Rheinmetall UK to Supply Trailblazer for UK MLRS Upgrade
Rheinmetall UK has won an NSPA contract to provide its Trailblazer Driver Vision and Situational Awareness System for the UK MoD’s M270 A2 MLRS upgrade. Prototypes will be delivered in early 2026, with production later that year, under a contract worth mid-single-digit millions of euros.
Trailblazer already in service on Boxer, Challenger 3 and Warrior will give MLRS crews enhanced day, thermal and fused vision, improving manoeuvre and safety in all conditions. The M270 A2 becomes the 17th platform to adopt the UK-developed, SIL-2-certified system, supporting standardisation across the British Army fleet.
Avon Protection Wins $20.6m NSPA Order for FM50 Respirators
Avon Protection has secured a $20.6m European order via the NATO Support and Procurement Agency for FM50 respirators and FM61EU filters, with deliveries in 2026–27.
The NATO-standard FM50, in service with 16+ NATO nations, provides protection against CBRN threats. The order supports Avon’s post-2026 outlook and reinforces its position as a leading supplier of warfighter protection, with production based in Melksham, Wiltshire.
BAE Systems Secures $1.7bn US Navy APKWS Contract
BAE Systems has won a five-year US Navy IDIQ contract worth up to $1.7bn to supply APKWS laser-guidance kits, with an initial $322m order.
The combat-proven kits convert 2.75-inch rockets into low-cost precision weapons for US forces and allies via Foreign Military Sales, supporting air, land and maritime operations. APKWS is compatible with existing rocket inventories, requires minimal training, and has been in full-rate production for over 12 years.
Manufacturing takes place in New Hampshire and Texas.
UK Joins European Defence Export Treaty
The UK has joined the Agreement on Defence Export Controls alongside France, Germany and Spain, easing export licensing between the four nations and strengthening European defence industrial cooperation.
The treaty reduces administrative barriers for defence exports, providing greater certainty for UK companies involved in multinational programmes while preserving national sovereignty over key capabilities. It is expected to boost defence trade, support high-skilled jobs, and reinforce the UK’s leadership role within NATO.
The move aligns with the Strategic Defence Review, which aims to make the UK Europe’s leading defence exporter, and follows recent major export deals including Type 26 frigates to Norway and Typhoon jets to Türkiye.
JFD Global to Equip Polish Navy Rescue Vessel
JFD Global has won a contract with PGZ Stocznia Wojenna to integrate submarine rescue and saturation diving systems into the Polish Navy’s new rescue ship, Ratownik.
Due for delivery in 2029, Ratownik will support submarine rescue and protect critical underwater infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. The vessel will be fitted with the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS), operated by JFD Global to provide 24/7 global rescue capability.
The programme combines JFD’s rescue expertise with PGZ’s shipbuilding experience to deliver a NATO-standard, mission-ready capability for Poland.
Anduril UK and GKN Aerospace Form UAV Partnership
Anduril Industries UK and GKN Aerospace have signed a strategic agreement to develop advanced UAV and rotorcraft capabilities for future UK defence programmes.
GKN’s Isle of Wight site will act as Anduril UK’s airframe manufacturing and integration partner, supporting bids for key contracts from 2026 and potentially creating 100+ jobs. The partnership strengthens the UK’s sovereign defence industrial base, with Archer Aviation contributing eVTOL and hybrid propulsion expertise.
HII Expands Babcock Partnership for Virginia-Class Submarines
HII has awarded Babcock a new contract to support Virginia-class Block VI submarine construction, marking Babcock’s first outsourced work for Newport News Shipbuilding.
Babcock will build complex submarine assemblies at its Rosyth, Scotland facility, boosting production capacity, strengthening the supply chain, and supporting the AUKUS partnership.
The deal builds on the companies’ existing collaboration across the UK, US and Australia, reinforcing allied submarine industrial resilience.
MASS Delivers Joint Venture 2025 Exercise for UK MoD
MASS, with its JCAST partners and the MoD’s Integrated Warfare Centre, has delivered Joint Venture 2025, the UK’s annual exercise to validate operational readiness for conflict in Europe.
The November 2025 exercise tested the Standing Joint Force Headquarters Group across planning and operations in a NATO context, with around 200 personnel training across multiple European locations. MASS provided end-to-end training support, introducing advanced synthetic tools including VR Forces and Hadean PopulAI to enhance realism.
Joint Venture 2025 supports the Strategic Defence Review and strengthens the UK’s high-readiness operational headquarters.