2026 - latestdefencenews.com

January 5, 2026
Admin
Procurement & Contracts
Air Platforms

Spain Selects 30 Turkish Hürjet Trainer Jets to Phase Out Aging F-5s

Spain has initiated plans to replace its legacy F-5 trainers with 30 Turkish-built Hürjet advanced jet trainers, anchoring a broader transformation of the Spanish Air and Space Force’s combat...

January 5, 2026
Admin
Procurement & Contracts
Naval Platforms

Italy Set to Initiate $3.17B Next-Generation Destroyer Program

The Italian Navy is preparing to launch a procurement program on February 18 for two next-generation destroyers, with the acquisition estimated at €2.7 billion ($3.17 billion). The new warships...

January 5, 2026
Admin
Procurement & Contracts
Land Platforms

Germany Approves $4.9B Purchase of 200 Puma IFVs Equipped With Spike ATGMs

Germany’s armed forces have placed a €4.2 billion ($4.92 billion) order with the Rheinmetall/KNDS Deutschland joint venture for 200 Puma infantry fighting vehicles, reinforcing the platform’s role at the...

Destinus Finalizes Daedalean Acquisition to Boost Advanced AI for Defense and Aviation

Destinus Group BV has completed the acquisition of Daedalean AG, a Zürich-headquartered leader in aviation-focused artificial intelligence, in a transaction valued at CHF 180 million (around USD 225 million)....

January 4, 2026
Admin
R&D
Missile & Missile Defence

Türkiye Incorporates SİPER-1 Long-Range Air Defense System into Steel Dome

Türkiye has formally integrated the SİPER-1 long-range air defense system into its Steel Dome layered air and missile defense network, significantly enhancing the country’s ability to counter high-altitude and...

January 4, 2026
Admin
Procurement & Contracts
Land Platforms

Lithuania Greenlights Acquisition of 100 CV90 MkIV IFVs to Modernize NATO Forces

Lithuania has formally approved the procurement of 100 CV90 MkIV infantry fighting vehicles, committing to a multinational acquisition program alongside five NATO partners. Endorsed by the State Defence Council,...

January 4, 2026
Admin
R&D
Training and Simulation

North Korea Moves Hwasong-16B Hypersonic Missile Closer to Operational Strike Capability

North Korea has carried out a launch training drill with its Hwasong-16B hypersonic missile, signaling continued progress toward operational deployment of advanced long-range strike capabilities, according to a January...

Pakistan Air Force Successfully Conducts First Flight Test of Taimoor ALCM

Pakistan has taken a major step forward in air-launched strike capability after the Pakistan Air Force confirmed the first successful operational flight test of the indigenously developed Taimoor cruise...

January 3, 2026
Admin
R&D
Land Platforms

Kazakhstan to Begin Domestic Manufacturing of Turkish OTOKAR Tracked Armored Vehicles

Kazakhstan has announced plans to locally manufacture OTOKAR tracked armored vehicles after President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to a key defense production facility, Kazinform reported on January 3, 2026. The...

January 2, 2026
Admin
R&D
Air Platforms

LIG Nex1 selected to develop South Korea’s first stand-off electronic warfare aircraft

LIG Nex1 has been selected to lead the development of South Korea’s first stand-off electronic warfare aircraft, a program that will convert a civilian business jet into one of...