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NEWS IN BRIEF – UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPE

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08 Sep 25. MoD Must Marshal UK Financial Services to Boost Defence, Urges Landmark Report

  • Landmark report urges Government, the City of London, and the Ministry of Defence to work together to unlock defence investment and accelerate innovation
  • Authors say that faced with a range of geopolitical threats, the government defence budget is not enough to fund the pace and scale of innovation needed in fields like AI, quantum, cyber, and space
  • Supported by Sonder London, UK’s leading communications agency for growth-stage defence firms,and space-focused private equity firm NewSpace Capital, the report presents a ‘charter for change’, including recommendations for a Defence Growth Fund, refreshed public-private partnerships, and a ‘defence guarantee’ to encourage private sector lending
  • Air Marshal Andrew Turner CB CBE, co-author of the report, says the UK is currently ‘underinvested’, but ‘has the potential to lead’
  • Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP, who wrote the foreword, says the ‘holiday from history is long over’

A landmark report argues that the UK must marshal its financial and professional services to strengthen national security and defence. The authors say that in the teeth of increasingly serious geopolitical threats, the government budget is insufficient by itself to fund the pace and scale of innovation needed. Authored by Air Marshal Andrew Turner CB CBE and Mark Wheatley, the report, entitled ‘Mobilising the UK Financial Services to Advance United Kingdom’s Interests: Moving at Pace, with Enterprise for the Good of All’, paints a grim picture of the current geopolitical scene, noting that the combination of state threats, cyberattacks, and foreign wars demand a step-change in how the UK approaches rearmament and innovation. Though defence technology is increasing in sophistication globally, UK innovation is currently hampered by bureaucracy, a risk-focussed culture, and a lack of investment. So far, the City has been hesitant to back defence, due to a combination of ESG concerns, regulation, and the intrinsically slow-moving character of the sector. But defence, argues the report, is crucial to resilience and growth. The report stresses that the scale of investment the UK requires in defence and security now far outstrips what the government can commit on its own. Mobilising private capital at speed has therefore become a national security priority. The authors argue that renewed public-private financial machinery is essential, not simply to keep pace with technological change, but to underpin the Treasury’s wider vision. Without new routes for private sector participation, Britain will struggle to generate the scale of innovation needed to deter adversaries and defend its interests. One of the most acute challenges for emerging defence technology firms is scale capital – the funds that allow an idea to move from the lab to battlefield. The MoD has done this superbly with dedicated funds and abbreviated due diligence processes for Ukraine through Task Force Kindred. It must now do the same for UK technology, firms and security concerns. To close this gap, the report calls for the creation of a Defence Growth Fund, either within Defence or as a carve-out from the National Wealth Fund. By providing safe, low-cost growth capital in the £10m to £20m range, such a fund would give Britain’s innovators a path to scale at home, ensuring technology vital to national security is not lost overseas. Published to coincide with DSEI 2025, the report – put together by Delano Wheatley Consulting and Skadden, with support from space- and defence-focused communications agency Sonder London and private equity firm NewSpace Capital – notes that London remains Europe’s financial centre and has the muscle to fuel a transformation in how the UK approaches national defence and security.

The authors recommend a series of urgent measures, including:

  • Government-backed sandboxes for defence innovation.
  • A Defence Growth Fund to provide safe, scalable capital (£10–20m tickets).
  • Refreshed public–private partnerships for critical infrastructure.
  • Stronger incentives for SME finance and exports.
  • A ‘defence guarantee’ to encourage greater private sector lending.
  • Streamlining of defence accelerators and the procurement regime.
  • Embassies tasked with championing UK defence exports.

In his foreword, Rt Hon Tom Tugendhat MP said the ‘holiday from history’ was over: ‘From Taiwan to Alaska, the return of state-based threats and instability has reawaken an era of competition. Nowhere is this more fierce than in technology. The age of incremental investment has to give way to a generation of innovation. Defence industry, and capital markets, are key. The shift in technology – in areas like AI, quantum, cyber and space – show the need to rethink where modernisation matters and adapt our industry and those that support and train our future innovators. We no longer have the luxury to ignore our own security needs.’

Air Marshal Andrew Turner CB CBE, co-author of the report, said: ‘Investment in security and driving national growth are not just symbiotic, they are critically inter-dependent. The markets and Government must work together to unlock public and private capital, drive innovation, and ensure that the United Kingdom retains its edge. The potential to lead is within reach, but greater and faster  investment is required.’

The report is expected to shape debate among ministers, officials, industry leaders, and investors.

About the Report

‘Mobilising the UK Financial Services to Advance the United Kingdom’s Interests’ is published by DWC Technology, supported by Skadden, Sonder London, and NewSpace Capital, and authored by Air Marshal Andrew Turner CB CBE and Mark Wheatley. It sets out a charter for change to mobilise the UK’s financial services in support of defence and national resilience.

