(bright music)
- [Narrator] Defense News is proudly sponsored
by Navy Federal Credit Union.
If you're a member of our Nation's Armed Forces,
the Department of Defense, or if your family is,
we'd be proud to serve you too.
On this episode of Defense News Weekly,
more highlights from the world's biggest Firearms
and Gear conference, Shot Show in Las Vegas.
On tap, a roundup of new optics at the show.
See how you can see better on the firing range.
Also, we hear from Air Force leadership on lessons learned
from recent US strikes on Iran.
Finally, who moved the market
in the defense industry this week,
Defense Dollars brings you the headlines.
It's the latest in news and analysis
from the Pentagon to the platoon,
here on Defense News Weekly.
(bright music)
Welcome back to Defense News Weekly.
When it comes to firearms, one thing is always true.
It always pays to be able to see what you're shooting at.
At Shot Show 2026, we canvassed the conference floor
for the latest in optics
from some of the biggest players in the space.
Here's what we found.
- Hi, my name's Chris and I'm the product manager
for Trijicon Optics and I'm gonna tell you a little bit
about our 50,000 round torture test on the RCR.
So during our development of any of our optics,
we put them through a strenuous series of testing
we call the science of brilliance.
So that involves environmental testing, recoil, drop
and general, just torture testing of our optics.
And we wanted to show the public
how our optics perform in the worst conditions.
So we did the 50,000 round torture test.
So during this test we not only dropped it, we baked it,
we froze it, we dunked it into water, sand, dirt,
anything imaginable, we did to this optic during this test
and we reconfirmed zero every 10,000 rounds
just to make sure that the optic was still performing
as it should and it did.
So for our full 50,000 rounds,
this optic not only held zero,
but maintained full functionality
throughout the entire 50,000 rounds of testing.
So this case not only displays the optic
with the pistol it was tested on,
but it also has the full 50,000 rounds in it
just to kind of give you the amount of volume
that this optic has been shot.
One of the reasons we test to the high standard that we do
is because we know that our optics are being used
by professionals in the real world,
that their lives are depending
on the functionality of that optic.
So we test to a high standard
and we wanted to demonstrate that high standard
with the 50K torture test.
- Hey guys, Adam here at Holosun Shot Show 2026
and I'm gonna run you through what's new for Holosun.
So start with this guy right here
and this is the new AEMS EVO
and this guy has about 30% larger screen field of view
than the AEMS PRO X2,
but a little bit smaller than the AEMS MAX
gives you nice middle ground to be on.
Now for those of you like the finer things in life,
maybe a little bit of night vision.
We have the AMES EVO Dual, which is this guy right here,
and this gives you a IR laser and a visible laser built in.
It also runs off a CR123A battery in the side here
and gives you a couple different options
in terms of that night vision compatibility
or if you're doing something else,
gives you net visible laser for other applications.
Now, again like those finer things in life
and you prefer those T1, T2 footprints,
that's this guy right here,
and this is going to be our ARO-EVO-DUAL.
Again visible laser and IR laser CR123A mounted on the side
and a T1, T2 footprint.
Now both the AMES-EVO-DUAL and the ARO-EVO-DUAL
do offer the solar panel for solar fail safe.
They also have crane switches and crane ports in the back
so you can activate those lasers doing that.
Lots of different options here guys,
in terms of that night vision stuff.
Now you may be thinking,
all right, so I've got a visible laser or an IR laser.
I don't have an illuminator.
We already had that covered guys,
and that is our new IRIS-ARC.
This guy's an IR illuminator only.
It has a throw of a three degree to a 40 degree.
So pretty much you have a narrow beam or a wide open.
Has a industry scout mount, so you're used to that.
A push pad in the back, pressure switch,
as well as a crane port.
Nice compact size, great for handheld,
not on your rifle or on your helmet as well.
Then we've got our new 3X magnifier.
This is a shrunk down version.
Those with PWs, maybe like me doing some bull pop stuff.
This gives you that compact package on those shorter rails
that can be closer up to your face to the eye release.
Moving into our pistols. Very excited for these.
We have our new 507 Pro Max.
Really cool package here guys.
Giant field of view, still has the RMR footprint,
our performance Reticle system,
and then we've also added the solar panels back on top.
We do listen guys, and we wanted to come back
with those solar panels for solar fail safe.
Comparing it to that 507 comp,
that's about that size difference.
It's a very, very large optic you guys,
but it'd be great for you need to use it for.
Now, in line with that 507 comp,
this is actually a 407 comp.
