Thales Readies Storm 2 Wearable Counter-Drone Jammer
Thales is set to unveil Storm 2, a two‑kilogram soldier‑worn electronic‑warfare node that detects and jams hostile radio signals used by drones and radio‑triggered explosives. The system employs a software‑defined radio covering 20 MHz‑6 GHz and delivers up to 10 watts of reactive jamming power, conserving battery life by activating only when a threat is detected. With an endurance of roughly four hours, Storm 2 offers a lightweight alternative to traditional man‑pack jammers, aiming to protect dismounted troops without compromising mobility. The device is already being trialed by several armed forces ahead of its formal debut at the Future Soldier Technology conference.
Scottish Ambulance Service Highlights Reservist Support
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) does not maintain a central record of employees with Armed Forces ties, but it runs a voluntary internal network for veterans, reservists, and their families. Between 2022 and 2025, 166 staff members logged 12,976.5 hours...
MOD Explores Fuze System for Armed Uncrewed Platforms
The UK Ministry of Defence has launched Project OLCHAR, a preliminary market engagement to develop a sovereign electronic fuze system for armed uncrewed platforms. The design will be "safe‑by‑design" with an Electronic Safe and Arm Device (ESAD) and will be platform‑agnostic,...
B-21 Bomber Production to Accelerate
Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force are speeding up production of the B‑21 Raider stealth bomber as testing progresses. The company has poured more than $5 billion into digital engineering and manufacturing infrastructure to support the ramp‑up. Final assembly continues...
Royal Navy Seeks Rapid Counter-Drone Capability for Ships
The Royal Navy has launched Project TALON, a pre‑procurement effort to acquire a rapid, ship‑installable counter‑drone system. The Ministry of Defence seeks mature kinetic and non‑kinetic solutions that can detect, track and defeat NATO Class 2 UAVs with minimal integration, targeting...
Navantia UK to Hire 35 Apprentices in Scotland
Navantia UK announced it will recruit 35 apprentices for its Scottish yards in Methil and Arnish, covering Level 2 and Level 3 programmes in electrical engineering, fabrication, welding and CAD design. The hiring supports the company's broader pledge to train 500 apprentices...
American F-15 Jet Comes Down over Kuwait
Reports from regional media claim a United States Air Force F-15 fighter crashed in northern Kuwait near the Iraqi border, with video showing a smoking aircraft and visible flames. Sources suggest the pilot ejected and was assisted by local residents,...
UK Confirms New Chinooks to Get Aerial Refuelling Equipment
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that the incoming Chinook H‑47(ER) helicopters will be delivered with a built‑in air‑to‑air refuelling receiver. Despite this capability, the current plan is to rely on United States KC‑130 aircraft for in‑flight refuelling rather than...
Global Defence Spending Hits 2.63 Trillion Dollars
Global defence spending reached $2.63 trillion in 2025, a 2.5% year‑on‑year increase driven by heightened great‑power rivalry. The United States shifted its strategy toward homeland defence and burden‑sharing, proposing a multi‑layered “Golden Dome” missile shield while scaling back direct aid to...
Labour MP Warns UK Exposed to Subsea Cable Threat
Labour MP Graeme Downie warned that the UK is dangerously exposed to disruption of its undersea cable network. He cited the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, noting that about 98% of internet traffic travels through these cables, making...
American and Estonian Divers Train Under Ice in Baltic
U.S. Navy Seabee divers partnered with Estonian rescue and navy teams for ice‑diving and underwater demolition training in Estonia from Jan. 31 to Feb. 17, 2026. The exercise took place at Rummu Quarry Lake and Miinisadam Naval Base, combining classroom instruction, safety drills,...
16 Air Assault Demos AI-Enabled Air Manoeuvre Strike
The British Army’s 16 Air Assault Brigade Combat Team showcased AI‑enabled reconnaissance‑strike capabilities during a visit by Chief of the General Staff General Sir Roly Walker. The demonstration linked new hardware, software and procedures to accelerate target acquisition and air‑delivered...
UK Joins NATO Ballistic Missile Defence Effort
The United Kingdom has joined six NATO allies in a new High Visibility Project aimed at bolstering ballistic missile defence. Announced on 12 February 2026, the initiative will develop and field sensors, interceptors and tactical control systems to plug gaps...
