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Digital Manufacturing Exchange Expands Manufacturing Options for Marines at the Tactical Edge

August 25th, 2026

Kyushu, Japan —

A Marine in Kyushu, Japan, initiated a manufacturing job on a printer nearly 400 miles away in Okinawa.

That single action demonstrated the larger promise of the Digital Manufacturing Exchange, or DMX: connecting technical expertise, approved data and available manufacturing capacity across geographically dispersed locations without requiring every unit to possess every capability at the point of need.

During Valiant Shield 26, Marine Depot Maintenance Command (MDMC) joined operating forces, other military services, original equipment manufacturers and regional industry partners to test how DMX could support a distributed sustainment network across the Indo-Pacific.

Seven Marine Corps printers were connected to DMX during the exercise. Participating organizations completed 19 prints representing 11 unique parts using streamed technical data from the Marine Corps, Navy, Army and an original equipment manufacturer.

The results showed that DMX can do more than move a digital file from one computer to another. It can connect a unit with an equipment requirement to technical experts, approved manufacturing data and production capacity located elsewhere in the region.

For Marines operating across the Indo-Pacific, that connection could reduce the effect of distance on readiness. Rather than waiting for every select component to move through a lengthy transportation network, units could gain another option for producing approved parts closer to where equipment is operating.

“DMX and distributed manufacturing give Marines across III MEF the tactical flexibility to make dynamic ‘make-or-buy’ decisions within a resilient regional supply network and closer to the point of need. Producing approved parts on demand can reduce theater transit times and help resolve critical shortages when traditional industrial sources cannot deliver high-demand readiness items quickly enough. DMX also strengthens joint integration and expands opportunities to partner with private industry to increase regional manufacturing capacity.”

Maj. Eric J. Mees, 3d Marine Logistics Group G-4 sustainment officer

One of the exercise’s central efforts involved a frequently damaged lower ladder step used on Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks, Palletized Load System A2 vehicles and Logistics Vehicle System Replacement platforms. Oshkosh Defense authorized the controlled use of its proprietary technical data, allowing Marine Depot Maintenance Command and Marines supporting III Marine Expeditionary Force to manufacture the component while the company retained ownership and control of its intellectual property.

“Oshkosh Defense is pleased to partner with MDMC on this initiative because advanced manufacturing and secure digital delivery directly support what Warfighters need most: ready equipment, responsive parts support, and a sustainment approach built to perform over the full vehicle lifecycle,” said Pat Williams, Chief Programs Officer, Oshkosh Defense. “The successful printing and delivery of an Oshkosh repair part during Valiant Shield successfully demonstrated the DMX program’s commitment to protection of a manufacturer’s intellectual property while ensuring seamless support to the operating units, and we look forward to extending this capability to additional critical Class IX parts.”

A Department of State-approved export license enabled MadeHere K.K., a qualified industry partner in Japan, to support production using the Oshkosh data. Industry partners in Japan and South Korea also conducted post-processing and manufactured components using approved government-owned technical data.

“Every supply chain is a bet that the people, the knowledge and the tools will still be there tomorrow. When that bet fails, a part becomes unreproducible and a mission stalls. What was scattered, we gather. What was tacit, we make permanent. What was distant, we build here. Our partnership with MDMC through the DMX initiative demonstrates that sustainment in the Indo-Pacific doesn’t have to cross an ocean. It can happen right here.”

Alexander De Vore, CEO of MadeHere K.K.

The work included a hydraulic manifold manufactured by South Korean partner Partners Lab and an Assault Amphibious Vehicle driver’s vision enhancer latch produced by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology. These efforts demonstrated how qualified regional manufacturers could supplement military production capacity closer to operating forces.

DMX also enabled approved technical data and manufacturing capacity to be shared across organizations and military services. Using Army Aviation and Missile Command data, Marines manufactured UH-60 components. MDMC supported the effort by providing approved technical data for additional components, helping expand the range of parts available for distributed manufacturing during the exercise.

In another demonstration, Marines in Kyushu initiated a manufacturing job on a printer in Okinawa. The effort showed how technical expertise, approved data and production equipment located in different places could be connected through a controlled digital process.

