Europe must wean off ‘addiction’ to US military, Swedish DefMin says
Speaking to Breaking Defense, Pål Jonson signaled that defense cooperation between Sweden and the US has not been impacted by recent political tensions.
Speaking to Breaking Defense, Pål Jonson signaled that defense cooperation between Sweden and the US has not been impacted by recent political tensions.
Together with allies, the UK tracked “every mile” of the deployment involving an Akula-class and a pair of Main Directorate for Deep Sea Research (GUGI) surveillance submarines, according to British defense secretary John Healey.
Breaking Defense Europe will launch May 4 with Tim Martin and Elisabeth Gosselin-Malo as co-editors.
A BAE spokesperson told Breaking Defense that the air-to-surface test was internally funded, “as part of our commitment to invest in the advanced capabilities our customers require."
The new funding invests in "key design and engineering activities and enables the trilateral partnership to build momentum and accelerate pace of delivery."
Bern warned that the Patriot drama could not only affect a larger F-35 sale, but "the entire Swiss Foreign Military Sale portfolio with the USA."
Industrial planning depends on first securing a CCA contract and beating out a number of competitors.
The European Defence Industry Programme covers funding for 2026 through 2027 with a first round of calls for proposals opening on the EU’s tender portal starting on Tuesday.
The new funding is set to go directly toward the acquisition of new F-35 fifth generation fighter jet integrated Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) munitions, and stiffen the pace of big ticket submarine and frigate procurements.
Paris also plans to launch a new platform dubbed France Munitions to act as a wholesale buyer of weapons for both the French Armed Forces and export customers.
"We have got SMEs [Small to Medium Enterprises] that have had to exit the sector," Samira Braund, defence director at trade body ADS, told British lawmakers.
Despite the absence of customers, the companies are hoping that the demonstration could tempt European air forces looking for cUAS solutions that can reduce reliance on crewed aircraft.
Amid an intense row between Airbus and Dassault over New Generation Fighter leadership and workshare, it remains to be seen how a compromise could unfold.
Leonardo said “available cash resources” will finance the acquisition, which is also planned to leverage “the complementary nature of the two companies’ sales networks."
Despite the UK once committing to field Wedgetail in the “early” 2020s, it was revealed last year that a new timeframe of 2026 had been approved.