Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has convened the chief executives of Leonardo and Fincantieri to decide how Italy will use billions of dollars in European Union-backed defense funding, Defense News reported on Friday. The meeting occurred in Rome, with Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, finance and foreign ministers, and others in attendance. It follows Italy’s move...
Hello, Guest!
Category: Policy Updates
Post
Spain Shelves F-35 Plans, Bets on European Fighters
Spain has decided against purchasing the American-made F-35 fighter jet, choosing instead to focus on the Eurofighter Typhoon and the next-generation Future Combat Air System, according to a Wednesday report from Breaking Defense. “[T]he Spanish option involves the current Eurofighter and the FCAS in the future,” a Spanish Ministry of Defense spokesperson told the publication....
Post
Lithuania, Poland to Work on European Defense Enhancement Projects
Lithuania and Poland have joined the growing number of nations aiming to enhance Europe’s capability to respond to threats. The initiative will cover improving force movement in the region, strengthening NATO’s defense and unifying the alliance’s fuel reserve system. Tomas Godliauskas and Orijana Masale, two of Lithuania’s defense vice ministers, met with Polish counterparts on Thursday...
Post
Rilian to Support UAE Effort to Protect Critical Infrastructure
Rilian Technologies has partnered with CPX Holding to support the United Arab Emirates’ initiative to upgrade its capability to protect critical infrastructure against cyberattacks. CPX is a UAE-based end-to-end cyber and physical security solutions and services provider dedicated to serving the needs of governments and critical infrastructure customers. Under a recently awarded contract from the...
Post
Estonia Embraces Modern Military Tech With $11.4B Investment
Estonia is set to spend over $11.4 billion over the next four years to upgrade its defense capabilities. The effort will focus on equipping the armed forces with modern capabilities, such as unmanned systems. “With this new development plan, we are building a modern Defence Forces that will work closely with our allies to strengthen deterrence...
Post
FBI Upgrades NZ Office to Strengthen Ties, Local Security
The FBI has officially opened a permanent legal attaché office at the U.S. Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand. FBI Director Kash Patel inaugurated the upgraded facility, which seeks to strengthen the Five Eyes intelligence partnership and enhance NZ’s domestic security. Judith Collins, the NZ minister responsible for the Government Communications Security Bureau and New Zealand...
Post
NATO Highlights Role of Centers of Excellence in Promoting Innovation, Interoperability
NATO’s Allied Command Transformation has highlighted the strategic impact of its 30 accredited centers of excellence in accelerating innovation and interoperability across the alliance. On Tuesday, it listed some of its COEs, detailing how they are turning emerging concepts into practical tools. The Air Operations COE, for instance, has developed ALEXO, a real-time planning tool...
Post
Poland Receives $4B US Loan Guarantee to Boost Defense Procurement
The United States has granted Poland a $4 billion Foreign Military Financing loan guarantee to support the country’s continued investments in American-made defense systems. Announced on Friday by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the agreement brings the total U.S. loan support to Poland to over $15 billion in the past three years. Signed by DSCA...
Post
Cadence Design Agrees to $140M Settlement Over Export Violation
Cadence Design Systems has agreed to pay $140 million in fines for illegally sharing Electronic Design Automation hardware and software, as well as semiconductor design technology, with a Chinese military university. The Department of Commerce said the fine comprises $95 million from the Bureau of Industry and Security and an additional $45 million in forfeitures...
Post
UK, Australia Sign 50-Year AUKUS Treaty to Expand Submarine Program
The United Kingdom and Australia have entered a 50-year bilateral AUKUS treaty that supports a long-term industrial collaboration to build a new class of conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines. Announced on Thursday, the pact is projected to generate up to $27 billion in U.K. exports over the next 25 years and create over 7,000 new jobs...