TYR Tactical

ManTech Marks 70 Years of Creating Innovative Military Solutions

August 19th, 2026

This year marks a 70-year milestone for the War Department’s Manufacturing Technology enterprise, which has been solving challenges beyond industry partners’ investment capacity and risk tolerance for decades and has spawned separate service and agency specific programs. 

The ManTech program was established in 1956 to solve manufacturing problems that were too costly for industry partners to take on, said Emil Michael, undersecretary of war for research and engineering, during a commemorative event at the Pentagon yesterday. 

He added that investments in the enterprise have been the unseen force behind precision-guided munitions, stealth aircraft, combat vehicles, advanced microelectronics and other advances. 

For instance, the Navy ManTech program is using robots to increase submarine construction, and the Army ManTech program is using the investment capital to build ballistic helmets for troops. Also, the Defense Logistics Agency ManTech program has restored domestic production capability for legacy defense microelectronics, thereby extending the life of critical weapon systems.

As military systems become more complex, investments have evolved to tackle broader challenges in the defense industrial base, with a focus on workforce, public-private partnerships and collaboration, Michael said. 

“We’re moving fast to bring on new entrants, lowering the barriers for entry, so that agile startups, nontraditional defense contractors and commercial innovators can rapidly plug into our ecosystem,” he said. 

The department has been increasing the number of industry competitors, Michael pointed out.  

“And it’s working,” he said. “There’s been more defense tech investment dollars in new entrants than ever before.”  

The department is working on ways to help them succeed, so that it has a more robust, competitive ecosystem. 

“We have processes. We have procedures. We have things that are not designed for small companies, for new entrants, for new innovators to succeed as easily as the big guys,” Michael said, adding that it’s incumbent upon the department to give those small companies and new innovators a helping hand to ensure they have a shot at working for the Pentagon.  

One of the ManTech enterprise’s primary vehicles to build at speed and scale is the Manufacturing Innovation Institute, which has more than 2,200 member organizations that have trained over 700,000 workers and students. 

The department’s ManTech program showcased cost-effective, innovative technologies during events at the Pentagon yesterday and today. Technologies included additive manufacturing, robotics, advanced materials for munitions, combat vehicle modernization, microelectronics and artificial intelligence.  

The enterprise doesn’t develop weapon systems — it develops the manufacturing capabilities needed to build them, through collaboration across the military services, War Department agencies, industry, academia and public-private partnerships.  

Many of today’s advanced defense systems, including stealth aircraft, submarines, advanced munitions, combat vehicles and radar systems benefited from ManTech enterprise manufacturing investments. A few of their other many advances include: 

  • The Air Force ManTech program lowered production costs for active electronically scanned array radar used aboard ships, aircraft and on the ground. 
  • The Army ManTech program introduced advanced armor materials and robotic welding to improve production speed, quality and worker safety. They also helped modernize cannon tube production, reducing production time by about 50%.   
  • The Navy ManTech program developed a ceramic coating that extends the service life of submarine seawater valves to match the operational life of the sub, saving more than $100 million in life-cycle costs.

By David Vergun, Pentagon News

Posted in Guest Post, Manufacturing | No Comments »

Bundeswehr Orders Further Mobile Rescue Stations from Rheinmetall – Order Worth Over € 500 Million

August 18th, 2026

Rheinmetall will supply further mobile rescue stations to the Bundeswehr. As an extension of a previous order, the armed forces are set to receive a total of 149 additional protected and unprotected systems, with a gross value of over €500 million. This call-off under a framework contract awarded at the end of 2024 is the largest order to date that the contractor, Rheinmetall Project Solutions GmbH, has ever received. Production of the rescue stations is due to begin in the first quarter of 2027.
With the order booked in July 2026, the total number of rescue stations rises to 165 systems, with a gross value of over € 600 million. In December 2024, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw) had commissioned Rheinmetall to supply up to 137 rescue stations to the Bundeswehr. At that time, ten ballistically protected and six unprotected systems were ordered. 

Call-offs for further armoured and unarmoured systems are included as an option in the contract. Training for the relevant personnel will also be provided.

The rescue stations are part of the Modular Medical Facilities system. Within the Bundeswehr’s medical service, these highly mobile rescue stations ensure that the troops receive initial emergency medical care. If required, four soldiers can set up and dismantle the systems within a very short time. This incorporates a lesson learnt from the war in the Ukraine, namely that highly mobile systems are necessary for medical support.

Each rescue station comprises two containers that can be operated together or separately. Each container is fitted with a generator and air conditioning, and can operate independently for several days. Should one generator fail, the entire system can continue to operate using the generator from a single container.