The exercise also tested how DMX could work with limited connectivity. Marines partnered with Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division’s “Print on the Move” team to access technical data and produce a component without an active network connection. The demonstration showed how DMX could remain useful in remote or contested environments where reliable communications may not always be available.

DMX is designed to complement —not replace—the existing supply system, depot maintenance or direct support from equipment manufacturers. It gives commanders another option when an approved part is unavailable, has a long lead time or cannot reach the operating force quickly enough.

For Marines operating across a vast and contested theater, the value of DMX is ultimately measured at the tactical edge. By linking approved technical data, manufacturing capacity and expertise across the region, DMX gives commanders another way to overcome distance, respond to equipment shortfalls and keep critical systems in the fight. Valiant Shield 26 demonstrated how that network can move sustainment closer to Marines by giving the force more options when time, distance and availability matter most.

By Jennifer Napier | Marine Corps Logistics Command

Posted in Admin, Guest Post, Logistics, Manufacturing, USMC | Comments Off on Digital Manufacturing Exchange Expands Manufacturing Options for Marines at the Tactical Edge

Kongsberg to Deliver Remote Weapon Systems to Canada

August 24th, 2026

KONGSBERG, NORWAY – Aug. 20, 2026 – Kongsberg has signed a contract with General Dynamics Land Systems–Canada (‘GDLS-Canada’) valued at NOK 1.1 billion for the delivery of Protector RS4 Remote Weapon Systems. These systems will be integrated onto the Canadian Army’s Armoured Combat Support Vehicle (ACSV). 

The contract represents a continuation of the established partnership between Kongsberg and GDLS-Canada. This order is a follow-on procurement of RS4 systems for the ACSV program, building on previous deliveries to the same platform.

“This contract confirms our customer’s confidence in the Protector systems and further strengthens our long-term partnership with GDLS-Canada. We are proud that the RS4 continues to be selected as a key capability for the Canadian Armed Forces’ modern vehicle fleet,” said Kjetil Reiten Myhra, Executive Vice President, Kongsberg and President of the Defence Systems division.

Kongsberg has previously delivered RS4 systems to GDLS-Canada for integration on ACSV vehicles. The new deliveries will further enhance and expand the operational capabilities of the Canadian Army.

The RS4 is part of Kongsberg’s Protector family of Remote Weapon Systems, providing high levels of protection, flexibility, and situational awareness for vehicle crews.

The Protector RS4 is an advanced Remote Weapon System designed to enhance survivability, precision, and operational flexibility for modern military vehicles. The system is in service with defence customers worldwide and can be integrated onto a wide range of vehicle platforms.

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

CZ Honors a Defining Chapter in the Legacy of the CZ 75

August 24th, 2026

CZ is honoring a defining chapter in the legacy of the CZ 75. For more than five decades, the CZ 75 has stood at the center of the CZ story. Its distinctive design, innovation, and shooting characteristics helped establish CZ’s reputation with generations of shooters around the world and created a handgun legacy that continues to resonate across the firearms industry.

As CZ honors that legacy in 2026, the company will also conclude production of three longstanding members of the CZ 75 family: the CZ 75 B, CZ 75 BD, and CZ 75 Compact.

“Few firearms are as closely connected to the identity of CZ as the CZ 75,” said Chris Sprangers, Director of Marketing for CZ-USA. “For generations, this platform has introduced shooters around the world to what CZ stands for: innovation, thoughtful engineering, and exceptional shooting characteristics. The CZ 75 B, CZ 75 BD and CZ 75 Compact have each carried that legacy forward, and as their production comes to a close, we are proud to honor the role they have played in both our history and the experiences of CZ owners around the world.”

The CZ 75 B, CZ 75 BD and CZ 75 Compact have each played an important role in carrying the CZ 75 design forward. For decades, these pistols have been valued by shooters for their balance, craftsmanship and proven design, becoming lasting parts of the CZ lineup and of the shooting experiences of generations of customers.

While production of these select classic models is concluding, this moment should not be mistaken for the end of the CZ 75 story. The CZ 75 remains an important part of the CZ brand, with models including the CZ 75 SP-01, CZ 75 SP-01 Tactical, CZ 75 P-01 and CZ 75 D PCR continuing the platform’s legacy.

