United Kingdom
72 articles · 63 recent · 2 source types
UK launched NATO air policing from HMS Prince of Wales in the High North, the first from a European carrier, with 1,500 personnel, according to HM Government.
UK awards a £4.6bn trilateral GCAP design contract with Italy and Japan, part of an £8.6bn fouryear investment, targeting service entry by 2035, HM Government said.
UK launches a defence space innovation competition with up to £985k for sensors, platform selfprotection and EM resilience, partnering with UK Space Agency and Dstl.
HM Government set out a £298bn multiyear defence plan, adding £15bn for readiness, lifting spending toward £80bn by 2029, and backing drones, nuclear and nextgen air power.
European Commission delivers first SAFE payment to Lithuania to bolster military capabilities and joint EU procurement.
Germany sent five A400Ms for a twoweek humanitarian airlift to earthquakehit Venezuela, carrying THW teams and medical staff in coordination with partners.
HM Government marked Armed Forces Day nationwide, confirmed Southport will host the 2027 national event, and noted 230 UK events.
Parliament backed AGILE with €115 million to speed defence innovation, support SMEs and startups, and cut thirdcountry dependencies.
MEPs approved plans to speed EU troop and kit movements, adding digital permits, resilient infrastructure, and a solidarity pool, with rapid emergency activation provisions.
Germany’s defence minister visited Lithuania as 2,900 troops from eight NATO nations trained under Freedom Shield 2026, with 800 vehicles and extensive drone integration.
Bundeswehr cyber and information forces backed the Freedom Shield exercise in Lithuania, involving about 3,000 troops, 800 vehicles and eight nations.
Bundeswehr said its twosided Freedom Shield 2026 drill in Pabradė, Lithuania, with eight nations and extensive drone use, acted as an innovation driver for combat training.
UK conducts first intercept of a Russian shadow fleet tanker, SMYRTOS, in the Channel with Royal Marines and the NCA, to enforce oil sanctions.
Government honours highlighted Dstl innovation and CSOC service in the UK’s 2026 King’s Birthday Honours, alongside the wider military division list.
Germany ran CIMIC Quadriga 2026 in Lower Saxony to test civilmilitary crisis coordination with 28 nations across 150 scenarios over 12 days.
Germany hosted nearly 30 air chiefs as Berlin talks centered on the human factor in future airpower and allied cooperation, the Bundeswehr said.
Parliament and Council negotiators agreed steps to streamline intraEU defence transfers and procurement, backing up to €800bn in investment and setting firm permit decision deadlines.
On 9 June 2026, the UK funded 24 institutions with £80m to add up to 2,500 engineering and computing places for defenceindustry skills.
Germany’s Panzer Brigade 45 started Freedom Shield 2026 training in Lithuania, focusing on droneenabled combat readiness with NATO partners, the Bundeswehr said.
UKled Operation Interflex moved into a specialist phase for Ukraine, with aviation, medical, and engineering training, after training 63,000 personnel, HM Government said.