Romania
Slovakia to Send Low-Altitude Radars to Romania’s Border
Slovakia will deploy low-altitude radars and personnel to Romania as Bucharest strengthens surveillance along its eastern border after repeated drone incidents.
Air Defense
Lithuania
Lithuania Fast-Tracks Drone Interceptors and New Radars
Lithuania will fast-track interceptor drones and short-range and passive radars as Vilnius builds a lower-cost defense layer against small aerial threats.
Romania
Romania Reports 43 Drone Incursions as Black Sea Threat Grows
Romania has recorded 43 unauthorized drone incursions since the Ukraine war began, including 25 in 2026, as pressure grows along NATO’s Black Sea flank.
Greece
Greece to Sign €3 Billion Achilles Shield Deal With Israel
Greece and Israel are set to sign agreements for the €3 billion Achilles Shield air and missile defense network in Tel Aviv on August 31.
Austria
Austria's €2.5B Air Defense Race: Who Can Challenge IRIS-T?
Austria plans a €2.5 billion medium-range air defense purchase. IRIS-T has an early advantage, but at least six suppliers may fit the requirement.
CEE
Russian Drone Spillover Tests NATO Eastern Flank Defenses
Romania and the Baltic states face rising drone incursions as the Ukraine war increasingly tests NATO air defenses from the Black Sea to the Baltic.
Analysis
The Next Air Defense Operator May Be a Private Company
Erik Prince’s Vectus is testing whether critical infrastructure can buy air defense as a managed service. Europe could become a key test for the model.
Poland
Poland Leads €1.9 Billion Piorun Air Defense Procurement
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Norway plan to procure thousands of Piorun missiles under a SAFE-backed framework exceeding PLN 8 billion.
Italy
Italy Eyes 5,031 APKWS II Kits for Eurofighter Drone Defense
Italy is evaluating 5,031 APKWS II guidance kits worth up to $364 million as a lower-cost counter-drone weapon, potentially for its Eurofighter fleet.
Ukraine
EU’s €6.1 Billion Ukraine Plan Tests Europe’s Defense Industry
The EU approved €6.1 billion for Ukraine’s defense needs, putting Europe’s missile, air defense, radar and counter-UAS capacity under a new test.
Analysis
NATO Air Defense Systems: Patriot, SAMP/T, IRIS-T, NASAMS
Patriot, SAMP/T NG, IRIS-T SLM and NASAMS protect different layers of NATO airspace. Here is how their missiles, roles and capabilities compare.
Greece
Greece Moves Patriot Battery to Crete to Protect Souda Bay
Greece is moving a Patriot air defense battery from Karpathos to Crete to strengthen protection around the strategic Souda Bay military complex.