LOCATIONS
AIR
08 Dec 25. New Super-Midsize Gulfstream G300 Takes Flight. Milestone Officially Launches Flight Test Program, Demonstrates Significant Program Maturity. Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. today announced the new Gulfstream G300 has made its first flight, demonstrating significant program maturity and officially launching its rigorous flight test program. Introduced on Sept. 30 in Savannah as the latest addition to Gulfstream’s visionary fleet, the G300 represents a new standard in its segment and is poised to redefine the super-midsize category. The first G300 took off from Ben Gurion International Airport at 8:05 a.m. local time and flew for 2 hours and 25 minutes at a speed of Mach 0.75 and an altitude of 30,000 feet/9,144 meters.
“With its combination of safety, technology, performance and cabin comfort, the G300 is a game changer for the super-midsize category,” said Mark Burns, president, Gulfstream. “This latest investment, designed to exceed our customers’ expectations for large-cabin features in a mid-cabin aircraft, brings another new category leader to our next-generation fleet. With the addition of the G300, Gulfstream truly offers an aircraft for every mission. Achieving first flight at this stage in the program is a remarkable achievement.”
The G300 features the largest interior in the super-midsize segment. Natural light from 10 Gulfstream Panoramic Oval Windows enhances the spacious cabin, which can seat up to 10 passengers and includes two living areas, a generously appointed galley and ample room for baggage. The G300 also features the lowest cabin altitude in its class at 4,800 ft/1,463 m when flying at 41,000 ft/12,497 m, along with 100% fresh air, a standard plasma air ionization system and whisper-quiet sound levels. The G300 boasts class-leading range at the highest speeds with the ability to fly 3,600 nautical miles/6,667 kilometers at Mach 0.80 or 3,000 nm/5,556 km at Mach 0.84. In addition, the aircraft also features impressive fuel-efficiency thanks to its combination of the clean, swept Gulfstream wing and Honeywell HTF7250G engines. With next-generation technology, the G300 Harmony Flight Deck greatly enhances safety with six touch screens paired with Phase-of-Flight intelligence, a Synthetic Vision-Primary Flight Display that depicts runways and terrain in 3D imagery, and Gulfstream’s award-winning Predictive Landing Performance System. Prior to first flight, the G300 program completed more than 2,000 ground test hours and includes two additional test aircraft already in production. (Source: ASD Network)
PLANT CLOSURES, STRIKES AND JOB LOSSES
08 Dec 25. Time-honoured Lancaster axed as gaunt Royal Navy fades into history. Another Royal Navy frigate has been axed as the service’s long-standing Middle East presence all but ends. The scandals of the decommissioning of the Royal Navy’s forward-deployed Type 23 frigate, HMS Lancaster, are multiple, with the vessel not due to be replaced amid a decision that its disposal will take place overseas, and yet another reduction in the service’s surface fleet. Announced to some fanfare by the Royal Navy on 5 December, HMS Lancaster arrived at the UK’s naval base in Bahrain for the final time ahead of decommissioning having spent three years in the Middle East as the service’s forward-deployed major surface combatant. The vessel will not be returning to the UK, rather it will be prepared for disposal in Bahrain. Naval Technology has previously reported on the apparent preference for the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to dispose of decommissioned Royal Navy warships at foreign shipyards, such as Turkey’s Leyal, rather than UK sites. It is unclear if HMS Lancaster will be disposed at a site in Turkey or elsewhere in the Middle East, but with the decision not to renew its certification the vessel is now destined to be towed to its final destination for scrapping. The UK government has in recent months committed to ensuring that UK businesses are able to benefit from defence deals, although it appears highly unlikely that any UK shipyard will be given the contract to scrap HMS Lancaster.
“Through the Strategic Defence Review we are creating a new hybrid navy by building world-class submarines and cutting-edge warships, alongside transforming our aircraft carriers and introducing new autonomous vessels to patrol the North Atlantic and beyond,” an MoD spokesperson told Naval Technology.
“We are replacing our Type 23 Frigates with eight of the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare ships, the Type 26 frigates. They will be bolstered by five general purpose Type 31 frigates, providing opportunity to project power, support Nato operations and influence on the global stage.”
Is this the end of Kipion?
