HAL has conducted the inaugural flight of its Dhruv New Generation helicopter in Bengaluru, marking its entry into the civil helicopter market. The event also included DGCA certification for indigenous manufacture of the Shakti civil engine, with full civil certification expected in the coming months.
France has ordered two GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft from Saab in a contract worth about SEK 12.3 billion. Deliveries are planned between 2029 and 2032, and the agreement includes training, support, ground equipment, and an option for two more aircraft.
Lithuania has ordered RBS 70 Bolide air defence missiles from Saab in a deal valued at SEK 3 billion, with deliveries planned between 2028 and 2032. The purchase follows earlier contracts for Carl Gustaf ammunition and AT4 grenade launchers, expanding Lithuania’s recent defence procurement programme.
Germany and France have again postponed a decision on the Future Combat Air System, with no new timeline set. The governments cited wider foreign and security talks and unresolved industry disputes, leaving the future of Europe’s planned next-generation air combat system uncertain.
Germany approved €8.4 billion in arms export licences in 2025, marking a clear drop after two record years. Government data show a sharp fall in approvals for Ukraine, while Norway became the largest recipient and licences for Turkey rose to their highest level since 1999.
The Indian Coast Guard has commissioned ICG Ship Amulya, a new Adamya-class fast patrol vessel built by Goa Shipyard Limited. The ship will be based at Paradip and tasked with surveillance, interdiction, and search and rescue duties.
European defence company KNDS has confirmed plans to go public in 2026, with a stock market listing in both Paris and Frankfurt. The German-French group, manufactures the Leopard 2 main battle tank and the CAESAR artillery system.
Germany has approved €50 billion in new spending to modernise its armed forces. The funds will be used to buy equipment and clothing for soldiers, expand missile defence systems such as Arrow 3 and Patriot, and purchase additional Puma infantry fighting vehicles.
Germany has opened a new Joint Drone Defence Centre in Berlin, which becomes operational in January, brings together agencies to counter drone threats, with increasing sightings near airports, military sites and energy facilities.
Germany’s armed forces have signed a €1.7 billion contract with Rheinmetall for access to satellite-based reconnaissance data with regular radar images supplied through a partnership with Finnish satellite operator ICEYE.
Spain has placed four contracts for 100 Airbus helicopters for its army, navy, and air force, including the H135, H145M, H175M and NH90, as part of a major fleet modernisation effort.
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 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 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.
Leonardo has signed a contract with Italy’s TELEDIFE to develop and deliver four next-generation radars for the Michelangelo Dome air and missile defence system, intended to detect and track ballistic threats at ranges of up to 3,000 kilometres.
