GRAZ, Austria — A heavy Russian cargo plane that previously brought air defense systems to Venezuela arrived at a military airfield near Havana, Cuba’s capital, late on Sunday, flight records seen by Defense News show.
The Ilyushin Il-76, operated by the Russian government-affiliated airline Aviacon Zitotrans, made several stops on its way to Cuba, including in the Dominican Republic…
To ensure future missions such as last summer’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities can succeed, the U.S. Air Force must improve the way it securely transmits critical information with bombers and other aircraft securely transmit critical information, a top general said…
GRAZ, Austria — Russia will unveil its newest multiple launch rocket system, the Sarma, at the World Defense Show 2026 in Riyadh next month, marking Moscow’s latest effort to court Middle Eastern defense customers despite Western sanctions targeting its defense…
BERLIN — When the Trump administration lifted sanctions on Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik in late October, it marked a dramatic realignment in the Western Balkans that has sparked concerns in Europe that the fragile post-war order in Bosnia and Herzegovina may become shaky.
In the Western Balkan country of three million, where the fateful shots that caused World War I once rang…
The US Army wants 11 business jets for ISR missions
January 30, 2026
After a half-century of flying turboprop ISR aircraft, the U.S. Army is turning to business jets.
The service plans to buy up to 11 customized Bombardier Global 6500 aircraft for its High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System, or HADES, program, according to the…
PARIS — Norway picked Hanwha to supply the army with long-range precision artillery in a deal worth 19 billion Norwegian kroner (US$2 billion), preferring the South Korean company’s Chunmoo system over competing offers from KNDS and Rheinmetall as well as the U.S. High…
Germany proposes ‘two-speed’ EU to hasten defense buildup
January 30, 2026
PRAGUE — Germany is spearheading an initiative to create a “two-speed” European Union, proposing that a core group of six major economies bypass the bloc’s traditional consensus-based decision-making to accelerate defense cooperation and industrial competitiveness amid mounting geopolitical pressures.
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil and his French counterpart, Roland Lescure…
Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans on Wednesday to warn that the Trump administration is ready to take new military action against Venezuela if the country’s interim leadership strays from U.S. expectations.
In prepared testimony for a hearing before the Senate Foreign…
PARIS — Ukraine says drones now account for more than 80% of enemy targets destroyed as the country’s fight against Russia’s invasion approaches the five-year mark, with most of the drones manufactured locally.
Ukrainian forces recorded 819,737 video-confirmed drone…
Italy gets first Lynx fighting vehicles, due to reshape the army
January 29, 2026
MONTELIBRETTI, Italy — The Italian army has taken delivery of four Lynx fighting vehicles from Rheinmetall, the first batch in a massive, planned order of 1,050 vehicles.
The four tracked vehicles were unveiled at the army’s Montelibretti test range outside Rome in front of an audience including Italy’s defense chief and defense minister as well as managers from Rheinmetall and Italy’s…