This transition is a meaningful one because of what these pistols represent. They are not simply longstanding models within the CZ catalog; they are part of a design lineage that helped shape the identity of the brand and build the reputation the CZ name carries today.

CZ remains proud of what the CZ 75 B, CZ 75 BD, and CZ 75 Compact represent and grateful for the generations of customers who have made them part of their shooting stories.

A lasting legacy, honored with respect. The legend of the CZ 75 will live on.

For more information, visit www.czfirearms.com/en-us.

Posted in Admin, Firearms, Press Release | No Comments »

Shadow Box Solutions Introduces the ShadowBox Charlie, Bringing Advanced Multi-Network Gateway Capability to the Tactical Edge

August 24th, 2026

Shadow Box Solutions today announced the release of the ShadowBox Charlie, Mobile TAK DC2 Gateway, a compact, ruggedized, multi-network system designed to enable distributed command and control (DC2), joint fires integration, and long-range kill chains at the tactical edge.

The Charlie moves capabilities traditionally associated with large command posts, vehicle-mounted integration suites, and specialized tactical data-link gateways into a system small enough to deploy in a backpack at the team level or below. It bridges disparate tactical radios, networks, sensors, and command-and-control systems, allowing operational data to move between users who would otherwise remain isolated by incompatible communications architectures.

“Modern forces do not suffer from a lack of networks – they suffer from the seams between them,” Dave O’Neill, COO of Shadow Box Solutions said. He continued, “We built the Charlie to move the gateway forward to where those seams actually exist. A tactical team can now connect sensors, radios, Link 16, MANET, HF, TAK, and classified networks without the footprint and support infrastructure traditionally associated with that capability.”

A central capability of the Charlie is tactical-level Link 16 integration. When paired with systems such as the AN/PRC-161 BATS-D handheld Link 16 radio, the Charlie can integrate Link 16/J-series information with other tactical networks and transport relevant traffic using Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol-C (JREAP-C) over IP-based communications pathways. This extends Link 16 information beyond the traditional line-of-sight tactical data-link environment and into a broader distributed C2 architecture.

The Charlie also integrates TRAX software, providing tactical data translation and interoperability between Link 16/J-series data, JREAP, TAK/Cursor-on-Target, and other operational data sources. This allows information originating on one network or sensor architecture to be translated and delivered into another without requiring every participant in the kill chain to operate on the same communications system.

The system supports integration with the AN/PRC-161 BATS-D, AN/PRC-163, AN/PRC-167, AN/PRC-160 HF radio, Persistent Systems MPU5, Silvus StreamCaster, TrellisWare tactical MANET systems, and LoRa/Meshtastic-class networks, as well as other IP, serial, software-defined radio, and sensor interfaces.

This architecture also allows nontraditional and attritable systems to contribute directly to operational C2. Data originating from low-cost sensors, software-defined radios, leave-behind systems, or surrogate forces operating over low-bandwidth networks can be ingested by the Charlie and bridged into established tactical networks and dynamic targeting architectures.

The Charlie can operate independently as a disconnected tactical gateway or provide classified reachback to an Air Operations Center or SIPRNet C2 node through its integrated Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) architecture when connectivity is available. The system operates from a standard BB-2590/U battery and can also be powered from vehicle, external battery, DC, or AC power sources.

The ShadowBox Charlie expands Shadow Box Solutions’ family of expeditionary C4ISR systems and reflects the company’s focus on making sophisticated network integration capabilities smaller, easier to use, more deployable, and accessible farther forward.

About Shadow Box Solutions

Shadow Box Solutions is a U.S.-based provider of advanced communications and C4ISR integration systems, delivering customized, end-to-end solutions for defense, government, and specialized mission partners.

Posted in Comms, Press Release | No Comments »

MATBOCK Announces Immediate Availability of JLTV Hybrid-Electric Conversion Kits Following Major Contract Milestone

August 24th, 2026

Virginia Beach, VA — MATBOCK, an industry leader in bringing paradigm-shifting technologies to the defense market, is proud to announce the immediate availability of its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Series Hybrid-Electric Powertrain Conversion Kits. This milestone follows the successful development advances made during the $17.3 million Phase 4 contract modification in partnership with the U.S. Army Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO).

