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19 Feb 26. UK needs to accelerate defence spending PM says. The UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, told reporters on Monday that the country needs to “step up” and “go faster” on defence spending. Starmer’s comments follow a BBC report stating that the government is considering proposals to accelerate a planned rise in the defence budget to 3% of GDP. It comes amid suggestions that the country’s allies are ‘frustrated’ by delays in finalising budgets for joint programmes.
In other news, Canada’s government has unveiled its first-ever Defence Industrial Strategy, with a focus on bolstering domestic production to reduce reliance on imported equipment. To achieve this, domestic – often smaller – defence companies will be prioritised, with international partnerships being explored where this is not possible. Failing that, Canada will procure from partner countries on the condition that there is reinvestment into the country’s economy.
Several new funding initiatives are also being launched, including a new Defence Advisory Forum to ensure better engagement with industry, and a CAD4 billion ‘Defence Platform’ intended to support companies in accessing capital funds. (Source: Clarion)
16 Feb 26. Finland secures ReArm Europe funding for defence sector. Some of the funding will be directed towards dual-use technologies, potentially in the form of drones or digital systems.
- Finland has revealed that it has secured ReArm Europe funding that will boost defence sector capabilities
- The focus appears to be on dual-use technologies and bolstering supply chain security
- Meanwhile, Helsinki also announced that Finland will host a new Nato C2 capability to aid in High North security
Finland has secured unspecified funding as part of the European Union’s (EU) ReArm Europe programme intended to rejuvenate defence spending across the bloc, with Helsinki stating the finances would boost military capability. Announced on 12 February, the Finland Government announced €280m ($332m) in funding from the European Regional Development Fund and other agencies under the EU’s regional and structural policy programme. Within the ‘Innovation and Skills in Finland’ segment, the EU’s ReArm Europe Plan will open up two “completely new policy lines” to support investments in the country’s defence industry and production of dual-use items. A 12 February Finnish Government release said the move would “bolster Finland’s defence capability” and aid supply chain security.
“With the help of the EU’s new policy lines on regional development funding, we will be able to strengthen security of supply, improve military mobility, and enhance the production capacity within Finland’s defence industry and dual-use items,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Sakari Puisto.
“As a result, we can more easily attract investments to the regions and create new jobs,” Puisto added.
In 2025 the European Commission unveiled the ReArm Europe Plan, which encompasses a budget of €800bn ($867.74bn) aimed at bolstering defence spending across the continent. One of the early, but key, initial aspects of the ReArm Europe initiative involves expediting the availability of funds for defence purposes, releasing bns of euros for military procurement needs. However, the funds are not necessarily distributed by the EU, rather it enables such national spending to be activated without it counting against wider fiscal deficit targets imposed on member states. Of the €800bn in ReArm funding, around €150bn is provided by targeted EU loans with the rest comprised of expected increases national defence spending.
Finland to host Nato C2 centre
Meanwhile, on 12 February Finland announced that it had received approval from Nato to host a deployable command and control (C2) module in the High North in a bid to strengthen Arctic security. The Deployable CIS Module (DCM) will provide C2 services in support of Nato forces and commands in Finland, potentially extending across the Alliance if necessary.
“A Deployable CIS Module will strengthen Nato’s deterrence and defence throughout the High North,” said Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.
In 2023 Finland opted to join Nato as a result of regional security threats caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, adding some 1,300km of border frontier to the opposed blocs. According to intelligence firm GlobalData, Finland’s defence expenditure was forecast to reach $7.1bn by the end of 2025, representing an 8.4% increase over 2024 levels. (Source: army-technology.com)
16 Feb 26. Canada and Denmark agree on expanded defence partnership at MSC. The agreement boosts defence ties in innovation, industrial collaboration, joint activities in training, exercises, and others. Canada and the Kingdom of Denmark have formalised a Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) on 13 February 2026. The agreement was signed by Canada’s Minister of National Defence David J. McGuinty alongside Denmark’s Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen, Faroese Minister of Defence Sirið Stenberg, and Greenland’s Minister of Defence Vivian Motzfeldt. The memorandum sets out enhanced collaboration in areas such as defence innovation, industrial and materiel partnerships, shared logistics, and joint activities involving personnel, training, exercises, and education. It demonstrates a joint dedication to transatlantic security and bolsters coordination among Nato allies amid a challenging global security landscape.