About the Authors

Air Marshal Andrew Turner CB CBE FRAeS CMgr CCMI is CEO of Saibre Capital Limited and Space4Sight Limited, and serves on the National Quantum Strategic Advisory Board. He previously served for four decades in the Royal Air Force, rising to Deputy Chief of the Service. Mark Wheatley is the founder of Delano Wheatley Consulting, a multi-stream advisory business, and sister company DWC Technology. He is also a local politician in the City of London. In 2019, he was awarded the Masaryk Medal for work to promote UK-Czech bilateral Trade.

 

08 Sep 25. No 10 backs ‘fed up’ Londoners in tube strikes row – as pressure grows on Khan. No 10 has called on Sadiq Khan to take action to end tube strikes. No 10 has backed “fed up” Londoners hit by tube strikes on Monday as Mayor Sadiq Khan was urged to find a solution with the trade union RMT to end industrial action.  People across the capital have been hit by strikes stopping services on the London Underground, with disruption to last until Friday.  The prime minister’s spokesman weighed in on the matter as he said the government agreed Londoners will “rightly be fed up with the disruption from tube strikes.”  The spokesman highlighted the troubles facing parents dropping kids off at school and getting to work.

“RMT and TfL need to get back around the table, work together to resolve this dispute in the interests of passengers,” the spokesman said.

The government said it was in the interests of Londoners that the two “work together in good faith”.

Sadiq Khan, who serves as the chair of Transport for London (TfL), is under growing pressure to speak out on the strikes, with the London Mayor so far not making any public media appearances. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Mayor said: “Nobody wants to see strike action or disruption for Londoners. (Source: City AM)

BATTLESPACE Comment: One of the biggest casualties has been DSEI, a show thought to be on Sadiq Khan’s hitlist to remove from London, so more pressure from No10 and the MoD might have to be applied?

 

08 Sep 25. Backing British business: reforms to champion UK defence companies on the world stage. Defence Industrial Strategy will unveil reforms to champion British defence businesses to increase export sales through cutting red tape and expanded financial backing.

  • Red tape cut to shorten the time it takes for British businesses to complete international export deals.
  • Work to expand financial backing for UK defence firms seek international exports.
  • New Defence Industrial Strategy will make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a defence firm.

British businesses will be championed on the global stage to increase export sales, under reforms taking place in the Defence Industrial Strategy, due for launch later today.

In a significant change to boost exports, UK firms will be able to apply for export licences whilst they are bidding for international work, rather than having to wait for the process to conclude.

This move will help UK companies win significant work on the international stage, shortening order timescales and giving greater confidence to overseas customers that UK companies are a reliable choice.   The Government is also taking steps to expand UK Export Finance (UKEF)’s ability to back major defence contracts, legislating to increase the maximum size of UKEF’s financial portfolio.

International defence contracts are increasingly demanding state-backed financing to be fulfilled. To ensure the UK remains a highly competitive partner of choice for international defence contracts, the government will bring forward legislation to expand UKEF’s financial capacity and will consider a new strategic approach to defence financing for larger, multi-billion-pound deals.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “We’re backing British businesses to win on the international stage by cutting red tape for major export campaigns. Ensuring our firms can bid for international work with greater confidence is an important change that will make defence an engine for growth and good jobs for people across the nation.”

Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS, representing 1600 businesses in aerospace, defence, security and space, said: “Exports from the UK’s defence and security sectors have doubled in the last decade. UK-made capability is in demand, and any way that government and industry can work together to speed up this process is welcomed. The ability for businesses large and small to be able to secure licenses during the tender process means that production can begin sooner, workers can be retained, and ultimately, the UK’s competitive advantage can be secured.  On behalf of our over 1,000 industry members operating in this space, we look forward to partnering with the government to ensure that the UK’s rigorous export licensing systems are maintained while business thrives within that system.”

The UK’s defence industry is a global powerhouse showcasing hundreds of thousands of highly skilled workers and the very latest cutting-edge technologies. The reforms come after the UK recently announced a deal to export at least five Type 26 frigates to Norway in a £10bn boost to the economy, supporting over 4,000 British jobs for years to come.

UKEF support has already been a critical enabler for UK defence exports and the work to expand their financial capacity will help boost further opportunities for British companies to secure international orders.