The system features a fully equipped emergency treatment station, as well as four additional treatment stations. All the medical equipment is mounted on Airliner rails and can be configured according to the user’s requirements.

The system can be transported using different carrier vehicles used by the Bundeswehr. It can be set up at a longitudinal and transverse inclination. A custom lifting system was developed for this purpose, as no off-the-shelf system could meet the specified requirements.

The Bundeswehr is procuring both protected and unprotected versions of the system. This involves the refurbishment of an existing system. However, the new rescue station replaces a complex tent structure with a highly modular 3:1 container manufactured by Rheinmetall Mobile Systeme GmbH. The new system can be transported and set up in more challenging terrain.

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

Blue Ops, a Red Cat Company, and Havoc Partner to Develop Open-Architecture Autonomous Maritime Defense Systems

August 18th, 2026

Companies plan to integrate Havoc’s collaborative autonomy software across Blue Ops’ USV portfolio to establish operational fleets

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 17, 2026 — Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat” or the “Company”), a U.S.-based provider of advanced all-domain drone and robotic solutions for defense and national security, and Havoc, a leader in all-domain collaborative autonomy, announced a partnership today, formalized through Red Cat’s maritime division, Blue Ops.

Under the partnership, Blue Ops and Havoc plan to integrate Havoc’s collaborative autonomy software and command-and-control capabilities across multiple Blue Ops uncrewed surface vessels, including the Variant 7 and additional platforms as they are introduced. The integration is intended to enable coordinated multi-vessel operations and expand the range of autonomous functions available to U.S. and allied defense customers.

The partnership builds on Blue Ops’ Modular Open Systems Architecture (“MOSA”) approach to maritime systems, which is designed to support the rapid integration of autonomy, sensors, communications, payloads, and other mission technologies based on evolving operational requirements. Havoc’s collaborative autonomy technology has been successfully deployed on behalf of the U.S. Department of War in multiple operational contexts.

“This partnership is exactly what our open-architecture strategy was built for,” said Barry Hinckley, President of Blue Ops. “Our goal is to build the best small USVs in the world while making it easy to integrate leading technologies from across the U.S. and our allies. Havoc has developed a powerful collaborative autonomy solution and integrating it with Blue Ops platforms gives customers greater choice and flexibility while accelerating how quickly advanced autonomous maritime capabilities can be fielded.”

Blue Ops and Havoc also plan to establish operational fleets at Havoc’s headquarters in Rhode Island and Blue Ops’ headquarters in Florida. These locations will provide U.S. and allied defense customers and partners with access to integrated Blue Ops and Havoc systems for live demonstrations, testing, training and operational evaluation, including both single-vessel autonomy and coordinated multi-vessel operations.

“Havoc’s primary strategy is to pair our leading-edge collaborative autonomy software with platform manufacturers who have already proven innovation, excellence, and scale,” said Paul Lwin, CEO and Co-Founder of Havoc. “Blue Ops is the perfect partner to continue our journey because they are building an open, flexible family of maritime systems that align directly with how we believe autonomy should be deployed. By integrating Havoc across the Blue Ops portfolio, we can give operators the ability to command and coordinate multiple autonomous vessels while preserving the flexibility to adapt as operational requirements evolve.”

Additionally, the companies plan to work together to expand market access for their respective technologies. Blue Ops and Red Cat intend to introduce Havoc’s autonomy and command-and-control capabilities to their government and commercial customers, while Havoc intends to market Blue Ops’ family of USVs to its customer base. Together, the companies plan to pursue opportunities requiring integrated autonomous maritime systems.

The partnership provides a framework for continued technical integration, demonstrations and joint customer engagement as the companies further develop their commercial relationship.

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

BLADE’s Hunter WOLF Robotic UGV Scheduled for Evaluation with the 82nd Airborne Division (TiC)

August 18th, 2026

Third Army training event demonstrates Hunter WOLF adaptability and utility across diverse mission requirements
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., Aug. 17, 2026 — The U.S. Army is expanding the evaluation of the Hunter WOLF unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) from HDT Robotics, LLC dba BLADE, through a Transition in Contact (TiC) event with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The training and evaluation is taking place August 20, 2026.

The Hunter WOLF from BLADE (formerly HDT) continues to prove its maturity with TiC event with the 82nd Airborne.