MATBOCK was founded on the principles to bring innovative products to the market, and while most of our products are in the soft-goods space, we have always been on the cutting edge of tech development. That drive has led us to develop some of the most innovative soft-goods, digital direct and indirect weapons sights, a medical device, and most recently, a Series Hybrid-Electric powertrain system. Zach Steinbock initiated this concept nearly 6 years ago, and after multiple iterations, the MATBOCK JLTV HEV conversion kit is officially here.

The journey to full production required adaptability and vision. With less than a year remaining before completing the contract, MATBOCK made a hard strategic pivot to ensure the program remained on schedule and achieved total success by investing in a ground up build of the range extender with a commercial partner. This strategic decision was paramount to mission success, delivering the uncompromising reliability and durability that military customers demand.

“Without a doubt, overcoming the challenges of this project required true resilience from our entire engineering team,” said Zach Steinbock, Co-Founder and President of MATBOCK. “By making a calculated pivot to leverage a commercially proven powerplant for our range extender and countless hours of integration by our engineering teams, we not only kept the program on track but delivered a product that redefines what tactical vehicles can achieve. Providing immense power on the edge directly translates to increased mission capabilities, and we are thrilled to offer this modernization to fleets today.”

Modernizing the Fleet: Plug-and-Play Power on the Edge

The MATBOCK JLTV Conversion Kits are available now as bolt-on upgrades designed to help any customer with JLTVs in their inventory to rapidly modernize their fleet. Designed to Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) principles (DoDI 5000.87), the integration is completely reversible, requiring no permanent OEM vehicle modifications. This preserves existing vehicle warranties and fleet commonality while utilizing single-soldier connectors that require no specialized training. Using standard military tool sets, the kit can be installed at the depot or field level in under 24 hours.

Once integrated, it transforms the base platform into a Series Hybrid-Electric Vehicle capable of extraordinary performance:

  • Massive Performance Gains: The kit delivers a 130% improvement in range and a 200% improvement in acceleration, all with zero weight impact to the vehicle’s curb weight.
  • Tactical Stealth: A 125-mile Silent Mobility Range reduces acoustic and thermal signatures by over 80%, enabling extended silent watch and long-range reconnaissance operations without the use of combustion engines.
  • Exportable Power: True to MATBOCK’s promise of “Power and Propulsion on the Edge,” the system acts as a portable microgrid. It provides up to 250 kW of HVDC export power, 42 kW of AC export power, and 17.5 kW of LVDC power, easily supporting directed energy weapons, advanced communications, and off-platform microgrid operations.

The MATBOCK JLTV HEV Conversion Kit is ready to deploy today, ensuring warfighters have the mobility, stealth, and power generation they need to maintain an unfair advantage on the battlefield.

For more information, technical specifications, or to request a quote, please visit matbock.com or contact us at sales@matbock.com.

Posted in Advertiser, Mobility, Power, Press Release | 1 Comment »

When The Mission Leaves The Ground

August 24th, 2026

The BFG® Integrated Stealth Harness (ISH™) Combines Three Critical Systems Into One Certified Platform

A gun belt carries the equipment needed to do the job.

A restraint system keeps a professional connected during aircraft operations.

A climbing harness provides certified protection when the mission moves into vertical terrain.

Traditionally, those have been three separate pieces of equipment.

The Blue Force Gear® Integrated Stealth Harness, or ISH™, brings them together.

The patented ISH combines a combat gun belt, rotary-wing restraint system, and independently certified Type C sit harness in one lightweight platform. It allows trained professionals to carry their equipment on the ground, remain connected during approved restraint applications, and deploy a complete sit harness when the mission goes vertical.

No belt change.

No separate harness buried in a pack.

No need to rebuild the equipment layout when the operating environment changes.

One System. Three Critical Roles.

• Combat gun belt

• Rotary-wing restraint system

• UIAA 105 Type C certified sit harness

The complete system weighs just 1 lb. 9 oz. It is Berry Compliant. Made in the USA, independently certified to UIAA 105 Type C, and compliant with EU EN 12277+A1:2018.

This is more than a tactical belt with additional hardware. It is a completely certified harness system built for professionals whose work requires movement from the ground to an aircraft, an edge, a rope, or an elevated objective without advancewarning.

