#air defense

A new Space Force agreement with SpaceX aims to put an early space-based airborne target-tracking capability in orbit by 2028, years ahead of earlier expectations.

Sweden plans to acquire four French-built FDI frigates from Naval Group, a major naval modernization step that officials say will sharply strengthen air defense, including ballistic missile interception.

More than ten weeks of missile and drone exchanges have offered a rare look at modern long-range strike warfare, revealing both the effectiveness and the strain of layered air defenses.

The first batch of Tamir interceptors has been delivered to support the US Marine Corps’ Medium Range Intercept Capability, advancing a mobile air-defense program built around Iron Dome technology.

Belgium has launched a major tender for counter-drone systems, drawing interest from U.S. and European defense firms as governments move quickly to close gaps exposed by recent drone incidents.

The U.S. Marine Corps says a formal requirement for lightweight counter-drone gear is expected within months, an important step after rapid fielding under an urgent need.

New imagery of missile wreckage indicates Ukraine is fielding AIM-120C-8 AMRAAMs, a near-top-tier version of the weapon that can be used by both F-16 fighters and NASAMS air defense systems.

Ukraine says it used an unmanned surface vessel to launch an interceptor drone that destroyed a Shahed attack drone, signaling a novel blend of naval autonomy and air defense under wartime pressure

Ukraine says an interceptor drone launched from an unmanned surface vessel destroyed a Russian Shahed in what appears to be the first publicly reported kill of its kind, marking a new step in sea-air integration for

The U.S. Army is ramping procurement of XM1225 APEX rounds for AH-64 Apaches, expanding the helicopter’s role as a cheaper and more flexible counter-drone platform.

Canberra’s updated 2026 defense documents pair a major spending increase with an expanded concept of national defense, emphasizing long-range strike, autonomous systems, air defense, and civil preparedness.

Raytheon has signed a $3.7 billion contract to supply Ukraine with PAC-2 GEM-T Patriot interceptors in a package funded by Germany, reinforcing Kyiv’s push for sustained air-defense support.

A new FAA-Defense Department agreement could enable more regular domestic use of high-energy lasers against drones after a joint safety assessment found no undue risk to passenger aircraft.

Estonia plans to halt a €500 million infantry fighting vehicle program and extend the life of its CV90 fleet, redirecting attention toward drones, air defense, and unmanned systems shaped by lessons from Ukraine.

Israel says it is significantly increasing production of Arrow interceptors to strengthen its upper air-defense layer against ballistic threats from Iran and its proxies.

Turkey has opened new Roketsan production facilities tied to a multibillion-dollar investment and announced deliveries of multiple domestically produced missile systems, underlining Ankara’s push to expand sovereign

Fire Point, known for Ukraine’s Flamingo cruise missile, says it is working with European companies on a new air defense system aimed at cutting the cost of intercepting ballistic threats.

Poland says its Patriot batteries will stay in place to protect national airspace and NATO’s eastern flank, despite reports that Washington informally asked about sending systems and interceptors to the Middle East.

Kyiv is pitching a trade built on battlefield experience, sending counter-drone specialists to Gulf partners while seeking scarce Patriot interceptors it cannot produce at scale.

NATO says allies collectively need up to $145 billion in missiles, bombs, drones, and air defense capacity, underscoring how fast procurement has become the alliance’s central security problem.