USA
U.S. Central Command confirmed the first combat use of its Low-Cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones during Saturday’s air campaign against Iranian military infrastructure. The expendable loitering munitions were deployed alongside missiles and airstrikes as part of Operation Epic Fury.
European Union
EU ministers have approved national defence investment plans worth approximately €74 billion under the bloc’s €150 billion SAFE loan instrument. The decision allows participating member states to begin accessing EU-backed financing for military procurement.
Kosovo
Kosovo plans to launch local production of the Albanian-designed “Shota” armored vehicle under a trilateral defense cooperation framework with Albania and Croatia, a move officials say would be the first joint armored vehicle program in the Balkans.
Analysis
Global defense revenues hit unprecedented highs, with the US still anchoring the industry—but procurement delays, supply-chain fragility, and workforce constraints are exposing vulnerabilities beneath the surface. Europe is rapidly scaling output, Russia remains unexpectedly resilient.
EUROPE
Europe’s drone ecosystem is rapidly evolving as a new generation of startups drives innovation in ISR, autonomy, and next-generation UAV systems. These seven companies stand out for their technology, momentum, and growing impact on Europe’s defense and security landscape.
France
France is intensifying its military focus in orbit, pledging €4.2 billion to strengthen surveillance, resilience, and strategic independence in space amid rising geopolitical tensions and Russian orbital activity.
Opinion
A little-noticed U.S. bill, the William S. Knudsen Defense Remobilization Act, would map bottlenecks and turn wartime demand models into peacetime contracts. Backed by Marco Rubio, it aims to reboot U.S. production—and send clearer, steadier signals to Europe and NATO supply chains.
Serbia
Czechoslovak Group (CSG), the industrial and technology holding led by Czech entrepreneur Michal Strnad, has entered the Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) sector with its first acquisition under the newly established subsidiary AviaNera Technologies a.s.
Opinion
At a time when strategic competition is rising across Europe, France has quietly re-engineered its defense innovation ecosystem.
Czech Republic
CSG expands its defense manufacturing base with the acquisition of Hydraulics s.r.o., a leading Czech hydraulics producer supplying components for rocket launchers and howitzers, as part of its strategy to strengthen vertical integration and boost land systems capabilities.
Turkiye
Türkiye’s 2026 Presidential Annual Program places strong emphasis on emerging technologies — from quantum and AI to hypersonic and autonomous systems — as the nation aims to elevate its defense sector’s innovation capacity and dual-use potential.
Turkey
Türkiye has conducted a new ballistic missile test, marking another milestone in its domestic defense program. The launch, confirmed by defense officials, demonstrates extended range and improved precision, underscoring Türkiye’s growing self-sufficiency in advanced missile technologies.