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EUROPE
27 Nov 25. Sweden and Netherlands seek long-range strike capabilities. Sweden and the Netherlands are seeking long-range strike capabilities. The Swedish Armed Forces submitted a report to its government on 24 November listing these capabilities as one of their priorities, while Dutch State Secretary of Defence Gijs Tuinman called at the Netherlands Industries for Defence & Security (NIDV) Exhibition Defence & Security (NEDS) held in Rotterdam on 20 November for industry to deliver an alternative to the Tomahawk cruise missile.
The Swedish Armed Forces report said, “Enhancement of strike capability consists of investments in long-range fires and unmanned platforms. The ability to conduct strikes at strategic depth contributes to deterrence and enables, among other things, the degradation of an adversary’s critical infrastructure and military installations. The long range also makes it possible to reach more targets, complicating the opponent’s ability to effectively protect all important assets.
“The distribution between different types of strike systems requires further analysis and a balance between effect, cost, quantity, and innovation before choices are made. Strike capability is further strengthened through the procurement of various types of munitions, such as artillery and mortar ammunition, navy-specific ammunition, and combat engineering ammunition.”
A Swedish Ministry of Defence spokesperson told Janes on 26 November that the long-range fires referred to in the report would have the ability to strike targets at distances beyond the reach of artillery at a strategic depth up to approximately 2,000 km.
At NEDS, Tuinman challenged industry to “deliver an alternative to Tomahawk within three months, a precise deep-strike capability with a 100 kg payload [by] a missile that can be launched at a target 1,000 km away”. (Source: Janes)
26 Nov 25. Poland picks Sweden’s Saab to supply it with three submarines.
• Summary
• Poland deputy PM says deal worth around $2.7bn
• First submarine expected to be delivered in 2030
• Poland tries to build a Baltic alliance
• Submarines could help NATO prevent attacks in Baltic watersSAAB CEO hails “milestone” first submarine export
Poland said on Wednesday it had chosen Sweden’s Saab to supply it with three submarines, in a multi-billon-dollar deal that forms a key element of Warsaw’s efforts to bolster its defences in the Baltic Sea.
Warsaw has been ramping up investments in the armed forces to counter what it sees as a growing threat from Russia after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The deal with Sweden under the “Orka” programme to boost Poland’s military exemplifies Warsaw’s efforts to build a Baltic alliance, as its traditional Central European ties are pressured by divisions over Russia and approaches towards the European Union.
“Sweden presented the best offer in terms of all criteria, delivery time, and operational capability, especially in the Baltic Sea,” Deputy Prime Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz told a press conference.
He estimated the value of the deal at around 10bn zlotys ($2.73bn), and said Sweden had committed to buy some armaments from Poland as part of a wider cooperation agreement, and to provide a “gap-filler” submarine for the Polish army to train on.
It is the first submarine export order for Saab since it acquired the submarine division in 2014 and CEO Micael Johansson said Poland’s announcement marked a “fantastic milestone” for the company.
“It’s a real breakthrough,” he told Reuters. “It’s incredibly important for the security of the Baltic Sea and to have this ability on both sides of the sea means a lot.”
Saab, which makes a wide range of military equipment including fighter jets, surveillance systems, missiles and submarines, will supply Poland with its A26 submarines.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said he would like the commercial deal concluded no later than the second quarter of 2026 and he expected the first delivery in 2030.
Johansson stressed that no contract had been signed but that Poland’s estimate of the value was in the “right ballpark”. He said Saab could meet the 2030 delivery date and that the deal would not affect the timeline for delivery of two submarines Sweden has ordered.
HEIGHTENED BALTIC SEA SECURITY CONCERNS
The Baltic region is on heightened alert following a string of cases of suspicious damage to underwater infrastructure since 2022, but authorities have been unable to find sufficient proof of deliberate malicious intent to press charges.
“This shows that Europe is taking responsibility for its own security and that Poland and Sweden are making it possible for us to take a stronger responsibility for our own region, for the Baltic region and for Northern Europe,” Sweden’s ambassador to Poland, Martina Quick, told Reuters.
The Swedish submarines are designed to deal with seabed warfare and could help NATO prevent attacks. Sweden’s government said Russian aggression made it more important than ever to have an expanded defence cooperation in the Baltic Sea.
“This deal creates a common system for underwater operations in the Baltic Sea and strengthens interoperability between the Swedish and Polish navies,” Defence Minister Pal Jonson said in a statement.
The submarines will feature equipment from Britain and the three countries together will be a strong force in the Baltic region, the statement said.
