Author: Tony Grist

I remember waking up on 25 April, 1980 to news reports about an accident in the desert of Iran involving US aircraft and hints of a failed rescue attempt of American hostages. You’ll often hear references to “Desert One” and discussion of a failed mission into Iran that occurred 46 years ago. That was the location of the aircraft accident which claimed eight American lives. The actual operation was named “Eagle Claw” although during planning it had been aptly named “Rice Bowl.” On April 4, 1979 Iranian militants who would ultimately form the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Council, stormed the US…

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Watch full video on YouTube

ANZAC Day I’ll be thinking of you as your sun rises and you honor your heroes and I want to thank you for being a friend and standing shoulder-to-shoulder. As we did on that beach in Kuwait, I’ll tip back a pint (or three) this day in memory of all the ANZAC troops, from World War One’s Battle of Gallipoli to the battles in the Middle East. I’ll think of friends in both the Australian and New Zealand militaries and good times deployed to bad places. Read the full article here

PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ – The U.S. Army’s Capability Program Executive Ammunition and Energetics (CPE A&E), headquartered at Picatinny Arsenal, NJ, is spearheading a major transformation of the nation’s small?caliber ammunition industrial base, advancing one of the Army’s highest modernization priorities. Central to this effort is the delivery of next?generation 6.8mm cartridges that will equip soldiers with increased range, accuracy, and battlefield lethality as part of the Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program. The NGSW program, featuring the M7 Rifle, XM8 Carbine, and M250 Automatic Rifle, represents the Army’s most significant small?arms upgrade in decades, replacing the M4 Carbine and M249…

Rheinmetall Kraken GmbH Launches Series Production of Maritime Unmanned Systems in Hamburg Series production of the Kraken K3 Scout has begun at Rheinmetall’s Blohm+Voss site in Hamburg. With the market-ready unmanned surface vessel (USV), Rheinmetall’s new Naval Systems division—together with its British joint venture partner Kraken Technology Group—offers a surface platform for both military and civilian applications. Depending on the configuration, the vessels can be used for maritime surveillance, protection of critical infrastructure, or as weapons carriers in military operations.  The joint venture established last year between Rheinmetall Naval Systems and the British tech company Kraken Technology Group will now…

Lenexa, KS (April, 2026) – Athlon Optics introduces the Ares HLR, a lightweight, precision-built riflescope designed for hunters who cover ground, hunt long hours, and demand repeatable performance when the moment matters most. Built around a rugged one-piece 30mm aircraft-grade aluminum tube and weighing as little as 18.9 ounces, the Ares HLR delivers high-end optical performance without adding unnecessary weight to your rifle. Purpose-built for Western spot-and-stalk hunters, backcountry adventurers, and anyone prioritizing mobility without sacrificing capability, the Ares HLR brings together ultra-premium fully multi-coated glass, an illuminated reticle, and exposed precision turrets for confident adjustments in the field. Whether…

A ceasefire to the Iran War entered its 17th day on Friday, one day after President Donald Trump announced a three-week extension to the declared ceasefire in Lebanon, where Israel has waged war in recent weeks. After Trump’s announcement, Israeli and Lebanese media both reported continued violence and blamed the other side for violating the ceasefire. In a post on X Friday morning, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that “for the first time in decades, three aircraft carriers are now operating in the Middle East at the same time.” Those carriers are the USS Abraham Lincoln, USS Gerald R. Ford,…

New Waterproof Lighting System Introduced at FDIC International EAGLEVILLE, PA, April 23, 2026 – Streamlight®, Inc., a leading provider of high-performance lighting, has launched the Portable Scene Light III (PSL III), a high-output, waterproof lighting system delivering up to 10,000 lumens for fire, emergency response, military, industrial, and outdoor applications. The new system debuted at FDIC International in Indianapolis, IN. The PSL III delivers powerful, adaptable performance featuring 12 LEDs with wide-pattern reflectors, providing uniform scene illumination and three output levels to match the task. On High, it provides 10,000 lumens and 121,000 candela for maximum scene illumination with a…

Ferro Concepts – DANGLER AR purpose-built to carry two AR-15 style magazines horizontally, the new DANGLER AR from Ferro Concepts is manufactured from hydrophobic X-Pac fabric. The internal divider secures items but can be opened to create a full-length pass through for linear charges and other longer items. Multiple shock cord routing points let you customize retention for different sized items. A 2″ hook and loop interface mounts to both front and rear of plate carriers, back panels, or belts. Engineered with just the right rigidity to stay put and reduce bounce. Perfect for AR-15 magazines, Skin packs, breaching charges,…