Germany secretly tested a 400-km strike missile from a surface warship. Berlin still won't admit it wants one.
Top story
Britain to pair F-35B fighters with jet-powered drones under Project VANQUISH in £240 million carrier aviation push. The UK will test jet-powered uncrewed combat air vehicles alongside F-35B Lightning fighters as part of Project VANQUISH, a nearly £240 million effort to build a mixed crewed and autonomous carrier strike capability. The Royal Navy aims to operate collaborative drones from HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales within the decade. Initial trials will assess runway-independent launch and recovery methods compatible with the ski-jump carriers. Why it matters: Britain is betting its carrier future on loyal wingmen, a sensible hedge given F-35 unit costs and the finite deck space of a 65,000-tonne carrier — but only if the drones can match jet performance without arresting gear. (Single source) Defence Industry Europe →
The rundown
PROCUREMENT — British troops have deployed to the remote Norwegian island of Jan Mayen as part of a trilateral NATO operation with Norwegian and American forces, according to the UK Ministry of Defence. The deployment is described as a High North deterrence mission. Jan Mayen, 600 km northeast of Iceland, hosts a Norwegian weather station and LORAN-C transmitter but no permanent military garrison. (Corroborated) UK Defence Journal → · UK MOD news →
PROCUREMENT — Ukraine has asked EU member states for several billion euros to acquire PAC-3 interceptors for its Patriot batteries, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. EU governments are reviewing the request. No specific quantity or timeline was disclosed. The PAC-3 MSE interceptor costs roughly $4 million per round; Ukraine currently operates a small number of Patriot systems donated by Germany, the Netherlands and the United States. (Single source) Defence Industry Europe →
PROCUREMENT — Ukraine has taken delivery of its first RCH 155 self-propelled howitzers, roughly four years after Germany pledged the system in September 2022, according to German Aid to Ukraine, an independent assistance tracker. The delivery was confirmed through a non-governmental source. RCH 155 is built by KNDS and mounts a 155 mm/L52 gun on an 8×8 wheeled chassis with automated ammunition handling. (Single source) Defence Blog →
SPACE — Isar Aerospace’s Spectrum rocket reached orbit and deployed payloads on only its second flight, the Munich-based company said. The launcher uses kerosene and liquid oxygen propulsion and is designed to carry up to 1,000 kg to sun-synchronous orbit. Isar secured €200 million in ESA Launcher Challenge contracts in August 2026 alongside Rocket Factory Augsburg. (Single source) Defence Industry Europe →
INDUSTRY — Thirty-five UK universities have joined a new Defence Universities Alliance intended to strengthen defence research, build specialist technical skills and improve links between academia, industry and the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence said. The alliance will coordinate technology development, workforce training and joint research programmes. Participating institutions were not named. (Single source) UK Defence Journal →
NAVAL — HMS Queen Elizabeth sailed for a three-month deployment around northern Europe in her new role as command vessel for NATO’s Allied Response Force. The carrier will coordinate multinational exercises and rapid-reaction capabilities across the High North. This is the first operational use of a UK carrier as a standing NATO task-force headquarters. (Single source) UK Defence Journal →
INDUSTRY — Patria has successfully assembled the first F135 fighter engine at its new facility in Linnavuori, Nokia, the company said. The engine powers the F-35 Lightning II. Finland is acquiring 64 F-35A aircraft; engine assembly and maintenance will be performed domestically under the industrial participation agreement with Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney. (Single source) EDR Magazine →
Signals
INDUSTRY — GDI Simulation, the MBDA-owned training and simulation business, has acquired Agenium Group, a French defence training specialist. Financial terms were not disclosed. The acquisition will combine GDI’s simulation capabilities with Agenium’s established customer base and industrial partnerships in France. (Single source) EDR Magazine →
By the numbers
9 events in this issue · 1/9 corroborated · €280m in stated deal values · 9/9 European · busiest beat: industry
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