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StratPost News Desk

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EMSA Picks Airbus Flexrotor for Maritime Surveillance

Flexrotor Uncrewed Aerial System | Photo: Airbus

The European Maritime Safety Agency has awarded Airbus a €30 million contract to provide maritime surveillance services using the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system to stream electro-optical, infrared, and radar imagery in real time to the EMSA RPAS Data Centre, with operations set to begin in 2026.

Schiebel Test Flies CAMCOPTER S-300 in France

CAMCOPTER S-300 | Photo: Schiebel

Schiebel has carried out the first CAMCOPTER S-300 flight test campaign in France, expanding the system’s flight envelope during trials conducted at a military drone test site near Bordeaux, and bringing the programme to a total of 100 accumulated flight hours.

Austria Orders 12 Leonardo M-346 F Aircraft

M-346 F Block 20 aircraft | Image: Leonardo

Austria has signed a contract for 12 M-346 F Block 20 aircraft from Leonardo, covering aircraft delivery, training systems, and six years of logistical and maintenance support. The M-346 F aircraft will replace the Saab 105, which retired from Austrian service in 2020.

Indian Navy Commissions INAS 335 MH-60R Unit

Commissioning of INAS 335 MH-60R Unit on December 17, 2025 | Photo: Indian Navy

The Indian Navy has commissioned INAS 335, its second MH-60R helicopter squadron, at INS Hansa in Goa. The unit is now operational and is intended to support shipborne aviation missions, including anti-submarine warfare, surveillance, and search and rescue on the western seaboard.

Finland’s First F-35A Fighter Rolled Out

Rollout of the first Finnish F-35A aircraft | Photo: Tuulia Kujanpää/Finnish Defence Forces

Finland has rolled out its first F-35A fighter, designated JF-501, at Lockheed Martin’s facility in the United States. The aircraft will support pilot training in 2026 before entering Finnish Air Force service, alongside new AIM-120D-3 missile procurement.

KNDS and Leonardo to Jointly Develop Mobile Artillery

Depiction of 155 mm/L52 main gun Artillery Gun Module (AGM) on truck (wheeled AGM) | Image: KNDS

KNDS Deutschland and Italy’s Leonardo have signed a Letter of Intent to jointly develop a new mobile artillery system, combining KNDS’s artillery gun module with Leonardo’s wheeled vehicle platform for future Italian Army requirements. The KNDS 155 mm/L52 main gun Artillery Gun Module has a rate of fire of nine rounds per minute and requires a crew of two to three personnel.

KNDS to Build Leopard 2A8 Tanks in Lithuania

Leopard 2A8 Main Battle Tank | Photo: KNDS Deutschland

Lithuania has signed an industrial cooperation agreement with KNDS, Rheinmetall and EPSO-G to establish local assembly and maintenance facilities for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, with the first tanks assembled domestically from 2028. The Baltic country joined the Leopard 2 Common Procurement Agreement in 2024 and signed a follow-on contract later that year for 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks.

Germany Adds 20 H145M Helicopters With New Order

Bundeswehr H145M Light Combat Helicopter | Photo: Airbus Helicopters

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.