Germany’s military has begun sending questionnaires to 18-year-olds as part of the country’s new military service programme. The forms are the first step in assessing interest and suitability for service, as Berlin looks to increase troop numbers under a law that came into force on January 1.
NATO has begun moving around 10,000 troops, vehicles and equipment into Germany for its largest military exercise this year. The drills involve forces from 11 countries and are meant to show the alliance’s ability to move quickly across Europe, even as internal tensions grow over Greenland.
Germany has sent a small military team to Greenland as European countries step up support for Denmark amid US pressure over the Arctic territory. The deployment is part of wider joint exercises aimed at improving security cooperation and strengthening NATO’s presence in the region.
The Swedish Armed Forces have signed a contract with ICEYE to acquire sovereign space-based intelligence and surveillance capabilities. The agreement covers SAR satellites, data and ground systems, allowing Sweden to own and operate its own space-based ISR architecture.
Airbus Defence and Space has secured a contract from Eutelsat to manufacture 340 additional OneWeb low Earth orbit satellites. The order, which follows a 2024 purchase of 100 satellites, is intended to maintain operational continuity of the OneWeb constellation.
Saab has secured an order worth about SEK 1.5 billion from Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration for the Trackfire Remote Weapon Station. Deliveries will take place between 2026 and 2028 to support the Swedish Army and the Amphibious Battalion 2030 programme.
The UK has allocated £200 million to prepare its armed forces for possible deployment to Ukraine as part of the Multinational Force for Ukraine. The funding will support equipment upgrades and air defence efforts as planning continues for a potential peace agreement.
The UK government has launched Project Nightfall to develop a new ground-launched ballistic missile for Ukraine with a range of more than 500 kilometres. The programme aims to deliver test missiles within 12 months and support long-range strike capability and comes as Russia carried out a strike on Ukraine last week using the Oreshnik system.
Finland’s withdrawal from the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention has formally taken effect, six months after notification was submitted to the United Nations. The decision allows Finland to plan for the reintroduction of landmines while maintaining its international legal obligations. Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, which also share borders with Russia, have already completed their withdrawal from the treaty.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he expects the United States to take part in a stronger NATO role to improve security in Greenland. Speaking during a visit to India, he said NATO allies share concerns about protecting the Arctic territory and should address them together within the alliance.
Germany and India have agreed to expand cooperation in the defence sector during talks in Ahmedabad. A declaration of intent was signed during Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit, with plans including submarine construction in India and wider cooperation covering defence, technology, jobs, and critical resources.
U.S. Central Command and regional partners have opened a new air and missile defence coordination cell at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The Middle Eastern Air Defense – Combined Defense Operations Cell will support information sharing, joint planning, and regional coordination.
Lockheed Martin said it delivered a record 191 F-35 fighter jets in 2025, surpassing the program’s previous annual high. The aircraft also reached the milestone of a million cumulative flight hours in 2025 and the company said the program completed delivery of the TR-3 software configuration during the year.
Dassault Aviation reported the delivery of 26 Rafale fighter aircraft in 2025, including 15 for export customers and 11 for France, according to unaudited year-end figures. The company also confirmed 26 export Rafale orders linked to the Indian Navy and maintained a backlog of 220 aircraft.
The U.S. Department of War and Lockheed Martin have signed a seven-year framework agreement to raise annual production of PAC-3 MSE interceptors from about 600 to roughly 2,000. The plan depends on Congressional approval and aims to expand industrial capacity.
