DEFENSE MAGAZINE

The current security situation in?Europe continues to?put pressure on?the development of?the defence industry of?individual European countries. Romania is?no exception and has recently been working hard to?strengthen its domestic defence industry, which has often been overlooked and significantly underfunded in?the past. Germany's Rheinmetall, as?well as?Turkey's Otokar and South Korea's Hanwha, will play an?active role in?the development of?the local defence industry.

The Rafale is?a multi-role combat aircraft manufactured by?the French company Dassault Aviation. Entering service in?2001, it?equips the squadrons of?the French Air and Space Force as?well as?the French Navy on?board the Charles-de-Gaulle aircraft carrier. France currently has 149 Rafale fighter planes, divided between the two branches, with 234 ordered. With the deliveries completed, France is?expected to?operate 225 units: 185 within the Air and Space Force and 40?for the Navy.

US President Donald Trump recently announced that the first sixth-generation fighter aircraft under the Next Generation Air Dominance programme will be?built by?US aircraft manufacturer Boeing and named the F-47. It?is to?be the most advanced successor to?the F-22 Raptor yet, and is?expected to?be priced lower than the F-35. The US?government expects the first aircraft to?take off by?the end of?Trump's term. Unlike the F-22, which was not offered to?allies, the United States plans to?make the new F-47 available to?its partners. The sixth-generation aircraft is?also intended to?send a?message to?global competitors, particularly China, with its advanced technology. The value of?the current contract is?$20 billion, but the total price tag could climb to?several hundred billion dollars.

Tatra Trucks stands as?one of?the most iconic industrial brands in?the Czech Republic. With a?proud legacy stretching back to?1850, the company commands respect not only for its technological innovations but also for its powerful brand identity. Over the decades, it?has cultivated a?strong and loyal fan base both domestically and internationally. This has naturally led to?increased interest from third parties seeking to?use the Tatra brand for various commercial purposes — from apparel sales and toy production to?the publishing of?books on?automotive history and the manufacturing of?spare parts.

A United States Marine Corps aircrew assigned to?Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1) conducted a?successful rescue of?a stranded civilian on?February 11, 2025, while operating in?a remote area near Twentynine Palms, California. The mission demonstrated the CH-53K King Stallion’s operational effectiveness and underscored the Marine Corps’ ongoing commitment to?readiness and rapid response in?contingency scenarios.

General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) is?unveiling a?modified version of?its European-built Pandur 6x6 combat vehicle, now outfitted with a?short-range air defense (SHORAD) turret already in?service with the US?Army. This enhanced variant aims to?fill a?critical capability gap in?maneuver air defense for light infantry and rapid deployment forces.

In his presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised a?series of?measures to?fundamentally change the United States. These promises are confirmed by?the large number of?executive orders he?has signed since returning to?the White House—more than 90?in total. Perhaps the most controversial military-related decision came in?late January, which states that the gender identity of?transgender active-duty service members "is inconsistent with a?soldier's commitment to?an honest, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle, including in?personal life, and is?detrimental to?military readiness."

The BMP-3 is?a Russian Infantry Fighting Vehicle developed in?the Soviet Union in?the 1980s by?Kurganmashzavod. It?entered service in?1987, and belongs to?the most heavily armed vehicles in?its class. Its armament consists of?the 100 mm?2A70 low-pressure cannon, the 30?mm 2A72 automatic cannon, the 7.62 mm?coaxial PKT machine gun and two other 7.62 mm?PKT machine guns. The BMP-3 can fire the 9M117 anti-tank missile of?the 9K166-3 Basnya system (AT-12 Swinger in?NATO designation) from its main cannon barrel.?

The ex-Yugoslav countries, which took different paths after the break-up of?the federation in?1991, are at?different stages of?military modernisation today. While Slovenia and Croatia are firmly part of?NATO and are actively transitioning to?Alliance standards, Serbia maintains military neutrality and relies primarily on?Russian and Chinese equipment.

China’s Ministry of?State Security (MSS) has officially confirmed the espionage case involving Liu, a?former defense engineer who was sentenced to?death for leaking classified state secrets to?foreign intelligence agencies. The case, which had been the subject of?speculation on?Chinese social media, was publicly acknowledged in?a detailed statement by?the MSS, outlining Liu’s espionage activities and the extent of?the security breach.