Germany’s Bundestag has passed legislation to introduce a new voluntary military service from January 1, requiring young men to undergo medical checks and be added to a national register while keeping service itself voluntary. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius urged support for the measure, arguing that core democratic freedoms must be actively defended. The law also allows parliament to trigger needs-based conscription if recruitment goals are not met.
Germany has activated the first operational elements of the Arrow 3 missile defence system, giving the country and its partners an early-warning and interception capability against long-range ballistic missiles for the first time. The €3.6-billion system—developed with Israel and the US—marks Germany’s first long-range missile shield and forms a key part of the European Sky Shield Initiative.
Sagar Defence Engineering has opened a new facility in Pune to manufacture Uncrewed Surface Vehicles as part of its partnership with Liquid Robotics, the plant will enable local manufacturing, ocean testing and sustainment of unmanned maritime systems, including capacity building for the Wave Glider platform.
Global defence revenues surged to a record $679 billion in 2024, driven by the wars in Ukraine and Gaza and rising geopolitical tensions, according to new SIPRI data. The world’s 100 biggest arms makers saw sales grow 5.9 percent, with strong increases in Europe and steady dominance by U.S. firms. SpaceX entered the Top 100 for the first time, while China posted a rare decline due to procurement disruptions.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has completed a high-speed rocket-sled test of a fighter aircraft escape system in Chandigarh, validating canopy severance, ejection sequencing and aircrew recovery using a dual-sled setup with an LCA forebody.
The Brazilian Air Force has completed its first Meteor BVRAAM firings from the Gripen E, with two missiles hitting their targets during the BVR-X Technical Exercise, marking a major step in the country’s long-range air-defence capability.
The Indian Army has successfully carried out a combat launch of the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile in the Bay of Bengal, validating its accuracy and operational readiness during a coordinated mission.
The Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly is urging progress on the FCAS fighter programme amid growing tensions over industrial workshare, with Berlin insisting Dassault adhere to existing agreements. The call comes as reports indicate Germany and France may abandon the joint project altogether and instead shift focus to a shared military cloud system.
Franco-German manufacturer KNDS has secured 350 orders from five countries for the newest Leopard 2A8 main battle tank, with Germany alone committing to 123 units and planning to expand its purchase. The upgraded A8 variant features enhanced protection systems and represents several billion euros in confirmed contracts, with production expected to run for years.
Boeing has announced two major defence awards: a nearly USD 4.7 billion FMS contract to supply 96 AH-64E Apaches to Poland, and a USD 2.47 billion U.S. Air Force order for 15 KC-46A tankers, expanding global fleets of both platforms.
TKMS has handed over the second HDW Class NTSP submarine, TCG Hızırreis, to the Turkish Navy during a ceremony in Gölcük, marking the latest milestone in the six-boat programme. The class of submarines is also known as the Reis-class of submarines.
Poland has chosen Sweden’s A26 Blekinge-class submarine offer to replace its Kilo-class submarine. Saab says negotiations will now begin with Poland’s Armaments Agency, with no contract yet signed and delivery expected around 2030.
BonV Aero’s Air Orca heavy-lift UAV, already used by the armed forces for high-altitude logistics, is being explored for civilian supply delivery across isolated regions of Ladakh.
Indrajaal has launched the country’s first Anti-Drone Patrol Vehicle, a mobile system designed to detect and neutralise hostile drones in motion. The company says the platform addresses rising drone-based smuggling and cross-border threats.
Leonardo has presented the Michelangelo Dome, a new integrated defence system designed to counter multi-domain threats, combining sensors, cyber-defence tools, AI and coordinated effectors under a unified architecture.