Saab shares rose on the news and were up 2.6% at 1616 GMT.
The company signed a memorandum of understanding on defence collaboration with Polish armaments group PGZ in September.
Warsaw had also received offers from Germany, Italy, France, Spain and South Korea. Britain had lent its support to the Swedish bid.
($1 = 3.6571 zlotys) (Source: Reuters)
26 Nov 25. Boeing [NYSE: BA] will produce AH-64E Apache attack helicopters for international customers, including 96 for the Polish Armed Forces, under a Foreign Military Sales contract awarded by the U.S. Army valued at nearly $4.7 bn. Poland’s order represents the largest number of Apache aircraft ordered outside of the United States in the program’s history.
With deliveries expected to begin in 2028, the Polish Ministry of National Defence (MND) is already training pilots and maintainers on the attack helicopter. The MND currently leases eight aircraft from the U.S. Army.
“This important agreement allows us to begin building one of the largest and most formidable Apache fleets that the world has ever seen,” said Christina Upah, vice president of Boeing’s Attack Helicopter Programs. “Working closely with the Polish Armed Forces, we’re focused on disciplined execution to help enhance Poland’s defense capabilities and keep up with the strong demand for the most advanced attack helicopter.”
Through an offset agreement announced last year between Boeing and the Polish MND, local industry will play a key role in performing maintenance and support of the Apache fleet. Boeing will also establish training programs and help develop a composite laboratory.
Boeing recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apache’s first flight at its Mesa production facility. Today’s E-model Apache has evolved to become the most proven, advanced configuration that brings unmatched lethality, survivability, connectivity and interoperability to the battlefield. In recent months, Boeing has delivered new Apaches to customers around the world, including the Australian Army, Indian Army and Royal Moroccan Air Force. Poland is the 19th global operator.
There are currently more than 1,300 Apaches operating worldwide, with sustainment and training support provided by Boeing Global Services.
26 Nov 25. EDA Project Aims to Design Quieter Autonomous Underwater Vehicles. The European Defence Agency (EDA) has launched a four-year research project to reduce the noise produced by autonomous underwater vehicles, aiming to boost naval stealth and limit the impact of human-made sound on marine life. The SPHYDA (Submarine Hull/Rudder/Propeller Hydrodynamics Interaction and Hydroacoustics) project brings together four EU Member States and Norway, with Italy as lead nation, along with Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. There are nine industrial and research partners. The consortium will develop advanced numerical models and experimental methods to predict and analyse how hull shapes, rudders and propellers generate noise. SPHYDA, a €4.8 m programme, runs until late 2029. It seeks to provide higher-fidelity simulations and improved measurement techniques to help designers build quieter and more efficient underwater platforms. The project also supports compliance with EU environmental rules.
The initiative builds on earlier EDA projects and EU-funded projects, focused on propeller noise and hydrodynamic performance, while broadening the scope to whole-vehicle acoustics. It also supports wider European capability priorities in underwater warfare, as well as complementing NATO research on sonar and autonomous systems. The project will design and construct an autonomous underwater vehicle to carry out towing-tank experiments and manoeuvring-basin tests. It will conduct outdoor trials to measure far-field noise under realistic conditions. Reducing radiated noise is increasingly important for navies seeking to avoid detection. Quieter vehicles offer a tactical advantage by reducing the range at which enemy sonar can identify them. SPHYDA is expected to deliver tools, datasets and design guidelines to support the next generation of low-noise underwater vehicles.
“SPHYDA is a crucial step toward developing the capability to diagnose and predict the complex hydrodynamic mechanisms responsible for the generation and propagation of noise from underwater vehicles in real operating conditions,” said Riccardo Broglia, Research Director at the Institute of Marine Engineering of the Italian National Research Council, the project manager.
The consortium:
• Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto di Ingegneria del Mare
• Maritime Research Institute Netherlands
• Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research
• Norwegian Defence Research Establishment
• Bundeswehr Technical Center for Ships and Naval Weapons
• Technische Universität Hamburg
• thyssenkrupp Marine Systems
• NAVANTIA
• CEHIPAR – El Canal de Experiencias Hidrodinámicas de El Pardo
EDA’s broader role
Founded in 2004, the Agency helps fostering defence cooperation across Europe. It serves as the hub for EU countries to develop their defence capabilities together. EDA’s activities span from harmonising requirements and developing operational capabilities to research, technology, innovation, training, and supporting EU military operations. The Agency also works closely with the EU defence industry to strengthen Europe’s technological and industrial base. (Source: ASD Network)
24 Nov 25. Sweden sees frigate decision early next year as France touts 2030 date. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson expects a decision early next year on the country’s planned purchase of four frigates, with the government awaiting advice from procurement agency FMV and the armed forces after a survey of available options, he said on Monday, following a meeting with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin. The ministers discussed the Swedish frigate program, French interest in Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft, as well as aid to Ukraine, they said in a press conference in Stockholm following their meeting. Vautrin said France would be able to supply a fully equipped and armed frigate in 2030, the target set by Sweden for first deliveries.