Defence exports are now worth over £14.5bn annually and growing – making Britain the world’s second-largest arms exporter after the United States, supporting work to make defence an engine for economic growth and delivering on the Plan for Change. (Source: army-technology.com)

 

10 Sep 25.  Clear controls in place to manage UK-Saudi military contracts.

  • The MoD’s current controls for how it manages two major military programmes on behalf of KSA are clear, with no areas of concern identified in how contractors are paid.
  • The MoD has strengthened its processes by applying lessons learned from a court case relating to historic corrupt practices in one of the programmes.
  • The programmes are intended to strengthen and enhance the UK-Saudi defence and security relationship, bringing economic, military and geopolitical benefits to the UK.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has in place a clear set of controls to manage military contracts on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) and has applied lessons learned from a court case to strengthen its processes further, according to a new National Audit Office (NAO) report.1 For more than four decades, the MoD has run two major programmes for KSA, which it considers as economically, militarily and geopolitically beneficial to the UK. The Ministry of Defence Saudi Armed Forces Projects (MODSAP) supplies military aircraft, naval vessels, weapons, training and associated support services to the Saudi Armed Forces,2 while the Saudi Arabia National Guard Communications Project (SANGCOM) delivers telecommunications capability for the Saudi Arabian National Guard. A Serious Fraud Office (SFO) investigation into corruption involving the then prime contractor for SANGCOM led to prosecutions in 2021 and 2024. In the first of these, the judge was satisfied that the government was “substantially involved in the historic corrupt arrangements” that led to the prime contractor’s conduct.3 Following the conclusion of the court case, the NAO has reviewed the MoD’s current arrangements and activities for managing the two programmes.4,5 It finds that the programmes now have clearly defined and structured governance arrangements, including oversight by senior MoD officials. The MoD has processes in place to ensure that payments made to contractors working on both programmes are appropriate, with no significant control weaknesses identified. In recent years, the MoD has also strengthened how it manages the programmes after implementing recommendations from internal audit reviews looking at their respective governance arrangements, and in October 2024 it completed an exercise for MODSAP to learn lessons from the recent court case.

  1. The report will be available on the NAO website via the following link from 00:01 Wednesday 10 September: https://www.nao.org.uk/reports/management-of-contracts-by-the-mod-on-behalf-of-saudi-arabia/
  2. Through its support services, the MODSAP team provides a range of skills relating to commerce, digital, engineering, finance, operational delivery, policy, project management and quality assurance.
  3. This court case related to SANGCOM and the SFO made no allegations regarding MODSAP.
  4. The investigation does not examine previous arrangements, including those in place during the period covered by the SFO investigation, which have been superseded. It does, however, consider the extent to which the MoD has applied lessons learned from issues raised during the court case. It does not evaluate the value for money of the arrangements, because they are fully funded by the government of KSA.
  5. In addition to MODSAP and SANGCOM, the MoD also runs one further, smaller programme on behalf of the KSA – the British Military Mission – through which the UK provides advice and training to the National Guard on infantry and explosive ordnance disposal capabilities. This is not included in the scope of the investigation because it does not involve the MoD managing the supply of equipment to the KSA.

 

08 Sep 25. UK: Industrial action will cause significant travel disruption in capital over coming days. On 7 September, members of the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), including drivers, signallers and maintenance workers, started a series of strikes to demand better pay and working conditions. The industrial action will cause severe travel disruption on public transport services in the capital London until at least 11 September. The London Underground service lines will have limited to no service. The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) will be non-operational on 9 and 11 September due to a separate dispute. While other public transport services, such as London Overground and buses, will continue to run, they will be almost certainly overcrowded, unable to stop at all stations and possibly experience delays. Services are set to return to normal operation on 12 September. We assess that consumers will likely avoid non-essential travel; this will likely result in economic losses for businesses in the hospitality, culture and retail industries. (Source: Sibylline)

 

09 Sep 25. New Defence Growth Deals Created to Boost Local Economies Under Major Sector Plan. Working families across the country will be provided opportunities through the Defence Industrial Strategy, from highly skilled engineering positions to apprenticeships for young people starting their careers, ensuring that the defence dividend is felt in communities from Cornwall to the Highlands.

  • Defence Industrial Strategy launched by Defence Secretary on visit to Veteran-founded, high-tech UK firm.
  • Additional £250m to unleash the potential of local authorities, businesses and research institutions to support UK defence while boosting economic benefits.
  • UK to be the best place in the world to start and grow a defence firm, better equipping the Armed Forces and driving economic growth under the Plan for Change.

Working families across the country will be provided opportunities through the Defence Industrial Strategy, from highly skilled engineering positions to apprenticeships for young people starting their careers, ensuring that the defence dividend is felt in communities from Cornwall to the Highlands.  Defence Secretary John Healey will launch the Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) on a visit to defence technology firm Rowden, in Bristol, where he will open the firm’s new facility. Veteran-founded firm Rowden produce critical sensing and decision-making capabilities for the Armed Forces and significant growth in recent years means they now boast an engineering and production footprint of more than 20,000 sq ft in Bristol.  Central to the DIS, local economies will be boosted through the launch of a £250m fund for Defence Growth Deals – which will improve collaboration, foster innovation and create jobs in areas with untapped potential.   Five initial Defence Growth Deals will be created across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Building on the success of the Team Barrow approach at the home of nuclear submarine building in Barrow-in-Furness, Defence Growth Deals will identify areas with high growth potential, and bring together industry, local and national government and academia to make sure that potential is realised.   Each Defence Growth Deal will combine defence and wider government investment to harness local sub-sector strengths, drive innovation, and deliver tailored support where needed, such as in skills, housing, and planning, to boost local economies, attract private investment, and ensure long-term sustainability.   Initial ADS analysis indicates there could be an additional demand of up to 50,000 defence jobs by 2034/35 with increases in defence spending. Defence Growth Deals will play an important role in capitalising on that skilled employment potential for communities across the UK.

