MTQ News

Canada is considering splitting its planned purchase of 12 diesel-electric submarines equally between Germany’s TKMS Type 212CD and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean KSS-III Batch-II proposals. The option would allocate six submarines from each supplier under the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project to replace the Victoria-class fleet. A final decision could be announced as early as April 2026 as Ottawa finishes evaluating operational, industrial, and cost implications.  Read full defense news at this link... Canadian authorities are considering the option of dividing the procurement between Germany’s ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, acquiring six submarines from each supplier. (Picture source: TKMS and Hanwha Ocean) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/0FOyZJP via IFTTT

U.S. long-range strategic bombers B-52 have targeted Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure and command posts as part of Operation Epic Fury, expanding the American air campaign aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to coordinate and launch regional missile attacks. U.S. Central Command Commander Admiral Brad Cooper confirmed that a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carried out precision strikes against Iranian ballistic missile sites and command and control facilities during ongoing U.S. military operations in the region. The strike reflects a broader effort by U.S. forces to disrupt Iran’s missile launch architecture and the systems used to coordinate attacks across the Middle East. Defense officials say the operation is intended to weaken Iran’s capacity to organize missile operations targeting regional partners and U.S. interests. Read full Defense Aerospace News at this link … U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bomber takes off for a long-range strike mission as pa...

Qatar’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Qatar Emiri Air Force shot down two Iranian Su-24 strike bombers approaching national airspace during the third day of Operation Epic Fury. The same day, air defense systems also intercepted several ballistic missiles and drones targeting locations across the state. The interception marked the first confirmed destruction of an Iranian aircraft in flight since the beginning of the 2026 Iran war.  Read full defense news at this link... Iran acquired its first Su-24MK bombers from the Soviet Union around 1989 and later expanded the fleet during the 1991 Gulf War, when Iraqi pilots flew several combat aircraft to Iran to avoid destruction by coalition forces. (Picture source: Wikimedia/Shahram Sharifi) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/clPTC63 via IFTTT

  On 3 March 2026, the Czech Armed Forces announced the first operational foreign deployment of their new UH‑1Y Venom multi‑role helicopters to Poland, marking a significant contribution to NATO’s collective air defence. The rotation, carried out by the 5th Helicopter Unit Task Force from the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base at Náměšť nad Oslavou, follows the Czech Ministry of Defence’s 25 February statement confirming that H‑1 platforms would be committed in March to reinforce NATO’s eastern airspace. The mission is specifically designed to counter low‑flying drones and missiles, enhancing the protection of Polish airspace near the Ukrainian conflict zone. Read Full Defense News At This Link. Czech UH-1Y Venom helicopters have deployed to Poland in their first overseas mission to strengthen NATO air defenses against rising drone incursions near the Ukrainian border (Picture Source: Czech Armed Forces) from World Defence News https://ift.tt/XQ4d6f2 via IFTTT

The Dutch Ministry of Defence is positioning a multi-billion-dollar program to field roughly 400 tracked Armoured Combat Support Vehicles, a move that would restore protected mobility for logistics, recovery, and command functions while expanding the Army’s ability to fight under persistent drone surveillance, loitering munitions, and missile threat. Beyond simply adding vehicles, the plan is designed to rebuild the armored “backbone” that keeps mechanized formations moving and supplied in a high-intensity fight, allowing sustainment and leadership elements to operate closer to the front rather than from vulnerable rear areas. Dutch reporting indicates the project is being steered toward Van Halteren, a family-run defense manufacturer in Bunschoten-Spakenburg, with a wider national supply chain expected to participate in production, systems integration, and long-term lifecycle support. Read more... FFG’s 26-ton ACSV G5 Armoured Combat Support Vehicle combines an 8-ton payload with l...

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it destroyed a high-value early warning radar in Qatar that underpins long-range ballistic missile tracking for U.S. and partner forces, a claim that, if validated, would reduce U.S. Central Command’s sensor depth and compress reaction timelines for base defense across the Gulf. Qatar’s interior, defense, and foreign ministries stated that air defenses intercepted 65 ballistic missiles and 12 drones in the attack, while confirming two ballistic missiles impacted the U.S.-operated Al Udeid Air Base and a UAV targeted an early warning radar installation; eight people were injured by falling shrapnel. As in previous regional escalations, early battlefield damage claims may diverge from subsequent technical assessments. Read more... AN/FPS-132 Block 5 early-warning radar uses a fixed UHF phased-array to detect and continuously track ballistic missiles and space objects at very long range, generating early launch warning, trajectory and im...