“We’re looking what frigates there are that are available, that would also suit our quite ambitious timeline,” Jonson said. He said the FMV completed a market survey, but no decision has been made. “The ambition is to have two frigates ideally by 2030 and another two by 2035.”
The air-defense component of the new frigate will also be important, and a step for Sweden towards integration into NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence program, Jonson said.
Sweden in May 2024 announced a change in plans to buy surface combatants, with the FMV saying the new vessels would be larger than the current Visby-class corvettes, and with the country prepared to consider off-the-shelf designs rather than an entirely Swedish solution.
France in October offered Naval Group’s FDI frigate to Sweden, and is proposing a partnership with the Swedish defense industry, notably Saab, according to Vautrin. The Swedish program is a new chance for Naval Group to sell its frigate with a distinctive inverted bow, after Norway picked the British Type 26 frigate over the smaller French design earlier this year.
The FDI has a strong focus on anti-air capabilities, with a Thales Sea Fire radar designed to support long-range air defense and equipped with 16 to 32 vertical-launch cells that can fire MBDA Aster 15 and 30 missiles. Meanwhile, the primary role of the Type 26 is anti-submarine warfare.
The French Navy took delivery of its first FDI frigate, the Amiral Ronarc’h. in October, the first of five planned vessels. The Hellenic Navy earlier this month signed a contract for a fourth FDI frigate, on top of three vessels currently under construction.
Vautrin said the Amiral Ronarc’h will visit the Swedish seaport of Göteborg at the start of next year.
Naval Group’s Defense and Intervention Frigate has a length of 122 meters and displaces around 4,500 tons, making it smaller than new-generation frigates being built or planned in Spain, the United States, Italy, Germany and the United States.
The ministers also discussed Saab’s GlobalEye, which France is looking at “with a lot of interest” as the country seeks to replace existing equipment, Vautrin said. “GlobalEye is a product that interests us in terms of surveillance, and that’s the reason why France will have announcements to make on the topic.”
France currently operates four Boeing E-3F planes in the AWACS role, and signed a letter of intent in June concerning the GlobalEye.
France seeks to build up its relation with Sweden and be a partner, not just be a client, and “it’s in this spirit that we’re heading towards the acquisition of a program such as GlobalEye,” Vautrin said, with the minister expressing hope that Sweden could similarly be a partner for frigates.
Jonson and Vautrin also discussed aid to Ukraine, and both said letters of intent by Ukraine to acquire Saab’s Gripen and Dassault Aviation’s Rafale are complementary.
“The Ukrainian side has been very clear from the onset that they expect to have a mixed fleet of about 250 aircraft,” Jonson said. “This is not yet a business deal between any of the countries, it’s a letter of intent, but it’s a strong political message on both sides that we want to make this happen.”
Europe’s interest is for Ukraine to have strong air-defense capability, according to Jonson, who said he and his French counterpart touched on financing, with both agreeing the time is right to use Russian immobilized assets to provide support to the embattled country.
Vautrin said Ukraine will need to equip itself to ensure long-term security, including after a ceasefire or peace deal, “and it’s in this spirit that you should see these agreements.” (Source: Defense News)
25 Nov 25. France and Germany step up pressure on arms firms to resolve fighter impasse.
• Summary
• Companies
• France, Germany, Spain aims to build new jet fighter system
• Progress marred by dispute between Dassault and Airbus
• CEOs urged to reach written accord in ‘decision roadmap’
• Alternatives include separate jets under common combat cloud
France and Germany are ratcheting up pressure on their industrial champions to rescue Europe’s next-generation fighter as the €100bn-euro ($115bn) project teeters on the brink of collapse, sources close to the matter said.
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), floated more than eight years ago, has been mired in disputes between France’s Dassault Aviation (AM.PA), and Airbus (AIR.PA), over workshare and prized technology.
Following talks last week between French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin has drafted a “decision roadmap” as part of a mid-December deadline to strike a deal, sources told Reuters.
“The objective is that the CEOs of the participating industrial partners find and sign a written agreement on the core principles of cooperation for the next programme phase by mid-December,” the document reads, according to excerpts provided to Reuters.