In mid-July, the UK formally acceded to the Comprehensive Security Integration and Prosperity Agreement (C-SIPA), a framework aimed at fostering integration in the Middle East, with defence and security its first-listed priority. Grand words were exchanged. But, as ever with UK defence proclamations, they remained as substantial as air, with little substance upon which to build such a security foundation. Reports at the time persisted that HMS Lancaster was to head back to UK waters following the completion of its deployment, without replacement. As it turns out, Lancaster was not even given the traditional send-off, with Royal Navy Fleet Commander, Vice Admiral Steve Moorhouse, stating in a 5 December social media post that “rather than seek to extend [the vessel’s certification], we will now commence preparations for final disposal” from Bahrain, cancelling any return to the UK. It is typical that a general-purpose Type 23 frigate is forward deployed in Bahrain, allowing the anti-submarine variants to concentrate on protecting the UK’s nuclear deterrent in North Sea and Atlantic waters. The only remaining general-purpose Type 23 frigate in service is HMS Iron Duke, which in October 2025 entered the Royal Naval Dockyard at HMNB Devonport for repairs and workup ahead of deployments in 2026. Of the remaining anti-submarine Type 23 frigates, HMS Richmond arrived back in Devonport in late-November after spending most of the year on deployment in the Carrer Strike Group, HMS Somerset, Sutherland, St Albans, and Portland are operating in UK waters, while HMS Kent is in European waters. It is understood that the deployment of HMS Lancaster was extended due to operational requirements, which will not have ended just because the Royal Navy no longer has a ship in place. This means regional navies, or the US 5th Fleet, will have to do the job instead. This pauses – and potentially signals the end – of a decades-long presence of a major UK surface combatant in the Middle East, first through the Armilla Patrol and latterly via Operation Kipion.
Royal Navy: a failure generations in the making
The Royal Navy is in crisis, struggling with sustainment and personnel issues, no dedicated amphibious assault capability, and poor availability among its nuclear attack submarine fleet. It is a patchwork force, best described as a motely collection of old warships operating decades beyond their life expectancy. Any ‘new’ platforms that it does have either don’t work, are too few in number, or else eagerly committed to Nato, lest the UK be tasked to develop a single national carrier strike group. The Royal Navy has a scarcely believable seven frigates left in commission, of which one is in long-term sustainment. Elsewhere, the efficacy of its Trident strategic deterrent doubtful, given the state of the Vanguard SSBNs and continued failures of ballistic missile tests. The service’s Type 45 destroyers have spent as much time alongside undergoing repairs as at sea, which is some extreme cases has been pushed into the farcical. Replacement Type 26 and Type 31 frigates are still years away from even starting to enter service. A plan to increase the size of the nuclear-powered attack submarine force nothing more than a governmental spreadsheet fantasy. It is no exaggeration to say that every single warship and submarine in the Royal Navy could each be given its own admiral, with enough shore-based gold epaulettes left over to amply decorate a Christmas tree, such is the ludicrous structure it now inhabits. All this is the failure of Royal Navy leadership, MoD officials, and UK defence incompetence through governments of both sides of the political spectrum over generations. What remains is a service that has long-since abandoned aspirations of being a full-spectrum force, very much a global second-tier navy. (Source: naval-technology.com)
MILITARY AND GOVERNMENT
PERSONNEL
12 Dec 25. UK launches new Military Intelligence Services as hostile threats surge. New unified organisation to speed up how Defence gathers and shares intelligence. UK military intelligence will be more efficient, faster, and better able to anticipate future threats as the Ministry of Defence launches the new Military Intelligence Services (MIS). This major overhaul of Defence’s intelligence organisations comes amid increasing threats to the UK and will keep Britain ahead of hostile states and terrorists. Following the recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review, the reforms bring every intelligence unit and organisation within Defence under one organisation for the first time, including units from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force – speeding up how information is gathered, analysed and shared across the Armed Forces. The announcement comes amid escalating threats to the UK, as adversaries intensify cyber-attacks, disrupt satellites, threaten global shipping lanes, and spread disinformation. These actions increasingly impact everyday life, driving up food prices, increasing economic uncertainty, and threatening energy security and national infrastructure. To boost Defence’s resilience further, today also sees the launch of the new Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit (DCIU). Over the past year, hostile intelligence activity against the MOD has risen by more than 50%, revealing just how quickly our adversaries are intensifying their efforts. The Minister for the Armed Forces Al Carns MP, and Minister for Veterans and People Louise Sandher-Jones MP, launched the MIS and DCIU at one of the UK’s key intelligence sites – Wyton in Cambridgeshire – which includes a football-pitch-sized intelligence fusion centre, bringing together top secret intelligence from across the Five Eyes partnership.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: “As threats increase, we are making defence intelligence smarter. This Government is delivering the recommendations in the Strategic Defence Review, putting Britain at the leading edge of military innovation. For intelligence, this means cutting-edge technology, clearer structures and faster data flows. This gives us sharper insights into what our adversaries might do next, so we protect our forces, safeguard critical infrastructure, and deter changing threats. Our intelligence work is usually unseen but always essential. I am grateful to all our Military Intelligence Services personnel whose round-the-clock vigilance keeps the UK secure at home and strong abroad.