The five deals will be backed by a total of £250m of defence spending over the next five years, underpinned by this Government’s historic increase in defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027 and the ambition to hit 3% in the next Parliament.

They will forge long-term partnerships between national, devolved and local government, uniting businesses and research institutions to harness local expertise and resources in defence and the dual-use sectors. They will support the UK Armed Forces and deliver benefits for working people through the government’s Plan for Change.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: “The Defence Industrial Strategy will make defence an engine for growth across the UK, backing British jobs, British industry and British innovators.  Defence Growth Deals offer a new partnership with UK Defence to build on industrial and innovation strengths that regions already hold. Together we aim to drive an increase in defence skills, SMEs and jobs across all four nations.

We want to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a defence firm and will put Britain at the leading edge of innovation.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “This is a plan for good jobs paying decent wages in Cardiff, Belfast, Glasgow, Sheffield, Plymouth and beyond.  Through Defence Growth Deals we will unleash the power of local economies while securing our country – building an economy that works for working people, in every part of this country, just as our Plan for Change promised. Innovation and industrial power are central to deterrence and decisive factors in war. The conflict in Ukraine provides a stark reminder of the imperative of the necessity for fast replenishment and resupply by industry, and a rapid, continual cycle of innovation between industry and the front line.”

The first Defence Growth Deals will be in:

  • Plymouth – Home to the largest naval base in Western Europe, which will see £4bn of investment over a 10-year period, the city has recently been designated as the national centre for marine autonomy to drive further innovation in the crucial maritime autonomous systems sector.
  • South Yorkshire – A key region for the research, development and engineering of high-grade components and materials critical to the next generation of maritime, land and air capabilities. This includes specialist steel for gun barrels and nuclear submarines.
  • Wales – The country is becoming a leader in UAV development and testing, from companies such as Tekever in Pembrokeshire, to testing sites including the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre, and academic institutions including the Welsh Centre for Defence Autonomy.
  • Scotland – Home to a dynamic mix of growth industries, from a rapidly advancing space sector, to next generation maritime innovation centred around the Clyde and Rosyth, and critical technology superclusters anchored by world-class academic institutions.
  • Northern Ireland – Home to a diverse range of defence and dual use SMEs, the country is recognised as a leading cyber security hub, boosted by Queen’s University Belfast’s Centre for Secure Information Technologies and Momentum One Zero. It is also home to Thales and Harland & Wolff, companies that are critical to our support to Ukraine and our maritime strength.

The DIS is a long-term investment in both security and high-growth economy – by strengthening the industrial base and preparing for future challenges, it will unlock defence’s potential as an engine for growth under the Government’s Plan for Change. (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

06 Sep 25. Major skills boost at the heart of transformative new Defence Industrial Strategy. UK jobs and skills will be the driving force behind making the country a defence industrial leader under a transformative new strategy to be launched next week.

  • £182m boost for defence talent pipeline, delivering on economic growth through the Plan for Change.
  • In-demand defence technical skills to be boosted through five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, offering new opportunities into defence jobs.
  • Landmark Defence Industrial Strategy set to back British business and adopt innovation lessons from Ukraine.

UK jobs and skills will be the driving force behind making the country a defence industrial leader under a transformative new strategy to be launched next week [Monday 8 September], including the creation of five defence-focused Technical Excellence Colleges to ensure industry has the workforce needed for the future.

