GFP 2025
The Global Firepower (GFP) 2025 Military Strength Ranking places Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and Southeastern Europe (SEE) in a sharply divided position: a handful of frontline states are rising in global relevance, while much of the Western Balkans remains near the bottom of the list.
Belgium
Belgium has contracted KNDS Deutschland to deliver a new generation of wheeled Leguan bridge-laying systems to support its combat engineering units. The program includes multiple bridge carriers, spare bridges, and associated support equipment.
Germany
The British Army’s Challenger 3 main battle tank has completed its first live firing trials with a crew aboard, advancing the programme toward operational capability.
Dimdex 2026
Croatian drone manufacturer Orqa has signed a memorandum of understanding with Qatar’s Barzan Holdings during DIMDEX in Doha. The agreement explores localized drone manufacturing as part of Orqa’s global production scaling strategy.
Netherlands
Operational readiness is hardest to sustain when deployment tempo, instructor capacity, and training infrastructure constraints collide. As operational environments become more distributed, the gap between where forces operate and where they traditionally train continues to widen.
Italy
South Korea and Italy have agreed to deepen cooperation in the defense sector as part of a broader effort to strengthen strategic ties. The decision reflects shared interest in advanced technologies, industrial collaboration, and security-related supply chains.
France
French automotive group Renault has committed to partnering with Turgis & Gaillard to develop military drones, marking its first movement into defense manufacturing under the oversight of France’s defense procurement authority.
Croatia
Croatian defence firms and government officials have highlighted domestic unmanned systems and explored industrial cooperation at DIMDEX 2026 in Doha. A memorandum with a Qatari defence group aims to localise production of Croatian drone technology in the Gulf.
Latvia
Ukraine and Latvia have reviewed bilateral military cooperation plans for 2026, focusing on continued military assistance and expanded defence-industrial engagement. Discussions also addressed Latvia’s long-term support commitments and coordination ahead of upcoming international defence meetings.
Bulgaria
Teledyne FLIR Defense has been awarded a contract valued at up to $32 million to supply reconnaissance sensor systems for Bulgarian Army Stryker vehicles. The program supports Bulgaria’s ongoing land forces modernization and enhances interoperability within NATO formations.
SPAIN
EDGE Group and Indra have agreed to create a new jointly owned company in Spain focused on the development and production of loitering munitions. The initiative is intended to support European demand while strengthening Spain’s role in advanced guided weapons manufacturing.
EU SAFE
The European Commission has approved national defence investment plans from eight EU member states, unlocking access to approximately €38 billion in long-term, low-interest loans under the bloc’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) framework.
