Washington wants $50 billion for drones. European counter-UAS budgets are finally catching up.
Top story
U.S. Army’s Europe-assigned Typhon battery fires first Tomahawk during California test. A Typhon Mid-Range Capability battery assigned to U.S. Army Europe fired its first Tomahawk cruise missile on 28 September at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, California. The service said it was the third Typhon launch within the continental United States. The battery is part of Multi-Domain Command Europe. Why it matters: Stationing a land-based Tomahawk battery in Europe — even if it trains in California — puts 1,600-km strike reach on the NATO eastern flank without deploying a carrier or SSN. (Corroborated) Defence Blog → · Defence Industry Europe →
The rundown
PROCUREMENT — The U.S. appears to have stopped sharing some forms of intelligence with Ukraine, Ukrainian officials said 15 October. The officials blamed the Pentagon for withholding data they described as life-saving. No details on the type or scope of intelligence were disclosed. (Corroborated) Defense News →
NAVAL — Saab, Sweden’s FMV procurement agency and the Swedish Armed Forces have developed and launched a demonstrator for a large uncrewed underwater vehicle (LUUV) in under a year. Saab described the demonstrator as a fully functional underwater vehicle. (Corroborated) Naval News → · Hartpunkt →
PROCUREMENT — UK and German officials held defence talks in London, the UK Ministry of Defence announced 16 October. No details on topics or outcomes were disclosed. (Single source) UK MOD news →
SPACE — BAE Systems won a U.S. Space Force contract to design and demonstrate ultra-compact radio-frequency terminals for a space-based data layer that can operate amid jamming and radiation. No contract value was disclosed. (Corroborated) EDR Magazine → · Defence Industry Europe →
INDUSTRY — Finnish firm Millog signed an agreement with Lockheed Martin to maintain, repair, overhaul and upgrade F-35 ground support equipment for Finland and other partner nations. No contract value or list of partner nations was disclosed. (Single source) Defence Industry Europe →
NAVAL — The EU Council extended EUNAVFOR MED IRINI’s mandate through March 2029 and added new tasks to monitor Russian shadow fleets and safeguard critical undersea infrastructure. IRINI is the EU’s naval mission in the Mediterranean. (Single source) Naval News →
NAVAL — Fincantieri cut steel for the ninth Multipurpose Patrol Ship (PPA 9) at its Riva Trigoso shipyard, marking the start of construction on the Italian Navy’s final PPA vessel. (Single source) Naval News →
Signals
AI — Ukraine has developed two AI models jointly with NATO: one to predict adversary drone operations and one to plan artillery fire missions. The first is being prepared for integration into Ukrainian situational awareness systems; the second is still in testing. (Single source) Hartpunkt →
By the numbers
9 events in this issue · 4/9 corroborated · 6/9 European · busiest beat: procurement
You made it to the end. Forward this to one person who’d read it — that’s how briefings grow.