It follows Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to BAE Scotstoun where he met shipyard workers to celebrate the UK securing a £10 billion deal with Norway for Type 26 frigates, which will support 4,000 British jobs well into the next decade. The deal highlights the government’s work to back British companies on the global stage and secure working people’s futures. The Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) will further back British businesses, putting the UK at the leading edge of defence innovation in NATO and ensuring this government’s record uplift in defence spending delivers a lasting dividend for people in every nation and region. It will deliver a more integrated, innovative, and resilient defence sector and better equipped Armed Forces – supported by the historic increase in defence spending to 2.6% of GDP by 2027 and the ambition to hit 3% in the next Parliament. New funding of £182m will support a comprehensive package aimed at harnessing the skills needed for the future, from submarine engineers to specialist welders, and the cyber warfare specialists defence will need in the years to come. Defence is the engine room of national renewal, and this investment is focused on the future of the people who will be driving that work. The DIS will support more opportunities for young people, help our Veterans into employment and equip the UK workforce with the expertise needed to meet the new era of threat set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), and the demands of a rapidly evolving defence sector to innovate at a wartime pace.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said: “It’s British workers who gave UK companies the leading edge in defence innovation and industry.  Our Defence Industrial Strategy puts skills at the heart of the Government’s plans to make the country safer and boost jobs across the UK. This is the biggest defence skills plan in decades, a plan to boost Britain’s security and create well paid, high-skilled jobs for young people for generations to come.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “The defence sector doesn’t just keep the British people safe; it drives growth and unlocks opportunities for young people to learn pioneering skills and pursue a great career. This investment and our new Defence Technical Excellence Colleges will break down barriers to opportunity for people in every corner of our country, drive economic growth as part of our Plan for Change and secure the UK’s place in the world, putting us at the cutting edge of innovation and new technology. The Government’s comprehensive defence skills package centres on establishing five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges, training people in the skills needed to secure new defence jobs in this growing industry, with applications to go live by the end of this calendar year, and successful TECs to be launched in 2026.”

The package will fund thousands of short courses so that defence employers can upskill new hires and existing staff more quickly. Investing £80 m in our world leading universities will mean they can invest in cutting edge facilities and expand places for more people to study subjects like engineering and computer science that are critical to defence innovation.”

This flagship initiative is complemented by ambitious regional STEM programmes designed to engage thousands of school-age students across four years, actively encouraging them to pursue defence careers. Retention and career mobility are addressed through a new apprenticeship and graduate clearing system launching in 2026, plus scoping an innovative Defence Skills Passport which could facilitate smoother transitions for mid-career professionals between the Armed Forces, defence industry, and related sectors.

The package is a strong demonstration of making defence an engine for growth, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.

Background

The skills package includes:

  • Establishing five Defence Technical Excellence Colleges with applications to go live by the end of this calendar year, and with successful TECs to be launched in 2026.
  • Regional STEM initiatives to engage thousands of school-age students over the next four years to pursue careers in defence.
  • Targeted short courses for people working in specific defence industries looking to progress their careers by boosting their skills.
  • Investing in the higher education sector to boost places on defence-related courses.
  • Establishing a Defence Universities Alliance, which will support and encourage defence sector careers and ethical defence research.
  • Explore working with partners, such as UCAS, to provide a wealth of online information, advice, and guidance for prospective students interested in a career in the defence sector.
  • A new apprenticeship and graduate clearing-style system to help support career opportunities across the defence supply-chain.
  • Helping retain our people by scoping a Defence Skills Passport that could enable smoother transfer of mid-career professionals between the Armed Forces, the defence industry and those looking to re-enter from neighbouring industries.
  • Launching a new Destination Defence campaign, working with industry to promote the breadth of exciting roles available across the sector and the opportunities for people to keep our nation safe.

(Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

 

04 Sep 25. U.S. troops will stay in Poland, Trump assures Polish leader. President Donald Trump affirmed that the United States will keep a robust military presence in Poland as he had a warm meeting Wednesday with the country’s new president, Karol Nawrocki. Trump had taken the unusual step of endorsing Nawrocki in the Polish elections earlier this year, and as the leaders sat side by side in the White House, Trump said the U.S.-Polish relationship has always been strong but “now it’s better than ever.” When asked by a reporter whether the U.S. planned to continue placing troops in Poland, Trump said the U.S. would and “we’ll put more there if they want.”

“We’ll be staying in Poland. We’re very much aligned with Poland,” Trump said.

The visit to Washington is Nawrocki’s first overseas trip since taking office last month. The former amateur boxer and historian, who was backed by the conservative Law and Justice party, was hoping to deepen his relationship with Trump at a fraught moment for Warsaw. Nawrocki thanked Trump for his support and, in a nod to the bonds between their countries, gave a shout out to the ms of Polish Americans in the U.S.

“Those relations for me, for Poland, for Poles, are very important,” Nawrocki said.

He added that those bonds are based on shared values of independence and democracy. In a news conference after his meeting, Nawrocki said he and Trump discussed expanding the U.S. military presence in Poland.

“There were specific discussions regarding this project,” he said.

He also said he considered it “a major success” that Trump provided a guarantee of Poland’s security. At the White House, Trump said he was proud to have endorsed Nawrocki and lauded him for winning his election.

“It was a pretty tough race, pretty nasty race, and he beat them all. And he beat them all very easily, and now he’s become even more popular as they got to know him and know him better,” Trump said.

