Norway Set to Receive World's First Leopard 2A8 Deliveries to Begin Ahead of Germany's Own Order
Norway is poised to become the first country in the world to receive the new Leopard 2A8 main battle tank, with the inaugural unit rolling off the production line in Germany on November 19, 2025, and full deliveries to Norway scheduled to start in 2026.
Germany to Spend Tens of Billions on New Fleet of Heavy Boxer Armored Vehicles
Germany plans to spend roughly €40 billion to buy large numbers of the ARTEC Boxer 8x8 armored vehicles under the national modernization program codenamed Arminius, a move announced by Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger during the company's Q3 2025 results briefing.
Read more: Defense Express' Weekly Review: UK to Supply 5,000 Missiles, HIMARS Upgraded with LRMP, Germany Buys New Luchs 2 Vehicles
Germany Bets on the Tomahawk Missiles Despite Unrealistic Costs, Long Delivery Timelines
Germany's decision to order 400 U.S. Tomahawk Block Vb long-range cruise missiles, at a unit cost far below precedent and with deliveries unlikely before the end of the decade, reveals a bold but potentially over-optimistic gamble to fill a strike-capability gap while Europe's own systems lag behind.
Up to 140 Marine Drones from UK's Syos Aerospace Could Have Been Secretly Delivered to Ukraine
Reports indicate that up to 140 maritime drones built by SYOS Aerospace, a UK/New Zealand firm, may already have been covertly delivered to Ukraine, even while the UK's own Royal Navy conducts public trials of the same systems.
Rheinmetall's Skynex System in Ukraine Proves Effective Not Only Against the Shahed Drones but Also russia's Kh-101 and Kalibr Missiles
Rheinmetall's Skynex air defense system deployed in Ukraine has demonstrated the ability to intercept not only the Shahed and Geran drones but also russian Kh-101 and Kalibr cruise missiles, according to company CEO Armin Papperger. The confirmation highlights Skynex system's effectiveness in short-range air defense and strengthens Ukraine's growing multi-layered protection network.
Read more: Defense Express Weekly Review: UK Tethered UAV, russia's Krona Relic, Swedish Gripen Jet Upgrades, Ukraine's Truck Fleet