The Hunter WOLF is a robotic multi-mission ground vehicle designed to reduce the physical burden on soldiers. With a payload capacity of up to 2,800 lbs, it supports logistics and casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) missions while helping to solve the military’s “last tactical mile” of supply challenge. By carrying critical equipment, supplies, and personnel, it extends operational duration, keeps soldiers in the field longer, reduces fatigue, and allows them to operate at safer distances. Built specifically for dismounted military operations, it delivers mobility, payload, and power in a compact system engineered to perform in demanding environments where commercial vehicles fail.

The training event will provide hands-on experience for soldiers from one of the Army’s premier rapid-response units. Known as the “All-American” Division, the 82nd Airborne can deploy worldwide within 18 hours and specializes in parachute assault and other key military operations.

“No two Army units operate the same way,” said Tom Van Doren, President of Robotics, BLADE. “The value of these evaluations is seeing how the Hunter WOLF supports different mission sets, environments, and operational priorities. Every event helps validate the flexibility of the platform and identify new ways it can reduce workload and help keep soldiers out of harm’s way.”

During the training, soldiers will operate and evaluate the Hunter WOLF in real-world scenarios, gaining experience in system operation and mission integration. The vehicles will be configured to support a variety of mission requirements, including communications, logistics, casualty evacuation, mobile power generation, and equipment transport.

Specifically, configurations include:

  • Two Vehicle-mounted Tactical Radios (AN/VRC-158)
  • Autonomy
  • Five Universal Battery Chargers (UBC)
  • Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC)
  • 15kW Mobile Power Export (120/240VAC inverter offload)
  • Extended Cargo Rails for Equipment Transport

“The 82nd Airborne brings a unique operational perspective centered on agility, mobility, and rapid deployment,” said John Conway, VP of Business Development, Robotics, BLADE. “Training units like this help demonstrate how the Hunter WOLF can integrate into light / mobile infantry operations while delivering the support soldiers need to stay focused on the warfighting mission.”

This event follows previous Hunter WOLF training and evaluation activities conducted with U.S. Army units earlier this year, including the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, and the 101st Airborne Division. Collectively, these engagements are providing valuable soldier feedback while demonstrating the platform’s adaptability across multiple mission requirements and operational environments.

www.hdtglobal.com

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

Mehler Protection Returns to MSPO with Advanced Personal Protection Solutions

August 18th, 2026

FULDA, GERMANY, 10 August 2026

Mehler Protection, a leading provider of ballistic protection solutions and part of Mehler Systems, will return to the International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO) in Kielce, Poland, from 8–11 September 2026. Following its last appearance at MSPO in 2024, Mehler Protection will once again present a broad portfolio of personal protection solutions for military, law enforcement and security professionals.

At Hall 4, Booth 4-D09, visitors will be able to explore solutions covering different operational requirements, including modular body armour, plate carriers, ballistic helmets, riot protection, ballistic shields and load-distribution systems.

Among the key systems on display will be M.U.S.T., Mehler Protection’s modular, scalable protection system. Its modular design allows the protection configuration to be adapted according to different operational requirements, providing users with the flexibility to adjust their equipment to the mission at hand.

Another highlight will be ExoM II, the latest generation of Mehler Protection’s passive exoskeleton technology. Designed to redistribute the load of heavy protective equipment away from the shoulders, ExoM II helps reduce the physical burden associated with carrying ballistic protection and additional equipment for extended periods. The system will be displayed together with the Omega Jaw ballistic protection solution.

For public-order and riot-control applications, Mehler Protection will showcase the Riot II protective system.

Together, the three complete configurations will demonstrate different approaches to protecting personnel across a range of operational environments and requirements.

The presentation will be complemented by a selection of plate carriers and body armour systems alongside hard- and soft-ballistic protection solutions. Visitors will also be able to explore several ballistic helmet configurations, as well as flexible and rigid ballistic shield solutions designed to provide additional protection in high-risk situations.

The 34th International Defence Industry Exhibition brings together armed forces, government representatives, procurement organisations and defence industry professionals in Kielce, providing an important meeting point for the defence sector in Central and Eastern Europe.

Learn more about Mehler Protection: mehler-protection.com

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

Your Collection Deserves a Book – Safar Publishing Is Looking for Authors

August 18th, 2026

Every collector knows the feeling. You go looking for a reference on something specific — the production variants of one camouflage pattern, the kit carried by one unit in one campaign, the evolution of a service rifle across four decades — and the book simply doesn’t exist. What exists instead is a forum thread from 2011, a few blurry auction photos, and somebody’s half-remembered account of what his uncle wore.

That gap is why Safar Publishing exists, and it’s why we’re writing this.

