Rheinmetall opens 155mm shell plant, targets 350k by 2027
Rheinmetall’s new Unterlüss facility will ramp to 350,000 155mm rounds annually by 2027, with 100,000 earmarked for Ukraine next year and 200,000 the following year.
Built in 14 months with €500m invested (including a rocket-motor site), the plant supports faster deliveries and NATO stock replenishment.
Canada shortlists TKMS & Hanwha for new sub fleet
PM Mark Carney named thyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Hanwha Ocean finalists to supply up to 12 conventionally powered submarines; he toured TKMS on Aug 26 and will visit Hanwha in late Oct. Program: contract by 2028, first boat 2035, IOC 2037, replacing Victoria-class; requirements include under-ice endurance, 3,500 nm covert range, 21-day patrols and heavy torpedo/anti-ship/precision-strike weapons.
Bids: Type 212CD vs KSS-III (Hanwha says 4 subs by 2035 if awarded next year, then 1/yr to 2043). Estimated cost C$60bn+ (US$44bn) with Canadian industrial benefits.
Germany to fit Eurofighters with 90 Litening 5 pods (€350m)
Berlin approved a €350m direct buy of 90 Rafael Litening 5 pods for the Eurofighter Typhoon, cleared by the Bundestag budget committee in June 2025 and signed by BAAINBw in August.
The pods add high-res EO/IR, dual laser designation and optional SAR, enabling GBU-54, Paveway IV, Taurus employment and strengthening precision strike, ISR and counter-UAS. The upgrade forms part of wider Luftwaffe modernisation (CAPTOR-E AESA, new EW, long-range A2G).
Germany to grow Bundeswehr with voluntary service
Berlin targets 260k active troops (from 183k) and 200k reservists by early 2030s. Service stays voluntary, but men must complete an 18-year questionnaire and, from July 2027, a mandatory medical exam even if they opt out. Training 6–23 months, benefits include higher pay plus free healthcare, housing, rail.
Govt aims for 30k recruits/year by 2029, with a fallback to conscription if needed. Conservatives doubt the plan 55% of 16–26-year-olds oppose universal service.
Eurodrone enters CDR prototypes next
OCCAR has launched Critical Design Review (25 Aug 2025) with Germany, France, Spain, Italy, following the industrial CDR by Airbus/Leonardo/Dassault (31 Jul).
After verifying 2,000 requirements, the team will build 3 prototypes for flight tests in France/Spain/Italy, design completes by end 2025, ahead of series production of 60 aircraft (FAL Manching) under the 20 system/40 GCS contract.
The twin engine 12-t UAS (2.3-t payload) is ITAR-free, certified for non-segregated airspace, multi-mission capable, and a key enabler for FCAS.
RENK debuts HSWL 406 modular tank transmission
RENK’s HSWL 406 is a modular, digitized gearbox for 50–70 tracked vehicles, designed to fit multiple MBTs without hull changes, standardize spares, and cut downtime and costs.
Built on ATREX (2024) with a digital interface for future autonomous drive (in partnership with ARX Robotics), first vehicle integration is targeted for 2027 before customer trials.
ARX to debut armed Combat Gereon UGV at DSEI
ARX Robotics will unveil Combat Gereonan armed, AI enabled variant of its Gereon UGV at DSEI (9–12 Sept). Co-developed with Ukrainian input, it pairs Valhalla’s LOKI weapon station with Mithra-OS for autonomous first contact and high-risk recon, keeping troops out of the line of fire.
The modular platform, built in Germany and Ukraine, complements roles like CASEVAC and comms relay; similar armed UGVs (e.g., Droid TW) are already in Ukrainian service.
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