The UK Ministry of Defence said a small one-way attack drone struck RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus shortly after midnight on March 2, 2026, as analysts examined whether the system resembled Iran’s Shahed-136 loitering munition, a long-range delta wing drone widely used in regional conflicts. The strike occurred only hours after Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that the United Kingdom would authorize the United States to use selected British bases for defensive operations targeting Iranian missile launchers and storage facilities, placing the incident within a fast-moving cycle of action and response involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. Read more.  Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets are ready to take off from RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus (Picture source: UK MoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/BZFMjG2 via IFTTT

Belgian armed forces have intercepted and seized the oil tanker Ethera in the North Sea in what officials describe as a coordinated interdiction supported by France, marking Belgium’s first direct confiscation of a vessel linked to Russia’s shadow fleet. The tanker is now under armed escort to the port of Zeebrugge, where it will be formally impounded under European Union sanctions authorities. The action represents a shift from administrative penalties and monitoring toward operational maritime enforcement, underscoring growing European resolve to curb sanctioned Russian energy exports. By physically diverting and detaining the vessel at sea, Belgium has transformed sanctions policy into a visible show of naval and coast guard capability in one of Europe’s busiest shipping corridors. Read full Naval News at this link … Belgian troops conduct an airborne boarding of the sanctioned tanker Ethera in the North Sea as part of Operation Blue Intruder, marking Belgium’s first seizure ...

 On 1 March 2026, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) released an unclassified video on X showing an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launching tactical ballistic missiles toward targets in Iran as part of Operation Epic Fury. The accompanying message stated that the Iranian leadership had been warned and described the action as “swift and decisive,” underlining that the strikes were carried out under presidential direction. The footage offers a rare, officially sanctioned view of ground-launched deep-strike systems being employed in the opening phase of a major US-led operation, conducted jointly with the United States’ ally Israel.  Read Full Defense News At This Link. U.S. Central Command released unclassified footage showing an M142 HIMARS launching ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles toward targets in Iran during the opening phase of Operation Epic Fury, underscoring the use of U.S. ground-based deep strike capabilities in a joint action with Israel (...

  On 25 February 2026, Norway and the United Kingdom formalised a new helicopter cooperation agreement that allows British military helicopters to operate routinely from Norwegian naval and coast guard vessels, as well as from Norwegian bases. The accord is presented by the Norwegian Armed Forces (Forsvaret) as a follow-on to the “Lunna House” defence agreement signed in December, deepening integration between the two countries’ maritime forces and addressing Norway’s current lack of organic shipborne helicopters. According to Forsvaret, the deal signed by Rear Admiral Oliver Berdal and the First Sea Lord, General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, is intended to hard-wire British rotary-wing capabilities into Norwegian-led operations in the High North and North Atlantic. This official Norwegian source frames the agreement as both a practical measure to cover a capability gap and a significant contribution to NATO’s collective defence posture in the region. Read Full Defense News At This Link. ...

On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israeli forces initiated Operation Epic Fury, executing coordinated multi-domain precision strikes against Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure after Iran fired missiles into Israeli territory earlier in the day. According to defense officials, the campaign is designed to dismantle Tehran’s ballistic missile architecture while disrupting sensitive nuclear development layers that could support a weapons capability. This marks a calculated shift from deterrence signaling to direct suppression of Iran’s long-range strike network and enriched material pathways, with strikes focused on command and control nodes, launch complexes, hardened protection layers, and nuclear support facilities. Rather than a limited retaliatory action, Operation Epic Fury is structured as a systemic attack on the pillars underpinning Iran’s strategic deterrent posture, reflecting a broader effort to reshape the regional security environment and constrain Tehran’s...

 On Thursday, February 26, 2026, Romanian and allied fighter jets were scrambled twice within a few hours after Russian drones operating against Ukrainian Danube ports approached and briefly violated Romanian airspace, the Romanian Ministry of National Defence (MApN) said, as reported AGERPRES. The incident unfolded over the northern part of Tulcea County and the area north of Sulina, at a time when Russia has intensified its long-range drone campaign against Ukrainian infrastructure along the Danube. By forcing Romanian F-16s and NATO Eurofighter Typhoons into real interception missions, the episode turned the Black Sea frontier into a concrete test of the Alliance’s air policing posture. For Bucharest and its allies, it underlined how attacks directed at Ukraine are increasingly brushing against NATO territory and probing the eastern flank’s ability to react.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Romanian F-16s and NATO Eurofighters were scrambled twice after Ru...

