2026 - defencenews.online

February 26, 2026
G.Krish
R&D
Naval Platforms

France’s Fourth Barracuda Submarine Enters Sea Testing Phase

Naval Group has commenced the first sea trials of the French Navy’s fourth Barracuda-class nuclear-powered attack submarine. The trial phase will assess the performance and operational capabilities of De...

February 26, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts
Naval Platforms

Turkish Armed Patrol Boats Set for Debut Export to Southeast Asia

Turkey has finalized an agreement to export two armored, armed multi-role patrol boats to a Southeast Asian nation, marking the first time this class of Turkish naval platform will...

February 26, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts
Soldier Systems

$93M Award Positions Battelle to Enhance US Preparedness Against Biological Threats

Battelle has been awarded a Scientific and Technical Engagement Partnership (STEP) 2.0 contract by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency to lead a key biological threat mitigation program. The contract...

February 25, 2026
G.Krish
Mergers & JV
Missile & Missile Defence

UAE’s EDGE and France’s Safran Forge Alliance on Smart Munitions Development

A new collaboration between the UAE’s EDGE Group and France’s Safran Electronics & Defense is set to reshape the smart weapons sector by merging large-scale industrial capacity with advanced...

February 25, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts
Land Platforms

BAE Systems Pursues Expandable Counter-Drone Capabilities Through New Partnership

BAE Systems is seeking to respond to the growing speed and scale of drone warfare by pursuing a partnership focused on affordable, mass-producible interceptor systems rather than highly customized...

February 25, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts
Air Platforms

BAE Systems Surpasses 100,000 Deliveries of APKWS Precision Guidance Kits

BAE Systems has delivered its 100,000th Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), achieving a major production milestone for the laser-guidance kit. The APKWS has remained in full-rate production for...

February 25, 2026
G.Krish
New Product Launches
Land Platforms

Germany Unveils Advanced Vehicle Protection System to Counter Short-Range Drones

Germany’s Mehler Protection has introduced an advanced counter-unmanned aerial system (C-UAS) aimed at strengthening vehicle defenses by intercepting aerial threats before they can strike. Designed to defeat first-person-view drones,...

February 25, 2026
G.Krish
Procurement & Contracts
Naval Platforms

Sweden Selects Spain’s Freire to Build Four All-Weather Naval Support Ships

Spain’s Freire Shipyard has won a contract from Swedish Defence Materiel Administration to construct four naval support vessels engineered for operations in icy waters and harsh weather conditions, enhancing...

February 25, 2026
G.Krish
R&D
Air Platforms

US Army Prepares Midlife Upgrade for Black Hawk Fleet to Keep It Flying Beyond 2050

The US Army has invited industry feedback to evaluate the feasibility of commercially upgrading its UH-60M Black Hawk fleet to extend the helicopter’s operational life beyond 2050. Under the...

February 24, 2026
G.Krish
New Product Launches
Soldier Systems

Rheinmetall Launches Next-Generation Combat Helmet and Scalable Body Armor System

Rheinmetall has unveiled a next-generation combat helmet and a modular body armor suite, broadening its range of personal protection systems for armed forces. The new equipment is designed to...