David J. McGuinty said: “Canada is an Arctic nation—and we will defend the North. Today, this defence cooperation agreement with Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands strengthens our collective deterrence and our ability to operate seamlessly with our North Atlantic Treaty Organization Allies and partners in the High North. Today, we send a clear message: the Arctic is secure, and we will keep it that way.”
This development follows progress in Canada–Denmark defence relations, notably Denmark’s inclusion in Canada’s Maritime Security Partnership, which was announced during the Nato Summit last June. Both countries seek to deepen operational collaboration in the North Atlantic and Arctic regions through these initiatives. The two nations share a 3,000-kilometre maritime border between Canada and Greenland. Canada and Denmark also share historical ties as founding members of Nato. The organisation remains central to Canada’s security policy, with continued Canadian support for its principle of collective defence. Recently, Canada outlined an additional contribution of $50m to the Danish Model for purchasing capabilities from Ukraine’s domestic industry. This brings Canada’s total funding through this channel to $190m. (Source: army-technology.com)
14 Feb 26. UK Carrier Strike Group to deploy to North Atlantic to keep UK safe. UK will bolster regional security by deploying a Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North.
- UK to deploy Carrier Strike Group to the North Atlantic and High North in 2026 in a major boost for regional security.
- Powerful show of force with Royal Navy warships, F-35 jets and helicopters to deter Russian aggression and protect vital undersea infrastructure.
- Deployment will include major exercises alongside US, Canadian, and Northern European allies.
Britain will send its Carrier Strike Group back to sea in 2026 in a major show of force across the Euro-Atlantic and High North, reinforcing NATO’s deterrence at a time of rising Russian threats in the region. Known as ‘Operation Firecrest’ and led by HMS Prince of Wales – the largest warship in the Royal Navy – the UK will deploy the strike group across the North Atlantic and Arctic. It will include world-class Royal Navy warships and RAF fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets to bolster defence and security. It comes as Russia’s military activity in the North Atlantic continues to increase. Over the past two years, there has been a 30% increase in Russian navy vessels threatening UK waters. The deployment will see the UK and US working side-by-side on Euro-Atlantic security around the North American East Coast, boosting the historic alliance between the two nations. The Carrier Strike Group will sail across the Atlantic to visit a US port, with US jets also expected to operate from the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales. The deployment will include activity under NATO’s Arctic Sentry mission, launched this week, strengthening the Alliance’s security in a region where melting sea ice is opening new routes and increasing threat from hostile state activity. With growing concern over Russian operations in the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap and the increased risk to critical undersea cables and pipelines, the deployment will send a clear message that the UK will always defend its waters, protect critical infrastructure, and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with its Allies.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “I’m proud that we’re stepping up UK leadership on High North and Atlantic security. This deployment will help make Britain warfighting ready, boost our contribution to NATO, and strengthen our operations with key allies, keeping the UK secure at home and strong abroad.”
Operation Firecrest will involve thousands of personnel from all three services of the Armed Forces, demonstrating Britain’s ability to project force wherever it is needed and operate seamlessly within NATO. The Carrier Strike Group will exercise alongside NATO’s Standing Naval Maritime Group 1, itself being led by the UK, with HMS Dragon acting as the command ship of the NATO maritime group throughout 2026. Parts of the deployment will fall under NATO command, including close cooperation with operational headquarters Joint Force Command Norfolk, which is set to be under the command of a British officer for the first time. The deployment will be carried out alongside key allies including the United States, Canada, and Joint Expeditionary Force nations, building on the UK’s growing defence cooperation in the High North and reaffirming the strength of the historic UK–US defence relationship. This reinforces the UK’s commitment to High North security and builds on the Defence Secretary’s commitment to double the number of UK troops deployed to Norway, from 1,000 to 2,000. It also reaffirms the Government’s commitment to stepping up on defence. The UK has committed to the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War – hitting 2.6% of GDP from 2027 – to ensure that Britain and our allies are safe. The deployment follows the success of the UK’s 2025 Carrier Strike Group mission to the Indo-Pacific, which saw over 1,000 F-35 sorties and activity with over 30 nations, and resulted in the UK’s Carrier Strike Group being certified fully ‘mission ready’ and committed to NATO. (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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