THE VERTICAL PROBLEM USUALLY STARTS ON THE GROUND

Most vertical missions do not begin with someone already on rope.

It begins with ground movement, vehicle operation, building entry, aircraft approach, search assignment, or traversingthrough difficult terrain.

A military team may be carrying weapons, magazines, medical equipment, communications, and other mission essentials. Specialized law-enforcement units may be moving through a structure or approaching an elevated position. Search and rescue professionals travel across miles of ordinary terrain before reaching a cliff, damaged structure, steep slope, aircraft, or confined space.

The need for vertical capability may not appear until the mission is already underway.

That creates a basic equipment problem.

If the harness is stored in a pack, vehicle, aircraft, or equipment cache, it must first be retrieved. The user may need to remove or reposition other equipment, put on another system, verify the fit, and reconnect mission gear before moving forward.

The ISH changes that sequence by building certified harness capability into the equipment already being worn.

The removable leg loops can remain connected and staged around the waist. When the complete sit-harness configuration is required, trained personnel deploy the leg loops without removing the gun belt or retrieving a separate harness.

The capability stays with the user instead of being separated from them.

BUILT AS A TRUE COMBAT GUN BELT

The ISH did not begin as a recreational climbing harness with tactical features added later.

It was built around the curved architecture of the BFG® CHLK® Belt and incorporates the MOLLEminus® load-carriage platform for mounting holsters, pouches, medical equipment, communications gear, and other mission essentials.

That starting point matters.

A professional gun belt must remain stable while carrying equipment. It must follow the body, support an operational load, and maintain access to critical gear as the user moves between standing, kneeling, seated, and prone positions.

The ISH retains core load-carriage capability.

On the ground, it functions as the user’s combat gun belt. Equipment remains mounted in the familiar position where the user trains and operates. When the environment changes, that same platform becomes the foundation for aircraft restraint or the complete certified sit-harness configuration.

One belt.

One fit.

One equipment layout.

Three operational roles.

ROLE ONE: COMBAT GUN BELT

For many users, the first role of the ISH will also be used most often.

The MOLLEminus® field provides a low-profile platform for carrying compatible holsters, magazines, medical equipment, communications, and other mission gear. Its curved belt architecture follows the body rather than forcing a flat structure around the waist.

The user can configure the ISH around the mission and retain that equipment layout when transitioning into another approved role.

There is no separate ground belt to remove before putting on the harness.

The gun belt is part of the harness.

ROLE TWO: ROTARY-WING RESTRAINT

Aircraft operations create different requirements.

Personnel operating around open aircraft, ramps, doors, or other exposed positions may require an approved means of restraint based on the mission, aircraft, organizational procedures, and applicable training.

The ISH incorporates certified front and rear attachment points for approved applications, allowing the system to function as a rotary-wing restraint platform without replacing the user’s combat gun belt.

The professional can move from ground operations into the aircraft while retaining the same belt, fit, and equipment configuration.

That is the second role of the 3-in-1 system.

ROLE THREE: UIAA 105 TYPE C CERTIFIED SIT HARNESS

When the mission requires vertical access, the attached leg loops deploy to complete the sit-harness configuration.

The ISH is independently certified as a UIAA 105 Type C harness and compliant with EU EN 12277+A1:2018. The complete system is classified as Category III personal protective equipment under applicable European regulation for protection against risks with very serious consequences, including falls from height.

This is not simply a belt described as climbing capable.

It is a certified harness system.

The certification applies to the complete ISH system, including the belt and leg-loop assembly. The ISH is sold and must be used as a complete system. The outer belt and individual components should never be treated as standalone life-safety equipment.

That distinction is central to what the ISH is.

It is not a conventional battle belt with an attachment point added to it. It is not a restraint belt being presented as a climbing harness. It is a complete, independently certified harness that also performs the roles of a professional gun belt and rotary-wing restraint system.

INDEPENDENTLY CERTIFIED. BUILT FOR PROFESSIONAL USE.

In life-safety equipment, materials, and appearance are not enough.

Certification matters.

