News

Several NATO countries, including the Netherlands, have decided to stop their joint plan to buy the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail as a replacement for the ageing AWACS aircraft. The Dutch Ministry of Defence confirmed the move after months of uncertainty surrounding the programme. The plan fell apart when the United States withdrew from the project earlier this year. Washington had been a major partner, and its exit left the remaining countries...

Several European navies have spent the past week escorting Russian vessels as they travelled through the North Sea. One of the ships, the Yantar, is known for its intelligence-gathering capabilities and is suspected of mapping undersea cables and infrastructure. According to the Dutch Ministry of Defence, at least four Russian ships were accompanied as they passed through international waters. These included the research ship Yantar, the oil tanker Yelnya, and...

French technology company Thales is building a powerful new radar system to keep watch over satellites and space debris orbiting the Earth. The system, called AURORE, will be the first of its kind in Europe and will help protect European interests in space. The French government’s defence agency has asked Thales to design and build the radar as part of its ARES space security programme. Construction will take place at...

Romania has now officially taken ownership of 18 Dutch F-16 fighter jets based in the country for the symbolic acount of 1 euro. The handover was confirmed by the Dutch Ministry of Defence, following the signing of documents in Bucharest by Romanian Defence Minister Ionuț Moșteanu and Linda Ruseler from the Dutch Ministry of Finance. The aircraft will be used to train both Romanian and Ukrainian pilots. The first five...

The Belgian government has expressed serious concern about drones spotted over the Kleine Brogel air base. According to Defence Minister Theo Francken, the drones showed a specific interest in the military installation. Despite extensive efforts involving helicopters and anti-drone systems, authorities were unable to bring the drones down or identify the operators. Kleine Brogel Air Base is home to several F-16 fighter aircraft. The defence minister said the drones involved...

The Union Jack was flying proudly across Britain this week as the country sealed its largest fighter jet order in years. The sale of 20 Eurofighter Typhoons to Turkey marks a major boost for the UK’s aerospace sector, the first Typhoon order since 2017, and one that restores confidence in the future of the Typhoon programme. “This landmark agreement with Türkiye is a win for British workers, a win for...

For years, the Saab Gripen has sought to gain a stronger foothold among major air forces around the world through national procurement programmes. At times, the Swedish aircraft manufacturer has succeeded – as in Brazil. For larger air forces, however, Saab has lost out to its European and American competitors. Now, changing security conditions and shifting geopolitics are reshaping the playing field – one in which the Saab Gripen could...

Poland’s counter-intelligence services say an investigation into suspected sabotage plots is expanding rapidly, with growing indications of coordination by Russian intelligence. The new details suggest the operation is larger than initially thought, extending beyond the eight arrests reported earlier this week. Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed on Monday that the Internal Security Agency (ABW) had detained eight people accused of preparing acts of sabotage. Since then, officials have told Polskie...

Eight people have been arrested in Poland on suspicion of preparing acts of sabotage, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on X. He announced that the arrests were made in several parts of the country and that further operations are still in progress. Interior Minister Tomasz Siemoniak said the suspects had conducted surveillance near critical infrastructure and military facilities. Authorities have not yet revealed details about the suspects’ backgrounds or possible...

Germany has ordered 20 new Eurofighter jets to reinforce its air defences as insecurity grows across Europe. The aircraft will be built by the European manufacturer Airbus in Manching, near Munich. The first delivery is planned for 2031 and the last for 2034. The purchase adds to Germany’s existing fleet of Eurofighters. In addition to these European-built combat aircraft, the German Air Force has also placed orders for the American...