds all of these aspects, along with providing professionalism and personal attention,” said Tim Wilson, STORM founder.

Extending NEMO’s Commitment to Gear Longevity

NEMO designs products that are built to last, easy to repair, and, for the Endless Promise® collection, fully recyclable. The company offers repair services, access to a resale platform for gently used equipment, and transparent sustainability reporting. Adding STORM to its line ensures customers have access to care products that align with NEMO’s values and help gear perform at its best for as long as possible.

STORM is already used and trusted by leading outdoor brands including Patagonia, L.L.Bean, and Ariat.

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

SIG SAUER Introduces New SIG CONNECT App Features

May 2nd, 2026

Users can now create challenges directly within their favorite SIG CONNECT games.

NEWINGTON, N.H., (April 28, 2026) – SIG SAUER, an industry-leading manufacturer of cutting-edge firearms, optics, and ammunition, introduced today new features in its SIG CONNECT app. SIG CONNECT is a mobile training tool that turns shooting sessions at a range into interactive experiences with real-time hit detection.

Through the new features, SIG CONNECT users can create custom challenges directly within their favorite games or jump into existing competitions. Users can choose their game type, set the distance, and select the Optical Hit Detection (OHD) target, then define rules, including time limits, scoring zones, and attempts.

Additionally, users can name their challenge, set an end date, and share it with their friends or the broader SIG CONNECT community. Every run is tracked, scored, and ranked in real time, allowing users to battle for the top spot on the leaderboard. Altogether, the new features open up opportunities for ranges to host challenges and events, from start to finish through the SIG CONNECT app.

“At SIG SAUER, we’re leveling up our game development for our growing SIG CONNECT community who use our app to train and refine their skills or just for fun. These new features create even more engaging experiences for users to shoot with their friends and the broader community and to reinforce safe handling and shooting,” said Phil Strader, Vice President of Consumer Affairs, SIG SAUER.  

Key takeaways:

Optical Hit Detection

The SIG SAUER OHD instantly tracks a user’s shots, giving immediate feedback on accuracy and performance.

Games and Drills

Users can run structured drills or compete in skill-based games, with real-time feedback that breaks down every shot and helps accelerate improvement.

Download the SIG CONNECT App

Join a fast-growing community by downloading the SIG CONNECT app, available at the App Store and Google Play, to begin your training, create a multi-player group with your friends, or join a public community to compete.

For more information on SIG SAUER, please visit sigsauer.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Firearms, Press Release, Shooting Sports, Training | No Comments »

Department of War Overhauls Acquisition to Speed New Technology to Troops – The Enablers are Here

May 2nd, 2026

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD – In a decisive move to maintain military superiority, the Secretary of War directed a fundamental transformation of the department’s acquisition process. This mandate requires a new approach to deliver critical capabilities to troops in the field with greater speed and urgency. The new paradigm needs enablers that mitigate risks in equipment programs, particularly in system reliability and long-term sustainment—factors that account for up to 70 percent of a weapon system’s total cost. As organizations accelerate timelines and reduce full-up system testing programs, they must adopt approaches that ensure system robustness and mitigate risk. The following menu of options provides program managers, acquisition personnel, and sustainment professionals with the tools they need today.

Early Engineering Component Analysis

Engineers perform rapid analysis for individual components long before a full system reaches large-scale operational tests. By using advanced simulators and lab environments, engineers find and fix potential failure points early in the design process when they can make modifications most simply and inexpensively. This proactive approach streamlines final system-level testing, saving both time and resources and is applicable to both Commercial-Off-The-Shelf systems/components and developmental items.

Modeling and Simulation

Modeling and Simulation (M&S) serves as one of the most powerful and inexpensive tools for accelerating development. Digital testing—covering everything from vehicle dynamics to the thermal performance of electronics—allows for the rapid exploration of designs before manufacturers build a physical part. In one instance, M&S predicted that a circuit card’s original design would lead to over 300 component failures. A simple, validated redesign reduced displacement by approximately 80 percent, avoiding a costly delay.

Scorecards and Engineering Reviews

The Transformation Decision Analysis Center (TDAC) developed reliability scorecards for weapon systems and artificial intelligence applications based on leading practices from industry, government, and academia. These scorecards, along with early engineering reviews, provide substantial risk mitigation—even for commercial off-the-shelf systems—by using existing information to identify challenges before they emerge.

