Europe – Page 19 – The Defense Post

Apr- 2026 -

17 April

First steel cutting Ceremony for the third German Navy Type 424 vessel at the Peene-Werft shipyard. Photo: Rheinmetall

Rheinmetall Starts Construction of Germany’s Final Type 424 Spy Ship

Rheinmetall’s shipbuilding segment Naval Vessels Lürssen has begun the production of the third and final Type 424 signals intelligence and reconnaissance platform for the German Navy.

17 April

A TacFLIR 280-HDEP mounted on an armored vehicle

Rojoef Manuel

WB Group Taps Teledyne FLIR to Boost Polish Recon Vehicle Awareness

Polish defense company WB Group has awarded Oregon-based Teledyne FLIR Defense a contract valued at over $35 million to enhance the situational awareness of reconnaissance vehicles.

17 April

Rojoef Manuel

Navantia, thyssenkrupp Team Up on Global Submarine Shipbuilding

Spain’s state enterprise Navantia and German firm thyssenkrupp Marine Systems have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly explore shipbuilding opportunities in support of submarine efforts across Europe, NATO, and other international customers.

17 April

ONBERG aims to become a European one-stop shop for autonomous drone defense systems protecting critical infrastructure, borders, and national security assets.

Giulia Bernacchi

Ondas, Heidelberg Launch Drone Defense Systems Joint Venture in Germany

Ondas and Heidelberger have launched ONBERG Autonomous Systems, a joint venture focused on autonomous drone defense technologies.

17 April

Giulia Bernacchi

Ukraine Turns Combat Data Into AI Edge in Deal With Germany

As warfare becomes increasingly data-driven, Kyiv is positioning its battlefield experience as a key input for next-generation military AI.

17 April

Rheinmetall Automecanica SRL in Mediaș, Romania.

Jodesz Gavilan

Rheinmetall Expands Romanian Defense Ecosystem With 2,500 Job Target

Rheinmetall is positioning Romania as a key node in its European expansion, with plans to build a broad defense production ecosystem in the country.

16 April

Rojoef Manuel

Serbia Mulls Drone Battalions, Push Into Robotic Warfare

Serbia has announced a plan to broaden the integration of tactical unmanned aerial systems and robotic platforms into its armed forces.

16 April

Giulia Bernacchi

ARX Robotics to Supply GEREON Uncrewed Ground Vehicles to British Army

Germany-based ARX Robotics has secured an order to supply GEREON uncrewed ground vehicles to the British Army.

16 April

The AH64 Apache conducts dust landings while deployed to RAFO Musannah as part of Ex PINION OMAN 21. Force elements from across the 1st Aviation Brigade Combat Team (1AvnBCT) recently deployed on Exercise PINION OMAN 21 (ExPO21) to conduct essential desert environmental training and live firing prior to supporting 1 (UK) Division on Exercise KHANJAR OMAN 21. The training and qualifications also ensure lead elements of 1AvnBCT who are held are Extremely High Readiness are equipped to react to a multitude of potential threats, able to deploy globally as well as support standing operational commitments in the homeland. In order to support the deployment, maintain serviceability and readiness of the aircraft, personnel from the Army Air Corps, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Logistics Corps, Royal Air Force and Royal Navy work day and night in challenging conditions to conduct vital maintenance, repair, refuel and support. These personnel are the vital enablers which assure that each aircraft is maintained to the highest standard and set the conditions for the aircrew to continuingly fly in some of the harshest conditions in the world.

Jodesz Gavilan

UK Awards Boeing $1.2B Contract to Support Apache and Chinook Fleet

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded Boeing Defence UK a $1.2-billion contract to maintain and support its Apache attack helicopters and Chinook transport fleet.

16 April