Trump is increasingly frustrated by his inability to get Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sit down for direct talks aimed at ending the war between Poland’s neighbors. Trump last month met with Putin in Alaska and then with Zelenskyy and several European leaders at the White House. The Republican president emerged from those engagements confident that he would be able to quickly arrange direct talks between Putin and Zelenskyy and perhaps three-way talks in which he would participate. But his optimism in hatching an agreement to end the war has dimmed as Putin has yet to signal an interest in sitting down with Zelenskyy.

“Maybe they have to fight a little longer,” Trump said in an interview with the conservative Daily Caller published over the weekend. “You know, just keep fighting — stupidly, keep fighting.”

Trump and Zelenskyy are scheduled to speak Thursday, according to a White House official. The official requested anonymity to discuss the yet to be formally announced call. The call comes as Zelenskyy is in Paris to meet with European allies on Thursday to discuss postwar security guarantees they might be able to provide with the United States. There is also heightened anxiety in Poland, and across Europe, about Trump’s long-term commitment to a strong U.S. force posture on the continent — an essential deterrent to Russia. Some key advisers in his administration have advocated for shifting U.S. troops and military from Europe to the Indo-Pacific with China’s lock as the United States’ most significant strategic and economic competitor. Currently, there are about 8,200 American troops stationed in Poland, but the force level regularly fluctuates, according to the Pentagon. When Nawrocki arrived at the White House, Trump gave him a hearty slap on the shoulder and stood with him as they watched U.S. military jets soaring over the South Lawn. A group of F-16s flew in a missing man formation as a tribute to a Polish Air Force F-16 pilot, Maj. Maciej “Slab” Krakowian, who died in a crash in Poland on Aug. 28.

“Thank you for this gesture,” Nawrocki later told Trump.

Trump made clear before Poland’s election this spring he wanted Nawrocki to win, dangling the prospect of closer military ties if the Poles elected Nawrocki. Trump even hosted him at the White House before the vote.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem also traveled to Poland shortly before its May election to tell Poles if they elected Nawrocki and other conservatives they would have a strong ally in Trump, who would “ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values.”

Ultimately, Polish voters went with Nawrocki in a tight election over liberal Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski.

Most of the power in Poland’s parliamentary system rests with an elected parliament and a government chosen by the parliament. The president can veto legislation and represents the country abroad. Nawrocki has tense relations with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, an ally of Trzaskowski. Nawrocki has echoed some of Trump’s language on Ukraine. He promises to continue Poland’s support for Ukraine but has been critical of Zelenskyy, accusing him of taking advantage of allies. Nawrocki has accused Ukrainian refugees of taking advantage of Polish generosity and vowed to prioritize Poles for social services such as health care and schooling. At the same time, Nawrocki aimed to stress to Trump that Russian aggression in Ukraine underscores that Putin can’t be trusted and that a strong U.S. presence in Poland remains an essential deterrent. Russia and its ally Belarus are set to hold joint military exercises this month in Belarus, unnerving Poland as well as fellow NATO members Latvia and Lithuania. (Source: Defense News)

 

05 Sep 25. DSEI UK to show war’s tech revolution, military adviser Waterfall says. As geopolitical tensions surge and drones and artificial intelligence continue to reshape warfare, the 2025 DSEI UK show in London is set to highlight the technological advancements that are transforming the battlefield. This year’s show will focus on how countries such as the U.K. can make sure their armed forces are ready for the evolving nature of warfare, retired Air Vice-Marshal Gary Waterfall, the event’s senior military adviser, told Defense News. Unconventional warfare has surged in the past year, from cyber and information warfare to the use of unmanned vehicles across air, land and sea, with a “dramatic uptick” in drone and counter-drone technology across all theaters, according to Waterfall, who helped develop the DSEI 2025 core theme of “Preparing the Future Force” in consultation with the U.K. Ministry of Defence.

“We’re in this midst of this technological revolution, and technologies are just rolling out at such a rapid pace, and it’s really important for all militaries to get to grips with it as soon as they can,” said Waterfall. “The real growth area is in the tech, and that tech will permeate throughout the show.”

This year’s edition of the show will feature an expanded tech zone, and organizer Clarion says DSEI UK 2025 will be the biggest yet, with 654 new exhibitors signed up and more than 45 countries represented. The four-day show will kick off on Tuesday, Sept. 9, with a greater presence from countries including Czechia and Lithuania, as well as more exhibitors from the United States and Canada. The show’s focus on “future-proofing” the armed forces goes beyond just upgrading weapon systems to rethinking the entire defense ecosystem, from industrial production to military readiness, according to Waterfall.

“It’s much, much broader than thinking about the soldier, the sailor, the airman, and making sure they’re appropriately equipped,” Waterfall said. “It’s all well and good having the most effective military fighting force, but if your supply chain is wafer thin and you don’t have the resilience and that capability to sustain your military readiness, then you’re going nowhere quite quickly.”

