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Air
Finland took delivery of two more F-35A Lightning II fighters on Oct. 23, bringing the number of jets in the country to four. The aircraft landed at Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi, where domestic pilot training is due to begin in January 2027.

Two more Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters arrive in Rovaniemi, Finland

Air

Two more Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters arrive in Rovaniemi, Finland

Finland took delivery of two more F-35A Lightning II fighters on Oct. 23, bringing the number of jets in the country to four.

The Department of the Air Force announced that the B-21 Raider, the nation’s newest long-range strike bomber, will officially operate with a two-pilot crew. The service said the decision followed careful analysis of the aircraft’s advanced capabilities and mission profile.

Northrop Grumman CEO says factory expansion will increase B-21 Raider bomber production

RTX’s Pratt & Whitney has completed a risk-reduction design review for the F135 Engine Core Upgrade. The decision confirms design maturity and moves the F-35 propulsion upgrade closer to production.

Pratt & Whitney expands Polish plant to boost production of F-35 engine components

OCCAR manages 28 cooperative defence programmes worth approximately €8.5 billion annually, with the Netherlands expected to become its seventh member state. The organisation outlined its workload and expansion prospects as it marked its 25th anniversary near Bonn on 20 October.

OCCAR marks 25 years of defence cooperation with 28 programmes worth €8.5 billion annually

RTX plans to double to quadruple missile production rates under four multiyear Pentagon contracts, with investments in factories and suppliers supporting an expansion through 2030. The agreements cover Tomahawk, AMRAAM, SM-6 and SM-3 IB and are worth approximately $70 billion combined, company executives said.

RTX CEO says Pentagon contracts will drive major expansion in missile production

Air and missile defence

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The U.S. Army has activated the 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment on Guam, strengthening its permanent air and missile defense presence on the island. The battalion succeeds Task Force Talon, which operated there for more than a decade before deactivating in July 2026.

U.S. Army activates Guam air and missile defense battalion, building on THAAD operations

The Spanish Navy and Navantia are developing an F110 frigate variant with more missile-launch capacity and a larger role in defending naval forces against air and missile attacks. The proposed F110 IAMD would extend the Bonifaz class beyond the five frigates now under construction.

Spanish Navy and Navantia develop F110 IAMD frigate with expanded air and missile defence

Ukrainian forces have hit 408,000 Russian drones since the start of the year, according to the country’s defence ministry. More than 35,000 of them were Shahed-type drones, all within a period of just under 10 months.

Ukraine’s defence ministry says forces neutralised more than 400,000 Russian drones in 2026

France has ordered four additional SAMP/T NG air and missile defence firing units, taking its total to 12, with 10 scheduled for delivery before the end of 2030. A first system was delivered in early 2026, according to the French defence procurement agency, DGA.

France orders four more SAMP/T NG systems to strengthen air and missile defence

Top Stories

RAF Typhoons have taken part in a French nuclear air exercise for the first time, escorting French Air and Space Force Rafales on a simulated nuclear strike mission over the Mediterranean. Exercise Rummy is the latest step in the closer cooperation Britain and France agreed under the Northwood Declaration.

RAF Typhoons join French nuclear exercise for first time, escorting Rafale strike mission

Retired Gen. David Petraeus, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, has warned that the United States’ dependence on foreign primary aluminum is a national security risk, and called for the country to produce more of the materials its military and wider economy rely on.

Petraeus says U.S. can’t be ‘held hostage’ on aluminum as domestic smelting revives

The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Oct. 23, ending an 11-month deployment to Europe and the Middle East. During that time, the ship conducted combat missions in Operation Epic Fury and operated with three U.S. carrier strike groups.

USS McFaul completes 11-month deployment after combat operations with three carrier groups

Britain will return the Royal Air Force to a nuclear role with the purchase of at least 12 F-35A aircraft for NATO’s nuclear mission. British pilots could carry US nuclear weapons during a crisis, although the weapons would remain under American control.

Swiss government acknowledges failings in F-35 purchase and agrees procurement reforms

L3Harris Technologies has received a three-year contract worth up to $60 million to advance a long-range drone interceptor for the U.S. Army. The company has reached the program’s second phase, which covers flight performance testing of a fully integrated interceptor.

U.S. Army funds L3Harris long-range drone interceptor development and flight testing

Ukraine has joined a NATO procurement partnership that gives it a new route to buy military equipment and support services. Ukrainian manufacturers can also compete for contracts with the NATO Support and Procurement Agency, known as NSPA.