France’s aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle entered Swedish waters to sharpen NATO’s northern warfighting posture, but the deployment’s most telling moment came when Swedish forces electronically neutralized a suspected Russian drone closing on the carrier while it was alongside in Malmö, highlighting both the vulnerability of major naval assets to persistent reconnaissance and the growing importance of host-nation electronic warfare and airspace control in the Baltic’s tight chokepoints, where surveillance, electronic attack, and strategic signaling increasingly shape day-to-day competition.   Read more... Swedish forces jammed a suspected Russian drone that approached France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle while it was alongside in Malmö during NATO-linked drills, highlighting the Baltic’s growing role as a contested space for reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and deterrence against Russian gray-zone pressure (Picture source: U.S. Navy). from Worl...

At Enforce Tac 2026 in Germany, Girsan, the main supplier of pistols to the Turkish Armed Forces, unveiled a prototype rifle based on the AK-47 platform. The Turkish company told Army Recognition that it is targeting a market launch in 2027 for this future project. However, technical specifications and intended customer segments were not disclosed at that stage.  Read full defense news at this link... The AK-47 platform combines unmatched battlefield reliability with manufacturing simplicity, global logistics compatibility, cost-effectiveness, and long-term upgrade adaptability. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/3UT8Wpk via IFTTT

At Enforce Tac 2026, the Norwegian company Eelume presented its Eelume S autonomous underwater vehicle configured for mine countermeasure missions in coastal and confined seabed environments. The articulated AUV integrates sonar and optical sensors to perform detection, classification, and identification within a single platform. With a range up to 64 km, the Eelume S targets operations in shallow waters, harbors, slopes, and high-relief terrain where conventional AUVs and minehunting vessels face maneuverability constraints.  Read full defense news at this link... The Eeelume S keeps personnel and crewed vessels out of minefields by reducing reliance on crewed minesweeping and by limiting the need for separate remotely operated vehicle operations during identification. (Picture source: Army Recognition) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/PX9MNpH via IFTTT

Army Recognition is appointed as the official media partner for BEDEX 2026, providing the Official Online Show Daily News and Web TV, positioning our editorial team at the center of a new European venue where industrial solutions, operational requirements, and alliance-level defense priorities are set to converge. This partnership goes beyond simple visibility. BEDEX is structured to bring together decision-makers, uniformed stakeholders, and manufacturers within the institutional environment of Brussels, in close proximity to NATO and EU defense structures, creating a concentrated platform where capability gaps, acquisition priorities, and interoperability challenges can be identified and analyzed in real time. Read more... BEDEX 2026 at Brussels Expo will gather European defense leaders, industry innovators, and military decision-makers, with Army Recognition serving as Official Media Partner, providing Daily News and Web TV coverage from the show floor (Picture source: BEDEX/ Arm...

On February 24, 2026, Türkiye inducted the Sancar armed unmanned surface vehicle into Turkish Naval Forces service with a maximum speed above 40 knots and a range of 400 nautical miles. The Sancar was developed by Havelsan with Yonca Onuk Shipyard and integrates national combat management software. Officials linked the induction to efforts to reduce foreign dependence in defense systems, while supporting autonomous operations, missile integration, NATO-compatible systems, and network-enabled naval command structures.  Read full defense news at this link... Developed by Havelsan in cooperation with Yonca-Onuk Shipyard, the Sancar is equipped with a 12.7 mm Stamp-2 stabilized remote weapon station, which could be fitted with tactical missiles such as the UMTAS and L-UMTAS. (Picture source: Havelsan) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/T9dMv4u via IFTTT

Russia’s 90th Guards Tank Division is preparing BMPT “Terminator” crews for combat employment, refining a specialized armored fire-support capability intended to shield tank formations and assist assault troops under the conditions of high-density anti-armor fires and pervasive reconnaissance now defining the war in Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the crews belong to a guards tank regiment within the division, which operates under Russia’s “Center” grouping, and that the training cycle concentrates on rapid engagement and concealment techniques designed to reduce exposure time while delivering heavy suppressive fire. The emphasis on speed to the firing line, rapid target servicing, and immediate displacement reflects a battlefield where drones, artillery, and loitering munitions punish static positions, and where armored formations must suppress dismounted anti-tank teams before they can cue follow-on strikes. Read more... Russia’s BMPT “Terminator” is a heavily armore...