The DSEI adviser highlighted the key role of small and medium-sized enterprises, with innovation often coming from smaller companies rather than big defense contractors. Waterfall cited Formula One industry spin-offs applying their AI and machine-learning skills to defense, and who will be among the exhibitor companies in the tech zone alongside the likes of Hadean and Palantir.

“Everyone would agree that the answer isn’t always provided by the prime contractor,” Waterfall said. “A lot of times it’s going to be the small, medium enterprises that have got the agility, from a financial and also people perspective, to rise to the challenge.”

The show’s sub themes of “Securing advantage,” “Driving advantage” and “Maintaining advantage” will each focus on a different aspect of defense readiness. Securing advantage involves agile acquisition and supply-chain security, with Waterfall saying that even the most advanced military force would become ineffective without a resilient supply chain. Driving advantage will look at the digital transformation of defense, with AI, cyber security and data analytics acting as force multipliers. Waterfall said the goal is not to replace human decision-making but to enhance it, and enable military leaders to make quicker, more informed decisions on the battlefield. “We need to work quicker and act quicker than our potential adversaries. Which comes back to AI, machine learning, being able to decide and act quicker than those that you’re going up against,” Waterfall told Defense News. (Source: Defense News)

 

03 Sep 25. Who to see at DSEI 2025.

Details are provided below:

  • Advanced Navigation at Booth S2-116: ITAR free Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions for Sea, Land & Air applications
  • Aitech at Booth N11-110: Industry-Leading Rugged Embedded Computing Solutions for Harsh Military & Aerospace Applications
  • Allen Vanguard at Booth S5–540: Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) & RF Jamming Technology for Protection from RCIED and Drone Threats
  • Antillion: Edge Computing Solutions for Mission-Critical Defense, First Responder & Security Applications
  • Atrenne Computing Solutions: Rugged Electronic Enclosures, VPX Chassis & Backplanes for Military and Defense Applications
  • Creomagic at Booth N7-164: Intelligent MANET Communication Solutions for the Warfighter and Mission-Critical Defense & Government Operations
  • Cubert: State-Of-The-Art Hyperspectral Imaging Cameras for Mission-Critical Applications
  • Dantherm Group at Booth N3-200: Military Air Conditioners, HVAC & Environmental Control Units for Tents, Containers and Temporary Buildings
  • Denchi: Advanced Mission-Critical Battery Solutions for Demanding Military & Aerospace Applications
  • Echodyne at Booth H8-301: Radars for Counter-UAS, Base & Asset Security, and Portable ISR
  • EIZO Rugged Solutions at Booth N4-215: High-Performance Video Graphics, GPGPU, AI/ML Processing & Display Solutions for Mission Critical Environments
  • Elistair at Booth S7-202: Cutting-Edge Tethered Drone Solutions for Mission-Critical Defense & Security Applications
  • EMCORE Corporation at Booth N5-320: High-Performance Fiber Optic, Ring Laser Gyro and MEMS Inertial Sensors & Navigation Systems
  • Flyber: Robust Propeller Solutions for Military & Government UAVs
  • Greensea IQ: Autonomous Military Robotics and Technologies | Amphibious Tracked Vehicles
  • Honeywell Aerospace Technologies at Booth S5-533: Propulsion, Sensors, Communication & Augmented Reality Systems
  • Inertial Labs, a VIAVI Solutions Company at Booth S5-142: Tactical Grade IMU, GPS/INS, Weapon Orientation Solutions
  • LCR Embedded Systems at Booth S5-215: Mission-Critical Integrated Systems, Chassis & Backplanes For Military Systems Operating In All Domains
  • Micropol Fiberoptic: State-Of-The-Art Passive Fiber Optics Technologies for the Military, Defense & Security Industries
  • MilDef Group at Booth N7-130: WE ARMOR IT. MilSpec Electronics & Rugged IT Equipment for Military, Government & Critical Infrastructure
  • MKS | Ophir: Thermal Imaging Optics: Powering Defense EO Systems Excellence
  • Omnetics Connector Corporation at Booth S4–114: MIL-Spec Connectors for Military & Army Applications – MIL-STD Electrical Connectors
  • Oscilloquartz at Booth S5–271: Network Synchronization Technology & Assured PNT Solutions for Defense Systems & Mission-Critical Infrastructure
  • Performance Drone Works (PDW) at Booth N5-260: Tactical UAS Platforms for Mission-Critical Military, Defense & Law Enforcement Applications
  • Red Cat Holdings at Booth S4–240: Advanced American-Made Drone Technologies for Aerial ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance)
  • Reventec at Booth N5-155: Ruggedized Solid-state Liquid Level, Temperature and Position Sensors for Military Applications
  • RIPEnergy: Field-Proven Rugged Power Conversion Products for Military & Defense Applications
  • Rotron Aerospace at Booth C-05: Rugged VTOL UAVs & High-Performance Propulsion Systems
  • Sierra-Olympia Technologies: Cutting-Edge Infrared Imaging Solutions for The Defense & Security Industries
  • SightLine Applications at Booth S5–133: Powerful Edge Video Processing – Essential functionality for a wide range of ISR applications
  • Sky Power International: Heavy Fuel and Gasoline Engines for Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Systel at Booth S5–263: Rugged Mission-Critical Computing Solutions for Defense & Government Applications: Air, Land & Sea
  • Teledyne FLIR OEM at Booth S3-110: Thermal Imaging Solutions Featuring Cutting-Edge Intelligent Sensing & Threat Detection Technologies
  • Textron Systems at Booth S4–205: Cutting-Edge Defense Technologies Empowering The Warfighter On The Modern Battlefield
  • Triad RF Systems at Booth N2-335: Integrated Radio MIMO Systems, RF Power Amplifiers for C-UAS, Electronic Warfare & ISR Data Links
  • Trillium Engineering at Booth S4–207: Cutting-Edge Visible & Thermal Imaging Camera Gimbal Payloads for Mission-Critical Applications
  • UAV Propulsion Tech: Cutting-Edge UAV Technologies for Defense Primes, Drone OEMs and Systems Integrators
  • Venturetec Rotating Systems at Booth S9-260: Custom Slip Ring & Rotary Joint Solutions for Demanding Military Power & Data Transmission Applications
  • WOLF Advanced Technology at Booth S5-215: Rugged High Performance Computing & Video I/O Modules: 6U and 3U VPX, and XMC for Defense Applications
  • Z3 Technology: NDAA & TAA Compliant Video Encoding & IP Camera Solutions for Mission-Critical Applications
  • ZeroAlpha Solutions at Booth N3-110: Mission-Critical Power & Lighting Solutions for Sustainable Military Operations (Source: https://www.defenseadvancement.com/)