Kongsberg to Supply RS4 Weapon Stations for CAVS Fleet
Patria and Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace have signed a €140 million contract to equip more than 300 Patria 6×6 armoured vehicles with PROTECTOR RS4 remote weapon stations under the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme. The deal includes additional orders for...
Royal Navy Submarine Trainees Pass Out at HMNB Clyde
Thirty-nine Royal Navy submarine qualifying students completed the classroom‑based dry phase of training at HMNB Clyde, marking the first double‑class pass out this year with 15 Astute‑class and 24 Vanguard‑class trainees. Commodore Ben Haskins presented certificates and highlighted the ceremony’s...
British and French Troops Train for NATO Rapid Response Role
British 1st Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment (1 LANCS) is conducting joint training with France’s 152nd Infantry Regiment at the CENZUB urban warfare centre near Paris. The exercise forms part of the UK’s contribution to NATO’s Forward Land Forces...
Exercise Hyperion Storm Validates RAF Spec Ops Readiness
Exercise Hyperion Storm, a two‑week drill at RAF Leeming in January 2026, confirmed the Royal Air Force Special Operations Air Task Group’s (SOATG) readiness to lead NATO’s Allied Reaction Force Special Operations Component from July 2026. The exercise tested more...
UK Firm to Begin Work on US Air Force Wedgetail Aircraft
A UK‑based aviation firm, STS Aviation, has been awarded a contract by Boeing to perform the initial conversion of the first two US Air Force E‑7 Wedgetail aircraft, marking the first UK‑built military aircraft for the United States in more...
Polling Shows Britons Feel Less Safe than Five Years Ago
A new Adam Smith Insights poll of 2,052 British adults shows 52% feel less safe than in 2021, with over 60% reporting heightened anxiety about global security. The war in Ukraine and Middle‑East tensions appear to drive this shift, especially among...
BAE Systems Reports Record Sales and GBP 83.6bn Order Backlog
BAE Systems posted record full‑year 2025 sales of £30.7 billion, a 10% rise on a constant‑currency basis, and lifted its order backlog to a historic £83.6 billion. Underlying EBIT grew 12% to £3.32 billion, while free cash flow dipped to £2.16 billion as the...
MOD Confirms Palantir Contract Was Direct Award
The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed that its Palantir Technologies contract for defence data analytics was awarded through a direct award under the Procurement Act 2023. The decision relied on Paragraph 6, citing a lack of viable alternatives, and Paragraph 7, highlighting...
UK Awards Contract for Nyan One-Way Effector
The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded a £4.996 million contract (≈£5 million including VAT) to Callen‑Lenz Associates for the Callen‑Lenz Nyan One‑Way Effector (OWE). The direct award under the Defence and Security regime aims to strengthen deep‑fires capability for forces deployed...
American Stealth Fighters Arrive in UK in Iran Build-Up
Six U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor stealth fighters arrived at RAF Lakenheath in the United Kingdom, escorted by KC-46A Pegasus and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refuelers. The deployment is part of a broader U.S. force posture aimed at deterring Iran amid...
UK Awards Contract for Common One-Way Effector Launcher
The UK Ministry of Defence awarded a direct‑award contract to Estonia‑based Threod Systems for additional CATA launchers supporting the Army’s one‑way effector (OWE) capability under the ASGARD programme. Valued at £4.996 million net (£5.996 million including VAT), the contract runs from 2 March 2026...
UK Extends Light Mobility Vehicle Engagement Deadline to March
The UK Ministry of Defence has extended the engagement deadline for its Light Mobility Vehicle (LMV) programme, now requiring RFI responses by 3 March 2026. The six‑year contract, running from 30 April 2027 to 30 April 2033, is valued at up to £900 million including VAT and...
AtkinsRealis and Anduril UK Partner on Autonomous Aircraft
AtkinsRéalis has entered a teaming agreement with Anduril UK to speed the development and fielding of autonomous aircraft for British defence programmes. The partnership focuses on safety, assurance and navigating emerging certification pathways with the Military and Civil Aviation Authorities....