Leveraging All Data Sources

To make the most informed decisions, programs must leverage all available data. By using Bayesian-based statistical approaches, organizations create a more complete picture of system performance and potentially reduce the need for physical testing by 60 percent or more.

Mastering Modern Complexity

Today’s military systems increasingly feature complex, software-intensive designs. Systems-Theoretic Process Analysis (STPA), a modern hazard analysis technique from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, analyzes these systems effectively. It identifies risks that emerge from the complex interactions between components, rather than just individual failures—a crucial step for developing robust autonomous and AI-enabled platforms.

Function-Based Reliability

Ultimately, mission performance dominates. A function-based assessment places test results into an operational context. This approach prioritizes risk mitigation by connecting system performance directly to the essential tasks soldiers perform, ensuring development always focuses on what matters most for mission success.

Fielding at the Speed of Relevance

The transformation of the acquisition system serves as an urgent and necessary step to equip U.S. forces for the future. This mandate does not call for cutting corners; rather, it requires us to be smarter and more proactive. By embracing these risk-reduction strategies, we empower the acquisition workforce to manage risk intelligently and deliver superior capabilities to the warfighter with speed and relevance. To meet the department’s objectives, TDAC continues to provide proven methods to minimize reliability, acquisition, and sustainment risks alongside partners such as the Army Test and Evaluation Command and various Army DEVCOM centers.

By David Mortin, Ph.D.

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

G3 Systems Celebrates 25 years of Infrastructure Support to Austere Overseas Environments

May 1st, 2026

This April, G3 Systems reaches its 25th Anniversary of delivering operationally proven expertise in the design and delivery of deployable and fixed infrastructure solutions to austere overseas environments, a significant milestone for the company. This achievement, combined with just completing 4 years of diverse infrastructure support to the South Atlantic Permanent Joint Operating Bases (PJOBs) adds yet another chapter to the G3 Systems’ story.

G3 Systems has a long and distinguished history of providing excellent infrastructure support, project management and facilities management to UK & NATO forces and government departments, deployed in austere and high-risk operations around the world. From providing the fire-fighting services for all the international airfields of Afghanistan (Kabul, Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif and Kandahar), to constructing and operating complex technical facilities and infrastructure globally. This includes hospitals, power generation and distribution, Command and Control facilities and workshops, along with a full range of deployable infrastructure capabilities. G3 Systems has a mission-focused attitude which mirrors that of the deployed forces they support, delivering high-quality outcomes on time and to budget.

For the last 3 years, G3 Systems has been deployed in the South Atlantic as a sub-contractor to the Permanent Joint Operating Base (PJOB) prime to enhance the Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS) on Ascension Island and for the last 4 years, led on a significant schedule of diverse infrastructure upgrade work at Mount Pleasant Complex (MPC) in the Falkland Islands. These projects were vital to ensure that technical and non-technical infrastructure and facilities are fully compliant with modern legislation, safe and upgraded to be fit for purpose without impacting operations. Over this period, G3 Systems has completed over 230 projects at MPC and consistently provided high-quality RFFS services on a 24/7 365 basis to help protect Ascension Island, a key UK strategic asset.

Nick Rose, Managing Director of G3 Systems said, “As we reflect on over 25 years of G3 Systems history and direct support to the British military deployed overseas on operations, from Iraq and Afghanistan in the early 2000’s, through to today in the South Atlantic, I am immensely proud of what the teams have achieved in the most remote and often demanding of conditions. We currently have complex infrastructure projects and facility support contracts running all over the world in support of the FCDO and British military. With the backing of our parent company Intrepid, who are also experts in supporting facilities and providing professional services for the US military, we have the scale and reach to reinforce globally as needed, and therefore G3 Systems is fully prepared to take on a more strategic role in supporting overseas operating bases, in the future.”

Posted in Contracts, International, Press Release | No Comments »

UF PRO and Lindnerhof Returning to SOF Week 2026

May 1st, 2026

LENGGRIES, GERMANY / KOMENDA, SLOVENIA (1 May 2026)

UF PRO and Lindnerhof, both part of Mehler Systems, will exhibit at SOF Week 2026, taking place from 19 to 21 May 2026 in Tampa, Florida. This marks the second consecutive year both brands are present at the event.

Visitors will find UF PRO and Lindnerhof at the West Mezzanine Lounge, where both brands will present their latest systems.