Ukraine joins NSPA partnership to speed military purchases and open tenders to its defence industry

Saab has signed a teaming agreement with CAE to jointly pursue Canada’s future Airborne Early Warning and Control programme. The effort is based on Saab’s GlobalEye platform.

Saab plans to triple GlobalEye deliveries and offers Canada a second conversion center

Australia is developing and integrating mission payloads for Anduril’s Ghost Shark as deliveries of the uncrewed underwater vehicle to the Royal Australian Navy gather pace. The government disclosed the work on October 19, with some payloads due to participate in Exercise Maritime Big Play Pacific.

Australia expands Ghost Shark payload capabilities as Anduril ramps up navy deliveries

The U.S. Air Force has disclosed that its B-2 Spirit stealth bomber can carry the AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, adding a previously unannounced maritime-strike role to an aircraft long associated with nuclear and conventional attacks against heavily defended land targets. The capability gives Washington another way to threaten hostile warships from long range while limiting the exposure of U.S. aircraft and surface forces.

U.S. launches Global Thunder 27 nuclear readiness exercise, with more bomber flights possible

CSG and Canada’s North Vector Dynamics have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore European manufacturing and the integration of NVD’s CM-70 counter-drone interceptor into CSG systems. The agreement moves their relationship into industrial cooperation following CSG’s strategic investment in NVD, announced in August 2026.

CSG and North Vector Dynamics explore European manufacturing and CM-70 counter-drone integration

Ukraine and Sweden are continuing preparations for Gripen fighter deliveries, with Ukrainian Defence Minister Evgeniy Khmara identifying Russian glide-bomb carriers as a priority target for the aircraft. Crew training is proceeding according to plan, Ukraine’s defence ministry said after his telephone call with Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson.

Ukraine prepares to receive its first 16 Gripen fighters from Sweden in early 2027

Rheinmetall and ICEYE are establishing new space-based reconnaissance capabilities for Germany through their joint venture, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH. The company said the initial partners are German NewSpace firms Reflex Aerospace, OroraTech, ConstellR and LiveEO.

Ukraine signs letter of intent with Nokia and ICEYE on sovereign satellite communications

Featured

General Atomics partners with Spirit Defense on FQ-42 uncrewed fighter production

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems has partnered with Spirit Defense to expand manufacturing capacity for the U.S. Air Force’s FQ-42 Vengeance uncrewed fighter

October 23, 2026

NATO holds Helsinki talks on nuclear capability modernisation and stronger planning

NATO’s senior nuclear advisers met in Helsinki on 21 October to discuss modernising the alliance’s nuclear capabilities and strengthening its planning capacity

October 23, 2026

Lockheed Martin delivers 43 F-35 Lightning II fighters in Q3, accounting for most of its 72 aircraft handovers

Lockheed Martin delivered 43 F-35 Lightning II fighters in the third quarter, bringing its total for the year so far to 94

October 22, 2026

EDGE’s 40mm ammunition line reaches full-rate production with capacity for 1.5 million rounds a year

An automated line producing 40x53mm grenade ammunition at EDGE Group’s LAHAB has entered full-rate production and can now turn out up to 1.5 million rounds a year

October 22, 2026

Seaspan Shipyards lays keel for the largest polar icebreaker ever built in Canada

Seaspan Shipyards held a ceremonial keel laying on 14 October for CCGS Imnaryuaq, the Canadian Coast Guard’s future flagship and the largest polar icebreaker ever designed and built in Canada

October 20, 2026

Javelin Joint Venture receives $215 million U.S. Army contract to produce lightweight launchers

The U.S. Army has awarded the Raytheon–Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture a $215 million contract to produce Lightweight Command Launch Units

October 19, 2026

NATO Hybrid Symposium addresses Russian sabotage and cyber threats to critical infrastructure

NATO allies and partners met in Bucharest on 15–16 October to coordinate responses to Russian hybrid activities

October 19, 2026

NATO says three maritime strike groups and forces from 17 allies are testing joint combat readiness in Neptune Strike 26-4

NATO has brought together forces from 17 allies for Neptune Strike 26-4, with Italian, Turkish and British-led maritime strike groups participating

October 19, 2026

Industry spotlight

Air and missile defence

Combat-proven air defense: recent Patriot® contract awards signal surge in demand across Europe

European demand for proven air and missile defense systems is rising and Raytheon, an RTX business, is investing heavily to meet that need with higher production capacity.

