Türkiye raises its defence expenditure to 2 trillion lira
As NATO members pay more, Türkiye's 2026 budget sets aside 2.15 trillion lira for defence and homeland security. This is a 33.9% increase from 2025.
Defence News
Country
Ammunition
Scorpio-XR extends artillery reach beyond Excalibur
The US Army and BAE Systems tested the new Scorpio-XR projectile, achieving longer range and precision than Excalibur in a major step for future artillery.
Air
Germany and Airbus sign an agreement for the Eurofighter Tranche 5
Germany has agreed to buy 20 Eurofighter planes from Airbus in the latest Tranche 5 configuration. The planes will be delivered between 2031 and 2034.
Navy / Maritime
Unmanned Systems
STM Demonstrates Unmanned Teaming to Counter Drifting Mines
STM has demonstrated the teaming of the TOGAN scout UAV and KARGU kamikaze UAV with ASELSAN-SEFİNE MARLIN USV to neutralise drifting mines at a NATO event.
Navy / Maritime
Weapon / Missile
Diehl Integrates Palletised IRIS-T SLM on F125 Frigates
German Diehl Defence announced the integration of a IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defence launcher module on an F125 (Baden-Württemberg-class) frigate.
Air
Unmanned Systems
SAVX’s Modular MERKÜT FPV Kamikaze UAV Enters Inventory
Day/Night-capable MERKÜT FPV, developed by TİTRA’s subsidiary SAVX, has entered the inventory of the Turkish security forces and the serial production stage.
Land
Ammunition
General Atomics Tests 155 mm LRMP From M777 Howitzer
General Atomics announced the test of its new long-range 155 mm artillery round, Long-Range Manoeuvring Projectile (LRMP), from a M777 towed howitzer.
Air
Logistics
UK begins pre-delivery overhaul for TurAF’s 12 C-130Js
Turkiye receives Royal Air Force’s retired extended-fuselage C-130J-30 transport aircraft. The pre-delivery maintenance has begun in the United Kingdom .
Air
Bangladesh Air Force modernization clouded by uncertainty
Bangladesh’s Armed Forces Modernisation plans remain unclear amid conflicting reports of aircraft purchases, economic limits, and shifting regional alliances.
Navy / Maritime
ARES Shipyard cuts steel for first ARES 18 SAR Boat
ARES Shipyard announced that it has commenced production of the first ARES 18 Search and Rescue (SAR) Boat under a contract for 16 vessels to be built.
Air
Unmanned Systems
Saudi AKINCI UCAV Operators Graduate from the Training
Baykar announced the graduation of Saudi Air Force operators from the 21st training programme for AKINCI UCAV on social media, showing RSAF AKINCIs as well.
Weapon / Missile
Kacır; SOM-J achieves full engagement on sea target test
TÜBİTAK SAGE completes a new live-fire test with the SOM-J cruise missile, achieving full engagement against a surface target after a low-altitude sea-skimming.
Air
Unmanned Systems
Sikorsky Introduces U-Hawk Unmanned Utility Helicopter
Following the tests with the MATRIX autonomy kit on the UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter for unmanned use, Sikorsky unveiled the U-Hawk as the finalised solution.
Air
Unmanned Systems
Italy’s €3.2B Drone Plan Hints at Baykar Partnership
Italy’s new air force defence plan allocates €3.2 billion for unmanned systems, with €2.4 billion for armed UAVs that may involve Leonardo-Baykar Aerospace.
Global Defence Trend Brief
- 09:00 NATO selects Saab GlobalEye to replace its ageing AWACS fleet - NATO is expected to announce the acquisition of Saab GlobalEye aircraft at the Ankara Summit, markin...
- 09:00 European allies replace most US capability cuts in NATO plans - European NATO members have filled almost all capability gaps created by recent US force reductions,...
- 09:00 European defence startups attract record levels of private capital - Quantum Systems' $1.2 billion funding round highlights strong investor appetite for European defence...
- 09:00 Britain places autonomous systems at the centre of future force design - The UK's Defence Investment Plan allocates £5 billion to drones and autonomous systems while introdu...
- 09:00 Counter-drone procurement shifts toward integrated layered defence - Military organisations are increasingly procuring architectures that combine radar, electronic warfa...
- 09:00 Autonomous maritime systems expand role in critical infrastructure security - Navies are broadening deployment of autonomous surface and underwater vehicles to monitor undersea c...
- 09:00 Hypersonic threats sustain investment in persistent tracking networks - Defence agencies continue expanding integrated radar and space-based sensor architectures capable of...
- 09:00 Distributed satellite constellations become the preferred military model - Armed forces are increasingly replacing reliance on a few high-value satellites with proliferated co...
- 09:00 Collaborative combat aircraft move from demonstration to procurement - Air forces are transitioning loyal wingman and collaborative combat aircraft programmes from technol...
- 09:00 Industrial production capacity becomes a strategic military capability - Governments increasingly view manufacturing scalability, delivery speed and secure supply chains as...
