Defence news and analysis - Page 19

Air Warfare

M-345 officially enters service as trainer for Italian Air Force

The Leonardo M-345 High-Efficiency Trainer (HET) basic/advanced trainer is similar to the M-346, which is the second part of the Italian Air Force’s training system, but is a substantially smaller and less powerful aircraft.

Land Warfare

UK artillery factory opens as defence review inches forward

The new artillery and howitzer factory pre-dates the emphasis on this capability from this month’s Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The first joint industry-government meeting outlined in the review took place this week.

Naval Warfare

South Korea advances next-gen naval concepts for future force needs

HHI and Hanwha Ocean outline highly autonomous and unmanned-enabled designs as the ROKN explores force structure for the 2030s and beyond.

Defence Notes

Pentagon’s FY26 defence budget proposal is $130 billion more than US Congress plans to provide

The House Committee on Appropriations approved a FY2026 bill reducing investments in main defence programmes.

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Naval Warfare

UK Royal Navy begins training with autonomous mine counter measures vessel

17th March 2025

The uncrewed surface vessel (USV) is the first of four autonomous mine vessels the UK Royal Navy (RN) will deploy this year.
Air Warfare

Testing of Taiwan’s air-launched supersonic anti-ship missile commences

14th March 2025

Should it be introduced into service, the air-launched Hsiung Feng 3 could boost Taiwan’s anti-ship missile capacity and kill zones.
Air Warfare

Swarm drones and CCAs take flight in India

14th March 2025

India reaches new milestones as it pushes it unmanned combat and surveillance strategy forward.
Air Warfare

Portugal may snub F-35 fighter jets in the face of Trump administration “unpredictability”

14th March 2025

A change in the White House’s attitude towards NATO and its European allies may lead to Portugal opting for a non-US option to replace its ageing Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter fleet.
Air Warfare

Ireland to explore options for tactical UAS procurement

14th March 2025

The EU planning notice cited that the uncrewed aerial system (UAS) would be used for predominantly for reconnaissance purposes with a greater range and endurance than drones currently operated by the Irish Defence Forces.
Land Warfare

Arthur radars and more Archer howitzers committed to Ukraine by Sweden

14th March 2025

Ukraine has highlighted the need for howitzers and radars as well as artillery and this commitment from Sweden will help to fill that gap and provide medium-distance fire in a defensive role post-war.
Naval Warfare

ASFAT and United Defense Technology partner to bid for Royal Thai Navy frigate build

14th March 2025

The Thai and Turkish companies will work together to bid for the four-vessel contract.
Naval Warfare

EU SEACURE programme seeks autonomous solutions to evolving underwater threats

13th March 2025

The EU and leading defence firms are collaborating on improving autonomous seabed warfare capabilities.
Defence Notes

Rheinmetall reports “boom” as results hit new records with orders for vehicles, ammunition and weapons

13th March 2025

Rheinmetall is riding high as Europe scrambles to boost its defence forces and replenish spent stockpiles sent to Ukraine.
Naval Warfare

Malaysia’s Maharaja Lela frigates to fit SEA’s Torpedo Launcher System

13th March 2025

The TLS is expected to improve the vessels’ anti-submarine warfare performance in Malaysia’s littoral region.
Air Warfare

Panama approves $187 million purchase of Airbus and Embraer aircraft

13th March 2025

The C295 and Super Tucano deals for its National Aeronaval Service were approved as part of an emergency procedure by the government on 11 March.
Naval Warfare

New contract enhances local building commitment of Colombia’s PES frigate programme

13th March 2025

Damen Naval has signed a contract with Heinen & Hopman, which will use local Colombian HVAC-R experts to fit out the fleet.
Naval Warfare

US Navy shipbuilding branded “too slow” and “too expensive” by acquisition chief

12th March 2025

Several of the US Navy’s leading programmes, including the Constellation-class frigate and the Virginia-class submarine, are significantly behind schedule.
Land Warfare

Estonian Army receives first 50 of 230 light armoured vehicles

12th March 2025

The armoured vehicles are fitted with 12.7mm heavy machine guns and came off the production line with specific Estonian requirements. Only the communications subsystems and some other minor equipment were added to vehicles in Estonia.
Defence Notes

Leonardo projects €30 billion in revenue by 2029

12th March 2025

The forecast came as the Italian firm presented its new 2025–29 industrial plan to analysts, with its future figures bolstered by the European increase in defence spending.
Land Warfare

Thales to supply 500 of its new Vehicle Mounted SquadNet Radios to a NATO country

12th March 2025

The newly disclosed Thales UK Vehicle Mounted SquadNet Radio (VMSR) offers full interoperability with the soldier radio variant to provide secure and reliable voice connection.
Air Warfare

US Navy tests new comms pod for Marine Corps’ MQ-9A Reaper

12th March 2025

The pod, named SkyTower II (STII) was tested ahead of the system’s initial operational capability (IOC) in 2026.
Air Warfare

US Air Force and Air National Guard test Northrop Grumman solution to increase performance for air tankers

12th March 2025

The voice and data interoperability system has been built to enable operations in contested environments.
Land Warfare

Modern militaries crawl towards electrification of the battlefield

12th March 2025

Full electrification of their land and air vehicles may be beyond modern militaries for now. But how close are they to the tipping point of the widespread use of electric vehicles?