The Pentagon is exploring a floating nuclear power plant concept that could give U.S. military bases a rapid, high-output source of electricity to sustain AI-era operations when civilian grids are strained, disrupted, or targeted. The proposal under discussion would place a reactor aboard a ship-like platform moored at a waterside installation, then connect it to the base and local grid, potentially shortening fielding timelines by using Defense Department authorities rather than the civilian licensing pathway. The prospect points to a widening defense problem: power is becoming a limiting factor for command-and-control, sensor networks, cyber operations, and the compute-heavy infrastructure required to train and run military AI tools. The effort centers on talks with UK-based Core Power and an initial deployment window as early as 2028. Read more... Pentagon officials are considering deploying a 300 MW floating nuclear power plant at a U.S. military base by 2028 to strengthen energ...

The German Army has taken delivery of its first five Patria 6x6 armored vehicles, a seemingly modest handover that nevertheless signals the opening move in a wider transformation of how the Bundeswehr’s combat support units will deploy, survive, and sustain tempo under NATO’s renewed focus on high-intensity land warfare. These initial platforms are pre-series vehicles, delivered early to begin operator training, maintenance familiarization, and the technical verification work needed before serial production ramps. Handed over at the Zeithain material depot by Patria Deutschland leadership under the oversight of the Bundeswehr procurement agency BAAINBw, the first tranche is designed to seed the training pipeline and accelerate readiness, ensuring that crews, mechanics, and unit commanders can validate tactics, mission-kit integration, and sustainment routines ahead of the larger fleet that will follow. Read more... Germany’s Patria 6x6 delivers protected, amphibious mobility with mo...

On February 22, 2026, the Financial Times revealed that Iran finalized a secret €500 million agreement with Russia’s Rosoboronexport for 500 9K333 Verba MANPADS launchers, 2,500 9M336 surface-to-air missiles, and associated night vision equipment. The contract was reportedly signed in Moscow in December 2025 and foresees deliveries between 2027 and 2029, although a smaller number of systems may have been transferred earlier. The purchase follows recent U.S.–Israel strikes, heightened U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, and ongoing U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations.  Read full defense news at this link... The Russian-made 9K333 Verba MANPADS is a shoulder-fired air defense system designed to engage aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and UAVs at ranges of 500 m to 6–6.5 km and altitudes up to 4.5 km, with reaction time under 8 seconds and average speeds exceeding 600 m/s. (Picture source: Russian MoD) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/xIafR7c...

  On 21 February 2026, footage and statements released by Baykar Technologies on its official X account confirmed that the Bayraktar AKINCI Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle had carried out its first successful air-to-air engagement using the EREN High-Speed Multi-Purpose Loitering Munition, destroying a target drone over the Black Sea off Sinop. The test comes at a moment when Türkiye has consolidated its position as the world’s leading exporter of armed UAVs and when allied airspace is increasingly challenged by massed kamikaze drones and cruise-missile-like threats on the eastern flank. By transforming a long-endurance strike UCAV into a cost-effective “drone killer” equipped with a turbojet-powered interceptor, Ankara has taken a visible step in rewriting the economics and tactics of air defence. For NATO planners, the demonstration points to a future in which persistent unmanned patrols complement manned fighters and ground-based air defence systems in a layered, networked shield...

L3Harris Technologies announced on February 18, 2026, that it secured its largest full-rate production contract for U.S. Navy submarine communications systems, following an award from General Dynamics Electric Boat. The agreement calls for delivery of 26 shipsets for Virginia-class nuclear-powered attack submarines and Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, with production extending through 2033. The communications suites, which enable secure, survivable connectivity between submerged platforms and national command authorities, form a critical part of both conventional undersea operations and the sea-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad. Read more.   Pre-Commissioning Unit New Jersey (SSN 796), a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine, arrives at Naval Weapons Station Earle on September 6, 2024 (Picture source: US DoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/BDXjJFS via IFTTT

