DefenseNews

‘Actively shrinking’: Guard generals push Congress for 100 new fighters a year

The nation’s Air National Guard adjutants general are making their most unified push yet to recapitalize the U.S. Air Force’s fighter fleet, with 22 generals signing a letter to Congress this month calling for multiyear funding to buy between 72 and 100 new fighters annually. The letter, sent April 1 to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees and their…
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DefenseNews

Iran war exposes weakened state of Britain’s armed forces

LONDON — The Iran war has left Britain’s armed forces exposed, heaping pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to act on his promises to invest in defense, after years of warnings from military bosses about the U.K.’s shrinking capabilities. When a British military…
DefenseNews

EU pumps over $1 billion into defense R&D, centered around Ukraine war lessons

GRAZ, Austria — The European Commission this week unveiled the results of its 2025 European Defence Fund call for proposals, selecting 57 collaborative research and development projects for a combined €1.07 billion ($1.26 billion) in EU funding − a package that makes clear where the bloc’s defense priorities lie: drones, autonomy, and an increasingly institutionalized partnership with…
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DefenseNews

Estonia raids combat-vehicle funds to buy more drones, air defenses

WARSAW, Poland — Estonia’s government has decided to put on hold its planned acquisition of new infantry fighting vehicles. The Baltic nation will instead direct the funds toward drones, counter-drone measures and air-defense systems, while squeezing more service life out of the country’s existing fleet of second-hand CV90 vehicles. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced the move…
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DefenseNews

Lebanon and Israel talks set to begin in Washington

BEIRUT, Lebanon — The first direct talks between Israel and Lebanon are set to begin today in Washington, marking a rare diplomatic engagement between two parties technically at war since 1948. The U.S.-brokered talks will be conducted through their respective ambassadors…
DefenseNews

Australia touts first GMLRS artillery rocket assembled Down Under

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Australian army has test-fired its first-ever locally assembled Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System, or GMLRS, a key step toward eventually producing long-range strike weapons locally rather than importing them. The milestone occurred at the Woomera Test Range in South Australia, with the rocket fired from an M142 HIMARS launcher. It was the third live-fire event…
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