Croatia Reintroduces Mandatory Military Conscription After 17-Year Suspension

Croatia has officially reintroduced mandatory military conscription, ending a suspension that has been in place since 2008. The new system will require young men to undergo short-term military training while offering civilian service alternatives.

DAF, Tatra, and VDL Unveil New 6×6 Military Logistics Truck at BEDEX 2026

DAF Trucks, Tatra Trucks, and VDL Groep are presenting a new 6×6 military logistics truck at BEDEX 2026 in Brussels. The vehicle combines DAF powertrain components, a Tatra off-road chassis design, and a VDL-developed cargo body.

Croatia’s Orqa Raises $14.7M Series A, Expands Toward U.S. Defense Market

Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa has secured $14.7 million in Series A funding to scale production and expand into the United States defense market. The company also signed a cooperation agreement with Red River Army Depot to support U.S.-based manufacturing.

AYMO Ventures Invests in Croatian FPV Drone Developer Orqa

Croatian venture capital firm AYMO Ventures has invested in Orqa, a developer and manufacturer of First Person View (FPV) drone systems. The investment marks the first time a Croatian VC has backed the Osijek-based company.

EU to Sign Defense Partnerships with Australia, Iceland, and Ghana

The European Union plans to formalize new security and defense partnerships with Australia, Iceland, and Ghana this week. The agreements are intended to expand the EU’s network of international security cooperation amid rising geopolitical risks.

SIPRI: Global Arms Imports Rise 10% as U.S. Expands Dominance in Exports

Global arms imports increased by roughly 10 percent over the past five years, according to new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The United States accounted for nearly half of all weapons exports during the period.

KNDS Positions for Expanded Defense Contracts as Europe Increases Military Spending

KNDS is positioning itself for a larger share of European defense procurement as governments accelerate military modernization programs. The Franco-German land systems manufacturer expects increased demand across armored vehicles, artillery, and ammunition.

Europe Is Rebuilding Its Defense Industry After Decades of Underinvestment

European governments are rebuilding the continent’s defense-industrial base after decades of underinvestment and shrinking production capacity. Rising defense budgets are beginning to translate into expanded manufacturing and long-term procurement plans.

Serbia Issues 15 Defense Production Licenses, Expanding Domestic Industrial Base

Serbia’s Ministry of Defense has issued 15 licenses for the production of weapons and military equipment in 2025 to companies that met regulatory requirements. Most approvals involved renewals of existing permits, while two companies received licenses for the first time.

Lithuania Approves 2026 Defense Funding, Plans Local Leopard 2A8 Assembly

Lithuania has approved €710.5 million from its State Defence Fund for 2026 to support military capability development and infrastructure projects. The package includes plans for the local assembly of Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks in Kaunas.

PGZ to Invest €177 Million in Jelcz Production Expansion

Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa has signed an investment agreement to recapitalize military truck manufacturer Jelcz with approximately €177 million. The funding will support construction of a new factory and expansion of production capacity.

EIF commits €50 million to Join Capital Fund III to support European defence and dual-use deeptech

The European Investment Fund has committed €50 million to Join Capital’s third venture capital fund through the InvestEU Defence Equity Facility. The fund will target early-stage European startups developing dual-use technologies for defence, security, and space.