The U.S. Army Security Assistance Command on February 20, 2026, delivered the first two AH-64E Apache attack helicopters to Australia, initiating a 29-aircraft procurement under Project Land 4503, as reported by Terri Stover. The transfer, executed through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework, formalizes the Australian Army’s shift from the Airbus Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter to Boeing’s latest Apache Guardian configuration. The handover comes as Canberra accelerates land force modernization with a focus on long-range precision strike, improved networked targeting, and expeditionary operations across the Indo-Pacific littoral environment. Read more.  Australia’s first AH-64E Apache attack helicopters commenced flying operations in Townsville on 27 November 2025 (Picture source: Australian MoD) Read full Defense news.  from World Defence News https://ift.tt/nfxJDN9 via IFTTT

The French Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Marine nationale confirmed on February 19, 2026, that the Jeanne d’Arc 2026 task group has sailed from Toulon for a five-month deployment stretching from the Mediterranean into the Red Sea, East Africa, the Indian Ocean and onward to the Indo-Pacific. Built around the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship Dixmude (L9015) and escorted by the La Fayette-class stealth frigate Aconit (F713), the mission blends the traditional formation of naval officers with a more pointed operational signal: France is rehearsing joint power projection under the same maritime security pressures that now define key sea lanes across three continents. Read more... Dixmude is a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, combining a six-spot flight deck and hangar for a mixed helicopter and drone air wing with a well deck for EDA landing craft, while also serving as a floating command post and hospital for expeditionary operations (Picture source: Marine Nationale)...

Rostec disclosed on February 20, 2026, that Uralvagonzavod has delivered a new batch of modernized BREM-80 armored repair and recovery vehicles to Russia’s Ministry of Defense ahead of Defender of the Fatherland Day. The company frames the upgrade package as a direct response to battlefield realities in Ukraine, where recovery crews operate under constant pressure from drones, artillery, and loitering munitions. The most consequential changes center on improved crew protection and a mechanized coupling system that lets operators attach, hook up, and begin towing damaged armor without stepping outside the vehicle, reducing exposure during the most vulnerable moments of a recovery mission. Read more... Modernized BREM-80 T-80-based armored recovery vehicle with heavy winches, a 18-ton-class crane, a dozer-spade anchor, and a mechanized coupling for rapid under-armor towing and extraction under drone and artillery threat (Picture source: Army Recognition Group). from World Defen...

Rheinmetall released live-fire footage on February 19, 2026, highlighting its FV-014 loitering munition during a customer-facing trial at Germany’s National Test Centre for Unmanned Aerial Systems in Cochstedt. The 20-kilogram fixed-wing drone carries a 5-kilogram high-explosive dual-purpose warhead capable of penetrating more than 600 millimeters of rolled homogeneous armor and striking targets at ranges up to 100 kilometers. Designed for brigade and battalion-level operations, the system demonstrated dynamic strike profiles against armored vehicles, artillery, and command posts while maintaining human-in-the-loop control. Rheinmetall says the FV-014 is engineered to operate in GNSS-denied and electronically contested environments, reflecting battlefield lessons from Ukraine. The company also emphasizes scalable production using modular architecture and commercial components, signaling Europe’s intent to field sovereign, high-volume loitering strike capabilities aligned with NATO doct...

Denmark has quietly taken another step away from the post-Cold War comfort zone and back toward the hard mathematics of industrial war. A contract notice published on the European Union’s Tenders Electronic Daily (TED) on February 17, 2026, shows the Danish Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (DALO) awarding EUR 213.7 million to Excalibur International a.s. for 120 mm mortar ammunition and 155 mm artillery ammunition. The procurement was handled under an accelerated process justified on essential national security grounds, with Copenhagen prioritizing delivery speed, operational suitability and ammunition-technical quality, and price after receiving bids from three economic operators in autumn 2025. Read more... Denmark’s DALO awarded Excalibur a EUR 213.7 million deal for 120 mm and 155 mm ammunition to rebuild war reserves for Cardom 10 mortars and ATMOS howitzers, mirroring Europe’s push to restock for high-intensity conflict (Picture source: Army Recognition Edit). ...

