Diehl Defence Wins Swiss Order for IRIS-T SLM Systems
Switzerland has procured five IRIS-T SLM air defence systems from Diehl Defence via Germany’s BAAINBw under the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). The deal includes support vehicles, spares, and training.
The 360° IRIS-T SLM system, proven in Ukraine, boosts Swiss medium-range air defence with rapid deployment and multi-target capabilities. Switzerland becomes the ninth ESSI nation to adopt it, benefiting from shared training and logistics.
Germany Approves Eurofighter Sale to Turkey
Germany’s federal security council has reportedly approved the sale of 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey, according to Der Spiegel.
The jets are produced by a consortium involving Germany, the UK, Italy, and Spain, represented by Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo.
The council’s decisions
Germany Eases Defence Procurement to Boost Military
Germany has passed a draft law to speed up defence procurement and base construction, aiming to strengthen readiness amid rising threats from Russia.
Key changes:
- Looser tender rules for urgent defence buys
- Higher thresholds for procurement (€50K+) and construction (€1M)
- Relaxed environmental rules for military sites
- Broader definition of military needs, including civilian-use items
The 10-year law supports Germany’s goal to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2029.
Germany Joins NATO’s ACE Cyber Initiative
Germany is among 12 NATO members backing the Allied Software for Cloud and Edge Services (ACE), a new cyber initiative to build a secure digital network by 2030. Led by NATO’s Communications and Information Agency, ACE aims to enhance classified data sharing, interoperability, and AI-driven decision-making.
With €45M in initial NATO funding and further contributions from participating nations, the program will speed up secure software development and improve mission-readiness. Other members include the US, UK, France, Italy, and Nordic states.