Britain publishes a £7.8 billion space strategy that treats orbital threats like a core defence risk.
Top story
Germany’s first F-35A conducts maiden flight ahead of Luftwaffe delivery and US training. Germany’s first F-35A Lightning II completed its maiden flight from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility on September 8, moving the 35-aircraft programme closer to initial delivery and crew training. An official rollout is scheduled later this month. Why it matters: Berlin’s F-35 buy moves from contract to hardware — the Luftwaffe’s nuclear-sharing mission finally gets a jet certified to carry B61 bombs. (Corroborated) The Aviationist → · Defence Industry Europe →
The rundown
INDUSTRY — MBDA formally opened its first industrial facility in Poland at a ceremony in Czosnów on September 8. UK Minister of State for Defence Readiness Luke Pollard attended. The site expands MBDA’s European footprint to the NATO eastern flank. (Corroborated) Breaking Defense → · European Security & Defence →
MUNITIONS — Finland agreed to buy more than 100 Patria TREMOS mortar systems under a serial production contract, with an option for hundreds more. Patria announced deliveries will run from 2026 through 2028. The Finnish Army designates the system 120 KRH M3. Finland already received a smaller pre-series batch. (Corroborated) Defence Blog → · EDR Magazine →
MUNITIONS — Ukraine is contracting a supply of around 1,000 missiles for U.S.-designed Patriot air-defence systems, Ukraine’s defense chief announced. The procurement is coordinated with allied donors. No contract value or timeline was disclosed. (Corroborated) Defense News →
EW — South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace plans to build an armoured vehicle fitted with a more powerful version of the stationary Cheongwang laser that protects the presidential compound, company representatives told Defense News at MSPO. The vehicle is intended for mobile counter-drone defence. (Corroborated) Defense News → · C4ISRNET →
DRONES — Ukrainian drone manufacturers are pushing to make their interceptor drones faster to counter Russian jet-powered drones, Defense News reports. Companies are developing higher-speed variants to engage threats current propeller-driven models cannot catch. (Single source) Defense News →
INDUSTRY — German defence-tech company ARX Robotics announced its expansion into Poland at MSPO 2026 in Kielce, founding a Polish subsidiary and planning investments in the double-digit million euro range. The firm cited the NATO eastern flank as a strategic priority. (Corroborated) Hartpunkt → · Militaer Aktuell →
NAVAL — Iran announced it captured a U.S. Navy Anduril Dive-LD uncrewed underwater vehicle in the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon said the drone had malfunctioned more than a day earlier. The system is designed to be risked in contested waters. (Corroborated) Defense News → · The War Zone →
Signals
PROCUREMENT — Russia spent a record 44% of its federal budget on the military in the first half of 2026, according to calculations by researcher Janis Kluge based on Russian Finance Ministry data. Direct military spending totalled 10.7 trillion rubles, about $125 billion. (Single source) Defence Blog →
By the numbers
9 events in this issue · 7/9 corroborated · 6/9 European · busiest beat: procurement
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