September 23, 2026
Land

U.S. Army’s Bradley replacement race enters troop-testing phase with first XM30 prototypes from Rheinmetall and General Dynamics

September 17, 2026
Land

Lockheed Martin CEO says ATACMS production could move to Germany, opening Arkansas capacity for faster PrSM missile output

August 2, 2026
Corporate

L3Harris secures record $4.7 billion PAC-3 MSE propulsion deal from Lockheed Martin to expand U.S. interceptor production capacity

September 8, 2026
EM&E Group has developed a range of guided munition solutions aimed at increasing the capabilities of different types of munitions by incorporating advanced navigation and trajectory correction technologies. These include ALKON 122, ALKON 122L and EGM120, three solutions aimed at providing greater precision and new possibilities of use.
Land

EM&E Group drives indirect fire accuracy with ALKON 122, ALKON 122L, and EGM120

Lockheed Martin is pursuing a two-track expansion of its PAC-3 missile business, raising production of the PAC-3 MSE while developing a lower-cost interceptor for allied forces. The approach is intended to increase missile availability without relying on a single interceptor for every air and missile threat.
Air and missile defence

Lockheed Martin says lower-cost PAC-3 ACE and expanded PAC-3 MSE production will increase allied missile defense capacity across NATO

Air

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Finland took delivery of two more F-35A Lightning II fighters on Oct. 23, bringing the number of jets in the country to four. The aircraft landed at Lapland Air Wing in Rovaniemi, where domestic pilot training is due to begin in January 2027.

Two more Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters arrive in Rovaniemi, Finland

October 24, 2026
Read more about Two more Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighters arrive in Rovaniemi, Finland

RAF Typhoons join French nuclear exercise for first time, escorting Rafale strike mission

RAF Typhoons have taken part in a French nuclear air exercise for the first time, escorting French Air and Space Force Rafales on a simulated nuclear strike mission over the Mediterranean.

October 24, 2026

Swiss government acknowledges failings in F-35 purchase and agrees procurement reforms

Switzerland’s government has accepted changes to defense procurement after a dispute over the promised fixed price for its F-35A fighters.

October 23, 2026

Saab plans to triple GlobalEye deliveries and offers Canada a second conversion center

Saab plans to increase GlobalEye deliveries from two to six aircraft a year as it pursues further orders and negotiates a potential six-aircraft sale to Canada.

October 23, 2026

Ukraine prepares to receive its first 16 Gripen fighters from Sweden in early 2027

Ukraine and Sweden are continuing preparations for Gripen fighter deliveries, with Ukrainian Defence Minister Evgeniy Khmara identifying Russian glide-bomb carriers as a priority target for the aircraft.

October 23, 2026

Denmark to arm F-35 fighters with Kongsberg Joint Strike Missile to reach deep into enemy territory

Denmark plans to buy Kongsberg’s Joint Strike Missile (JSM) for its F-35 fighters as part of a wider purchase of long-range precision weapons.

October 22, 2026

U.S. Air Force projects larger F-35 role in expanded fighter fleet of 1,509 combat-coded aircraft by 2035

The F-35A could account for roughly 40% of the U.S. Air Force’s fighter fleet by 2035, up from about 30% today, according to estimates outlined by Lt. Gen. David Tabor.

October 21, 2026

Land

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An automated line producing 40x53mm grenade ammunition at EDGE Group’s LAHAB has entered full-rate production and can now turn out up to 1.5 million rounds a year. The UAE defence group says the installation has cut manual labour requirements by nearly 60%.

EDGE’s 40mm ammunition line reaches full-rate production with capacity for 1.5 million rounds a year

October 22, 2026
Read more about EDGE’s 40mm ammunition line reaches full-rate production with capacity for 1.5 million rounds a year

CSG unveils Meander, a 33-tonne amphibious vehicle for crossing rivers and wetlands

The prototype made its debut at the Future Forces Forum 2026 exhibition in Prague.

October 22, 2026

Kongsberg to arm Poland’s K2 tanks and support vehicles in NOK 700m Hyundai Rotem deal

Kongsberg has signed a contract worth about NOK 700 million with Hyundai-Rotem Company to supply remote weapon stations for K2 vehicles ordered by the Polish Armed Forces.

October 22, 2026

U.S. Army orders six Weibel C-band radars to modernize tracking at military test ranges

The U.S. Army has ordered six MRR-LP C-band instrumentation radars from Weibel Scientific to expand tracking and measurement capabilities at its test ranges.

October 21, 2026

U.S. Army tests XM1180 guided artillery rounds at Yuma with seeker technology planned for XM1230 extended-range projectile

The U.S. Army has tested three XM1180 prototype artillery rounds at Yuma Proving Ground, evaluating seeker technology designed to find targets and guide a projectile toward them.