Techscaler Plans New York Trip in Expanded Export Push
Scotland’s Techscaler programme is expanding its international itinerary, adding a June 2025 visit to New York and New Jersey and outlining a 2026 schedule that includes Japan, Silicon Valley, Singapore, and Hong Kong/China. Backed by £42 million and serving more than 1,400 tech...
BAE Systems Agrees Deal to Acquire Swedish Supplier
BAE Systems announced a share purchase agreement to acquire Aston Harald Mekaniska Verkstad, a Swedish precision‑machining specialist with about 100 employees. The acquisition is intended to broaden BAE’s industrial capacity in Europe and reinforce supply‑chain resilience for its Bofors portfolio....
Greens Demand US Military Flights Be Barred From Prestwick
The Scottish Greens have demanded that the Scottish Government evict US military forces from Glasgow Prestwick Airport, citing over 550 landings since April 2025 as evidence of routine use. They plan to raise the issue in a parliamentary debate, arguing...
World’s Largest Drone Fleet Deployed to Deter Russia
NATO has moved to operationalize its Task Force X Baltic, signing a letter of intent with eight member states to launch the second phase of the programme. The initiative demonstrated the rapid fielding of a fleet of over 50 commercially‑available...
Labour MP Calls for NATO ‘Neighbourhood’ Model for Decisions
Labour MP Graeme Downie argues NATO’s consensus‑based decision‑making is too slow for modern crises. He proposes a “neighbourhood” model that empowers regional allies, especially those closest to a theatre, to act quickly. Downie cites the UK’s anti‑submarine capabilities in the...
Most Powerful Warship on Earth Heading to Iran
The U.S. Navy is moving the nuclear‑powered aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford from the Caribbean to the Middle East, joining the already‑deployed USS Abraham Lincoln and its destroyer escorts. This redeployment creates two carrier strike groups operating in the...
Rutte Defends US SACEUR Role as Europe Takes Lead
NATO defence ministers met in Brussels and, according to Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, delivered a "productive" session that marked a turning point for the Alliance. The meeting highlighted that several European states are already meeting the 5% of GDP...
NATO Warships and Submarines Patrol Eastern Med
NATO completed its first focused Operation Sea Guardian deployment of 2026, patrolling the Eastern Mediterranean from 21 January to 9 February. The Turkish frigate TCG Gaziantep led a mixed force of surface ships, submarines and air assets, delivering over 300 hours of ISR and...
European Allies Take over NATO Joint Force Commands
NATO approved a major leadership reshuffle, assigning all three Joint Force Commands to European allies while the United States keeps control of the Alliance’s theatre component commands. The United Kingdom will lead Joint Force Command Norfolk, Italy will take Joint...
UK Urged to Embrace Prototype Warfare
Senior defence officials warned that the UK’s traditional, long‑term procurement model is too slow for modern conflict, urging a shift toward "prototype warfare" and rapid frontline experimentation. They propose adopting a minimum viable product approach, deploying early‑stage equipment to troops...
Edinburgh Student Forum Spotlights Hybrid War Lessons
The University of Edinburgh and Kyiv National University hosted an online student forum that gathered Ukrainian and UK experts to dissect drones, disinformation, civil resilience, and energy security, showing how Ukraine’s war is reshaping European security thinking. Panels highlighted drone‑induced...
Swedish Gripens Take Lead in NATO Iceland Air Policing
Sweden has deployed six JAS 39 Gripen fighters and more than 110 personnel to Iceland, marking its first leadership of NATO’s Icelandic Air Policing mission. The rotation, based at Keflavík Air Base, will run until mid‑March 2026 and maintain a...
NATO Planners Deploy to Bulgaria to Sharpen Eastern Defence
NATO has deployed a Joint Planning Team to Sofia to fine‑tune Bulgaria’s contribution to the Eastern Sentry mission, which bolsters situational awareness and defensive posture on the Alliance’s eastern flank. The team, drawn from Allied Air Command, Joint Force Command...
UK Defence Warned Against Complacency on Drones and AI
Defence experts warned that drones and artificial intelligence are rapidly redefining warfare, yet UK armed forces remain complacent. Air Marshal Edward Stringer criticised officers for dismissing Ukraine’s lessons, emphasizing low‑cost drone integration with conventional forces. Dr. Keith Dear highlighted AI’s...