Mil News Western Europe Military News

[Mike1976]

Belgian Navy Deploys Shore-Based Drone Control for Mine Countermeasures Vessel Oostende

Belgium deploys shore-based control of naval drones, enabling mine warfare without sending ships to sea.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Ireland to Acquire French Scorpion Combat Vehicles and CAESAR Artillery in €1B Deal

Ireland plans a €1B deal for French Scorpion combat armored vehicles and CAESAR artillery to modernize its land forces by 2030.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Italy Launches First Next-Generation OPV Offshore Patrol Vessel for Italian Navy Modernization

Italy launches its first next-generation offshore patrol vessel to modernize the Italian navy and boost maritime security.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Germany’s New BlueWhale Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Is Transforming Baltic Maritime Surveillance

Germany receives BlueWhale AUV to expand NATO undersea surveillance in the Baltic Sea under Kurs Marine 2035+.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Germany Approves €540M Medium-Range Loitering Munition Procurement from Helsing and Stark Defence Firms

German parliament approves 540 million euro loitering munition package for Bundeswehr brigade in Lithuania.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Belgium considers U.S. MH-60R Seahawk helicopter for maritime search and rescue operations

Belgium assesses MH-60R for SAR replacement and CH-53K for €1.3B heavy lift program discussed at International Military Helicopter 2026.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Belgium opens talks with U.S. on CH-53K King Stallion heavy transport helicopter

Belgium evaluates CH-53K King Stallion for a 1.3 billion euro heavy lift helicopter program supporting strategic airlift and special operations missions.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

NATO Deploys German Programmable Cyborg Insect Swarms for Urban and Tunnel Reconnaissance

SWARM Biotactics deploys cyborg insect swarms with NATO for close-quarters urban reconnaissance.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[muck]

According to 'hartpunkt', Germany will order up to 500 EuroPuls (dubbed Mars 3 in Germany) multiple launch rocket systems in 2026, alongside a "multi-billion Euro" arsenal of rockets "in the five-digit range". Allied armies have been invited to order systems through this contract. (Source)

 

[Mike1976]

Dutch air force and navy buy replacement fire trucks.

Hubba Hubba

The air force will receive 23 new Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 fire engines, and the navy will receive three. The Ministry of Defence will purchase them from the Dutch supplier Kenbri Fire Fighting in Numansdorp. The contract took effect today with the signing of the contract. The fire engines will be delivered later this year.

Nieuwe brandweervoertuigen voor luchtmacht en marine

De luchtmacht krijgt 23 nieuwe Rosenbauer Panther 6x6 brandweervoertuigen en de marine 3. Defensie koopt ze bij de Nederlandse leverancier Kenbri Fire Fighting uit Numansdorp. Met het plaatsen van handtekeningen werd het contract vandaag van kracht. De brandweerwagens worden nog dit jaar geleverd.

www.defensie.nl

 

[Mike1976]

New multi-layer clothing sets being stocked up before widespread issue.

The Ministry of Defence has received the first shipment of new combat clothing. The Defence Operational Clothing System (DOKS) will replace the armed forces' current range. The Ministry of Defence is currently building up a stockpile so that distribution can begin after the summer.

Eerste voorraad nieuwe gevechtskleding binnen

Defensie heeft de eerste lading nieuwe gevechtskleding binnen. Het Defensie Operationeel Kleding Systeem (DOKS) vervangt het huidige assortiment van de krijgsmacht. Defensie legt nu een voorraad aan, zodat na de zomer de uitgifte kan beginnen.

www.defensie.nl

 

[Mike1976]

Naval radars

Currently, the Ministry of Defence has insufficient visibility of so-called "dark vessels." These are ships that try to remain undetected by turning off their transponders. Therefore, the navy is receiving additional radar systems to better track these kinds of movements. The new radars are also capable of detecting objects smaller than 50 meters. This makes them suitable for detecting flying objects, such as drones.

The systems are being supplied by a Dutch company. The Ministry of Defence is having the maintenance carried out by Rijkswaterstaat and the supplier. Data exchange will be facilitated through the existing connection between the Coastguard Centre and the navy.

Wisent 2

The heavy and medium infantry brigades will therefore receive additional recovery capacity.

The Ministry of Defence intends to purchase Wisent-2 armored tracked recovery tanks from the German company FFG. These will be used, among others, by the new tank battalion and the new armored infantry battalion. The recovery tanks are designed to safely recover stranded or damaged equipment during operations, even under enemy fire. The recovery vehicles include remote-controlled weapon stations, ammunition, spare parts, and IT resources.

