Germany says its new brigade in Lithuania will be fully operational by 2027. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said most troops are expected to volunteer, but compulsory assignments may be used to fill specialist roles.
German troops, Leopard tanks and other military equipment have arrived in Lithuania for the first major exercise involving Germany’s new brigade. The Freedom Shield drill brings together NATO forces to train near Russia’s borders.
Germany is preparing 24 new centres to assess young volunteers for military service as Berlin expands the Bundeswehr under new conscription measures linked to NATO goals and the Ukraine war.
Germany has exercised an option for 20 additional Airbus H145M light combat helicopters, raising its total order to 82 aircraft. The helicopters will support German Army and Luftwaffe special forces missions including training, reconnaissance, special operations and light attack roles.
The German military plans to create six new units to operate kamikaze drones by 2029, with plans for a data-driven, AI-enabled battlefield. The Bundeswehr is testing loitering munitions and aims to field its first medium-range battery by 2027, with further long-range systems to follow.
As NATO races to supply Ukraine before Trump takes office, Europe is struggling to touch two percent of its GDP on defence expenditure while Russia plans to spend more than 32 percent of its national budget on its military.
Nazis, spies, the cold war and the arms trade: The story of how a decorated ex-Nazi officer and arms dealer sold fighter aircraft to India and Pakistan, both under an arms embargo after the 1965 war.
The French defense company MBDA is planning to display a wide range of weapons systems from its product line at DefExpo, including the Mistral VSHORAD, the Mistral ATAM for the Indian Army’s Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv Mk IV WSI (Weapons System Integrated), as well as their PARS 3 LR anti-tank guided missile system, which is also being considered for the Dhruv.
The European arms firm MBDA has offered its services for stockpile management to the Indian armed forces, saying it can help achieve cost savings of up to 30 per cent, besides configuring life extensions of existing stock and improving safety.