A government source said the roadmap, which also tasks air force chiefs with a review of their respective requirements, was designed to reassert political control.
Airbus and Dassault declined to comment.
‘DECISION ROADMAP’ AIMS TO END INDUSTRIAL IMPASSE
At stake is the next phase of plans to deliver a fighter flanked by drones for France, Germany and Spain by 2040, mirroring a UK-Italian-Japanese initiative called GCAP.
Talks have stalled amid mistrust between Rafale manufacturer Dassault and Airbus, which represents both Germany and Spain in the project, known in France as SCAF.
Dassault insists on leading design and development of the core fighter, citing blurred lines of responsibility and its track record of building fighters from start to finish. It says Airbus is free to lead its own uncrewed areas of the project.
Airbus says this goes against agreements that each nation has an equal say.
The family-owned French fighter firm and partially state-owned jetliner giant have both sharpened their rhetoric, inviting the other to leave if they don’t like the agreed arrangements and pledging to go it alone if necessary.
German sources say Dassault wants 80% control, a figure Dassault denies. They accuse Dassault of limiting access to high-value work.
French sources want to retain parity with Airbus, which stood at 50% before Spain’s arrival. They suspect Berlin of wanting to blunt Dassault’s technological advantage.
“What seems to have happened was that a very close and strong political relationship between Paris and Berlin has weakened somewhat and the industrialists were let off the leash and are really having a go at each other,” Douglas Barrie, IISS senior fellow for military airspace, said in a recent interview.
Failure to break the deadlock risks exposing Europe’s inability to forge defence unity at a time when war has returned to the continent.
After weeks of political turmoil in Paris, the capitals are deepening efforts to avoid a damaging blow to Franco-German co-operation.
Still, doubts persist whether Macron, nearing the end of his term and weakened by political crises, can strong-arm Dassault into concessions. Cushioned by strong Rafale exports, Dassault is under less immediate pressure to act and may be playing for time before 2027 elections, some officials and executives said.
Dassault declined to comment.
PLAN B
As FCAS faces pivotal decisions over its future, options are being prepared for a repeat of the schism that saw France quit Eurofighter in 1985, leaving Dassault and Airbus to compete.
Dassault has been a cornerstone of France’s defence since World War Two, building all generations of jets carrying its nuclear deterrent, and could most easily go alone.
German industry has threatened to tap Berlin’s growing defence budget to bankroll a rival project.
People familiar with the plans said these included a standalone stealth fighter. Other options included teaming with Sweden’s Saab (SAABb.ST), currently without a partner, or BAE Systems-led (BAES.L) GCAP. Airbus has maintained regular CEO-level contacts on the issue with both camps, they said.
A minimalist compromise increasingly touted would narrow FCAS to a “combat cloud” of secure connectivity while letting Airbus and Dassault develop separate jets – a partial divorce allowing Paris and Berlin to save face and avoid a public split.
Each side continues to call the other’s bluff.
French planners doubt Germany can easily build a competitive stealth fighter or engine alone, nor fit into the swiftly advancing GCAP project.
Yet even though France has a track record of standalone developments, its budget crisis poses major funding hurdles.
Before Berlin’s latest push, one German source put the chances of a joint fighter at “less than 50%”. Both capitals are now racing to salvage the project. “We can’t afford to let this project fail,” a French government source said. ($1 = 0.8680 euros) (Source: Reuters)
21 Nov 25. Germany and France are piling pressure on industrial leaders to find a solution for the troubled joint fighter jet project FCAS – or SCAF – by mid-December, two sources briefed on the matter told Reuters on Friday.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the sources said the CEOs of the companies involved were meant to agree on a deal by December 18. France’s Dassault, Airbus and Indra the latter two representing Germany and Spain respectively – are among the main companies participating in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) to replace France’s Rafale and German and Spanish Eurofighters with a next-generation fighter from 2040. Initiated in 2017 as a model for European defence collaboration, the project has been plagued by delays and infighting over workshare and intellectual property rights between France and Germany and their national industries. Options now under discussion include fully terminating the project or significantly scaling it down by eliminating important elements including the development of the joint fighter jet, according to sources familiar with the matter. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron aim to decide by year-end whether to proceed with the project or pursue an alternative approach.
“The political process has repeatedly passed the buck from the chancellor and president to the ministers, then back to the ministries and procurement agencies,” an industry source said, expressing frustration.
“The only real change is that French politics has become more unstable. Now, industry is supposed to find common ground that has long since disappeared from the political process.”