October 20, 2026

Lithuania’s first tank crews complete Leopard 2A6 live firing as Iron Wolf brigade prepares to become a heavy combat formation

Lithuania’s first tank crews have carried out loading drills and live firing with Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks at the General Silvestras Žukauskas Training Area in Pabradė.

October 20, 2026

U.S. Army infantry soldiers fire Spike NLOS from ISV-U vehicle in first test of mobile strike capability

U.S. Army infantry soldiers fired Spike NLOS missiles from an Infantry Squad Vehicle–Utility variant during a three-day demonstration at Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah.

October 20, 2026

Sea

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The guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul returned to Naval Station Norfolk on Oct. 23, ending an 11-month deployment to Europe and the Middle East. During that time, the ship conducted combat missions in Operation Epic Fury and operated with three U.S. carrier strike groups.

USS McFaul completes 11-month deployment after combat operations with three carrier groups

October 24, 2026
Read more about USS McFaul completes 11-month deployment after combat operations with three carrier groups

Spanish Navy and Navantia develop F110 IAMD frigate with expanded air and missile defence

The Spanish Navy and Navantia are developing an F110 frigate variant with more missile-launch capacity and a larger role in defending naval forces against air and missile attacks.

October 23, 2026

Sweden orders four Bofors 57Mk3 naval guns and programmable ammunition from BAE Systems

Sweden has ordered four Bofors 57Mk3 naval guns and programmable 3P ammunition from BAE Systems Bofors, with deliveries scheduled for 2028–2029. The contract includes training and services to bring the equipment into operation, but its value has not been disclosed.

October 21, 2026

Royal Navy leads AUKUS trials of crewed and autonomous systems to track enemy submarines

The Royal Navy is leading anti-submarine warfare trials in San Diego during the largest AUKUS demonstration of interoperable maritime autonomous systems.

October 20, 2026

Seaspan Shipyards lays keel for the largest polar icebreaker ever built in Canada

Seaspan Shipyards held a ceremonial keel laying on 14 October for CCGS Imnaryuaq, the Canadian Coast Guard’s future flagship and the largest polar icebreaker ever designed and built in Canada.

October 20, 2026

General Dynamics to develop fire control for U.S. Navy’s future nuclear cruise missile on Virginia-class submarines

General Dynamics Mission Systems has received a $194 million contract modification for work on the fire control subsystem that will support the U.S. Navy’s future nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile.

October 20, 2026

HII says Zumwalt-class destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson is receiving CPS hypersonic weapons as Navy awards sea-trials contract

HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding has received a $99 million U.S. Navy contract modification to conduct sea trials for the destroyer Lyndon B. Johnson.

October 19, 2026

Space/C4ISR

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Rheinmetall and ICEYE are establishing new space-based reconnaissance capabilities for Germany through their joint venture, Rheinmetall ICEYE Space Solutions GmbH. The company said the initial partners are German NewSpace firms Reflex Aerospace, OroraTech, ConstellR and LiveEO.

Ukraine signs letter of intent with Nokia and ICEYE on sovereign satellite communications

October 23, 2026
Read more about Ukraine signs letter of intent with Nokia and ICEYE on sovereign satellite communications

Why Europe observation is now Europe’s biggest satellite market [OPINION]

Some say that the war in Ukraine is reaching its ‘endgame’; others, that Russia believes it can finally crush Ukraine this winter.

October 22, 2026

Canada expands military space launch access and funds Arctic satellite communications

Canada has signed a 10-year agreement with NordSpace to give its armed forces access to a domestic spaceport.

October 22, 2026

Saab launches Allied Mission System to monitor space threats and command operations

Saab has launched the Allied Mission System, a cloud-based platform that brings space surveillance, mission management and command and control into a single system.

October 20, 2026

BlackSky expands HEO contract with higher-resolution satellite imagery to inspect spacecraft and track other objects in orbit

BlackSky has signed a seven-figure annual contract extension with HEO, adding higher-resolution Gen-3 imagery to a service that monitors spacecraft and other objects in orbit.

October 17, 2026

SpaceX launches classified USSF-481 mission for U.S. Space Force from California, marking Vandenberg’s 70th launch of 2026

SpaceX launched the U.S. Space Force’s classified USSF-481 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on October 15.

October 17, 2026

U.S. Space Force says China and Russia are fielding counterspace weapons that threaten satellites vital to military operations

Russia and China have fielded counterspace capabilities that threaten U.S. access to satellites used for military operations and civilian services, Space Systems Command said.

October 17, 2026

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