DefenseNews

European NATO nations reduce reliance on US arms imports: SIPRI data

PARIS — European NATO countries reduced their reliance on the United States for weapons imports in the past year, funneling a greater share of their foreign defense acquisitions to South Korea, France and Israel, analysis by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute showed. The U.S. accounted for 58% of major arms imports by NATO’s European member states in the 2021-2025 period…
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DefenseNews

Iran can still fire drones and missiles — experts weigh the implications on the war

MILAN — Iran’s drone swarm tactics against Gulf states are prompting calls for cheaper regional defense layers that would avoid interceptor exhaustion, as experts warn of the possibility of a prolonged drone war across the Middle East. Figures published by Gulf defense ministries indicate that as of March 3, Iran has launched more than 540 missiles and carried out over 1,450 drone strikes…
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DefenseNews

Novel interceptor drones bend air-defense economics in Ukraine’s favor

KYIV, Ukraine – One in every three Russian aerial targets destroyed over Ukraine is now brought down not by a missile or a gun — but by interceptor drones that each cost less than a used car, Ukraine’s air force says. Over the capital, the new class of interceptors is even more effective. Drones were credited with more than 70% of Shahed downings in February, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief…
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DefenseNews

The US Air Force just used its oldest bomber to attack Iran

First flown in 1952, the Boeing B-52 has seen service in Vietnam, Desert Storm, the Global War on Terror — and now Iran. U.S. forces have hit 2,000 targets in Iran since the opening salvos of Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28, adding the B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress…
DefenseNews

Pending tanker purchase spotlights choice for Poland: buy European or US?

WARSAW, Poland — As the Polish government is advancing efforts to absorb loans from the European Union to finance purchases of new weapons made in Europe, opposition politicians are concerned that reliance on funds from Brussels could draw the country away from defense companies based in the United States. The development comes as Warsaw considers using a loan to select the Airbus A330 MRTT…
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