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Rheinmetall chief’s drone remarks expose a wider defence-industry argument
Comments by Rheinmetall chief executive Armin Papperger about Ukrainian drone production have opened a broader argument about innovation, industrial scale and the future balance between heavy armour and cheaper unmanned systems. In an interview with The Atlantic, Papperger dismissed much…
UK and EU back on course for SAFE defence fund deal
European Council President António Costa says Britain and the EU are moving towards an agreement on UK participation in the bloc’s SAFE defence-financing instrument, reopening a file that had stalled and giving new weight to the wider reset in defence…
BEDEX puts Brussels at the centre of Europe’s defence industry
BEDEX, the Brussels European Defence Exhibition and Conference, opens at Brussels Expo from 12 to 14 March 2026, with the first two days reserved for defence and security professionals and the final day open to the general public. The organisers…
Belgium to launch drone and interception system production with Ukraine
Belgium is to begin domestic production of drones and anti-drone systems in cooperation with Ukraine’s defence industry, in a move that reflects the growing influence of Ukrainian battlefield technology on European defence planning, according to BX1’s report on Theo Francken’s…
Trump Administration Warns EU Over ‘Buy European’ Defence Procurement Plans
Europe’s accelerating rearmament has opened a new line of tension with Washington: not over whether European states should spend more on defence, but over where that money should go. Reports this week indicate that the Trump administration warned the European…
New EU funding and procurement architecture for Ukraine shifts towards arms contracts
The European Commission has put forward a new two-year financial package designed to cover a large share of Ukraine’s forecast needs in 2026 and 2027, while tying a substantial portion of EU-level support more directly to defence procurement. The proposals,…
Europe’s defence spending soars as Readiness 2030 takes shape
European defence budgets have risen sharply since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The latest consolidated EU figures show total defence expenditure by the 27 member states reached €343 billion in 2024, equivalent to 1.9 per cent of…
Brussels proposes €90bn EU loan scheme for Ukraine covering 2026–27
The European Commission has proposed a €90 billion EU-backed loan for Ukraine for 2026 and 2027, splitting the package between budget support and military procurement and linking disbursements to reform and oversight conditions. The Commission says it wants the first…
March launch for EU SAFE defence lending, with early tranche planned
The European Union is preparing to make the first payments under its Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence loans in March 2026, in what officials describe as an attempt to accelerate joint procurement and address shortages in key military capabilities.…
Slovak arms deal sets €58bn framework for EU ammunition supplies
Slovak ammunition manufacturer ZVS Holding has signed a seven-year framework agreement with the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic to supply large- and medium-calibre ammunition to EU member states, with a potential value of up to €58 billion. The…