Hosted by USSOCOM, SOF Week serves as a central platform for the global special operations community to engage with technologies and mission-focused solutions.

Building on last year’s presentation, UF PRO will showcase a selection of tactical clothing designed for use across different climates and mission profiles.

The UF PRO lineup covers systems designed for hot-weather, all-terrain, rain, and cold-weather conditions. This includes the Striker TT Combat Shirt and Combat Pants, Striker X Gen.2 Combat Pants, and P-40 Gen.3 All-Terrain Pants, alongside rain protection systems such as the Monsoon XT Gen.2 Jacket and cold-weather systems including the Delta OL 4.0 Winter Jacket and Pants and the AcE Gen.2 Winter Combat Shirt.

Selected pre-release items, including the Striker Field Shirt, will also be presented.

A range of systems will be available for try-on, including softshell, waterproof, and insulated jackets designed for varying environmental conditions.

Lindnerhof will present modular load-carrying systems with a focus on configuration and adaptability.

The setup includes abseiling and parachuting configurations, such as a Shikari system combined with a Quick Drop belt, as well as belt-based load-carrying setups. Also on display will be load-carrying solutions designed for heavier equipment, alongside landing packs and weapon retention systems for airborne operations.

The presentation is structured to show how individual components can be combined depending on task requirements.

SOF Week provides an environment for direct exchange with professional users, where systems are discussed in relation to operational requirements and mission-specific use.

Participation in SOF Week supports continuous dialogue with the special operations community and informs the ongoing development of UF PRO clothing and Lindnerhof load-carrying systems.

Posted in Advertiser, Press Release, SOF Week | Comments Off on UF PRO and Lindnerhof Returning to SOF Week 2026

Elbit America Wins US Army Contract to Delivery Next-Generation Binocular Night Vision Systems

May 1st, 2026

Ready for the fight and ruggedized for battle, the BiNOD system provides Soldiers with the visual overmatch needed now

FORT WORTH, TEXAS – May 1, 2026 – Building on decades of trusted night vision performance, Elbit Systems of America (Elbit America) was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract through Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, to develop and test the Binocular Night Observation Device (BiNOD), as well as establish a vehicle for future production orders. This contract will enable Elbit America to compete for the next phase, which is valued at up to $450.6 million and positions the company to compete for additional future production orders that could result in the delivery of a significant number of systems for United States Soldiers.

For nearly three decades, the AN/PVS-14 monocular night vision system set the global benchmark, trusted by American and allied forces in operation around the world. Today, BiNOD is set to redefine that benchmark and deliver the next evolution of overmatch for all parts of the maneuvering force.

Engineered to elevate Soldier situational awareness and survivability in low-light environments, Elbit America’s BiNOD is an affordable, ruggedized, lightweight, helmet-mounted binocular night vision system purpose-built for the modern battlefield. The two-tube configuration unlocks true stereoscopic vision to Soldiers, providing enhanced depth perception, spatial awareness, and more intuitive movements in complex environments. Its enhanced optics provide sharper imagery, boost contrast, and accelerate target acquisition in dynamic conditions.

BiNOD represents an evolutionary leap from legacy night vision systems, while maintaining operational commonality with today’s platforms and accessories. Designed for sustainment at the unit level, the system is also field upgradable, enabling rapid adaptation to evolving mission requirements, without compromising durability and performance.

“BiNOD is the modern night vision upgrade our Soldiers need now,” said Erik Fox, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Elbit America’s Warfighter Systems Division. “With BiNOD we’re delivering the visual overmatch required on today’s battlefield, while keeping the system lightweight and comfortable for Soldiers during extended missions.”

“As warfare evolves, one constant remains: dominance at night matters. At Elbit America, we create that advantage by building side?by?side with the Soldier,” said the company’s President & CEO Luke Savoie. “From BiNOD to our next?generation systems, we’re not just delivering night vision, we’re shaping it. Rugged, trusted and able to be produced in mass, BiNOD is offered at a price point for our customers to get them at volume. Elbit America gives our nation’s Warriors the confidence to move first, see farther, and maneuver at night just like it’s the day. That’s why the U.S. Army counts on us as its night vision partner, and why we’ll keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.”

The U.S. Army’s BiNOD program was previously known as the Night Vision Device-Next (NVD-N) program.

MORE: www.elbitamerica.com/f5035

Posted in Army, Contracts, Optics, Press Release | No Comments »

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