The ISH has documented system and component specifications that include:

• UIAA 105 Type C harness certification

• EU EN 12277+A1:2018 compliance

• Sewn belay loop rated to 15 kN

• COBRA® buckles rated to 18 kN

• Custom-blended Dyneema webbing with a 5,000 lb. breaking strength

• Certified front and rear attachment points

• Berry Compliant construction

• Made in the USA

The complete 1 lb. 9 oz. system consists of a 3 oz. inner belt, 10 oz. outer belt, and 12 oz. leg-loop assembly.

Those numbers give military, law-enforcement, rescue, aviation, and government procurement teams measurable information for evaluating the system.

They also reinforce the difference between equipment that looks like a harness and a complete system that has been independently certified as one.

BERRY COMPLIANT AND MADE IN THE USA

For military and government customers, domestic sourcing is not simply a marketing statement.

The ISH is Berry Compliant and Made in the USA, placing its domestic manufacturing story alongside its independently verified harness certification.

That combination matters.

The market contains tactical belts. It contains climbing harnesses. It contains restraint products.

Far fewer systems combine all three roles while also offering UIAA 105 Type C certification, Berry-compliant construction, and an equipment-carrying platform designed around professional use.

The ISH was built for organizations that need capability, certification, domestic sourcing, and mission-equipment integration in one complete system.

DESIGNED FROM OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE

The thinking behind the ISH did not begin in the marketing department.

Retired U.S. Air Force Pararescueman Ishmael Antonio drew on a 20-year career to reconsider how a professional harness should work and why vertical capability must remain with the user when conditions change.

His experience helped shape a system that could carry equipment on the ground, support applicable aircraft-restraint requirements, and convert into a certified harness without forcing the user to stop and rebuild their setup.

The point is not that every mission will require every capability.

The point is that the professional may not know which capability will be required next.

The equipment should account for that uncertainty.

Watch Ishmael Antonio and Chris Sizelove explain the operational thinking behind the ISH and why a harness that remains with the user can matter when conditions change.

WATCH THE ISH™ STORY

LEG LOOPS THAT DO MORE

The modular leg loops allow the ISH to transition from combat gun-belt configuration into its complete Type C sit-harness configuration.

They can remain attached and staged around the waist rather than being stored separately in a pocket or pack. When vertical capability is required, the user deploys the leg loops to complete the harness.

When configured according to approved instructions, the leg-loop assembly also supports additional applications, including:

• Autoblock friction-hitch configuration for rappelling

• Emergency tourniquet application using the integrated windlass points

• Pelvic stabilization

• Two-person litter carry

These capabilities do not replace dedicated medical equipment, approved rescue systems, professional judgment, or training.

They reflect the larger philosophy behind the ISH: equipment carried into demanding environments should provide greater utility without forcing the user to carry multiple disconnected systems.

BUILT FOR PROFESSIONALS ACROSS MULTIPLE MISSIONS

The ISH was developed around demanding military requirements, but the problem it addresses is not limited to one community.

Defense and Public Safety

Military personnel, special operations units, SWAT teams, emergency service units, federal response teams, and aviation personnel may move between ground operations, aircraft, elevated positions, rappelling, technical access, and rescue requirements during the same mission.

The 3-in-1 design keeps equipment carriage, applicable restraint capability, and a certified harness together on the professional.

Search, Rescue, and Disaster Response

Search and rescue teams, technical rescue personnel, and appropriately equipped disaster-response organizations operate in environments where ordinary access can quickly become vertical access.

Steep terrain, damaged structures, cliffs, towers, confined spaces, unstable surfaces, and industrial environments can all create situations where the harness must be available immediately rather than stored somewhere else.

The ISH allows trained personnel to keep a certified sit harness integrated with the equipment already being worn.

Remote and Technical Operations

Wildland and remote-area responders, maritime units, technical-access personnel, aircraft crews, and infrastructure teams may move between equipment carriage, restraint, rescue, and vertical work during different phases of an operation.

The ISH is not a replacement for agency-specific PPE, dedicated rescue systems, approved procedures, or application-specific training. It gives responsible organizations a certified platform to evaluate roles when those capabilities need to remain with the user.

THE HARNESS YOU NEED IS THE HARNESS YOU HAVE WITH YOU

A separate harness only helps if the user has it, can reach it, and has time to integrate it with the equipment already being carried.

