News - latestdefencenews.com

March 9, 2026
Admin
R&D

Saab Considers Establishing Gripen Manufacturing in Portugal With Domestic Partner

Saab is looking to expand its industrial partnership with Portugal by considering local production of components for its Gripen fighter aircraft if Lisbon decides to replace its aging F-16...

March 9, 2026
Admin
Procurement & Contracts

First Batch of Japan’s Type 12 Extended-Range Missiles Planned for Kyushu Deployment

Launchers for the first batch of Japan’s Type 12 surface-to-ship long-range missiles have arrived at a military base in the country’s southwest, marking the beginning of preparations for their...

March 9, 2026
Admin
R&D

Spanish Industry Unveils GaN-Based Radar to Track Artillery and Rocket Fire

Spain is developing a new counter-battery radar capable of rapidly detecting incoming artillery shells, rockets, and mortar rounds while identifying their launch origin. Known as RALOFI (Radar for Locating...

March 9, 2026
Admin
R&D

C-130J Autonomous Flight Program Reaches Preliminary Design Review Stage With Merlin

Merlin Labs has completed the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for its autonomy system designed for the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft operated by the US Special Operations...

March 9, 2026
Admin
R&D

Ukraine Expands Bohdana Howitzer Manufacturing Operations into Poland

Polish defense company Ponar Wadowice and Ukraine’s Kramatorsk Machine-Building Plant (NKMZ) have established a joint venture to manufacture the Bohdana 155mm self-propelled howitzer and its towed version in Poland....

March 9, 2026
Admin
Procurement & Contracts

USAF Invests in Expanding Manufacturing of Lockheed’s LRASM Strike Missile

The U.S. Air Force has issued a $53-million contract modification to Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control to accelerate production of the Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM). The update increases...

March 9, 2026
Admin
R&D

NATO Deploys AWACS for Inaugural Surveillance Flight in Finland’s Airspace

A NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft has completed its first operational mission within Finnish airspace, marking an important step in the alliance’s air surveillance activities...

March 9, 2026
Admin
Financial and Investment Updates

South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace Targets Investment in Estonia’s Defense Industry

South Korean defense firm Hanwha Aerospace has unveiled a 100-million-euro ($115.5 million) investment plan to strengthen Estonia’s defense sector, including the construction of a maintenance and repair hub as...

March 9, 2026
Admin
Procurement & Contracts

UAE to Receive Cheongung-II Interceptors as South Korea Responds to Emergency Call

South Korea has approved the dispatch of additional Cheongung-II air-defense interceptors to the United Arab Emirates after an urgent request from the Gulf nation, which has recently faced drone...

March 8, 2026
Admin
Procurement & Contracts

Turkey Could Station F-16 Jets in North Cyprus as Mideast Conflict Escalates

Turkey is exploring the deployment of General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to Northern Cyprus as part of heightened security precautions, a source from the Turkish Ministry of...