Israel Aerospace Industries is preparing to bring the Arrow 4 interceptor into operational service within the coming months, according to CEO Boaz Levy, who spoke at a defense conference in Tel Aviv on February 17, 2026, as first reported by The Jerusalem Post. Levy linked the program’s progress to Israel’s preparation for future high-intensity conflict, citing the ballistic missile exchanges with Iran in 2024 and 2025 as a catalyst for accelerating advanced air defense capabilities. His remarks indicate that major development benchmarks have been achieved and that integration with the Israel Defense Forces air defense command network is moving toward field readiness, positioning Arrow 4 as the next layer in Israel’s multi-tiered missile shield alongside Arrow 2 and Arrow 3. Read more.  The Arrow 4 is intended to counter advanced ballistic missile threats, including maneuvering reentry vehicles and potentially certain hypersonic glide vehicles (Picture source: IAI) Re...

On February 16, 2026, the Greek company Theon International Plc reported its preliminary financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, confirming record revenue and profit in its 28-year history. Order intake increased 182 percent to €1.3139 billion, while revenue rose 25.9 percent to €443.5 million. The company entered 2026 with a backlog of €1.4143 billion and revenue guidance of €570 to €600 million.  Read full defense news at this link.... Theon International Plc reported its preliminary financial results for the year ended December 31, 2025, in which order intake increased 182 percent to €1.3139 billion, while revenue rose 25.9 percent to €443.5 million. (Picture source: Theon) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/aexpYD1 via IFTTT

 On 9 February 2026, Russia’s KBP Instrument Design Bureau presented the KH-UAV air-launched guided missile for unmanned aerial vehicles at the World Defense Show in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The biennial exhibition, organized under the authority of Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Military Industries, is positioned as a platform for defense procurement dialogue and industrial cooperation across air, land, sea, space, and security domains. The KH-UAV’s presence reflects the continuing shift toward UAV-enabled precision strike, where armed forces seek persistent surveillance paired with rapid, controlled engagement options. In a regional market shaped by multi-domain modernization and high readiness requirements, compact UAV munitions have become a key indicator of how suppliers intend to address operational demand for scalable precision effects.  Read Full Defense News At This Link.  Russia’s KBP Instrument Design Bureau unveiled the KH-UAV, a compact ...

Rostec, the Russian state-owned industrial conglomerate, has confirmed a fresh shipment of BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles to Russia’s Ministry of Defence, dated 28 January 2026, and framed the delivery as part of an accelerated production tempo, with January output reportedly running 40 percent above plan. The state conglomerate says these vehicles reflect direct battlefield feedback from Ukraine, integrating a newer onboard electronic warfare suite, strengthened underbody protection, and improved anti-fragment resistance to the hull’s front and rear arcs. In Rostec’s telling, the “standard configuration” now leaving the factory floor is no longer the pre-war BMP-3 baseline, but a wartime-evolved package shaped by four years of attrition, drones, mines, and artillery fragmentation. Read more... BMP-3 armament pairs a 100 mm gun-launcher firing HE rounds and guided missiles with a 30 mm autocannon and 7.62 mm machine guns, giving Russian crews a single platform for close infantry s...

In an interview with Breaking Defense on February 13, 2026, Belgium's Defence Minister Theo Francken confirmed that Belgium intends to sign a contract this year with Lockheed Martin for 11 additional F-35A fighter jets, raising the total planned fleet to 45 units. The procurement builds on the 34 F-35As acquired through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales mechanism and incorporated into the government’s July 2025 strategic defence vision for 2026 to 2034. Belgian authorities are assessing final assembly at Cameri Air Base in Italy to increase European industrial participation and align with EU defence financing criteria.  Read full defense news at this link... Within the global F-35 supply chain, Belgian companies supply structural components, titanium fittings, horizontal tail elements, fuselage longerons, engine components, and logistics software. (Picture source: Belgian Air Force) Read more... from World Defence News https://ift.tt/8Nfu2SL via IFTTT

Bulgaria’s Ministry of Defense announced that the first shipment of Stryker armored combat vehicles reached the Port of Burgas on February 14, marking a significant milestone in the restructuring of the Bulgarian Land Forces. The initial batch includes five Stryker vehicles delivered from the United States and Canada under intergovernmental agreements tied to Sofia’s long-planned modernization strategy. Officials described the arrival as a concrete step toward standardizing equipment with NATO allies, replacing legacy Soviet era platforms and enhancing interoperability within multinational formations. Read more.  U.S. Army M1296 Stryker Dragoon from the 2nd Cavalry Regiment establishes a screening position during Dragoon Ready 23 at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, January 27, 2023. Bulgaria’s future fleet will include 90 XM1296 Dragoon variants armed with a 30 mm cannon. (Picture source: U.S DoD) Read full Defense news.  fr...