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.
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.
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.
Croatia will purchase 44 German-made Leopard 2A8 tanks, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced after talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković in Berlin. KNDS Deutschland recently said it had received orders for 350 Leopard 2A8 tanks, including 123 from the German Bundeswehr.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Ukraine’s response to the revised US peace plan addresses the issue of potential territorial concessions — a central obstacle in efforts to end Russia’s war. European leaders have invited the US to discuss the proposal this weekend, with further talks possible in Berlin, next week.
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.
Tata Advanced Systems and Lockheed Martin have begun building a new MRO facility to support India’s C-130J fleet, and will provide depot-level maintenance, component repair, structural checks, avionics upgrades and expanded training for engineers and maintainers.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has dismissed the Trump administration’s new National Security Strategy, which portrays freedom of expression in Europe as eroding. Speaking in Berlin, he said Germany needs no advice on free speech protections and defended the country’s constitutional safeguards and free media.
The UK and Norway have agreed to operate a combined fleet of Type 26 frigates and deepen defence cooperation to counter rising Russian submarine activity and protect critical infrastructure in the North Atlantic.