Same optic except now it's a 6MOA do only.
Both of these are gonna come in red, green or gold,
as well as all the new rifle optics as well
for those that maybe are colorblind
and need that extra help with that gold reticle.
Our 507 and 407C now has a redesign
with the 507 or 407CX3,
and it has that canted forward lip at the top,
solar panels up on top, subdue lettering.
And guys, just a great optic to keep you going.
Now again, those finer things in life,
you want that enclosed optic, we do have the EPS CORE.
This is new. We do listen, guys, again.
And a lot of you guys like the EPS carry
from the slim line mounting that did not hang over your,
your Glock 43, your Masada Slims, things like that,
but you wanted bigger glass.
We have, in essence, to put the EPS glass up on top
with EPS carry in terms of the slim line mount.
Still gonna fit RMSc that modified that K footprint,
but again, giant field of view out of that glass
with that real small footprint.
Red, green or gold,
it's also gonna have a 3-MOA version only as well
for those like that.
Next one that I'm really excited about, guys,
this is the new AMES MACRO.
So this guy is a 509T footprint,
zero magnification glass, zero distortion glass.
This is gonna be great for those of you
that want that fully enclosed optic for competition,
for self-defense, whatever you're looking for.
And there's a great offset on a rifle as well.
Now, one of the things that a lot of you guys are gonna like
is I put up with a lot on the internet from some of you
is an Acro footprint.
This is the AMES MICRO.
The AMES Micro is compatible with Acro footprints.
Again, it's gonna have that zero distortion glass,
zero magnification, solar panels on top,
red, green or gold, multi reticle system.
It has its own footprint, but again, it is compatible
with that Acro footprint.
Now, real quick guys, the AMES MICRO does come with an RMSc
to AMES MICRO plate.
The AMES Macro comes with a RMR to 509T plate.
So you have options to mount either one of those
straight out of box those plate systems.
Guys, that's Holosun 2026 Shot Show coverage.
Hope viewers liked it.
- [Narrator] When we come back,
Air Force leaders explore ways to improve readiness.
Stay tuned.
(bright music)
Welcome back to the Defense News Weekly.
The Air Force in recent years
has been looking to improve its readiness to fight.
It wants more planes prepared to go into battle
at any given moment.
At a recent conference sponsored by the Air
and Space Forces Association's Mitchell Institute,
top leaders said surprise inspections
and better procurement practices were part of the solution.
Have a look.
(bright music)
- [Stephen] At the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
recent forum near the Pentagon,
one big topic was on leaders' minds
making the Air Force more prepared for future conflicts.
- They have given us a focus that I frankly don't think
we've seen inside of the Pentagon for a while.
And that focus allows us to worry about
what we need to worry about,
which is flying and fixing airplanes.
- [Stephen] Taking lessons from recent real world events,
Air Force leaders used the midnight hammer strikes
on Iran's nuclear facilities
as an example of where the force stands to improve.
Specifically Lieutenant General Jason R. Armagost,
Deputy Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command
said the service must improve communications
with bombers and other aircraft flying into battle.
That includes making sure Mission Commanders
can transmit their go orders to other aircraft
or the status of their forces.
- It's really important as we kind of decide the strategic
nature of our stand in standoff and our command,
our kill chains, and our command and control.
If we do not architect our comms better going forward,
that is a foul on us big time.
Because if that package is not able to
in a low probability detect
and/or low probability intercept way
able to communicate the status of their forces
and the go from the mission commander,
then that is bad on all of us.
- [Stephen] Major Claire Randolph,
Chief of Weapons and Tactics
for US Air Force's Central Command agreed,
but cautioned that shouldn't mean combatant commanders
start making cockpit decisions for air crews.
- I think it's really interesting as we talk about,
you know, what if we had this network
where everybody was able to talk to everybody all the time.
There are a couple of effects that we care about.
You care about getting intelligence into the cockpit.
You care about getting targets into the cockpit,
orders, authorizations into the cockpit.
But the problem is once you can connect,
like let's imagine you have a wire direct
from the CENTCOM commander to the cockpit of every B2
or the cockpit of every F16,
there's liability there to add latency
and maybe decision making authority
without all the awareness.
And so I think as we tread into 100% (indistinct)
we have to improve our communications capabilities,
but we also have to be very careful
to bound the authority that ends up touching the cockpit
because otherwise we're at risk for involving folks
in the decision making process
that frankly have no business being there.
