American Rheinmetall to produce 3,104 MK93 enhanced softmounts for U.S. Army
American Rheinmetall's Maine facility will manufacture 3,104 new MK93 Enhanced Softmount systems and upgrade 245 existing units under a $20.7 million order from the Defense Logistics Agency and contractor ADS, according to multiple European trade outlets. The MK93 is a weapon-stabilization mount used on U.S. Army vehicles. Deliveries begin in 2026.
Ukrainian drone operators inflict 70% of US armored brigade casualties in first three days of German exercise
Ukrainian drone operators playing opposition forces in a US Army training exercise in Germany caused approximately 70% of an American armored brigade's casualties in the first three days, according to an account published in Military Review by the brigade's own commander and staff. The exercise demonstrated the lethality of small commercial drones against conventional armored units. Defence Blog reports the Ukrainian unit operated a mix of FPV and reconnaissance drones.
Why it matters: A Ukrainian OPFOR just gave the US Army the same lesson Russia learned in 2022 — heavy armor without counter-drone infrastructure is a target, not a force.
Rheinmetall and MSC win bid to acquire Romania's Mangalia shipyard for €138 million
Rheinmetall and Swiss shipping firm MSC have been awarded the bid to acquire the Mangalia shipyard near Constanța, Romania, for €138 million. The partners plan to establish a dual-use hub for civil and military shipbuilding in South-Eastern Europe. The acquisition is expected to close within weeks.
Why it matters: Rheinmetall is building Europe's largest naval-industrial footprint outside Germany—this Romanian yard adds Black Sea capacity just as NATO prioritizes eastern flank naval infrastructure.
RheinmetallMSCRomania Naval News →EDR Magazine →European Security & Defence →Naval Technology →
U.S. Army soldiers operate Ukrainian-designed Stork reconnaissance drone during training exercise in Germany
A U.S. Army soldier was photographed assembling a Stork reconnaissance drone during Combined Resolve 27-01 at the Hohenfels Training Area in Germany. The Stork is built by Czech-Ukrainian company U&C UAS and has been widely used by Ukrainian forces in combat.
Why it matters: The U.S. Army is field-testing Ukrainian battle-proven drones in Europe—a quiet acknowledgment that American procurement can't keep pace with what soldiers actually need for high-intensity war.
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.
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