Europe

German Navy chief resigns following Ukraine comments

Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht accepted the resignation and appointed Vice Adm. Kay-Achim Schönbach's deputy as interim naval chief.

Leonardo stake in Hensoldt could boost FCAS, Tempest commonalities

A corporate tie-up between Italy’s Leonardo and Germany’s Hensoldt could make Europe’s two future fighters, the Tempest and the Future Combat Air System, more interoperable, a Leonardo official has claimed.

NATO sends ships, jets east, Ireland rejects Russia drills over Ukraine threat

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO will “take all necessary measures to protect and defend all allies."

Baltic states tout US-approved weapon shipments to Ukraine

The Baltic states have received approval from Washington to send American-made weaponry to Ukraine to help the country fend off a potential Russian invasion.

Commentary

Biden must act now to better arm Ukraine. Here’s what that should look like.

A large-scale Russian offensive would spell disaster not only for Ukraine and Europe but for U.S. interests and credibility as well.

New NATO policy positions the alliance as a broker, not an owner, in space race

The document, which mostly hails from 2019 but was only published now, stakes out a broad vision for space but hedges on the details.

Israel inks $3.4 billion submarine deal with Germany

The Dakar-class diesel-electric submarines will be produced by German manufacturer ThyssenKrupp and are expected to be delivered within nine years.

Germany holds its ground on denying weapons for Ukraine

Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, told German press agency DPA on Wednesday his country was seeking warships to help defend its Black Sea and the Sea of Asov coasts in the event of a Russian invasion.

Greece boosts Air Force with advanced French jets

Six advanced Rafale jets, purchased from the French Air Force, flew in low formation over Athens before their official handover to the Greek armed forces at a nearby air base.

Britain to upgrade communications on Cyprus military base

The U.K. will build a new communications facility on one of two bases it maintains on the Eastern Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus, a British Defence Ministry spokesman said.

Deal with Hensoldt expands Leonardo’s stake in Eurofighter radar business

Leonardo has won 260 million euros ($296 million) in Eurofighter radar work from Germany’s Hensoldt, meaning the Italian firm now has a major role in all three of the new e-scan radars being built for Typhoon customers.

EU readies key guides for its defense, space postures during French presidency

Defense ministers met this week in Brest, on the tip of western France, to make headway on an upcoming proposal dubbed the “Strategic Compass.”

Boeing pledges expanded German industry involvement if the nation buys the F-18

While prospective local partners remained unnamed, Boeing claims its outreach effort would amount to deals worth about $4 billion.

Lithuania accelerates rocket artillery buy amid Russian military buildup

The Lithuanian government has decided to accelerate its planned purchase of a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) amid Russia’s military buildup on its border with Ukraine.

New UK military air traffic management suite falls far short of savings goals

The first element of a major overhaul of Britain’s military air traffic management system has gone fully operational, but the Ministry of Defence has admitted the projected savings expected from the program are drastically reduced.

In Russia talks, US floats deal to limit missiles and war games

U.S. officials have raised the possibility of limiting missile deployments in Eastern Europe and the size and scope of its military exercises

New German government revisits Tornado replacement options

Germany is once again weighing its options for replacing the country’s aging Tornado aircraft fleet, which could put the F-35 back on the table.

Blinken warns Russia ahead of talks on Ukraine

Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Friday that the west is ready to respond “forcefully” if Russia steps up its aggression.

UK documentary shows Russian submarine dinging British warship in 2020

A towed array sonar deployed by a Royal Navy frigate hit a Russian submarine during operations in the North Atlantic in 2020, the British Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Norway swaps in its F-35s for NATO quick-reaction mission in the High North

Norway’s has designated its F-35 aircraft for a NATO quick-reaction alert mission in the High North, ending a 42-year run of the country’s F-16s for that job, the government announced.

Eying military gains, France goes big on national quantum technology

Mastering quantum technology is an “absolutely strategic interest” for France’s national defense, said Defense Minister Florence Parly.

Serbia praises another arms shipment from Russia

President Aleksandar Vucic attended a training exercise at a military base near Belgrade that included recently purchased anti-tank Kornet guided missiles.

Army SOF to continue work in Pacific, Eastern Europe in 2022

Amid rising tensions, the Army's special operations troops continue their work overseas.

Satellite images track new Russian military deployments near Ukraine

Maxar Technologies is monitoring the military developments surrounding tensions and cites several new Russian deployments in Crimea and in western Russia near the Ukraine border.

Sweden’s top general on watching Russia and responding to an invasion of Ukraine

Like others in Europe, Sweden bolstered its defense budget after Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine 2014, and the government is continuing to deepen pan-Nordic defense cooperation.