In 2026, Europe is likely to face challenges in its relations with the US, particularly regarding politics and manpower. However, if countries invest in their local industries, the year may prove pivotal.
The US Army is investing $1.6 billion in new homeland air defense units, with the explicit purpose of better protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure. This initiative draws heavily on lessons from the war in Ukraine, Breaking Defense reports.
The United States has reached new trade agreements with Switzerland and South Korea, eliminating tariffs on aircraft and parts. This restores tariff-free access for manufacturers and operators in both countries, following similar zero-tariff arrangements with the European Union, Canada, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.
The United States Department of Justice has filed a civil forfeiture complaint to seize two anti-submarine warfare mission crew trainers that were intercepted while being shipped from South Africa to China's People's Liberation Army. The trainers, manufactured by the Test Flying Academy of South Africa, were allegedly designed to support training in airborne early warning and ASW missions.
The United States is poised to approve a $3 billion agreement to sustain Saudi Arabia's aging F-15 fighter fleet. Following a request from its Gulf ally, the US State Department has approved a sustainment package for the Royal Saudi Air Force's F-15s.
The US Department of Commerce has withdrawn its proposed rule on Chinese drone imports, easing fears of a sweeping ban. However, DJI and other major manufacturers remain blocked from introducing new models due to FCC restrictions.
The US State Department has approved a potential sale of almost $6.7 billion in new weapons for Israel, including large orders of AH-64E Apache helicopters and Joint Light Tactical Vehicles. The announcement, made late Friday evening, is broken into four Foreign Military Sales cases and includes an estimated cost of up to $3.
The US and Asian partners may co-produce drones in the Indo-Pacific region as a response to China's growing technological advancements. This could involve partnerships between companies like Red Cat, Taiwan, and Japan to develop unmanned systems that can operate in contested environments.
Following a Technology Safeguards Agreement signed between Sweden and the US, Swedish Space Corporation (SSC) and Firefly Aerospace are moving closer to launching their first satellite from Esrange Space Center in Kiruna, Sweden. The agreement provides the legal and technical framework for U.
Magnifica Air, a new premium scheduled airline launching in the US in 2027, has revealed details of its future operation and value proposition. The airline will operate Airbus A220 and A321 aircraft with Comlux outfitted cabins.
Japan's Self-Defense Forces carried out joint military drills with the US over the Sea of Japan, deploying US B-52 strategic bombers alongside Japanese fighter aircraft. The exercise took place in response to deteriorating security environment and was conducted as a demonstration of the two allies' determination not to allow unilateral changes to the status quo by force.
Iran has skipped the Dimdex 2026 defense show in Qatar, with analysts attributing this move to domestic unrest and past missile strikes on the country. The absence of Iranian officials from the event may signal increased isolation for the nation.
A new report by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) reveals that China has surpassed the US in nuclear submarine production. Between 2021 and 2025, China launched 10 submarines with an estimated displacement of 79,000 tonnes, while the US produced seven boats displacing 55,000 tonnes during the same period.
Six major international airlines have suspended flights to Venezuela following a US Federal Aviation Administration warning about heightened security risks in the country's airspace. Iberia, TAP Air Portugal, LATAM Airlines, Avianca, GOL Linhas Aéreas, and Caribbean Airlines halted operations on November 22, 2025, citing increased military activity that poses potential hazards to commercial aviation at all flight stages.
Breaking Defense reports that the US is considering a Compacts of Free Association (COFA) agreement with Greenland as an alternative to annexation. The proposal would provide a sovereign wealth fund of $30 billion, modeled after Alaska's Permanent Fund, to support infrastructure, education, energy, and defense in Greenland.