The ISH closes that gap by keeping the complete system on the professional. It functions as a combat gun belt, supports approved restraint applications, and remains ready to deploy into its certified sit-harness configuration.

The user does not have to predict exactly when the mission will leave the ground.

The capability is already there.

PROFESSIONAL EQUIPMENT REQUIRES PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

The ISH is professional life-safety equipment.

It must be used only by properly trained or otherwise competent persons, or under the direct supervision of trained or competent personnel.

Users must read and understand the complete instruction manual, inspect the system before use, test all associated equipment for form, fit, and function, and verify that the harness is correctly rigged before any activity at height.

Certification does not replace training.

A 3-in-1 system does not remove the need to understand each role.

The value of integration is that a trained professional can carry those capabilities together in one purpose-built platform.

ONE SYSTEM. THREE CRITICAL ROLES.

The Integrated Stealth Harness represents a different approach to professional equipment.

Instead of forcing the user to carry one belt for equipment, another system for restraint, and a separate harness for vertical access, the ISH consolidates all three roles into one lightweight, Berry Compliant, independently certified platform.

Combat gun belt.

Rotary-wing restraint system.

UIAA 105 Type C certified sit harness.

One belt.

One equipment layout.

One complete system that remains with the user when the environment changes.

Because the mission does not stop when the ground does.

Neither should your equipment.

Learn more about the BFG® Integrated Stealth Harness and watch the complete system in action.

EXPLORE THE ISH™

Posted in Advertiser, Guest Post, Load Carrying, Mountaineering | No Comments »

US Army Certifies Rifle Squads During Live-Fire Training in Poland

August 24th, 2026

BEMOWO PISKIE TRAINING AREA, Poland — U.S. Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment conducted squad tactical exercises and live-fire training from Aug. 4-13, 2026 at the Bemowo Piskie Training Area, testing their ability to maneuver, communicate and engage targets in day and night conditions.

The training progressed from team live-fire exercises to squad-level tactical movements, allowing Soldiers to build proficiency at the smallest level before operating as a larger formation.

“You just have to make sure the lowest element is trained,” said Sgt. 1st Class Geordie Blower, platoon sergeant with Charlie Company, 2-37 AR. “You need to make sure both the teams are qualified to maneuver before you can maneuver in a squad element.”

During the live-fire event, shots echoed across the training area from early morning into the afternoon. After sunset, the first squad lined up to conduct its mission during nighttime operations.

Soldiers donned night vision goggles and maneuvered through wooded terrain toward an objective marked by targets. From the top of a hill, another soldier monitored and maintained target accuracy through a computer system.

The exercises were designed to certify rifle squads and give soldiers an opportunity to practice battle drills using live ammunition. Capt. Jonathan Downs, commander of Charlie Company, 2-37 AR said the training also tested squad leaders’ ability to make decisions and control their formations under demanding conditions.

“I was really happy to see the squad leaders take initiative and be willing to not just stick to an exact range, but actually command and control their squads in a meaningful way,” Downs said.

Downs also praised Soldiers for their willingness to work through difficult conditions.

“It’s always good to see guys willing to get in the dirt and suffer a little to help their squads succeed,” Downs said.

The Bemowo Piskie Training Area presented challenges that differed from the unit’s home station at Fort Bliss, Texas. Soldiers maneuvered through woods and high grass, negotiating branches, uneven ground and limited visibility during nighttime operations.

Pfc. Rowdy Adams, an infantryman with Charlie Company, 2-37 AR, who normally serves as a radio transmission operator, participated as a rifleman during the squad live-fire exercise. He said the training allowed him to evaluate how well his team worked together.

“It’s been great,” Adams said. “I really enjoy being able to actually test our skills as a squad and a team, to see how well we can work together and accomplish our goal and our mission.”

Adams said the squad live-fire exercise felt more realistic than the earlier team-level training because Soldiers had to move through wooded terrain and coordinate supporting fires while advancing toward the objective.

“There were a lot more moving pieces, which is how it actually would be,” he said.

Daytime and nighttime operations required soldiers to adjust their movement and awareness. Adams said night vision goggles reduced his field of view and depth perception, making obstacles more difficult to identify.

