The Netherlands won't wait for NATO: sovereign GlobalEye order follows pooled buy
Top story
France’s DGA notifies MBDA and Safran to proceed with THUNDART long-range strike system for French Army. The French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA) formally notified MBDA and Safran Electronics & Defense to supply the THUNDART long-range land strike capability under the Frappe Longue Portée / Terrestre innovation partnership launched in 2022. THUNDART will provide the French Army with sovereign precision-strike reach in high-intensity conflict; the system is designed for targets beyond artillery and cruise-missile range. Contract value and delivery timeline were not disclosed. Why it matters: Paris is filling the deep-strike gap left by the absence of ATACMS-class systems—THUNDART gives France an indigenous counterweight to U.S. and German procurement dependencies. (Corroborated) EDR Magazine → · European Security & Defence → · Defence Industry Europe → · Opex360 →
The rundown
MUNITIONS — Ukrainian forces displayed the Shershen mobile air-defence system, built around an open architecture that allows operators to mix Soviet-era and Western air-to-air missiles adapted for ground launch. The platform’s interoperability is designed to accommodate Ukraine’s evolving missile inventory as supply chains shift and legacy stocks deplete. No production numbers or deployment timeline were disclosed. (Single source) The War Zone →
SPACE — German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans to establish a Space Safety and Security Academy in Germany, open to European Union partners and other allies, during a speech at the International Space Summit in Paris. Pistorius also stated Germany would support the creation of a European Space Command Component within NATO or EU structures. (Single source) Hartpunkt →
MUNITIONS — Russian aircraft released 8,766 guided glide bombs against Ukrainian front-line positions in August 2026, averaging 283 strikes per day, according to Ukrainian General Staff data compiled by OSINT group Oko Gora. The figure represents the highest monthly total since the February 2022 invasion and reflects Moscow’s continued reliance on standoff munitions to preserve crewed aircraft. (Single source) Defence Blog →
SPACE — The French government announced support for Dassault Aviation’s VORTEX reusable orbital spaceplane project, intended to develop European sovereign access to space through a winged vehicle capable of multiple missions. No funding figure or timeline was disclosed in the announcement from Saint-Cloud. (Single source) EDR Magazine →
NAVAL — Kongsberg Maritime signed a contract with Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia to supply Kamewa waterjet propulsion systems for the Royal Australian Navy’s new Landing Craft Medium programme. The Norwegian firm will provide propulsion units for the amphibious landing craft being built under Austal’s contract with Canberra. Contract value and delivery schedule were not disclosed. (Single source) EDR Magazine →
AUTONOMY — Estonian robotics manufacturer Milrem Robotics announced expanded cooperation with Poland’s state-owned PGZ defence consortium at the MSPO 2026 exhibition, focused on integrating Milrem’s unmanned ground vehicle platforms with PGZ subsidiary systems and accelerating local production. No specific contract or programme was identified in the announcement. (Single source) EDR Magazine →
By the numbers
7 events in this issue · 1/7 corroborated · 7/7 European · busiest beat: munitions
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