Finance news

Financing round: Armaments start-up Stark raises half a billion euros

The Berlin start-up roughly triples its valuation. Investors include Sequoia, the NATO Innovation Fund and Döpfner Capital. The fresh money has already been budgeted.

How L3Harris transformed a Qatari 747 into a new Air Force One plane before July 4

L3Harris modified the jet in 10 months, with 400 employees working 24/7 to deliver the plane by a July 4 deadline, the head of the company’s ISR division said.

Are falling tech stocks the start of an overdue selloff — or a well-deserved pause?

After weeks of large-scale alarms that turned out to be false starts, equities finally found a real problem — the one they spent two years celebrating.

Behind Hegseth’s European posture review, plus a big CCA program update

This week on The Break Out, we look at why Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is reviewing the American troop posture in Europe before we see what’s new in the race to develop a drone wingman for military pilots.

Leonardo and Baykar complete test flights for manned-unmanned teaming

“The programme is aimed at designing and developing interoperability between crewed and uncrewed aircraft,” the companies said.

Frustrating Israel, fiber-optic killer drone technology has arrived in southern Lebanon

Analysts believe that any military engaged in conflict will, in one form or another, encounter technologies first seen in Ukraine.

SASC advances provision to allow contractor cyber operations

Some experts believe the proposed pilot program, which could become law if left in the NDAA, is critical for how the US can tip the scales against China.

Anxious West seeks to rewrite global trade rules to counter China

At the recent Brussels summit, the leaders of all 27 European Union states called on the European Commission to expand the bloc’s trade defence toolbox against “global macroeconomic imbalances”, widely understood to refer to China’s so-called overcapacity. Measures under discussion include mechanisms for sector-wide tariffs and other restrictions in industries such as chemicals and green technology. Europe, long a critic of Washington’s Section 301 tariffs, is now considering instruments that...

Changes to US weapons sales practices should emerge later this year, says Pentagon official

“The hardest part is just to time phase it because there’s so many things hitting the enterprise all at once,” said Michael Cadenazzi, the assistant secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy.

India’s three new naval ships boost maritime firepower

The country has made strides in constructing complex naval platforms but remains dependent on foreign suppliers for key technologies.

Leonardo, Baykar tout in-flight control of Kizilelma drone from a M-346 jet trainer

Following an autonomous taxi and take-off, the Kizilelma autonomously linked to the M-346 using “an advanced radio frequency data exchange system."

Europe is spending billions to rearm, so why the delays?

European countries have been trying to scale up their military capabilities, but their current defense production and procurement model is not fit for purpose, say experts.

Europe's defense ambitions get reality check

European countries have been trying to scale up and integrate their military capabilities, but their current defense production and procurement model is not fit for purpose, say experts.

European startup to make defense drones in Japan, export across Asia

China targets US rare earth miners as Pentagon faces restocking rush

China put two US rare earth miners on its export control list, along with eight technology companies, in response to the US Department of Defence blacklisting Chinese businesses for their alleged ties to the People’s Liberation Army. MP Materials and USA Rare Earth will both be banned from buying Chinese exports with dual civilian and military uses, the Ministry of Commerce said on Monday. Motor maker Aveox and drone companies Red Cat and Teal Drones were among the other companies included in...

How Japan seeks to win over allies by refuting China’s militarism claim

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi’s pushback against China signals a calculated bid to fend off accusations of Tokyo’s “new militarism” by Beijing to ensure that the label does not stick and slow Japan’s security reforms. His comments in recent weeks on separate instances are aimed at shaping the perceptions of Tokyo’s state partners, according to analysts. Speaking in his first published interview with foreign media as defence chief on June 17, Koizumi questioned the accuracy of...

US Marines in Okinawa receive first MADIS, NMESIS platforms

The delivery marks the service’s latest integration of modernized defenses in the increasingly contested Indo-Pacific.

Executive order jumpstarts Pentagon’s quantum sensor projects

Two executive orders signed today direct the Defense Department to field three new types of quantum sensors by 2028, assist the Energy Department in building a quantum supercomputer, and advise other agencies on defeating quantum hackers.

Japan’s defence outreach to counter China’s military rise hits hidden roadblocks

Japan seized the spotlight at last month’s Shangri-La Dialogue, stepping into a vacuum left by the Chinese defence chief – who skipped the forum for a second year – and using the stage to sharpen its warnings over Beijing’s military rise. Speaking in Singapore on May 31, the final day of the security forum, Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi pushed back against Beijing’s accusation that Japan is engaging in a “new militarism” and instead took aim at China’s growing military capabilities..

Another positive milestone for Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace

The Pearl 10X successfully powered the first flight of Dassault’s brand-new Falcon 10X business jet. After the news of the SMR contract with Sweden and the nuclear deal with Japan another milestone for RYCEY / RR . While this isn’t a narrowbody engine program, it shows Rolls-Royce continues to execute on new engine development, certification and customer acquisition. The Falcon 10X is also the first Dassault business jet ever powered by Rolls-Royce engines. One more example that the investment c

Another positive milestone for Rolls-Royce Civil Aerospace

The Pearl 10X successfully powered the first flight of Dassault’s brand-new Falcon 10X business jet. While this isn’t a narrowbody engine program, it shows Rolls-Royce continues to execute on new engine development, certification and customer acquisition. The Falcon 10X is also the first Dassault business jet ever powered by Rolls-Royce engines. One more example that the investment case is becoming broader than just Trent widebody engines: Civil Aerospace, Defence, Power Systems, SMRs and now co

France and Germany commit to equal shareholding in KNDS as potential IPO nears

Germany is seeking a 40 percent stake in the European land manufacturer, subject to approval by its budget committee.

Australia, Canada sign $1.75B agreement for Over the Horizon Radar system

This is the largest Australian defense export to date, Canberra said.

Capacity is the new capability

[Sponsored] Production speed is combat power, and industry must meet today’s threats while accelerating and adapting capabilities to keep the edge.

EXCLUSIVE: Inside the secret struggles of the Air Force’s T-7 Red Hawk

From a weather restriction to a “serious” airworthiness risk, the Air Force’s newest training jet faces far more issues than previously reported, an investigation by Breaking Defense found.

Army picks Anduril to lead Next Gen C2 common data layer baseline

The company had been prototyping the “full stack” with 4th Infantry Division over the last year.

US Army tests autonomous boats during Philippine exercise

Autonomous boats helped escort a U.S. Army vessel during a military exercise, in a demonstration of how uncrewed assets are changing maritime operations.

South Korea’s Hanwha joins with Emirati firm, aiming to build K9 Howitzer in the UAE

“The agreement is part of Hanwha Aerospace’s strategy to strengthen its position in the Middle East, where it is pursuing local production, maintenance and technology partnerships as a route to regional customers,” Hanwha said in the statement.

Armament as a growth market: Vodafone is entering the defense business

The telecommunications company wants to be more involved in armaments - and Germany plays an important role in this. Secure communication for police and emergency services or mobile communications for the US Army are said to have been just the beginning.

Fatal shooting exposes ‘systemic failures’ in Philippine schools

A rare shooting at a public high school in the central Philippines that left three students dead and seven injured has gripped the country amid concerns over campus safety and the mental well-being of young people. Two Grade 9 students, aged 14 and 15, were arrested over the incident at the San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte province. The weapons involved were a .38 revolver and a 9mm pistol – the latter of which was traced to a police officer who was one of the suspects’...