The Military Intelligence Services bring together intelligence units from the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, UK Space Command, and Permanent Joint Headquarters, ensuring they operate as one system.”
Under the command of the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command, and the leadership of the Chief of Defence Intelligence, this will give Defence faster and clearer warnings of threats to our forces and the public, allowing the UK to use data from land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace in real time, sharpening the nation’s ability to deter adversaries before they act.
It will be supported by the new Defence Intelligence Academy who offer world-class training in key intelligence disciplines such as cyber, space and geospatial analysis.
General Sir Jim Hockenhull, Commander of the Cyber and Specialist Operations Command, said: “Intelligence sits at the heart of defence. Underpinning everything we do, it provides the insight and foresight we need and enables our operations. In an increasingly complex and volatile world where threats are always evolving, our intelligence operations are always on, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The establishment of the Military Intelligence Services and the Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit are significant steps forward in strengthening the UK’s ability to anticipate threats, enabling faster and more precise action, supporting our Armed Forces, and protecting our citizens.”
The Dawn Sturgess Inquiry, published last week, made clear that foreign intelligence services are now operating far beyond traditional espionage norms, targeting Defence personnel, technology programmes, supply chains, and wider defence industry both at home and overseas. The Defence Counter-Intelligence Unit will unify counter-intelligence professionals from across Defence, giving them the tools and structure needed to disrupt and deter hostile activity more effectively. Their work will protect the UK’s most sensitive capabilities – including the nuclear deterrent, high-tech industrial projects, and critical infrastructure – while strengthening cooperation with the UK intelligence agencies and NATO allies. Earlier this year, the Prime Minister made a historic commitment to spend 5% of GDP on national security from 2035, alongside the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP by 2027 – and an extra £5 billion for defence this year alone. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)
05 Dec 25. German parliament approves conscription scheme to boost the Bundeswehr. Germany will move to a voluntary conscription model and begin mandatory physical checks for all male citizens coming of age. The country’s parliament approved a draft law to that effect on Friday. The measure, which is expected to face no serious challenge in the parliament’s Senate-like upper house, is expected to come into force on Jan. 1, 2026. Under the new legislation, the Bundeswehr − the country’s armed forces − will be legally bound to its goal of stocking up the number of both active personnel and reservists to a total of up to 470,000 soldiers, of which 270,000 would be active-duty soldiers, by 2035. On Friday, the Bundeswehr said it had around 184,330 active personnel, up 1.5% or 2,750 soldiers from a year ago. German men born in 2008 or thereafter will be required to fill out an online questionnaire once they come of age and subsequently visit one of 24 physical inspection centers that will be set up for medical examinations. The system is meant to be fully operational by mid-2027. Women can opt into the process, but will not be obligated to take part. The military service itself will, for now, remain voluntary and will stand alongside the existing optional civil service model. After completing their time, those trained by the Bundeswehr will become reservists. Recruits who choose to join the military for six to eleven months will receive a monthly pay of €2,600 ($3,030) before tax, with additional money promised if they decide to stay longer. There are no plans for mandatory conscription “currently,” the German Bundeswehr said in a statement after the draft law passed. At the same time, if the voluntary model proves insufficient to recruit the required number of people, the law leaves the door open for mandatory measures.
“If that is not enough, we will have no choice but to introduce partial conscription,” said German defense minister Boris Pistorius on the sidelines of the vote in the parliament.
A provision for a compulsory military service on a needs basis is included in the law passed today, but would require an additional vote by parliament to activate. While lawmakers were voting, protests against the new measure took place in several German cities, including Berlin. At the same time, a partial student strike in opposition to the conscription was ongoing.
Growing the Bundeswehr has become a necessity as a consequence of “the threat situation and NATO plans,” the military said.
“In the event of a defense situation, which we want to prevent at all costs, the state must know who is ready for action,” said Pistorius. “This country, this democracy, deserves it.” (Source: Defense News)
INDUSTRY
INDUSTRY TEAMINGS
10 Dec 25. Safran Electronics & Defence and ST Engineering have expanded their global cooperation into the defence domain through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). With the growth in the global defence market, the MOU will strengthen both partners’ cooperation across several areas including joint business development, technology integration, lifecycle support and sustainment services in order to meet customers’ operational requirements. This expanded partnership brings together complementary capabilities to deliver integrated and mission-critical solutions in the land, air, sea and space domains in Asia Pacific and worldwide. A key focus will be the integration of Safran’s core expertise in optronics, avionics and PNT (Positioning, Navigation and Timing) electronics with ST Engineering’s domain expertise in integrated defence solutions to deliver high-performance solutions that address the global demand for technology-driven defence modernisation.