The Wisent-2 is built on the chassis of the Leopard-2 tank and can be purchased off the shelf.

Hospital train

The Ministry of Defence is also acquiring casualty trains for the long-distance transport of war casualties. Currently, the organization still uses ambulances and helicopters, among other things. For longer-distance transport, for example to the Central Military Hospital or one of the partner hospitals, the Ministry of Defence will in the future have the C-390 Millennium at its disposal. This transport aircraft will replace the C-130 transport aircraft starting in 2027.

In a large-scale conflict, the risk of significant numbers of casualties is high. Therefore, the Ministry of Defence needs additional transport options that can transport many casualties at once. For this purpose, the Ministry is purchasing Dutch trains. The conversion of these trains will also take place in the Netherlands.

 

[muck]

Hospital train

Any more information on that, particularly what kind of trains they'll use?

The reason why I'm asking: Germany set a similar plan in motion a couple of years ago. Essentially, they modified three Intercity Express high-speed trains with provisions to accept a field hospital on short notice. The concept has a major flaw, though: ICE trains can't be attached to a diesel locomotive, so these trains would always rely on an intact energy infrastructure.

 

[Mike1976]

Any more information on that, particularly what kind of trains they'll use?

The reason why I'm asking: Germany set a similar plan in motion a couple of years ago. Essentially, they modified three Intercity Express high-speed trains with provisions to accept a field hospital on short notice. The concept has a major flaw, though: ICE trains can't be attached to a diesel locomotive, so these trains would always rely on an intact energy infrastructure.

Nope.

Most trains are electrically powered, but due to commonality with European railways and wartime vulnerability of the electric grid I would assume these are diesel, although with the current administration it's a 50/50 chance between common sense and Greenpeace fairy tale idealism.

 

[Mike1976]

British Navy rolls out second Type 31 frigate HMS Active to expand global patrol capability

Royal Navy rolls out HMS Active Type 31 frigate at Rosyth as steel cutting begins for HMS Bulldog under the UK program replacing Type 23 frigates.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

French nuclear-armed Rafale fighters could operate from Belgium under new deterrence plan

France considers deploying nuclear-armed Rafale fighters to Belgian air bases under a European deterrence plan while nuclear weapons remain under French control

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Belgium Places €226.7 Million Order for Mistral Man-Portable Air Defence Missiles

Belgium orders €226.7M in Mistral MANPADS missiles, boosting NATO short-range air defence under EU procurement rules.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

Denmark Orders French SAMP/T NG Air Defense Missile Systems to Counter Ballistic Threats

Denmark acquires French SAMP/T NG to counter ballistic missile threats and strengthen NATO air defense in the Baltic region.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[Mike1976]

400

Netherlands to Procure 400 ACSV G5 Support Vehicles with Skyranger 30 Counter-UAS Systems

The Netherlands plans 400 tracked armored support vehicles with Skyranger 30 air defense to boost NATO heavy brigade readiness.

www.armyrecognition.com

 

[PEMM]

Finland to change law regarding nukes. The left and Russia are furious.

Finland to allow import of nuclear weapons
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, Finland joined NATO and has been accelerating and revamping its defense plans.


Log In
Home
Latest news
War in Iran
Trump tariffs
War in Ukraine
Newsletters
Podcasts
Poll of Polls
Policy news
Events
News
Defense
Finland to allow import of nuclear weapons

Helsinki is set to ease its ban on nuclear weapons, allowing the import, transport and storage of the devastating armaments on Finnish territory, Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen said Thursday.

Häkkänen told a press conference that the country's legislative ban on nukes, dating back to 1980, was no longer relevant in the current geopolitical context. “The legislation does not meet the needs that Finland has as a NATO member,” Häkkänen said, according to regional media.

Häkkänen said nuclear weapons would be allowed to be transported onto Finnish territory if national defense needs required it, Finnish media reported. The minister declined to provide specific scenarios, but ruled out the possible deployment of nuclear warheads on Finnish soil.

Finland is a signatory to the 1968 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Within Europe, France and the United Kingdom possess their own nuclear weapons, while the United States stores nuclear warheads in several NATO countries including Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced plans to increase his country's nuclear arsenal and to cooperate more closely with European partners, including the potential temporary deployment of French nuclear-capable fighters abroad.

Finland to allow import of nuclear weapons

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, Finland joined NATO and has been accelerating and revamping its defense plans.

www.politico.eu