- [Stephen] Armagost also talked about the role
for the Air Force's upcoming stealth bomber, the B21 Raider
in future penetrating strike missions.
The Northrop Grumman B21, the first sixth generation bomber
is slated to have cutting edge data sharing capabilities.
Armagost said the Air Force wants to take advantage
of those capabilities to improve command and control.
And with the B21 in the Air Force's arsenal,
Armagost said a mission like Midnight Hammer
will be very different and in some ways easier than today.
- Now we have the opportunity with B21 and family systems
to be different again, but it is gonna require us to think
about the right numbers of aircraft
because if you want to campaign, if you want to deter,
actually you're gonna have to have the ability
to not just have capability, but a capability presence
that comes from just sheer numbers.
- [Stephen] Another hot topic
from the Mitchell Institute Forum,
the urgent need to ensure the Air Force is battle ready
through inspections and improve logistics
for critical spare parts for planes like the F35.
Lieutenant General Scott Pleus,
acting Vice Chief of Staff for the Air Force
said no notice inspections are key
and failed inspections will bring scrutiny
on commanders in charge.
- Under Chief Wilsbach and Secretary Meink,
they have reinstituted combat readiness inspections.
They are no notice.
It is not the, you know, hey, there's a,
you know, KC135 on short final and that's containing,
you know, a hundred people from the IG team.
I remember those days.
It's not that, but it's no notice.
It's still a group of inspectors that come in
and they're going to evaluate readiness.
The second thing I go back to,
I'm sorry I keep parking on this.
This is commander's business.
And we're gonna hold commanders responsible for that
because that is 100% in their will, in their wheelhouse.
If they fail an inspection, that is a commander's fault
and we will hold them accountable as we move forward.
- [Stephen] The Air Force has struggled for years
with declining readiness rates,
even as the aircraft fleet has shrunk.
Previous administrations have concentrated
on modernizing the fleet, Pleus said,
sometimes at the expense of existing aircraft's readiness.
But Air Force Secretary Troy Meink
and Chief of Staff General Kenneth Wilsbach
are changing that, Pleus said.
- Frankly, we have at the expense of monetization,
we took risk in a way.
And so what we did was, you know, with the budget
arguably fairly flat, starting in the mid 2000s,
small increase for inflation,
you know, you have to make a decision.
You could spend it on brand new things
like new modernization of airplanes
or you spend it on readiness.
And the leadership at the time said we were gonna spend it
on modernization and we're gonna take risk with readiness.
The Secretary Meink and Chief Wilsbach are explicitly clear
readiness is our focus right now.
- [Stephen] Many times Air Force planes are grounded
because maintainers simply don't have the spare parts
on hand to fix them.
Pleus said that needs to change
and the service is talking to Congress
to ensure it has money to buy spare parts.
- What we are doing right now is we are now saying
we've got to buy parts.
We've got to have the parts available
so that General Bell's maintenance folks that are out there
wrenching on the flight each and every day,
in the cold, in the rain, in the heat,
have the parts they needs so they can fix those airplanes
and then we can get them airborne in them.
What we are doing right now is we are
still focusing on modernization
but not in the expense of readiness.
And so we are dumping a bunch of our money from budgets,
working with Congress,
working with inside of our own institution,
and also working with Department of War to make sure
that we have the parts in place
and we have the skills necessary
that we can execute to Flying Hour program.
- [Stephen] For Defense News and Air Force Times,
I'm Stephen Losey.
(bright music)
- [Narrator] When we come back,
tips to prepare your finances
before you head out on deployment and later,
the latest in financial news from the defense industry.
Stay with us.
(bright music)
Welcome back.
There are a lot of things to think about
before you head out on deployment.
On this episode of Money Minute,
Jeanette Mack from Navy Federal Credit Union gives you tips
for organizing your finances
before leaving for a long mission.
- Being deployment ready is a must,
but before you pack your duffle bag,
let's make sure your money's good to go.
First up, your paycheck.
Hopefully you're in the know about your possible extra pay
or allowances while you're deployed.
They could mean more money in your pocket,
so review your LES or leave and earning statements
and think about using extra funds to pay off debt
or stash in savings.
Next, make bill paying a breeze.
Set up auto payments for regular bills like rent,
utilities, even streaming services,
so nothing slips through the cracks while you're away.
Make sure you've downloaded mobile banking apps
for quick access to your accounts
no matter where you're stationed.
And finally, know your rights and safeguards.
Setting up active duty alerts with the credit bureaus
helps shield you from identity theft.
