Germany has accused Russia of carrying out a major cyberattack and a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at influencing the country’s federal election and undermining democratic institutions, alleging a 2024 cyberattack on Germany’s air-traffic control provider can be attributed to the Russian hacker group Fancy Bear, linked to military intelligence agency GRU.
Foreign policy advisers from the United States, Ukraine, Germany and other partners are set to resume talks on a possible peace framework for Ukraine in Berlin, according to government sources. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to take part, with discussions following several earlier rounds of negotiations since November. The talks come as diplomatic efforts continue alongside ongoing fighting, with both Russia and Ukraine reporting casualties from drone and missile strikes.
Rheinmetall has won a high three-digit million-euro contract to supply Skyranger 30 short-range air-defence systems to the Dutch Defence Ministry. Deliveries of the mobile and dismounted systems are scheduled to begin in 2028 and conclude by 2029. The order also includes command-and-control nodes, transport platforms, simulators and logistics support for integration into the Netherlands’ existing air-defence architecture.
The UK has launched a consolidated Military Intelligence Services structure and a new Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit to accelerate intelligence operations and respond to rising hostile activity, with officials citing a significant surge in cyber and espionage threats. A new Defence Intelligence Academy will provide training in cyber, space and geospatial intelligence disciplines.
NAVSEA has chosen Damen’s LST100 design for the U.S. Navy’s Landing Ship Medium programme, with plans for up to 35 vessels to be built at U.S. shipyards to support Marine Corps operations.
The U.S. Army has established the Western Hemisphere Command at Fort Bragg, consolidating Forces Command, Army North and Army South into a single four-star headquarters to streamline operations and strengthen regional readiness.
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.
