DefenseNews

The European Union votes to deepen defense industry ties with Ukraine

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers voted on Tuesday to deepen integration of the bloc’s defense industry with Ukraine as a U.S. peace plan remains in flux and Russia’s unconventional warfare operations rattle the 27-nation bloc. European Parliament legislators voted 457-148, with 33 abstentions, to approve a 1.5-billion euro ($1.7 billion) program, with 300 million euros ($345 million)…
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DefenseNews

Sweden sees frigate decision early next year as France touts 2030 date

PARIS — Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson expects a decision early next year on the country’s planned purchase of four frigates, with the government awaiting advice from procurement agency FMV and the armed forces after a survey of available options, he said on Monday, following a meeting with his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin. The ministers discussed the Swedish frigate program…
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DefenseNews

New lab offers generative AI for defense wargaming

A new lab is hoping to use generative AI to enhance defense wargaming. The goal of the new GenWar lab, scheduled to open in 2026 at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, is to improve tabletop exercises by harnessing the speed and…
DefenseNews

US-Philippine task force to reestablish South China Sea ‘deterrence’

BANGKOK — The United States and the Philippines have announced the creation of a joint task force aimed at further deterring what U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Beijing’s “coercion” in the South China Sea. It is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, where not only the Philippines but also Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam have overlapping claims with China in the sea…
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DefenseNews

Elbit to upgrade Israeli main battle tanks as firm’s land sector grows

JERUSALEM — Elbit Systems will upgrade the Israel Defense Forces’ Markava main battle tanks under a $210 million contract, the company said this week. The announcement comes amid a ceasefire currently in place on Israel’s northern and southern fronts with Gaza and Lebanon, respectively, and the public criticism by reservists regarding the operational capabilities of various armored vehicles…
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