And federal laws like the Service Member Civil Relief Act
or SCRA offer, lower interest rates and other protections
so you can focus on the mission, not your credit.
With just a few smart moves, taps and clicks,
you can keep your finances in formation,
review your pay, automate your bills, use your protections,
and you'll be ready for takeoff wherever duty calls.
- [Narrator] To get more coverage of military
and defense topics, take command
and aim your heads up display at militarytimes.com
and defensenews.com for more headlines.
And to be the most knowledgeable fighter pilot in the skies,
sign up for our early bird brief compiled each morning
to bring you the most recent news.
Finally, if social media
is where you collect open source intelligence,
follow us on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
And for you junior troops, we're on TikTok,
so go follow us there as well.
When we return, Defense Dollars is back
to break down the latest in defense industry financial news.
Stay tuned.
(bright music)
Welcome back.
With major initiatives such as the Golden Dome
and increased defense spending
making for hot topics in Washington,
there's a lot of business news to cover.
Defense Dollars returns with the latest.
Have a look.
- Welcome to Defense Dollars, your update on the defense
and aerospace markets around the world,
and what is making the numbers move.
Let's dive in.
Lockheed Martin is significantly expanding production
of its terminal high altitude area defense system,
better known as THAAD,
following a new agreement with the US Department of Defense.
The deal calls for a major scale up
in interceptor manufacturing with annual output
expected to grow from under 100 today
to as many as 400 per year in the coming years,
a move aimed at strengthening missile defense capabilities
for the United States as well as its allies.
The expansion comes as global security concerns drive demand
for advanced air and missile defense systems.
According to company as well as industry reports,
the Pentagon is accelerating procurement
to rebuild inventories and prepare
for higher operational tempos.
For Lockheed Martin,
that means multi-billion dollar investments
into manufacturing, supply chains as well as workforce,
as the company moves to meet long-term defense requirements
and maintain production at scale.
Supporting that effort, Lockheed Martin has broken ground
on a new manufacturing facility in Camden, Arkansas.
The site is designed to increase output
of THAAD interceptors
and other precision guided missile systems
using advanced automation and digital production tools.
Company leaders say the facility will play a key role
in expanding the US defense industrial base,
while also bringing new jobs
and economic activity to the region.
Meanwhile, in market and defense sector news,
York Space Systems made a strong debut
on the New York Stock Exchange recently
opening at $38 a share, about 12% above its IPO price,
valuing the company at nearly $4.75 billion.
Investor interest has been driven
by the company's positioning in the space
and defense sector, including its potential role
in President Donald Trump's Golden Dome
Missile Defense Initiative.
CEO Dirk Wallinger told CNBC
the company could provide satellite infrastructure
and systems in support of the program.
Meanwhile, space infrastructure firm, Redwire
saw its stock jump roughly 28% after being named
as a vendor on a massive defense contract
worth up to $151 billion tied to the Golden Dome.
The company specializes in space systems, drones,
as well as advanced sensors.
And while the designation does not guarantee
immediate revenue, investors appear to be betting
on expanded government spending in the years ahead.
Analysts say the market moves reflect broader momentum
around US missile defense investment
as the Golden Dome concept gains policy traction.
At the same time,
experts caution the program remains in early stages
and faces significant technical as well as cost challenges,
even as defense and space companies position
for future contract opportunities.
And one more before you go.
RTX's Raytheon business has been selected
by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA
to develop a maritime defense system
under the Pulling Guard program.
The project centers on a tethered drone based sensor
and targeting platform
designed to help protect commercial shipping
and naval logistics vessels
from emerging unmanned surface threats
using advanced EO and infrared sensors
along with real-time command and control technology.
In related news, Raytheon also announced
a successful ballistic test of its contender
for the US Army's Next Generation short range interceptor
or NGSRI, a shoulder launched missile designed to track
as well as engaged drone threats.
The company funded the test to validate performance
and support future flight demonstrations for ground forces.
The NGSRI is intended as a potential replacement
for the Army's Aging Stinger missile system.
Lockheed Martin also successfully tested their design
for the program just last month.
Analysts say these developments highlight
RTX's broad defense portfolio across land, sea, and air
as the Pentagon pushes to field next gen sensing,
interceptor and unmanned systems.
And then I'll wrap up your Defense Dollars for this week.
Join us on cheddar.com and defensenews.com
for more stories like those.
- [Narrator] Well, that's all the time we have
in this episode.
Thanks for joining us and we'll see you next week.
(upbeat tense music)