Germany’s intelligence chief Martin Jäger warned that the country is already “under fire” from Russia and must prepare for further escalation. Speaking to lawmakers, he said Moscow seeks to destabilize NATO and intimidate Europe amid rising tensions, airspace violations, and drone incidents over German infrastructure.
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems unveiled the L-SPIKE 4X Launched Effect and showcased the Iron Beam laser air defense system at AUSA 2025 in Washington, D.C. The company said Iron Beam is entering delivery to the Israel Defense Forces, while the new L-SPIKE 4X expands its precision strike missile family.
Germany plans to order over 600 Skyranger air defence systems from Rheinmetall in a deal worth more than €9 billion to strengthen its drone defence. The mobile system, now in testing, can be mounted on Boxer and Leopard 1 vehicles and is designed to counter modern aerial threats, including drone swarms.
The British foreign intelligence service, MI6, has launched a new dark-web portal for informants to get in touch with it securely, and a new YouTube channel with instructional videos in eight languages, including poorly-composed Hindi.
The German cabinet approved a bill for setting up a National Security Council and introducing voluntary military service, which could turn into conscription in the absence of sufficient volunteers, of which an initial 15,000 are required with a target of 80,000, whom the government plans to entice with high salaries.
Thailand has placed an order for three Gripen E and one two-seat Gripen F fighter aircraft, besides associated equipment, support and training, for SEK 5.3 billion (around $550 million), within an existing agreement with Sweden for 12 aircraft.
The appointment of Sergio Gor to the newly-created position of Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs does not need Senate approval, unlike nomination as ambassador, so he can begin dealing with India immediately, at a time when ties between the two countries have plunged over tariffs and Trump’s insistence on taking credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire in May.
The suspension of military exports to Israel represents a major step for Berlin, which has been one of its strongest supporters since the October 7, 2023 attacks and has repeatedly blocked EU initiatives to issue sanctions over the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Thyssenkrupp is to retain a majority stake of 51% in TKMS through a new holding company. The remaining 49% of TKMS shares are to be transferred to Thyssenkrupp shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings, making them direct shareholders of TKMS.
150 German soldiers with five Eurofighter jets began their deployment at the Minsk Mazowiecki military airfield in Poland to monitor its airspace for a few weeks upon its request, while, so far, having performed the same role from Rostock, in north-eastern Germany.
The Global Mobile Artillery Rocket System (GMARS) program is intended to provide a launcher for NATO allies that can be armed with an enhanced load-out of two ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) long-range, surface-to-surface missile system, 4 PrSM (Precision Strike Missiles), 12 Standard Range GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) precision-guided tactical missile system or 12 Extended Range GMLRS missiles, with the same munition capacity as the M270 on a wheeled platform.
The new order is for 963 vehicles with swap-body systems, some with protected driver cabins, as well as swap-body flatbeds and tarpaulin-arch superstructures, as well as 425 Unprotected Transport Vehicles (UTV) available in 4×4 and 8×8 versions that are derived from Rheinmetall’s HX vehicle family.
Germany’s defence ministry said it is ready to deliver two promised Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine from its inventory of nine systems, with plans to replace them with new orders from the U.S.
18 European Union member states have asked for loans worth €127 billion under the new €150 billion SAFE fund for defence spending with the deadline for formal submission of requests under SAFE to end on 30 November 2025.
Italian heavy and defence motor vehicle company, Iveco, announced on Wednesday its decision to sell off its defence vehicles business to Italian defence company Leonardo and the rest of its business, which includes trucking, to India’s Tata Motors. While the deal with Leonardo is valued at €1.7 billion, the transaction with Tata Motors amounts to €3.8 billion.
