Australia has signed a contract with Japan for three Mogami-class frigates, part of a planned fleet of eleven ships. The first vessels will be built in Japan and delivered from 2029, with later construction expected to shift to Western Australia.
Germany approved €6.6 million in arms exports to Israel during the early weeks of the Iran conflict, government data shows. The figure is lower than post-Gaza war approvals, reflecting ongoing limits on military supplies.
The United Kingdom will supply at least 120,000 drones to Ukraine in 2026 as part of a wider military support programme. The package includes strike, reconnaissance and logistics drones, alongside artillery and air defence support.
The B-21 Raider stealth bomber has demonstrated aerial refuelling during flight tests with a KC-135 tanker. The trials are part of ongoing evaluations of range, endurance, and mission systems as Northrop Grumman advances development of the aircraft.
Finland has proposed expanding civilian intelligence powers to address state-sponsored and cyber threats. The draft law includes new network exploitation measures, broader surveillance authorities, and longer document secrecy periods, and is open for consultation until late May.
Norway and Ukraine have agreed to expand defence cooperation with a focus on drone production, including enabling Ukrainian drones to be built in Norway. The deal also covers joint development, technology sharing, and scaling up air defence and military production.
Sweden will conduct Aurora 26, its largest military exercise of the year, from 27 April to 13 May. The drills will involve over 16,000 personnel and allied forces, focusing on reinforcement operations, coordination, and defence planning under NATO frameworks.
Germany and Ukraine have signed new defence deals covering missiles, drones and air defence. Berlin also backed Kyiv’s EU bid and called for the release of EU funds to strengthen Ukraine’s long-term security.
The UK has disclosed details of a Russian submarine operation near critical undersea infrastructure, with British and allied forces tracking vessels in the High North and surrounding waters amid increased Russian naval activity.
HENSOLDT UK has signed contracts with SRT Marine System Solutions to supply 50 coastal surveillance radar systems for national monitoring networks. The systems will be delivered in 2026 to support maritime tracking and coastal surveillance operations.
Finland has signed a €546.8 million deal with South Korea’s KOTRA to acquire 112 surplus K9 self-propelled howitzers, including support equipment. The systems will replace older artillery and support the Finnish Army’s ongoing modernization programme.
The UK Ministry of Defence plans to acquire Skyhammer interceptor missiles from Cambridge Aerospace to counter drone threats, with deliveries expected from May. The system will also be supplied to Gulf partners under a multi-million pound agreement.
The EU has approved SAFE defence funding for France and Czechia, allocating up to €15.09 billion and €2.06 billion respectively. The financing supports joint procurement and investment to strengthen defence production and readiness across member states.
Germany says its troop deployment in Lithuania shows commitment to NATO’s eastern flank. A new brigade aims to strengthen deterrence against Russia and reinforce security in the Baltic region.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited has delivered four ALH Mk III maritime helicopters to the Indian Coast Guard under a 2024 contract. The helicopters will support surveillance, search and rescue, and coastal security operations.
