Regions & Conflicts

Dutch and Norwegian F-35s Deploy to Poland to Secure Ukraine Supply Lines

Dutch and Norwegian F-35s Deploy to Poland to Secure Ukraine Supply Lines

The Netherlands and Norway will send their F-35 fighter jets to Poland from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 under NATO command. The mission’s single goal is to keep the air route open for trucks, trains, and aircraft carrying weapons and spare parts to Ukraine. The Dutch defense ministry announced the move on Monday, and Oslo confirmed its participation hours later.

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Japan Negotiates Transfer of Abukuma-Class Destroyers and TC-90 Surveillance Aircraft to the Philippines

Japan Negotiates Transfer of Abukuma-Class Destroyers and TC-90 Surveillance Aircraft to the Philippines

Tokyo and Manila are negotiating the transfer of six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts and additional Beechcraft King Air TC-90 maritime surveillance aircraft. Philippine Navy chief Vice Adm. Jose Ma. Ambrosio Ezpeleta says discussions started after Japan signaled its plan to retire the 35-year-old ships.

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Raytheon Secures $250 Million ESSM Block 2 Production Deal with Japan’s MELCO

Raytheon Secures $250 Million ESSM Block 2 Production Deal with Japan’s MELCO

Raytheon, an RTX business, has clinched a $250 million direct-commercial-sale contract with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. The agreement sets the stage for licensed production of the Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile Block 2 (ESSM B2) at MELCO’s Komaki-North complex. According to industry sources, the package is the largest single ESSM commitment Tokyo has placed since joining the NATO Seasparrow program.

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How US Defense Contractors Can Win Big in Europe’s €800 Billion Spending Surge

How US Defense Contractors Can Win Big in Europe’s €800 Billion Spending Surge

European governments just backed the most aggressive defense-spending target in NATO history. NATO leaders left The Hague with a pledge to lift defense spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product. The commitment came only days after several EU capitals pushed double-digit increases through their 2025 draft budgets. Germany alone confirmed a rise from €95 billion to €162 billion within four years.

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Denmark and Sweden Join NATO’s A330 MRTT Pool in 12-Jet Fleet Expansion

Denmark and Sweden Join NATO’s A330 MRTT Pool in 12-Jet Fleet Expansion

The Multinational MRTT Fleet (MMF) just secured two more Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transports. The contract, signed on 24 June 2025 at the NATO Defence Industry Forum in The Hague, brings the pooled inventory from ten planned aircraft to twelve. Defense officials confirm that Denmark and Sweden joined the program the same day, making eight member states in total. The newcomers will fund and fly the extra jets under the established cost-sharing formula.

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Sweden Signs $900 M IRIS-T SLM Deal via European Sky Shield Initiative

Sweden Signs $900 M IRIS-T SLM Deal via European Sky Shield Initiative

Sweden has taken its first big equipment step as a NATO ally. On 24 June 2025 the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) confirmed a €830 million (≈ SEK 9 billion, $900 million) order for seven IRIS-T SLM fire units. Diehl Defence will produce the systems, but German procurement authorities signed on Stockholm’s behalf under the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). Defense officials confirm that the contract will give Sweden a medium-range layer able to defend army brigades and the Gotland battlegroup against cruise missiles, helicopters, drones, and fixed-wing aircraft.

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