 

04 Sep 25. UK and Norway sign historic deal strengthening NATO’s northern flank and boosting jobs and growth. The Defence Secretary, John Healey, and his Norwegian counterpart, Tore O. Sandvik, today signed an historic agreement to enhance the strategic partnership between the UK and Norway

  • Prime Minister visited BAE Scotstoun to meet the team who helped to land the biggest ever warship export deal worth £10bn – supporting over 4,000 UK jobs and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.
  • Comes as the Defence Secretary and his Norwegian counterpart signed the deal today in Stavanger, Norway.
  • Deal cements deep strategic partnership and will boost national defence through strengthened security in North Sea, Baltic Sea, and High North.

UK and European security was bolstered today following the signing of a new deal for Norway to purchase at least five Type 26 frigates from British shipbuilders, in a move that will create a combined fleet to better counter Russia on NATO’s northern flank.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited BAE Scotstoun to say thank you to the those who helped get this huge contract to build the cutting-edge vessels, which will support 4,000 jobs across the UK well into the next decade — including 2,000 in Scotland. The Defence Secretary, John Healey, and his Norwegian counterpart, Tore O. Sandvik, today signed the historic agreement to enhance the strategic partnership between the UK and Norway, strengthening NATO in the region and providing more opportunities for joint training and personnel exchanges between the two nations. At today’s signing in Norway, the Defence Secretary and the Norwegian Minister of Defence Tore O. Sandvik discussed further joint operations through this deepened partnership. The Defence Secretary also met Norwegian Navy recruits undergoing basic training who will in future likely serve on the Type 26 frigates built under this agreement.

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP, said: “This deal will support thousands of UK jobs for many years to come and boosts our strategic partnership with Norway. Our close bonds are built on a shared geography and history, and this deal will see our navies work as one, creating a combined fleet to defend NATO’s northern flank and strengthen our deterrence against Russian aggression. The programme is also expected to support 432 business, including 222 small and medium enterprises, across the UK. The £10bn deal delivers on the Government’s Plan for Change – creating jobs, driving growth and protecting national security for working people. It is a striking vote of confidence in the UK’s world-class shipbuilding industry.” (Source: https://www.gov.uk/)

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Founded in 1987, Exensor Technology is a world leading supplier of Networked Unattended Ground Sensor (UGS) Systems providing tailored sensor solutions to customers all over the world. From our Headquarters in Lund Sweden, our centre of expertise in Network Communications at Communications Research Lab in Kalmar Sweden and our Production site outside of Basingstoke UK, we design, develop and produce latest state of the art rugged UGS solutions at the highest quality to meet the most stringent demands of our customers. Our systems are in operation and used in a wide number of Military as well as Homeland Security applications worldwide. The modular nature of the system ensures any external sensor can be integrated, providing the user with a fully meshed “silent” network capable of self-healing. Exensor Technology will continue to lead the field in UGS technology, provide our customers with excellent customer service and a bespoke package able to meet every need.

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