Berlin has blamed Dassault for blocking the programme’s next phase by seeking sole leadership of the project. Sources said France had demanded a workshare of some 80% but Dassault denied this.
The second source noted that the countries’ air chiefs had been tasked with checking whether national requirements for the future fighter jet converge, and underscored that convergence had been established at military level. (Source: Reuters)
USA
25 Nov 25. FAA Wants Two More UAS Test Sites. The FAA has issued a Screening Information Request (SIR) 697DCK-26-R-00019 for the FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site (UASTS) Selection 2.0.
This procurement is in support of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility Integration Office (AUS).
The FAA-designated Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Test Site (UASTS) program originated via the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-95) and is currently codified in 49 U.S.C. § 44803 (“Unmanned aircraft system test ranges”).
After conducting a competitive selection process, the FAA designated six UAS Test Sites, which became operational in 2014 and began to conduct test flights. In 2016, the FAA added a seventh test site as mandated by the FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016.
The FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024 (P.L. 118-63) recently updated the UASTS program and under 49 U.S.C. § 44803(a)(2)(B) established that the “Administrator may select and designate as a test range under this section up to 2 additional test ranges . . . through a competitive selection process”.
The FAA may select and designate up to two additional test sites for expansion to the existing UASTS program. The FAA is seeking partners who can meet all requirements set forth as responsibilities of test range sponsors in 49 U.S.C. § 44803(e), as well as partners who have demonstrated expertise and future plans in the focus areas outlined in the Executive Order mandates. Selected Test Sites will be expected to demonstrate advances in technological capabilities as well as operational concepts and comply with the resulting OTA, a draft version of which is included as an attachment for review with this SIR.
The objective of the FAA UAS test site program is to enable a broad variety of development, testing, and evaluation activities related to public and civil UAS and associated technologies; and to the extent consistent with aviation safety and efficiency, support the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems into the NAS.
The FAA intends to conduct this competitive selection process through a phased proposal submission and phased evaluation process, with the potential to authorize and designate up to two new UAS Test Sites.
The FAA intends to competitively award up to two (2) Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs) with SLTTs under this SIR.
The Government will make OTA awards to the Offeror’s determined to best meet the selection criteria which are included in this SIR and reflected in the evaluation of the proposals. (Source: UAS VISION/SAM.gov)
25 Nov 25. Navy kills four ships in Constellation-class frigate program in ‘strategic shift.’ The $22bn shipbuilding program has been under increasing scrutiny for years by lawmakers and top Pentagon brass.
Navy Secretary John Phelan today said the service will terminate the last four ships in the Constellation-class frigate program, keeping only the two vessels already under construction.
“From day one I made it clear: I won’t spend a dollar if it doesn’t strengthen readiness or our ability to win,” Phelan said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “To keep that promise, we’re reshaping how we build and field the fleet—working with industry to deliver warfighting advantage, beginning with a strategic shift away from the Constellation-class frigate program.”
A new “framework,” the Navy secretary said, “puts the Navy on a path to more rapidly construct new classes of ships and deliver the capability our war fighters need in greater numbers and on a more urgent timeline. This is an imperative, and I hope to have more to share very soon.”
Wisconsin-based Fincantieri Marinette Marine won the initial design and construction contract for the frigate in 2020, beating out a crowded field of competitors. Since then, the $22 bn program has received increasing scrutiny from lawmakers and top Pentagon brass — at one even President Donald Trump weighed in — due to a series of schedule delays and cost overruns stemming from, among other things, a litany of design changes the Navy has implemented. A 2024 Navy report found the program was 36 months behind the schedule.
Fincantieri is currently building the first two ships in the class, Constellation (FFG-62) and Congress (FFG-63), and the secretary said those ships would continue to be built. The first ship is expected to be delivered to the Navy in 2029, according to a 2024 Government Accountability Office report [PDF].
Phelan’s move drew praise from at least one key lawmaker, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker.
“I commend [the Navy secretary] for canceling the troubled Constellation-class frigate program—a tough but vital call,” he wrote on X. “Biden-era design changes derailed the contractor, but Fincantieri Marinette Marine will remain key to our shipbuilding future. This is a clear signal that Navy program management is being fixed and accountability restored.”
George Moutafis, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group, said in a statement to Breaking Defense that the company “has been a committed partner, and the Navy values this partnership, our investment and together we want to rapidly deliver capabilities to warfighters, so we believe that the Navy will honor the agreed framework and channel work in sectors such as amphibious, icebreaking, and special missions into our system of shipyards, while they determine how we can support with new types of small surface combatants, both manned and unmanned, that they want to rapidly field. The key is to maximize the commitment and capabilities our system of shipyards represents.”
