Germany is talking to Covenant, a cruise-missile vendor nobody saw coming.
Top story
German military in talks with Covenant over Anthem cruise missile procurement. Germany’s defense ministry confirmed discussions with Covenant, a previously unheralded vendor, over the company’s Anthem cruise missile. The talks come as Berlin accelerates long-range strike capability modernization. Covenant is reportedly establishing local operations to support potential future contracts. Why it matters: A new entrant in Germany’s cruise missile market suggests either dissatisfaction with established suppliers or a hedge against industrial bottlenecks — or both. (Corroborated) Defense News →
The rundown
SPACE — The European Commission selected Belgian firm Aerospacelab as a lead contractor for the low Earth orbit segment of the IRIS² programme, tasking it with building 264 satellites. Aerospacelab, founded in 2018, said it will construct a new megafactory to meet production requirements. Airbus Defence and Space also received separate IRIS² work. (Corroborated) Hartpunkt → · Europaeische Sicherheit & Technik →
DRONES — France’s Aeronautical Maintenance Directorate (DMAé) ordered eight Airbus U050 Capa-X uncrewed aerial systems for evaluation by the French Navy and Army, with deliveries scheduled for 2027. The order follows successful land and sea trials. The Capa-X is a lightweight reconnaissance platform. (Single source) Defence Industry Europe → · sUAS News →
DRONES — EDGE Group completed factory acceptance trials for six ANAVIA HT-100 NAVAL unmanned helicopters and delivered them to the Angolan Navy under the country’s €1 billion corvette programme. Trials ran from 24 to 28 August in Switzerland. The HT-100 will operate from the three Angolan corvettes. (Corroborated) Naval News → · EDR Magazine → · Militaer Aktuell →
MUNITIONS — The Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing conducted the first live bomb drops from operational F-15EX fighters during a three-week deployment to Nellis Air Force Base supporting the Weapons Instructor Course. The milestone marks the F-15EX’s shift from its initial air-to-air-only mission profile to multi-role capability. (Corroborated) The War Zone → · The Aviationist →
NAVAL — Houthi fighters seized Perim Island (also known as Mayyun) in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on 11 September after Yemeni government forces withdrew the previous day. The island sits at the narrowest point of one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes, tightening Houthi control over maritime traffic between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. (Corroborated) Defence Blog → · Daily Sabah defense →
SPACE — The U.S. Space Force selected Lake Kickapoo, Texas, as the preferred site for the third and final radar in the Deep Space Advanced Radar Capability (DARC) network. Civil construction is expected to finish in 2029, with operations beginning in 2030. The network, shared with the U.K. and Australia, will provide continuous deep-space tracking. (Corroborated) Breaking Defense → · Defence Industry Europe →
MUNITIONS — Ukrainian forces struck the Russian Black Sea Fleet at Novorossiysk with Long Neptune cruise missiles, heavily damaging multiple warships and degrading Moscow’s Kalibr-carrier capacity, according to Naval News. The attack marks the operational debut of the extended-range Neptune variant. No Russian confirmation of damage has been issued. (Single source) Naval News →
Signals
DRONES — Baykar has integrated Roketsan’s 300-ER air-launched ballistic missile onto its Akıncı unmanned combat aircraft, with a first launch expected soon. The 300-ER, publicly shown at IDEF 2025, is the longest-range weapon yet developed for Turkish drones. No range figures were disclosed. (Single source) Defence Blog →
By the numbers
9 events in this issue · 6/9 corroborated · €1.0bn in stated deal values · 5/9 European · busiest beat: munitions
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