Archive: News & Articles

The first Bulgarian Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 fighter arrived at the country’s Graf Ignatievo Air Base on 13 April 2025, signalling the beginning of F-16 operations in Bulgaria. Bulgaria has ordered a total of 16 F-16s, having signed an initial letter of acceptance (LOA) for eight F-16s in 2019 and then a […]

The next step has now been taken in the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) programme, the companies associated with the project jointly announced on 17 April 2025. Following approval by the German Federal Cartel Office, KNDS Deutschland, KNDS France, Rheinmetall Landsysteme and Thales legally incorporated the ‘MGCS Project Company GmbH’ on 10 April 2025 […]

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Morocco of FIM-92K Stinger Block I manportable surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 15 April 2025. The proposed sale, which worth an estimated USD 825 million (EUR 725 million), has been passed to the US […]

Hanwha Aerospace Romania, a subsidiary of Hanwha Aerospace, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Pusan National University (PNU) and the University of Science and Technology Polytechnic Bucharest (UPB) to promote activities in education and research and development (R&D) among the three parties, the company announced on 17 April 2025. The trilateral partnership is […]

Traditional air defence systems, designed for larger and more expensive threats, struggle to provide a cost-effective countermeasure to widely used micro- and mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs). The need for affordable countermeasures is urgent, especially as adversaries both state and non-state are increasingly deploying UAVs in coordinated attacks. This article explores the role of low-cost kinetic […]

The FREMM frigate Spartaco Schergat was delivered to the Italian Navy at Fincantieri’s Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard on 15 April 2025. The ship is the ninth of 10 FREMM vessels contracted to Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), a joint venture owned by Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), by the European Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) […]

Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), a member of the SK Group, has launched an assembly plant in Peru in collaboration with FAME, a key Peruvian defence industry company affiliated with the Peruvian Ministry of Defence, IWI announced on 16 April 2025. The strategic partnership will enhance Peru’s defence capabilities while also fostering local industrial growth, IWI […]

Defence electronics house ELT Group has launched a new rapidly deployable, artificial intelligence (AI)-based counter-unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAV) system called the Kinetic Anti-drone Mobile Asset (KARMA), the company announced on 16 April 2025. Capable of detecting, recognising and identifying Class 1 and 2 UAVs through AI algorithms that increase the effectiveness of onboard sensors and […]

South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace has signed a term sheet (preliminary) agreement with Poland’s largest private defence company, WB Group, with a view to establishing a joint venture to manufacture guided rockets in Poland for the Homar-K multiple rocket launcher (MRL), Hanwha announced on 15 April 2025. Under the agreement Hanwha Aerospace will hold a 51% […]

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Philippines of TH-73A training helicopters and support, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 15 April 2025. The potential sale, which is estimated to be worth USD 120 million (EUR 105.6 million), has been passed to the US Congress […]

Increasingly, militaries are pursuing short-range air defence (SHORAD) solutions to prepare for an era of near-ubiquitous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and loitering munitions, as well as dealing with the continued proliferation of cruise missiles, and rapidly evolving battlefield dynamics. With concerns over the development of hypersonic weaponry and the introduction of more types of stealth […]

The German/Norwegian combined submarine programme to deliver the Type 212 Common Design (T212CD) diesel-electric submarine (SSK) for the German Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy (RNoN) remains on track to deliver a first boat into service in 2029, programme officials told the Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) conference in Oslo in March. Moreover, the increasing challenge presented […]

BAE Systems has been awarded a contract worth USD 162 million (EUR 143 million) by the US Army for M777 lightweight howitzer major structures, the company announced on 15 April 2025. BAE Systems has already begun work on the programme, working with its supply chain in the US and the UK to produce the titanium […]

Dutch shipyard Damen Naval has awarded Van Halteren Technologies (VHT) two contracts for the Dutch-Belgian Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (ASWF) programme covering the delivery of replenishment-at-sea (RAS) systems and helicopter transfer systems (HTS), Damen announced on 15 April 2025. VHT was selected for its expertise and proven track record demonstrated in previous collaborations, according to Damen. […]

BAE Systems has entered into an agreement with Polish tracked AFV specialist Wojskowe Zakłady Motoryzacyjne (WZM) to enhance the operational readiness of the Polish Land Forces’ M88A2 Hercules armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) fleet, BAE Systems announced on 10 April 2025. The agreement ensures the Polish defence industry will play a critical role in supporting the […]

Rheinmetall announced on 15 April that it has signed a contract to acquire ammunition detection and recovery company Stascheit. Based in Gardelegen/Saxony-Anhalt, Stascheit will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Rheinmetall Project Solutions within the overall Rheinmetall Group. The integration of Stascheit significantly expands the product portfolio of Rheinmetall Project Solutions in the field of […]

From wedding photographers with DJI Mavics, to Lancets and Z-16 reconnaissance drones, the Ukrainian conflict has witnessed an unprecedented proliferation in drone-based battlefield Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), as well as precision strike. This article explores primarily how Russia has rapidly adapted and evolved its drone capabilities, turning drones from less-common support tools […]

With much discussion around OSINT (open-source intelligence), IMINT (image intelligence), and SIGINT (signals intelligence) advances – and their fusion to gain the most complete understanding of threats in the multi-domain battle space, it made sense to speak with one of Europe’s thought leaders on data fusion innovations. The following is the result of a conversation […]

North Korea is continuing with its strategic weapon development and is becoming increasingly isolated, the commander of US Forces Korea has warned. Speaking during a Senate Armed Services Committee posture hearing in Washington, DC, on 10 April 2025, US Army General Xavier T Brunson said that in 2024 North Korea launched 47 ballistic missiles while […]

From 7 to 11 April 2025 representatives from 20 NATO government and national agencies exercised the alliance’s ability to co-ordinate responses to significant malicious cyber activities affecting critical national infrastructures. The exercise, organised by the Czech Republic, aimed to ensure that NATO’s Virtual Cyber Incident Support Capability (VCISC) mechanism can operate swiftly and smoothly. Launched […]

Thales has developed a new-generation inertial measurement unit (IMU) with same level of performance as the company’s best-in-class TopAxyz IMU but with a smaller size, weight and power (SWaP) footprint, the company announced on 7 April 2025. The new solution “is the result of extensive investment not only in research and development, but also in […]