The UAE’s Tawazun Council has launched a new program to support Emirati startups and entrepreneurs developing defense, security, and dual-use technologies. Announced during the Make it in the Emirates 2026 event, the Entrepreneurship Enablement Programme will be run through Tawazun’s Industrial Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Directorate. The initiative is designed to help early-stage companies move from concept development to operational deployment, with a focus on expanding domestic technological capabilities in strategic sectors. According to Tawazun, the program will provide business incubation, technical support, legal and intellectual property advisory services, investment guidance, and leadership development. Participating companies will also be offered access to military testing infrastructure, research and development programs, and facilities at Tawazun Industrial Park. The initiative also connects startups to the broader Tawazun ecosystem, including the Tawazun Economic Programme, which supports industrial participation and localization in the UAE’s defense sector.

Saab has launched an upgraded version of the Bolide missile for the RBS 70 NG short-range air defense missile system, featuring enhanced anti-drone capabilities. The Bolide 2 features a larger warhead, improved terminal flight performance, and a modular design that enables future upgrades. It retains the laser beam-riding guidance system used in previous generations, which is resistant to jamming. The missile also reportedly retains the original Bolide’s range and altitude envelope of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) and 5 kilometers (3.1 miles), respectively. However, an added inertial navigation unit improves performance at high altitudes and against small, high-flying targets such as reconnaissance drones. The Bolide 2 will become the standard munition for the RBS 70 NG while remaining compatible with earlier versions of the system. Development of the missile began 4.5 years ago, and multiple development trials have since been completed. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2027. Increased Lethality The Bolide 2’s warhead carries 50 percent more explosive mass and 40 percent more fragmentation, while retaining the overall weight, Calibre Defence reported, citing a Saab representative. Despite the enhancements, the fragmentation coverage remains unchanged, resulting in a denser impact pattern — a key factor in defeating small drones. In addition, a greater number of laser-based proximity fuze sensors improves target-detection capability.

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has signed an “initial collaborative agreement” to acquire the Chinese Shenyang J-35 stealth fighter, a move seen as a potential shift in the regional air power equation and a challenge to future Indian Air Force (IAF) capability planning. Announcing the development, PAF Deputy Chief of Air Staff Air Vice-Marshal Tariq Ghazi reportedly said that the country is also seeking to acquire long-range precision weapons, additional Chengdu J-10C jets, and “much upgraded” versions of the JF-17 Thunder. Although no further details were disclosed, speculation is mounting that the initial batch of J-35s could be delivered as early as the end of this year, according to the South China Morning Post. The J-35 is China’s twin-engine stealth fighter developed by the state-owned Shenyang Aircraft Corporation for both domestic and export markets. Often compared to the US F-35 Lightning II due to its overall configuration, the J-35 is designed with low-observable features such as an internal weapons bay, diverterless supersonic inlets, and radar-absorbent materials to improve survivability against modern air defense systems. The aircraft has not yet officially entered operational service. However, reports of a potential export variant emerged after a J-35 was filmed without the insignia of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force, fueling speculation that the aircraft featured was intended for foreign customers. Islamabad disclosed in June last year that China had offered Pakistan a package that included 40 J-35 stealth fighters, KJ-500 airborne early warning aircraft, and HQ-19 air defense systems.

German arms maker Rheinmetall and telecommunications operator Deutsche Telekom plan to jointly develop a “defense shield” to protect against drones and sabotage, the companies said Monday. Germany and other European countries have faced a surge in acts of suspected sabotage and incursions by unidentified drones in recent years, with Russia believed to be behind many of the incidents. “The current geopolitical situation has placed the protection of critical infrastructure… in sharp focus,” with a steady increase in “threats from sabotage and drone activity,” Rheinmetall said in a statement. Protecting sensitive facilities such as airports, power plants, shipping ports, and military installations is the primary focus of the initiative, the companies said. Rheinmetall and Deutsche Telekom plan to develop technologies to counter a wide range of attacks against such sites using a “multi-threat protection approach” that includes cybersecurity and the physical protection of facilities. The companies did not describe the precise details of the cooperation.

Terra Drone Corporation has secured a contract with Japan’s Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency to manufacture 300 domestically produced general-purpose modular unmanned aerial vehicles intended for training. Valued at 115.4 million yen ($735,000), the contract calls for deliveries to be completed by September 30, 2026. The order was awarded shortly after Terra Drone formally expanded into the defense sector earlier this year. According to the company, the market is typically marked by strict procurement standards and significant entry barriers, making the contract an early indicator of the Japanese firm’s ability to meet defense requirements. Terra Drone said Tokyo has earmarked approximately 277.3 billion yen ($1.7 billion) in the current fiscal year for the development of defense capabilities related to unmanned systems. Reaching Global Markets The contract comes as Terra Drone also seeks to expand its defense footprint internationally. Last month, the company reportedly moved to support expanded production of Terra A-series interceptor drones manufactured in Ukraine by Amazing Drones. The move is part of a strategy to combine Ukrainians’ rapid development cycles and lower production costs with external investment and industrial scaling capacity. Expansion plans also include the US, where the company intends to establish a local subsidiary. At the same time, NATO countries have been identified as priority markets due to demand for interoperable and cost-effective systems aligned with alliance procurement requirements. Additional growth is also being targeted in parts of Asia and the Middle East.

