PROCUREMENT
Share
Trump signals approval for sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia
President Donald Trump has said the United States will sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, signalling a major shift in Washington’s approach to sharing its most sophisticated combat aircraft with the kingdom and opening a fresh debate in…
€305 Million Compensation? Europe’s Defence Procurement Mess Just Got Costlier
When Norway and NHIndustries (NHI) announced a settlement over the cancelled NH90 submarine-hunting helicopter contract, one might have expected a quiet footnote in defence-industry circles. Instead what we see is a symptomatic collapse of Europe’s ability to execute multi-national defence…
Rome Bets on Tanks and Hungary — But Can Europe Trust Its Eastern Partner?
Rome’s plan to use EU “SAFE” loans for German-built tanks, in collaboration with Hungary, highlights both Italy’s ambition and the fragility of European defence, however Orbán’s Kremlin ties fuel scepticism. Italy’s striking proposal to channel European Union “SAFE” defence loans…
‘Russian Secrets’: Western technology used to build Russia’s Arctic seabed surveillance
An international consortium of news organisations has published detailed findings on a covert Russian programme, codenamed “Harmony”, that has installed an undersea surveillance system across the Barents Sea and adjacent Arctic waters to protect Russia’s nuclear submarine fleet. The reporting…
Sweden Stakes Its Air Power on Saab’s Next-Generation Fighter
Sweden has made a clear statement about its strategic priorities, awarding Saab a SEK 2.6 billion (£193 million) contract to advance research into a next-generation fighter aircraft. The deal, announced on 14th October by the Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), runs…
Manufacturing of first F-47 next-generation fighter underway; first flight targeted for 2028
The US Air Force has started building the first F-47, the service’s sixth-generation stealth fighter, with a maiden flight targeted for 2028, according to Chief of Staff Gen David Allvin. He disclosed the milestone during a keynote at the Air…
Serco and Damen: A Risky Gamble with the Royal Navy
The Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) decision to award a £200 million contract for 24 auxiliary vessels to Dutch shipbuilder Damen, under the wider £850 million Serco-managed support deal for Royal Navy bases, has drawn sharp criticism. While concerns about outsourcing…
Trump withholds Taiwan security aid as White House pursues talks with Beijing
President Donald Trump declined to approve a US$400 million–plus military aid package for Taiwan over the summer, as his administration seeks a trade agreement and a possible autumn summit with China’s leader, Xi Jinping, according to multiple reports. The move…
Ukraine’s drone industry tops ₴99bn (€2.28bn) in 2024; 2025 procurement points higher
Ukraine’s unmanned systems sector expanded rapidly over 2024–2025, shifting from a niche activity to a leading segment of the defence-industrial base by unit volume and revenue. Companies registered in Ukraine’s aircraft- and spacecraft-manufacturing category reported aggregate revenue of ₴17bn (≈€496m)…
JP Morgan and European Banking Giants Back New Continental Defence Bank
In a decisive shift that underscores Europe’s accelerating drive for strategic autonomy, a consortium of financial powerhouses—including JP Morgan, Commerzbank, and ING—has thrown its weight behind a new pan-European defence bank aimed at underpinning security spending across the continent. The proposed…