The company later said it expected “to receive new orders to deliver classes of vessels in segments that best serve the immediate interests of the nation and the renaissance of U.S. shipbuilding.”
The decision is one in a series of major acquisition shake ups the Pentagon has undertaken in recent months. It also comes at a time that the White House and Navy are seriously considering a new class of “battleships” that would be much larger than the frigate and heavily armored for a fight in the Indo-Pacific.
25 Nov 25. Army asks industry for c-UAS parts, eyes potential small drone interceptor program.
The Army is looking for interceptor component parts with the “primary objective” of providing a database that may be “leveraged in support of a future C-sUAS Interceptor program,” a recent RFI states.
The Army is asking industry for counter-unmanned system components that it can use to support a potential small drone interceptor program in the future, according to a recent request for information.
As part of the solicitation, the Aviation and Missile Center within the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command is probing industry for components such as seekers, control actuation systems, batteries, mission computers and more, with the “primary objective” of providing the government with a database of “readily available component technologies that may be leveraged in support of a future C-sUAS Interceptor program,” the RFI reads.
“The evolution and proliferation of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS) in mass attack scenarios is currently being demonstrated in global warfare engagements. These types of engagements can quickly overwhelm current defense architectures and drive the need for deep magazines with versatile deployment options at low cost per kill,” the solicitation continues.
The RFI comes as the service makes strides to ramp up its c-UAS efforts in line with the expansion of global drone warfare, specifically in Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia. Small drones, especially those in Groups 1 and 2 weighing up to 55 lbs., have demonstrated increasing levels of lethality as they’ve been able to take out multi-m dollar armored vehicles.
Already the Army has two ongoing counter-drone interceptor programs, the eXtended Range Counter-sUAS (XRC) Missile program and the Next-Generation Counter-UAS Missile (NGCM) program, which are designed to take down drones in the Group 2-3 range. (Group 3 drones can weigh up to 1,320 lbs.)
The XRC Missile program is still in the early stages as the Army released an RFI last fall searching for a missile that would work with the Stinger missile launcher, and eventually replace the Stinger missile, but no further update has been provided to date. The NGCM program is further along with Aeronvironment winning the contract for the program last month for its Freedom Eagle missile.
This leaves the Army still searching for an interceptor program that can defeat Group 1 drones, which can be more difficult to shoot down given their small size and the fact they emit less heat, making them harder to detect. But last week’s solicitation indicates that the Army may be gearing up to begin a new interceptor program for the smaller family of drones.
According to the solicitation, the Army is looking for mature commercial off-the-shelf and government off-the-shelf missile components that are at a Technology Readiness Level 5 or above and have the “immediate availability” to be demonstrated in a lab environment. The service also said its looking for components that can be packaged within 40 millimeter to 70 millimeter diameter missiles, are “tolerant” to military environments and “launch accelerations of 30 G” and can be produced at high volumes with a low cost per unit.
Responses to the RFI are due no later than noon on Dec. 19. (Source: Breaking Defense.com)
21 Nov 25. Fortem Technologies, the global leader in airspace security and counter-drone solutions, today announced that it has been selected as one of the first companies admitted to the U.S. Army’s new Global Tactical Edge Acquisition Directorate (G-TEAD) Marketplace, a next-generation contracting framework designed to move cutting-edge technology to operational users faster than ever before.
The designation can dramatically shorten procurement timelines for Fortem’s counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) solutions. Under Fortem’s agreement with G-TEAD, Army organizations and other U.S. Government agencies with contracting and ordering authority can now rapidly acquire Fortem products through the Marketplace without additional competition. Certain NATO and allied agencies may also place orders under applicable laws and security agreements.
“This is transformational for our customers and for the mission of saving lives,” said Fortem Technologies CEO Jon Gruen. “The Department of the Army has created a new model for getting critical technology to the tactical edge, and Fortem is honored to be among the first companies selected. G-TEAD gives commanders a way to procure proven C-UAS capabilities like DroneHunter® and SkyDome® in weeks rather than years – which means they can field what they need at the pace the threat is evolving.”
The G-TEAD Marketplace is a central component of the Army’s sweeping acquisition modernization effort, which pushes decision-making to the field, accelerates testing and iteration, and enables rapid follow-on production under authorities such as 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f). Fortem’s admission to the Marketplace reflects the Army’s assessment that the company’s autonomous counter-UAS systems have been vetted by the Army and have met the competitive standards required for rapid scaling.