France and Algeria set aside a two-year diplomatic falling-out to agree to intensified cooperation on domestic security and defense in a meeting Saturday between Algerian President Abdelmajid Tebboune and French armed forces minister Alice Rufo. As part of Rufo’s visit, France’s ambassador to the North African country and former French colony, Stephane Romatet, returned to his post after being recalled about a year ago at the height of the dispute. Following her two-hour meeting with the Algerian leader, Rufo said it had provided an opportunity to discuss “security and defense cooperation.” Tebboune and Rufo also discussed ways to “intensify” their cooperation on migration issues, as well as “judicial cooperation”, particularly in the area of drug trafficking. The diplomatic spat between Paris and Algiers began in 2024 when France declared its support for a Moroccan plan to grant autonomy to the disputed territory of Western Sahara under Moroccan sovereignty. Algeria is the main foreign backer of the Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the former Spanish colony, which Morocco controls and claims as an integral part of its kingdom.

Seoul plans to adopt unmanned aerial systems (UAS) as standard equipment for Republic of Korea Army warfighters, expanding drone use across combat roles and units. The service will field drones from company level to operational commands without launching a separate branch, with troops across infantry, armor, and artillery gaining UAS qualifications as part of routine operations, according to local media. The military is also moving beyond surveillance roles, with plans to field reconnaissance and attack systems, including battalion-level kamikaze drones, and eventually combine multiple functions into a single airframe. “We intend to define drones as a concept similar to personal firearms in the future,” Yonhap News Agency quoted Chief of Staff Gen. Kim Gyu-ha during a briefing at the Republic of Korea Army headquarters in Gyeryongdae. The push supports a 2025 Ministry of Defense strategy to train “500,000 Drone Warriors,” backed by approximately 25 billion won ($17.2 million) in 2026 funding. Under that scheme, the army aims to field more than 50,000 UAS for preparatory efforts by 2029, or about one per squad, with roughly 10,000 to be introduced later this year.  

Plans for the German government to take a stake in Franco-German ​defence firm KNDS may not go ‌ahead due to disagreements within the coalition, Handelsblatt reported on Thursday citing a government ​document and unnamed sources. Berlin had aimed ​to secure a pre-IPO stake in the ⁠tank maker to safeguard national security ​interests and maintain influence alongside France. However, ​key questions remain open, including the size and structure of any state participation, according to the ​report. The defence ministry is said to ​favour a stake of around 40%, while the ‌economy ⁠ministry and the chancellery are pushing for closer to 30%, the report said. France and KNDS are reportedly insisting on proceeding ​with an ​initial ⁠public offering next month, leaving a narrow window for any ​agreement. The report added that an entry ​after ⁠the IPO is not currently seen as an option within the government.

U.S. Approves Bell 505 Training Helicopters to Expand Philippine Air Force Pilot Capacity The United States has approved a possible $150 million Foreign Military Sale of Bell 505 Jet Ranger X training helicopters for the Philippines, giving the Philippine Air Force a dedicated rotary-wing training fleet that can preserve frontline flight hours on its S-70i Black Hawk and T129 ATAK combat aircraft. The decision, announced by the U.S. State Department on May 5, 2026, strengthens Manila’s ability to expand pilot generation capacity as regional security demands continue to rise in the Indo-Pacific. The package includes Bell 505 helicopters, simulators, maintenance and pilot training, spare parts, and long-term logistics support designed to sustain a structured training pipeline for up to twenty-two aircraft. By separating basic helicopter instruction from operational fleets, the program improves readiness, lowers wear on combat assets, and supports broader Philippine military modernization focused on faster force generation and higher operational availability

New Zealand has begun discussions with Australia and Britain over replacing its ageing Anzac-class ​frigates, with advice on a preferred path ‌expected to go to government by the end of 2027, Defence Minister Chris Penk said on Thursday. The government ​is considering the Japanese Mogami-class frigate, which ​Australia has chosen, and Britain's Type 31 frigate ⁠as part of a business case for ​replacing HMNZS Te Kaha and HMNZS Te Mana, ​commissioned in 1997 and 1999, respectively. Working with partners would help ensure interoperability and potential efficiencies, Penk said in a ​statement. The work is part of New Zealand's ​2025 Defence Capability Plan, under which the government has committed ‌to ⁠significantly lift defence spending and replace ageing equipment after what it has described as years of systemic underspend. The plan includes maritime fleet renewal as Wellington ​seeks to ​strengthen its ⁠ability to protect sea lanes, support Pacific security and respond to disasters. Penk ​said most of the navy's fleet would ​reach ⁠the end of its design life by the mid-2030s, including the two Anzac frigates, which provide New ⁠Zealand's ​main maritime combat capability. Replacement of ​the frigates is listed as an indicative investment for 2029-2039.