“As ST Engineering grows its international defence business, strengthening partnerships with international counterparts is aligned with our commitment to deliver advanced, mission-ready solutions to our customers. Such partnerships reinforce our position as a trusted partner of choice in the global defence industry. This MOU with Safran builds upon the strength of our existing collaboration and leverages the complementary technical expertise that both sides will bring to drive innovation and excellence across multiple domains,” said Mervyn Tan, President, Defence & Public Security, ST Engineering.
“ST Engineering and Safran Electronics & Defense have established a robust and reliable partnership in the worldwide aviation market. This MOU marks a significant expansion of this collaboration into the defence sector, demonstrating our strong commitment to mutual growth in this field . By combining our technological and industrial capabilities, we will jointly enhance innovation, operational readiness and lifecycle support thereby creating greater value and long-term capability for our customers,” said Alexandre Ziegler, Head of Defence Global Business Unit, Safran Electronics & Defense. 2
The MOI identifies prospective opportunities to collaborate in areas where Leonardo DRS is an industry leader in combat-proven, advanced network computing and combat computing capabilities, including:
- High-performance battle management systems providing digital command-and-control tools to give crews real-time awareness, communication, and coordination capabilities on the battlefield.
- Advanced C6ISR solutions for units at the brigade level and below to support faster decision-making, provide a broader understanding of the battlefield, deliver network protection, and increase the gathering and sharing of critical intelligence capabilities.
- Rugged vehicle computing hardware Multi-Function Rugged Displays, and other high-performance, high-performance computing solutions.
- Advanced Vehicle Communication Systems for enhanced command and control while ensuring reliable combat vehicle-based communication.
- Advanced mobile situational awareness capabilities for special forces and dismounted soldiers that network sensors and communications.
- Vehicle integration and engineering services to support in-country integration teams with complex modernization programs across the Saudi MOD vehicle fleet.
“By signing this MOI, Leonardo DRS is reinforcing its commitment to support the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with its cutting-edge battlespace communications architecture and vehicle integration services that will deliver a more connected, protected, and combat effective land force,” Guyan said. “As a trusted provider of advanced defense technology for the U.S. military and allied militaries around the world, we are proud of the opportunity to potentially expand our relationship in supporting the efforts of Saudi Arabia to advance its national defense strategy.”
This MOI aligns with Leonardo DRS’ broader strategy to grow its presence in the Middle East and expand industrial cooperation in the region. It builds on the company’s Memorandum of Agreement with SAMI Advanced Electronics Company for localization of rugged vehicle hardware to support Vision 2030’s goals of growing local industrial capability and enhancing the Kingdom’s defense readiness. Leonardo DRS is a trusted provider of advanced battle management systems, network computing and vehicle integration capabilities for the U.S. military and allied forces around the world. The company is a recognized leader in providing proven, high-performance tactical computing, smart displays, AI-enabled processing, and integrated C4/C5/C6ISR solutions that reduce the cognitive burden on commanders and crews operating in complex combat environments. The systems are designed to deliver real time situational awareness and are scalable, platform agnostic, and support open architectures. Learn more about our, proven, mission-critical AI-capable combat computing and network computing systems at www.LeonardoDRS.com.
05 Dec 25. Cubic and Palantir Forge Alliance to Accelerate Transformation and Deliver Outcomes for the US Army. Optimizing training to ensure operational dominance across multi-domain environments. Cubic Corporation and its DTECH Mission Solutions business unit, a recognized industry leader in providing trusted, scalable, and intuitive edge compute and networking platforms, today announced a strategic relationship with Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), to drive large-scale internal transformation across Cubic’s value chain and deliver enhanced outcomes for shared military customers, such as the U.S. Army. The strategic relationship will leverage Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) to drive end-to-end digital transformation across Cubic’s supply chain, procurement, manufacturing, transportation, and commercial operations. By streamlining these processes, the collaboration aims to reduce lead times and accelerate time-to-market, helping Cubic outcompete across industries. Additionally, the relationship aims to enable Cubic to unlock new revenue streams with transportation and defense customers and improve margins through enhanced supply chain and procurement optimization—all while delivering to customers faster, scaling the business more efficiently, and decoupling growth from headcount. As part of this initiative, Cubic and Palantir are exploring integrating Palantir’s software into the DTECH compute and networking hardware at the tactical edge for customers such as the U.S. Army, further enhancing operational agility and decision-making at the front lines.
