Daily News Roundup

Opinion

For Germany, the plot thickens toward a US-optional nuclear deterrent

All discussion formats must be expanded to include other European states as soon as possible, argues guest author Karl-Heinz Kamp.

Baltic nations brace for impact of Iran war delaying US weapons shipments

Delays in ammunition deliveries could reopen a thorny question for Baltic HIMARS users: Would the U.S. permit non-Lockheed rockets to be loaded?

US Navy destroyer fires on cargo vessel attempting to sail to Iranian port

The USS Spruance "disabled Touska’s propulsion by firing several rounds from the destroyer’s 5-inch MK 45 Gun into Touska’s engine room," CENTCOM stated.

Air Force unit executes test of Anduril’s semiautonomous combat drone

Airmen operated Auduril's YFQ-44A jet-powered combat drone, which could someday fly alongside piloted fighters.

China turns Taiwan’s own voices against it in information war

As Chinese warships and fighter jets staged massive drills around Taiwan in December, a parallel action was unfolding on smartphone screens.

US to delay weapons deliveries to some European countries due to Iran war, sources say

Some European counterparts have been told that select U.S. weapons deliveries may be delayed as the Iran war continues to draw on weapons stocks.

Indra to make Spanish variant of amphibious vehicle used by US Marines

Indra has struck its deal with Italy’s IDV, which is the design authority, intellectual property owner and supplier of core components on the vehicle.

Dutch broadcaster tracks carrier-group frigate with Bluetooth gadget

The MoD has made adjustments in response to the reported incident, including no longer allowing greeting cards with batteries to be sent.

Australia refines its defense strategy and investment plan

The government has laid out an aim for defense spending to reach 3% of GDP by 2033-34.

France nears rocket artillery decision, plans ballistic missile by 2035

French defense leaders are treating the acquisition of a new rocket artillery weapon as priority for the land forces.

Combat search and rescue’s uncertain future: As A-10s phase out, US Air Force faces questions of what comes next

The U.S. Air Force is moving forward with plans to retire the A-10, which for decades has proven ideally suited for combat search-and-rescue operations.

Starlink outage hit drone tests, exposing Pentagon’s growing reliance on SpaceX

Last August, a global outage across Elon Musk’s satellite network left U.S. Navy unmanned surface vessels bobbing off California, halting operations.

How the US military could clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz

An arsenal of drones, explosive‑laden robots and helicopters can help reduce risk, though de‑mining crews could still be vulnerable to Iranian attacks.

Iran war exposes weakened state of Britain’s armed forces

Explainer: Here are some details regarding the scale of the decline and the country’s current capabilities.

EU pumps over $1 billion into defense R&D, centered around Ukraine war lessons

The choice of funded projects marks a shift to 21st-century warfare, with loitering munitions and affordable mass drone production high on the agenda.

France readies AI-powered combat data-management similar to US ‘Maven’

The system could be available within a few months, and available for exercises in September 2027, a top general said, declining to provide specifics.