Author: Tony Grist

Reinforcement of the Bundeswehr’s Puma Fleet: Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland to Supply 200 Infantry Fighting Vehicles to the German Army – Contract Value Around €4.2 Billion It has commissioned Projekt System & Management GmbH (PSM), a joint venture between Rheinmetall and KNDS Deutschland (KNDS), to supply 200 Puma Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs). The corresponding amendment to the existing framework contract has now been signed at the Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw) in Koblenz. The contract will take legal effect in January 2026. The total gross volume of the procurement is €4,2 billion…

B&T Hush Puppy SIG P226 Silenced Pistol Kit Available Exclusively from Arms Unlimited Offered exclusively from Arms Unlimited the B&T Hush Puppy SIG P226 Silenced Pistol Kit is based on the reliable SIG P226 DAO platform. Each gun is modified with a slide lock for maximum stealth while firing (and prevention of spent case) but which can be immediately returned to semi auto fire. The kit also includes a B&T suppressor develeoped specifically for this application. Tuned specifically to this pistol, it balances size and performance. At just 3 inches in length, the Hush Puppy suppressor doesn’t require a booster…

A Monday car bomb killed Russia’s Lt. Gen Fanil Sarvarov, a prominent military figure who led the Russian army’s Directorate for Operational Training, in Moscow.  Russia has suggested that Ukrainian security services are responsible for the assassination. “Investigators are pursuing numerous lines of inquiry regarding the murder. One of these is that the crime was orchestrated by Ukrainian intelligence services,” said Svetlana Petrenko, the spokeswoman for the Investigative Committee of Russia. Subscribe Today Get daily emails in your inbox Ukraine has not publicly commented on the assassination. International law forbids the use of assassination even in wartime.  Sarvarov…

The U.S. Coast Guard is pursuing an oil tanker linked to Venezuelan crude exports as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to choke off the country’s oil trade. President Donald Trump publicly called for a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned vessels moving Venezuelan oil. Subscribe Today Get daily emails in your inbox The tanker under pursuit has previously been sanctioned and was part of Venezuela’s so-called “shadow fleet,” using deceptive practices such as flying a false flag to conceal its registration. U.S. officials identified the vessel as the Bella 1, a very large crude carrier sanctioned by…

Largest Order for Laser-Light-Modules: Rheinmetall to Supply LLM-VarioRay Units for the Bundeswehr’s New Assault Rifle – Order Value Several Hundred Million Euros The Bundeswehr has commissioned Rheinmetall to supply Laser-Light-Modules for the German Armed Forces. Following the budget approval by the German Bundestag’s Budget Committee on 3 December 2025, the first definitive call-off has now been made under the framework agreement concluded in June 2021. This agreement entails the delivery of ‘LLM-VarioRay’ Laser-Light-Modules, scheduled for delivery over the next seven years. In addition, there is the option to procure further LLM-VR modules. These can be delivered additionally within the agreed…

Managing two to three casualties in the real world from a first-line aid bag is not an ultralight solution in the modern age of DCR and Blood Cold Chain. There is an argument to be made that light and fast is an advantage, which is valid, but “heavier” often equals more capable (a Role 2 is more capable than POI, etc). That’s not to say bring the kitchen sink to the POI, just that efficiencies must be incorporated into the first-line bag to adhere to the standard of care, which includes carrying LTOWB (Low-Titer O neg Whole Blood).  As protocols…

GoTAK is proud to highlight a recent operational deployment delivered in partnership with Solace Communications, bringing a full TAK OS enabled C4ISR capability and mission-focused training to an allied partner force in Central Africa. This deployment demonstrates how TAK OS, when paired with resilient communications, integrated sensors, and operator-led training, transitions from a platform into a field-proven operational capability—supporting situational awareness and mission execution under real-world conditions. Fielding TAK OS in Operational Environments Over the course of recent deployments, Solace Communications successfully fielded an integrated C4ISR stack built around TAK OS, delivering a common operating picture directly to operators and commanders…

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII – The U.S. Marine Corps took a major step forward with a state-of-the-art system designed for short-range detection, tracking and engagement of aerial threats. On Dec. 12, 2025, Program Executive Office Land Systems fielded two Marine Air Defense Integrated Systems (MADIS) to 1st Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW). The fielding of these systems marks a pivotal step in enhancing expeditionary defense capabilities within the Indo-Pacific region. The MADIS consists of two Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTVs), one focused on detection and the other oriented toward offensive…

CREECH AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. —   In 1913, the first two military aviation badges, silver wings, were issued to members of the U.S. Army Air Corps. As time went on, pilots of all airframes have been awarded their silver wings and given the rating of pilot, senior pilot and command pilot. Since then, the Air Force has grown rapidly by constantly adapting to new playing fields and integrating technology into everyday operations while preparing for the future fight.  This innovation led to a new class of airframe, remotely piloted aircraft. They perform a multitude of missions including intelligence, surveillance,…

Textron Systems’ Tsunami Autonomous Maritime Surface Vessel Sold To NIWC PAC TSUNAMI™ Vessel Provides Capability for Scale, Maturity and Capacity HUNT VALLEY, Md., Dec. 17, 2025 – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, announced today that it has sold a 21-ft. TSUNAMI™ USV to the Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific (PAC) to support the testing of the Maritime Digital Experimentation Federation (MDEF) – an Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) testing initiative to distribute testing of interoperability standards with uncrewed vehicles. The order includes the state-of-the-art TSUNAMI craft and engineering and training support. The TSUNAMI family…