Fortem will work closely with Army Contracting Command, capability leads, and operational units as the G-TEAD framework expands across theaters and mission sets. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
21 Nov 25. Cuashub.com said today that US Army seeks industry partners for C-UAS field support services. The United States Army is exploring industry interest in providing international field services and technical support for its counter-UAS operations. A newly released sources sought notice outlines the service’s need for vendors capable of supporting the Program Executive Office Missiles and Space C-UAS Product Office across multiple overseas locations.
According to the notice, modern counter-drone missions rely on a system-of-systems approach that blends sensors, effectors and command-and-control platforms to detect, track and defeat unmanned aircraft. These capabilities are routinely deployed in complex multinational environments, and the Army says maintaining them requires field personnel with expertise in integration, sustainment and operational support.
The Army anticipates needing field service representatives with technical fluency in RF detection, radar, EO/IR tracking, kinetic and non-kinetic defeat technologies and C2 integration. Their responsibilities would include on-site sustainment such as diagnostics, repair, calibration and performance optimization of interconnected subsystems. The notice adds that field support may extend to interoperability engineering to ensure systems can integrate with host nation and allied networks.
Training is another key component of the anticipated work. Vendors would be expected to deliver operator and maintainer instruction tailored to partner-nation forces, with an emphasis on practical, hands-on learning. The Army also plans for ‘Train-the-Trainer’ programs intended to help countries cultivate their own long-term counter-UAS expertise.
Logistics and lifecycle management form a third pillar of the requirement. The vendor would be responsible for forecasting and provisioning spare parts, consumables and other mission-critical components, in addition to managing international shipments, customs processes and compliance with ITAR and host nation regulations. Software and firmware updates and configuration management across integrated systems are also included.
The notice describes a need for in-country operational coordination as well. The field representative would serve as the primary program contact for host-country military leadership and the liaison to the U.S. country team and combatant command units. Their role could include assistance with mission planning and participation in post-mission reviews.
The Army is currently gathering information from industry and has not yet issued a formal solicitation.
https://cuashub.com/en/content/us-army-seeks-industry-partners-for-c-uas-field-support-services/ (Source: https://cuashub.com/
REST OF THE WORLD
27 Nov 25. South Korea to strengthen presence in Poland’s defense market with proposed submarine transfer, says GlobalData
Following the news that South Korea has reportedly proposed transferring one of its decommissioned submarines to Poland;
Abhijit Apsingikar, Aerospace & Defense Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view:
“Despite the selection of the Swedish A26 submarine for the Orka contract by Poland, South Korea’s proposal to transfer the decommissioned ROKS Jang Bogo, an HDW Type 209 submarine, to Poland at no cost after its retirement is expected to help the European nation to address its immediate capability shortfalls. It is also expected enable the country to restructure its crew training regime and support the transition from Kilo-class submarines to Western submarine technology standards. This, in turn, will enable Polish crews to swiftly adapt to the new A26 submarines when they enter service in the future.
“As per GlobalData’s dataset Global Submarine Market Forecast 2025-2035, the Polish submarine market is valued at around $2.4 bn, and the country plans to acquire four submarines under the Orka-class program. South Korea has already established a strong foothold in Poland’s defense market, with its defense export deals to the country exceeding $10 bn in 2022 alone and totaling an estimated $13–14 bn overall till date. The proposed transfer of the Jang Bogo is likely to further strengthen South Korea’s presence in Poland’s defense market and pave the way for expanded sales to the country.
“Poland has already concluded major defense contracts with South Korea, including 180 K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, 48 FA-50 jet trainers, 212 K239 Chunmoo MLRS systems, and 212 K9 self-propelled howitzers, with an additional 162 K9 howitzers announced. The Polish Krab self-propelled howitzer is also based on the South Korean K9 chassis, and Poland has signed a licensing agreement to produce the K9A1 variant domestically. Against this backdrop, South Korean defense companies have strong prospects for successfully promoting their other defense equipment, as they are already well acquainted with Poland’s defense procurement framework.
“If realized, the transfer is therefore also expected to pave the way for expanded future acquisitions of South Korean defense equipment by Poland and to support follow-on orders. The move also demonstrates South Korea’s intent to go the extra mile to empower its allies and strategic partners, especially at a time when Poland expressed concerns about possible spillover of the Russia-Ukraine conflict at its borders.”
