Germany’s parliament has approved €540 million to buy kamikaze drones for the army, with more funding possible. The systems, shaped by lessons from Ukraine, will first equip Germany’s Lithuania Brigade.
German MPs Approve €540M Drone Buy
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Tag: European defence industry
German Navy Receives 1st NH90 Naval Helicopter
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The German Navy has taken delivery of its first NH90 Sea Tiger helicopter, with a total of 31 Sea Tigers planned to replaced the Sea Lynx fleet. The NH90 is equipped with sonar systems and can deploy torpedoes and anti-ship missiles.
KNDS and Leonardo to Jointly Develop Mobile Artillery
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KNDS Deutschland and Italy’s Leonardo have signed a Letter of Intent to jointly develop a new mobile artillery system, combining KNDS’s artillery gun module with Leonardo’s wheeled vehicle platform for future Italian Army requirements. The KNDS 155 mm/L52 main gun Artillery Gun Module has a rate of fire of nine rounds per minute and requires a crew of two to three personnel.
KNDS to Build Leopard 2A8 Tanks in Lithuania
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Lithuania has signed an industrial cooperation agreement with KNDS, Rheinmetall and EPSO-G to establish local assembly and maintenance facilities for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks, with the first tanks assembled domestically from 2028. The Baltic country joined the Leopard 2 Common Procurement Agreement in 2024 and signed a follow-on contract later that year for 44 Leopard 2A8 tanks.
Dutch Defence Ministry Orders Rheinmetall Skyranger 30
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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.
French, German MPs urge unity on FCAS fighter project
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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.
KNDS lists 350 orders for latest Leopard 2 tank
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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.
Leonardo–Rheinmetall To Supply Combat Vehicles to Italian Army
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The Leonardo Rheinmetall Military Vehicles joint venture has received its first contract to supply 21 A2CS Combat vehicles to the Italian Army, marking a major step in Italy–Germany defence cooperation and European industrial integration. The supply is part of the Italian Army’s A2CS – Army Armoured Combat System program, which plans for a total acquisition of 1,050 armoured combat vehicles to replace its current heavy vehicle fleet.
