Author: Tony Grist

Day Three of Rock’a Lock’a BANG! BANG! brought participants back to the former Nevada State Maximum Security Prison for another full day of hands-on training. With the event now firmly established inside the prison environment, the training continued to expand beyond traditional lock manipulation. SPARROWS continued its focus on covert entry with impressioning, while Breaching instructors worked on mechanical techniques. Forensics was also brought into the mix, demonstrating how investigative techniques and technology can be adapted to the covert-entry community. Forensics The forensics class focused on how forensic tools and techniques can be applied to covert entry and intelligence gathering.…

KOMENDA, SLOVENIA (24 September 2026) On 12 September 2026, UF PRO, part of Mehler Systems, hosted the fourth edition of the Striker Challenge at Pokljuka, Slovenia. The event received 226 applications from 16 countries. Competitors faced a 15-kilometre alpine course with 19 military-inspired obstacles testing their strength, endurance and focus. The team category returned in 2026 with a new format. Teams of three faced the same demanding terrain and obstacles, but completing the course required coordination, communication and shared effort. Each team also had to carry a large wooden Striker Challenge baton from start to finish. The three members had…

President Donald Trump told reporters Saturday that he had rejected a proposal for a week-long ceasefire with Iran and expects to resume the air war after the November midterm elections.“They have made a proposal and I rejected it,” Trump said, confirming a Friday report in the Wall Street Journal.  Iran had proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz in return for the U.S. lifting its blockade on Iranian ports. The Journal’s report says the president is skeptical that Iran will accede to his demands. In a Tuesday speech at the UN General Assembly, Trump had said he expected the war to…

Day Two of Rock’a Lock’a BANG! BANG! Moved the event from the range and into a completely different training environment: The former state of Nevada Maximum security prison. With the addition of new attendees comes a shift into covert access, escape, rescue, and problem-solving skills, with classes conducted throughout the prison. –          Lock picking –          Lever locks and prison locks –          SERE with a focus on restraints –          Camera Systems –          Vehicle extraction –          Surveillance and counter surveillance Supporting the second day were TNT Rescue, KCI USA, Mechanix Wear, and Blade-Tech, along with all the sponsors from day one each…

Kentucky Ballistics found a device that catches bullets.

Gun owners: this could affect you soon.

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Governor Wes Moore and Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, the 31st adjutant general of Maryland, hosted the Maryland National Guard’s activation ceremony for the 628th Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Battalion at historic Fort Washington Park, located along the Potomac River in Prince George’s County, Sept. 13, 2026. The 628th IEW Battalion provides multi-domain intelligence analysis and exploitation, targeting support, and collection capabilities to enable the 28th Infantry Division’s operations across the air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace domains. “Maryland is leading the future of national defense, and the 628th is the first National Guard intelligence and…

Blue Force Gear becomes DRYOUT’s first defense industry brand partner, introducing reusable moisture-removal technology for mission-critical gear SOUTH JORDAN, Utah (September 25, 2026) — DRYOUT®, the advanced materials company behind Active Moisture-Removal Technology™, today announced its partnership with Blue Force Gear (BFG), a leader in lightweight load carriage and tactical equipment, marking DRYOUT’s first brand partnership in the defense industry. The collaboration brings DRYOUT’s patented moisture-removal technology to tactical nylon, beginning with the DRYOUT 1L, an accessory engineered for use inside Blue Force Gear’s existing Night Vision Goggle (NVG) pouch. Designed to help protect sensitive optics and electronics from moisture…

Drone Dominance Program Announces Gauntlet II Results The Drone Dominance Program (DDP) began its competitive selection with the Qualifier, held from June 8–19, 2026, at Camp Grayling, MI. During the Qualifier, 49 drone companies competed in rigorous day and night operations across two challenging mission areas: Long Range Strike and Tactical Assault in Confined Environments. The event featured highly innovative drone designs from across the industry and set the stage for the next phase of the competition. Following the Qualifier, Gauntlet II was conducted in August 2026 at Fort Carson, CO. Building on the earlier rounds, Gauntlet II missions evaluated…

Great News for IHPS Sufferers: Ops-Core ARC Rails Now Available That’s right, those of you who wear the US ArmyMs done of obedience can now get IHPS compatible ARC Rails from Gentex. Key Benefits: Upgrade Fielded NG-IHPS Helmets — Adds Ops-Core ARC Rail capability to existing NG-IHPS helmets. Expand Accessory Integration — Provides a mounting interface for compatible communications and mission-enhancing accessories. Configure for the Mission — Enables users to adapt their helmet setup as equipment and operational requirements change. Proven Ops-Core Platform — Brings the established ARC Rail accessory ecosystem to the NG-IHPS helmet. Support an Integrated Headborne System…