Security

Estonia kicks off work on semi-autonomous vessel for European navies

WARSAW, Poland — The Estonian government and local shipbuilder Baltic Workboats have started working on a four-year project to develop a semi-autonomous vessel prototype for Europe’s naval forces. Twenty-three companies and research institutions from 10 European Union...

In first, UK downs aerial drone with test shot from DragonFire laser

LONDON — An industry team has for the first time destroyed an aerial target with its DragonFire laser, the British Defence Ministry announced Friday. The trial with the direct-energy weapon is considered a significant milestone toward the deployment of the system,...

Germany spends $1.3 billion on missile-based short-range air defenses

COLOGNE, Germany — German lawmakers approved a government request this week to spend €1.2 billion ($1.3 billion) on a new short-range air defense capability based on a ground-launched variant of the Diehl Defence-made IRIS-T missile. The money will pay for the...

Baltic states to bolster border security with Russia, Belarus

MILAN — Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania have approved the construction of defensive installations alongside their borders with Russia and Belarus, which will include a network of bunkers. Friday’s decision to greenlight the project comes as Russia continues its invasion...

South Korea to buy 20 more F-35s

SEOUL — South Korea will buy 20 more F-35A fighter jets from the United States, as a part of its F-X project focused...