Germany has exercised an option for 20 additional Airbus H145M light combat helicopters, raising its total order to 82 aircraft. The helicopters will support German Army and Luftwaffe special forces missions including training, reconnaissance, special operations and light attack roles.
Switzerland has launched a consultation on a revised security policy strategy, citing a deteriorating security environment in Europe, rising hybrid threats including drone incursions, and growing uncertainty over the future of European defence. The consultation will run until March 31, 2026. Switzerland typically produces a security policy report every four to ten years.
The UK has launched a consolidated Military Intelligence Services structure and a new Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit to accelerate intelligence operations and respond to rising hostile activity, with officials citing a significant surge in cyber and espionage threats. A new Defence Intelligence Academy will provide training in cyber, space and geospatial intelligence disciplines.
NAVSEA has chosen Damen’s LST100 design for the U.S. Navy’s Landing Ship Medium programme, with plans for up to 35 vessels to be built at U.S. shipyards to support Marine Corps operations.
The U.S. Army has established the Western Hemisphere Command at Fort Bragg, consolidating Forces Command, Army North and Army South into a single four-star headquarters to streamline operations and strengthen regional readiness.
Lithuania has signed a contract to acquire 30 CAESAR 6×6 MkII artillery systems, expanding its future fleet to 48 units. Deliveries begin in 2027, with plans to field a full CAESAR-equipped division by 2030 and a maintenance centre in Lithuania.
The Royal Navy has received XV Excalibur, the UK’s first extra-large uncrewed submarine, following a series of long-range control demonstrations and a world-first quantum navigation trial. The 12-metre, 19-tonne vessel will undergo two years of sea testing as the UK expands autonomous undersea capabilities under Project Cetus and wider defence initiatives.
France’s DGA has selected Airbus Defence and Space for a framework contract of up to €50 million to integrate artificial intelligence into French military systems, beginning with upgrades to the Spationav maritime surveillance network and expanding into intelligence, cybersecurity and communications.
The first aircraft for Germany’s PEGASUS airborne signals intelligence programme has arrived in Hamburg, beginning the system integration and certification phase led by HENSOLDT, Lufthansa Technik Defense and Bombardier Defense.
ICEYE has signed its first direct satellite procurement contract with the Portuguese Air Force, providing Portugal with an independent SAR surveillance capability, as the company announces major new European investment to expand sovereign satellite systems.
The U.S. War Department has rolled out GenAI.mil, a new generative AI platform featuring Google’s Gemini for Government, making advanced AI tools available to all military and civilian personnel, marking a major move towards an AI-enabled workforce.
Australia’s Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat has completed its first autonomous AIM-120 air-to-air missile engagement, prompting the government to announce AUD 1.4 billion in new investment to advance the collaborative combat aircraft into an operational capability.
Croatia has ordered 18 CAESAR MkII artillery systems and 15 Serval armored vehicles under a French-led joint procurement mechanism funded by the EU SAFE programme and includes a full regimental capability package of radars, command-and-control elements, logistics vehicles and optronic equipment.
Leonardo has conducted a successful SAMP/T NG missile qualification launch using its KRONOS Grand Mobile High Power radar, marking the first major test milestone for the newly launched Michelangelo Security Dome.
The UK has launched Atlantic Bastion, a hybrid undersea warfare programme integrating autonomous systems, AI and traditional naval assets to protect critical infrastructure amid rising Russian submarine activity.