26 Nov 25. Taiwan says it has discussed with US arms purchases for extra defence budget.
• Summary
• Taiwan proposes extra $40bn in defence spending to 2033
• Talks with US on new arms sales have begun, minister says
• Spending must be passed by opposition-dominated parliament
Taiwan has already held preliminary talks with the United States about what weapons it wants to buy as part of a $40bn supplementary defence budget, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Thursday.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te announced the previous day the new spending plan, which runs from 2026-2033, to underscore the island’s determination to defend itself in the face of a rising threat from China. China, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military and political pressure over the past five years to assert its claims, which Taipei strongly rejects.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Koo said purchases from the United States naturally constitute a significant part of the spending plans.
“We have already completed preliminary coordination with the United States on the planning for this military procurement project,” he said.
Taiwan has formally obtained from the U.S. Department of Defense the procurement item quantities, quotation information, transaction timelines, and other relevant details, showing the United States is willing to provide the weapons, Koo added.
But no details can be revealed before a formal notification to the U.S. Congress, he said.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent outside of business hours in Washington.
PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL NEEDED
The spending will need to be passed by Taiwan’s opposition-dominated parliament.
Taiwan’s largest opposition party, the Kuomintang, on Wednesday criticised the announcement, which Lai made first in a Washington Post op-ed, saying he had not told parliament first.
“National defence investment is essential, but leaning primarily on massive borrowing is neither fiscally prudent nor responsible governance,” the party said in a statement.
Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai, speaking at the same news conference as Koo, appealed for legislative support for the spending given the threat level from China.
“If you don’t have a country, how can you have a home?” Cho said.
Koo said the budget would also generate 90,000 jobs and bring a direct economic benefit to Taiwan of T$400bn.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important international backer and arms supplier, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties.
As Taiwan faces calls from Washington to spend more on its own defence, mirroring U.S. pressure on Europe, Lai said in August he hoped for a boost in defence spending to 5% of gross domestic product by 2030.
But since U.S. President Donald Trump took office in January, only one new arms sale to Taiwan has been approved, a $330 m package for fighter jets and other aircraft parts announced this month.
The United States plans to ramp up weapons sales to Taipei to a level exceeding Trump’s first term, as part of an effort to deter China, two U.S. officials told Reuters in May.
China has condemned Taiwan’s new defence spending plans, as it always does.
Lai says only Taiwan’s people can decide their future. Beijing has rejected his repeated offers of talks, saying he is a “separatist”.
(Source: Reuters)
21 Nov 25. Saab, Wright Technologies sign MOU to boost New Zealand’s maritime and defence capabilities. Saab Australia has partnered with New Zealand maritime electronics firm Wright Technologies, signing an MOU aimed at expanding collaboration across defence and maritime projects as Wellington embarks on a major rebuild of the New Zealand Defence Force.
The agreement brings together Saab’s global expertise in advanced defence technology, particularly underwater and complex systems integration, with Wright Technologies’ six decades of local experience in maritime engineering, installation, repair and maintenance across New Zealand and the wider South Pacific.
Saab is internationally recognised for its cutting-edge underwater systems, including autonomous and remotely operated vehicles, mine countermeasure technology and advanced sonar platforms designed for harsh ocean conditions.
Above the surface, Saab’s 9LV combat management system is a mainstay of navies worldwide, while its TactiCall integrated communications suite provides secure, interoperable voice and data networks for ships, aircraft and joint forces.
Wright Technologies, a trusted partner to both defence and commercial operators, has played a key role in supporting New Zealand’s naval fleet, coastal surveillance capabilities and commercial maritime industry. Its engineering teams provide life cycle support for a range of mission-critical sensors, communications systems and vessel platforms.
Under the MOU, Saab and Wright Technologies will explore opportunities to support the New Zealand government’s Defence Policy and Strategy Statement and the multi-year plan to rebuild capability across the NZDF’s land, air and maritime forces.
This includes strengthening maritime domain awareness, modernising naval platforms and enhancing New Zealand’s ability to operate in an increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region.
Saab already has a footprint in New Zealand, with the TactiCall communications system in service and Saab remotely operated vehicles employed for underwater inspection, repair and intervention tasks.
The new partnership aims to expand this presence by aligning Saab’s proven technologies with Wrights’ local workforce, maintenance capability and regional knowledge.
Industry observers said the agreement reflects a broader trend of New Zealand’s deepening cooperation with trusted international defence partners as it faces rising strategic pressures, ageing military equipment and increasing demands on its maritime forces across the Southern Ocean and South Pacific.
Further project announcements are expected as the two companies begin joint assessments of current capability gaps and emerging requirements within the NZDF. (Source: Defence Connect)
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