Who we are

We are a specialist publishing house built around highly illustrated books on collections of military items. Our major titles cover uniforms, equipment, ordnance and the conflicts they belong to: Uniforms and History of the Soviet Airborne in Afghanistan, Soviet Weapons of the Afghan War, Guardians of Neutrality: Swiss Rifles Through the Ages, and forthcoming work on the Bosnian War of 1992–1995.

What runs through all of it is the same principle: original items, photographed properly, documented by people who actually handle them. Not scanned catalogue plates. Not stock imagery.

And while military subjects are our core, we are not limited to them. If your subject is material culture, a personal archive, or a serious collection of almost any kind, which is visually rich and well researched — we want to hear about it.

What we’re looking for

A subject you know and access to the physical objects – enough material to carry a book that is meant to be looked at as much as read.

You do not need a finished manuscript. A clear proposal, a subject outline and a sense of what you can photograph is enough to start a conversation. You do not need previous publishing credits either — several of our authors came to us as collectors first and writers second.

What is not a fit: text-only military history with no visual dimension. There are excellent publishers for that, and we can advise on that.

What we bring

We produce books end to end rather than simply printing them. That means an in-house photographer who can shoot your collection to reference standard, professional layout and typesetting, editorial support, collector-grade print production, and global distribution and marketing. We also have real crowdfunding experience, both our own campaigns and others’ — which for niche subjects is often the difference between a book that happens and a book that stays a folder of photos on a harddrive.

Pitch us

If you’ve been sitting on a collection and a subject nobody has covered properly, send us an outline: www.safar-publishing.com/write-with-us or simply email safar.publishing@gmail.com.

The reference book you can’t find might be the one you’re supposed to write.

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, History | No Comments »

Arbor Arms – TradesMed Modular Assault Pack

August 18th, 2026

New from Arbor Arms is the TradesMed Modular Assault Pack.

Designed to meet the specific needs of several mission sets where organizing and managing a large number of small to medium size tools and equipment is critical to mission success. Examples include Medics, EOD Technicians and Drone Operators just to name a few.

The TradesMed Pack has a 3/4 zipper closure allowing you to fully open “book style” the pack and access all your tools quickly and efficiently.

The modular internal Checkmate and Loop Velcro organization system allows you to choose the internal organizer pouches, elastic loop widgets or Velcro One-Wraps to perfectly organize and secure your mission critical equipment. It has an outside center flat zipper pocket with tie down for small and or sensitive items.

Internally there are front and rear channels that allow for storage of flat items as well as hydration bladders. The top of the bag has 2 drink tube ports and the side carry handles allow you to grab it and displace immediately without having to fully repack the bag if you’re under fire.

Offered in a wide variety of colors and patterns.

arborarmsusa.com/shop/tactical-back-packs/tradesmed-modular-assault-pack

Posted in Medical, Packs | No Comments »

Department of War Orders Research Security Audits at 30 Academic Institutions

August 18th, 2026

The Department of War has issued formal notifications to 30 domestic academic institutions, directing them to initiate immediate and comprehensive reviews of their academic, financial and research collaborations with foreign entities of concern.

These notifications address active institutional ties and collaborations with foreign entities identified under Section 1286 of the FY19 NDAA, as well as organizations associated with rebranded Confucius Institutes. Executed by the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering, this action is designed to protect American taxpayer-funded research investments from unauthorized technology transfer, intellectual property theft and adversarial exploitation.

“The Department of War has zero tolerance for academic partnerships that compromise our national security,” said Emil Michael, Under Secretary of War for Research and Engineering. “Institutions that receive funding from American taxpayers must uphold the highest standards of research security, and these mandated audits will ensure accountability across the board.”

To maintain eligibility for future federal research funding, the notified universities must complete a comprehensive audit of all identified foreign collaborations, assess the exposure of sensitive or export-controlled research, and implement strict mitigation plans, including the termination of problematic partnerships. Institutions are required to report their findings and actions directly to the Department no later than August 31, 2026.

“Universities are critical partners in executing a wide range of Department of War research programs, and the Department must therefore ensure that our research investments are well protected from foreign exploitation,” said Dr. Joseph Jewell, Assistant Secretary of War for Science and Technology.

Through these audits, the Department of War will better anticipate emerging threats, adapt to evolving adversarial tactics and maintain America’s position as a global leader in innovation. The Department is pursuing this effort alongside partners in Congress.?Together with the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, the Department continues to build a robust research ecosystem that protects critical discoveries from exploitation.

Posted in Department of War, Industry, Press Release | No Comments »

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