“It’s exciting to partner with companies like Cubic with a dual-purpose DNA,” said Mike Gallagher, Head of Defense at Palantir Technologies. “We are proud to support Cubic in answering the rallying cry from the Department of War to prioritize speed and innovation.”
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Palantir to deliver next-generation, tactical-edge solutions enhanced with artificial intelligence to meet the U.S Department of War’s call for faster adoption of commercial innovation and cloud-native architectures,” said Anthony Verna, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Cubic DTECH Mission Solutions. “DTECH compute and networking hardware, combined with Palantir Software, delivers resilient, interoperable solutions that empower decision-making and operational dominance throughout the mission-chain.
Together, Palantir and Cubic are committed to delivering rapid, data-driven solutions that empower the U.S. Army and the warfighter, ensuring mission readiness and operational excellence. (Source: ASD Network)
PERSONNEL
EUROPE APPOINTMENTS
10 Dec 25. HENSOLDT AG announces that Sven Heursch, previously Head of Software-Defined Defence & Digitalisation, will be appointed Chief Digital Officer (CDO) with effect from 1 January 2026. In this role, Heursch will be a permanent member of the Group Executive Committee (GEC) and report directly to CEO Oliver Dörre. This appointment underscores the strategic importance of software-defined defence (SDD) and the digitalisation of the product portfolio as central elements of HENSOLDT’s ‘North Star’ corporate strategy. The new role combines leadership responsibility for the CTO division and engineering governance with the role of Head of Software-Defined Defence & Digitalisation in order to anchor innovation, software, data and AI even more firmly across the entire product portfolio, establish cyber security as a key design driver and thus expand HENSOLDT’s position as a pioneer of resilient software-defined sensor solutions. ‘Sven Heursch has already achieved a great deal in a very short time in his previous role. In his new role, he will provide decisive impetus for the further implementation of our “North Star” strategy and thus make a significant contribution to our future growth,’ says CEO Oliver Dörre.
12 Dec 25. INVISIO today announces changes to group management aimed at strengthening the organization going forward. Joakim Birgersson, currently Senior Vice President Operations, will on January 1, 2026, take up a newly created position as Senior Vice President Strategy & New Growth Initiatives. The establishment of a group management position focused on strategic development and growth initiatives will further increase INVISIO’s focus on revenue growth and better position the group to take advantage of the business opportunities available in an increasingly dynamic market. Joakim Birgersson has been an employee and group management member since 2018. In parallel, Roger Kristiansson Skaaby has been appointed Vice President Operations. An INVISIO executive since 2009, he is currently responsible for manufacturing. Roger Kristiansson Skaaby brings broad expertise and deep knowledge of the company’s operations to his new role and joins group management as of January 1. Carsten Michael Aagesen, Senior Vice President Global Sales & Marketing and a member of group management since 2007, will leave the company in May 2026 to take on new challenges outside the business. Mathias Rosvall has been appointed as the new Vice President Sales & Marketing Rest of the World, a role that will see him join group management. An INVISIO employee since 2018, Mathias Rosvall brings close knowledge of the group’s sales organization from his current role as Director of Global Sales Programs. Ray Clarke remains Senior Vice President Sales & Marketing North America, and continues as a group management member.
U.S. APPOINTMENTS
05 Dec 25. AeroVironment, Inc. (“AV”) (NASDAQ: AVAV) today announced that Milancy Harris has joined the company as Vice President and Chief Security Officer (CSO). In this role, Harris will lead AV’s integrated, enterprise-wide security strategy—strengthening the company’s ability to protect its people, programs, technologies, and customers across a rapidly expanding mission portfolio. (Source: BUSINESS WIRE)
11 Dec 25. Comtech Telecommunications Corp. (NASDAQ: CMTL) (“Comtech” or the “Company”), a global communications technology leader, today announced that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) has appointed Mary Jane Raymond as an independent director, effective December 11, 2025. Following Ms. Raymond’s appointment, the Board consists of eight directors.
10 Dec 25. Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Indra Nooyi, 70, former Chair and Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo, to its Board of Directors as an Independent Director, effective January 1, 2026. Nooyi served as Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo from 2006 through 2018 and Chair of its board of directors from 2007 to 2019. Prior to that, she spent five years as President and Chief Financial Officer and was a member of the PepsiCo board of directors. During her tenure at PepsiCo, Nooyi was the chief architect of Performance with Purpose, PepsiCo’s pledge to deliver sustained growth by making more nutritious products, limiting the company’s environmental footprint, and empowering its associates and people in the communities it serves. (Source: PR Newswire)