# defence procurement
Latest news and articles about defence procurement
Total: 13 articles found
Starmer Pledges to Speed Up UK’s Push to 3% Defence Spending, Urges a ‘Ready to Fight’ Europe
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has pledged to accelerate Britain’s move to spend 3% of GDP on defence, stressing that Europe must be prepared to fight and that UK security remains bound up with the Continent. The vow aims to reassure NATO allies and domestic audiences, but its strategic value will depend on execution, procurement, and cooperation with European partners.
Trilateral Next‑Gen Fighter Programme Stalls as UK Delays Key Contract, Putting 2035 Target at Risk
The Japan‑UK‑Italy Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has been set back after the planned 2025 contract between its international government body and the trilateral joint venture was delayed for reasons tied to the UK. The postponement imperils the programme’s 2035 deployment goal and raises wider questions about governance, cost‑sharing and strategic timelines in multinational defence projects.
Canada Joins EU’s Big Defence Finance Plan, Becoming First Non‑European Partner — and Opening Its Arms Industry to Europe
Canada has become the first non‑European participant in the EU’s large defence financing instrument, gaining access for its defence industry to European procurement supported by up to €150 billion in loans. The move deepens transatlantic industrial ties, signals a pragmatic streak in EU strategic autonomy, and raises questions about procurement, export controls and future partner participation.
Japan’s Big-Ticket U.S. Arms Purchases Marred by Delays and Defects — Audit Raises Questions About Strategy and Value
A Japanese Board of Audit review found extensive delays and maintenance problems in U.S. defence equipment bought through the Foreign Military Sales program, even as Tokyo increases spending to bolster its forces. The findings raise questions about the cost‑effectiveness, timing and strategic rationale of Japan’s heavy purchases of American arms.
India Moves to Buy 114 Rafales in Sweeping Defence Purchase, Raising Questions Over Cost and Strategy
India’s Defence Acquisition Council has provisionally approved a major procurement package that reportedly includes 114 Dassault Rafale fighters and P‑8I maritime patrol aircraft, part of a broader plan cited at roughly 3.6 trillion rupees. The move would rapidly bolster India’s air and maritime capabilities while reigniting debate over cost, procurement transparency and the balance between imports and domestic defence industry development.
US F‑35 Deliveries Hit by Missing Radars as Block 4 Upgrades Stumble
Deliveries of F‑35As to the U.S. Air Force have included airframes without the planned APG‑85 AESA radar because of development delays and cost overruns in the Block 4 upgrade. The absence of onboard radars forces operational compromises, underscores long‑standing concurrency problems in the programme, and complicates future upgrades and budgeting.
Elbit to Fit Israel’s New CH‑53K Fleet with Israeli Systems as Air Force Modernises Heavy‑Lift Capacity
Israel has contracted Elbit Systems to supply equipment upgrade packages for the CH‑53K heavy‑lift helicopters it ordered, part of a broader rotorcraft modernisation that also includes a proposed AH‑64E Apache purchase. The move combines US airframes with Israeli systems to tailor capability to local needs while deepening defence‑industrial ties and logistical dependencies with the United States.
Canada’s Fighter Pick at Crossroads: Saab’s Hybrid Fleet Proposal Ups the Stakes in F-35 Debate
Canada’s long-running fighter replacement programme is back in flux after Sweden’s Saab proposed a mixed fleet that would pair retained F-35s with Gripen E jets and GlobalEye AWACS. The offer emphasises lower acquisition and operating costs and promises local production and technology transfer, forcing Ottawa to weigh alliance interoperability and American political sensitivities against industrial sovereignty, Arctic surveillance needs and budget pressures.
Taiwan’s Prototype Submarine Makes First Dive Amid Cost, Delay and Public Skepticism
Taiwan’s domestically built submarine prototype, Hai Kun, conducted its first submerged test on 29 January, initiating a staged programme that begins with a 50-metre dive and aims for 200 metres eventually. The milestone comes after a series of technical problems, schedule delays and public criticism over costs and performance, leaving the vessel still some way from operational readiness.
France Bets on Swarms: Rapid, Trial‑Driven Push to Field Unmanned Naval and Air Systems
France is fast‑tracking unmanned naval and aerial systems by funding prototype competitions and using operational trials to pick winners, aiming to field armed surface drones and new loitering munitions within two years. Procurement reforms favour decentralised, experiment‑led buying and closer ties between start‑ups and large defence firms to accelerate capability delivery and preserve industrial capacity through exports.
Indonesia Takes Delivery of First Rafales as Defence Build‑Up Accelerates
Indonesia has received three Rafale fighters from France, the first deliveries under a multibillion‑dollar defence deal that includes up to 42 jets plus naval vessels. The move advances Jakarta’s military modernisation and has implications for regional security and France’s role in Southeast Asia.
Germany Eyes a ‘Military Starlink’: Rheinmetall and OHB Move to Capture €35bn Defence‑Space Jackpot
Rheinmetall and OHB are negotiating to bid for a German military LEO satellite communications programme that could tap into roughly €35 billion of planned defence‑space spending. The project aims to create a domestically built, Starlink‑style network to improve resilience and reduce reliance on foreign commercial providers, but it faces strong competition and significant technical and industrial challenges.