Author: Tony Grist
Countdown to SOF Week SOF Week kicks off next Monday, 18 May, 2026 in Tampa, lasting until the 21st. You’ve already seen coverage leading up to this major event, but with a campus larger than ever, now is the time to plan your week. Get familiar with the SOF Week event footprint before you arrive. The campus is massive this year. From venue access points and shuttle routes to security procedures and parking options, visit this page to help you navigate the full campus with confidence. You can also access the full agenda here and between the presentations, exhibits and…
The Consumer Price Index report published Tuesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed 3.8 percent year-over-year (YOY) inflation for the month of April, the highest since May 2023, as energy costs rose 17.9 percent for the same period.The energy shock brought about by the war in Iran and Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed oil and gasoline prices higher. Since the beginning of the conflict, the national average for gasoline prices has risen from around $3.00 before the war began in late February to $4.50 Tuesday morning. Brent crude has risen 44.2 percent to $107. Consumer…
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, that the Trump administration is moving to temporarily reduce tariffs on beef imports from all exporting nations through an executive order. A second executive order, per the Journal, will direct the Small Business Administration to expand loans for U.S. ranchers and roll back rules requiring electronic ear tags on livestock. Subscribe Today Get daily emails in your inbox The executive orders are part of a broader effort to reduce beef prices, which have risen more than 16 percent since last year, according to Federal Reserve…
Addresses the power and data complexity facing dismounted SOF teams running Nett Warrior on the AN/PRC-163 — without adding weight, cables, or complexity to the kit. IRVINE, CA, May 6, 2026 — Iris Technology today announced the official launch of the Merlin HH+, a compact, rugged radio power and data adapter engineered around the real-world configuration demands of the AN/PRC-163 in dismounted SOF operations. Unveiled at SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, Florida, the Merlin HH+ is the only device in its class combining integrated power scavenging with mission-configurable cable architecture — capabilities designed to reduce operator burden, extend mission endurance,…
Watch full video on YouTube
Watch full video on YouTube
Watch full video on YouTube
The history of the MP5 is one of myths, legends and tall sky-scraper movies. It was a design that was born out of the lessons learned with PCCs and SMGs (submachine guns) during WWII. The laws of production offer three options of good, fast, and cheap; however, as you know, you can only pick two of the three. Nearly all SMGs were built fast and cheap — in some cases, hurriedly manufactured from what seemed like just a pipe, barrel, bolt and spring.The “fast-and-cheap” production goals compromised “good” quality, precision and accuracy. Reportedly, WWII-era SMGs delivered astonishingly poor controllability and…
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The BLACKJACK name isn’t new. It traces back to indigenous Mobile Guerrilla Force units advised by U.S. Army Special Forces during the Vietnam War. Small teams operating in difficult terrain, often without support, relying on gear that had to work every time. That thinking carries forward here. The current BLACKJACK line is modeled after the issue packs MYSTERY RANCH makes for the USSOCOM SPEAR program. They are the product of the same design and development process but with a few small changes for commercial offering. The most notable difference is that the BLACKJACK packs have 1 inch web and hardware on…