Sweden unveils drone swarm to be paired with ground troops
In a demonstration video, a formation of 10 quadcopters is seen taking off and relaying video footage from above snowy forests to ground operators.
Europe
France slams ‘unacceptable’ Russian targeting of Baltic patrol flight
A French Atlantique 2 aircraft patrolling international airspace over the Baltic was targeted by the fire-control system of a Russian S-400 launcher.
Norway, France vow closer defense ties as Naval Group eyes frigate biz
France is on Norway’s shortlist to supply five or six frigates in what would be the biggest Norwegian defense investment ever.
Turkish navy touts strategic ambitions with Mavi Vatan 2025 drill
Ankara's naval doctrine is seen by Greece and Israel as a major geopolitical challenge.
With torpedo firm buy, Fincantieri eyes $100bn undersea-defense market
Italian state shipyard Fincantieri has completed the purchase of Italian torpedo firm WASS for a price that could reach €415 million ($428 million).
Slovakia considers CV90120, Leopards to replace Soviet-era tanks
The lighter tank, made by BAE Systems Hägglunds, is said to be cheaper than traditional main battle tanks but the exact finances are murky.
NATO launches Baltic patrol mission, eyes standard for detaining ships
The operation, dubbed “Baltic Sentry,” will dispatch national contributions as well as joint assets to the strategically located body of water.
Sweden joins NATO push to boost Baltic Sea naval presence
The Swedish military will also contribute one of its ASC 890 surveillance aircraft, made by Saab, and the country’s coast guard will deploy four ships.
Denmark flies home more F-35s for patrols to buffer upgrade delays
Denmark has a total 27 aircraft on order, and the plan is for the F-35 to gradually take over all the tasks from the F-16s in coming years.
As Biden exits, European allies huddle on joint drills, Ukraine aid
European leaders try to reimagine the continent's defensive muscles amid a Trump White House that could be downright hostile to their concerns.
NATO intercepts of Russian aircraft stable in 2024 over prior year
The alliance keeps jets on duty around the clock to scramble in case of suspicious or unannounced flights.
NATO to boost Baltic presence, send warships to guard undersea cables
“If the Russians see that we are present there, the likelihood of such sabotage acts immediately decreases," said one navy commander.
Serbia cancels Russian arms deals amid Ukraine war, Western sanctions
As international sanctions continue to pressure Moscow, Belgrade is shopping for military gear elsewhere, including in Israel, China and Europe.
Italy eyes Musk’s Starlink for secret government communications
Handing control of Italy’s military satellite communications to the U.S. tech tycoon has prompted sharp criticism in Italy from opposition politicians.
European leaders wrestle to understand Trump Greenland head-scratcher
The president-elect's erratic style of diplomacy has managed to keep allies guessing.
Serbia completes fielding of Chinese air-defense system
The Balkan nation has no plans to join NATO, and its European Union aspirations appear to be iffy lately.
Rafale jets, submarines push France’s defense exports to $19B in 2024
French defense leaders expect a record year for 2025, with arms sales a key source of income to fund costly aircraft and nuclear programs at home.
