ASD
Two major Central European defence manufacturers, the Czech-based Czechoslovak Group and Poland’s WB Group, have been admitted as full members of the Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD).
Germany
Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners has initiated a €500 million investment fund to accelerate European defence, security, and dual-use technology companies. Project Liberty targets growth-stage firms with NATO-aligned relevance, addressing capability and resilience gaps across Europe.
Industry
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s TRB is intensifying cooperation with Turkish defense firms while seeking broader international engagement. The company is leveraging partnerships with major Turkish suppliers to enhance its product range and competitiveness.
Czech Republic
The Czech Ministry of Defense has approved a €213 million investment to modernize Čáslav Air Base, the country’s primary fighter operating location. The project targets infrastructure upgrades essential for national air defense and NATO missions.
Austria
Austrian small arms manufacturer STEYR ARMS GmbH has appointed Petr Šnobl as its new Chief Operating Officer. The company said the move is intended to strengthen operational management and support its ongoing industrial development.
Portugal
Portugal will host the European Defence Agency’s Operational Experimentation Campaign (OPEX) in 2026, focusing on testing emerging defense technologies in realistic operational conditions. The campaign is intended to support EU capability development priorities.
NATO
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has called on European states to rapidly increase domestic defense production while continuing large-scale purchases of U.S. weapons systems. He argued that Europe’s industrial capacity cannot yet meet operational demand.
Kosovo
A private Kosovar drone manufacturer has begun producing four distinct unmanned aerial vehicle types domestically, covering small FPV platforms to larger tactical systems.
Czech Republic
Czechoslovak Group (CSG), a major Czech defence manufacturer, has revealed intentions to proceed with a public listing on Euronext Amsterdam, targeting one of Europe’s largest defence sector IPOs in 2026. The offering could potentially raise over €3 billion.
Slovenia
Slovenia assumed the one-year rotating presidency of the Central European Defence Cooperation (CEDC) initiative on 1 January, a platform aimed at reinforcing defence cooperation among Central European states within EU and NATO frameworks.
Germany
German defence software firm Helsing has acquired Barcelona-based robotics startup Keybotic, marking another step in Europe’s effort to build indigenous defence technology capabilities and reduce reliance on external suppliers.
Croatia
France’s Minister Delegate for Europe visited Croatian unmanned systems manufacturer DOK-ING in Zagreb, underscoring growing interest in European industrial capabilities for security, defense, and resilience.