“Night’s definitely a lot more difficult,” Adams said. “It’s harder to see the targets, but I personally enjoyed the night more.”

Downs said the unit must be prepared to operate in any environment and under changing conditions.

“Day or night, we have to be able to do the job,” Downs said. “Any weather condition — you’re not always going to have the weather conditions you want, and you have to be able to do it anywhere, anytime.”

Downs described his company as the battalion’s mechanized infantry force, saying that dismounted Soldiers are responsible for clearing terrain that can restrict armored vehicles.

“Thick terrain, like these woods behind us, or urban terrain — stuff like that — the tanks can’t clear,” Downs said. “Our job is to clear out those areas, to keep the tanks safe, and then to seize and hold terrain that they can’t.”

Throughout the training, leaders observed each iteration and provided feedback to help squads improve their decision-making, movement, and supporting-fire techniques.

Downs said the training improved on the unit’s previous squad live-fire exercise and expressed confidence in the soldiers’ performance.

“My NCOs did a terrific job out here,” Downs said. “The teams and squads both performed not just at standard, but above standard. I’m fully confident in their abilities and I’m happy with their work out here.”

By SSG Emilie Lenglain

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

MixMode Cleared to Broadly Deploy Its AI Cyber Platform in US Defense and Intelligence Community Environments

August 23rd, 2026

Company has been granted a Department of War Certificate to Field and an Authority to Operate from the U.S. Intelligence Community
SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Aug. 19, 2026 — MixMode, the AI cyber defense company, today announced two U.S. Government security milestones that clear its platform for wider use in some of the nation’s most secure operational environments: a Department of War Certificate to Field (CtF) and an Authority to Operate (ATO) granted by the U.S. Intelligence Community.

MixMode defends large, mission-critical government networks against AI-driven attacks, insider threats and other emerging cyber threats. The platform autonomously observes an organization’s network traffic, cloud, and user activity in real time. Instead of relying on rules or signatures of past attacks, its self-learning AI builds a continuously updated model of what expected behavior looks like in each environment, then flags activity that doesn’t fit. That is what allows MixMode to surface threats no one has seen before: novel and Frontier AI-generated attacks moving across the network, nation-state tradecraft, and insiders misusing legitimate access. The Third Wave AI at the core of the platform is built on more than two decades of research in applied mathematics and dynamical systems, including projects sponsored by DARPA and the U.S. Department of War.

The two milestones mark significant progress in MixMode’s expansion across the U.S. defense and intelligence market:

  • Certificate to Field (CtF) MixMode achieved a Department of War Certificate to Field, confirming the platform has been evaluated against the Department’s software security and risk standards and is approved for use on the granting component’s information systems, supporting accelerated evaluations for future Department of War deployments.
  • Authority to Operate (ATO) A U.S. Intelligence Community agency granted MixMode an Authority to Operate, authorizing the platform to run in high-security operational environments, one of the most rigorous security reviews a software product can complete.

The milestones come as the White House emphasizes the urgent need to modernize cybersecurity for an AI-driven era. Speaking at CyberTalks, Acting Federal CISO Michael Duffy called for a more proactive and adaptive approach: “As we enter this new era defined by AI, interconnections, [and] expanded dependencies… we can’t wait for the next crisis to inspire our action.”

The urgency is real. Frontier AI level models, such as those from Anthropic and ChatGPT, have recently demonstrated the ability to autonomously find software flaws to immediately build and deploy cyber exploits. This capability, along with agentic frameworks, will be weaponized to enable bad actors to radically increase both the velocity and efficacy of new cyber attacks against critical systems. MixMode is uniquely built to self-learn each environment and accurately predict expected behavior in order to see deviating activity related to active threats. With this highly accurate real-time prediction capability, the platform is able to detect new novel cyber attacks from adversarial actors utilizing frontier AI systems or behavior related to insider threats.

“As the cybersecurity industry evolves with the rapidly increasing use of AI by bad actors, it is now a necessity for real-time AI-driven technology to defend against these attacks,” said John Keister, CEO of MixMode. “MixMode has continued to focus on its proprietary, highly-efficient platform that includes the best detection system on the planet for attacks, including those that are AI-driven.”

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