South Korea has announced a major strategic pivot in its naval modernization plans, prioritizing the development of a multipurpose command ship designed to deploy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This decision effectively replaces the previously proposed light aircraft carrier project, which would have operated F-35B fighter jets. The move reflects the Republic of Korea Navy’s (ROKN) new focus on UAV-centric warfare, a direction strongly influenced by recent battlefield lessons from the Russia-Ukraine war and anticipated changes in future maritime combat environments. The ROK (Republic of Korea) Navy’s announcement highlights the growing influence of drone warfare on global military strategy. As seen in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, UAVs have transformed the modern battlefield through their utility in surveillance, precision strikes, and even psychological impact. Acknowledging these developments, South Korean military planners have concluded that the future of maritime warfare favors unmanned systems over manned aircraft, particularly in terms of cost-efficiency, survivability, and operational flexibility. Instead of operating expensive F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) jets, the new command ship will field a comprehensive mix of UAVs, including combat drones, surveillance and reconnaissance UAVs, and loitering munitions, also known as suicide drones.

Citing information published by the Israeli financial newspaper Globes on May 4, 2025, Israel's Ministry of Defense is reportedly in advanced negotiations with the United States to acquire the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM), a highly advanced precision strike weapon developed by American defense giant Lockheed Martin. This development marks a significant step in enhancing Israel’s long-range strike capabilities and reflects the ongoing strategic cooperation between the two allies. The JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile) is an air-to-surface missile designed to destroy high-value, fortified, and well-defended targets from a significant distance. It features a stealthy airframe and is armed with a powerful 450-kilogram (1,000-pound) warhead capable of penetrating hardened bunkers. Guided by a sophisticated dual-mode system that includes GPS and an infrared seeker, the missile is capable of operating in GPS-denied environments with high accuracy. It provides a decisive edge in modern air warfare with a standard range of more than 370 km and up to 1,000 km in the extended-range (JASSM-ER) variant.

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of CH-47F Chinook Helicopters and F-16 components and sustainment, along with related equipment, to the United Arab Emirates for a total of $1.457 billion, the Pentagon said on Monday. The principal contractors for the sale of the helicopters are Boeing Helicopter Aircraft Company   and Honeywell Engine Company , the Pentagon said in a statement. No contractors are associated with the F-16 sustainment sale, it said.

South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has signed an agreement with Peru’s state-owned shipbuilder SIMA to jointly develop a 1,500-ton submarine for the Peruvian Navy. The project aims to replace Peru’s aging submarine fleet with a new medium-sized vessel based on HD Hyundai’s HDS-1500 design, as part of the country’s broader maritime modernization program. Lima’s submarine fleet currently includes six German-built Type 209 submarines, with two Type 209/1100s and four Type 209/1200s commissioned between the 1970s and 1980s. These diesel-electric submarines have served as the core of Peru’s undersea capabilities for more than four decades. Moreover, under a $462.9-million contract signed last year, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries recently began building ships for Peru’s Warship Project at SIMA’s Callao shipyard near Lima. The initiative is part of Lima’s broader effort to renew its combat fleet, including a frigate, an offshore patrol vessel, and two amphibious landing craft.

Cuba announced that it has upgraded its aging S-125 Pechora air defense systems through technical cooperation with Belarus. The modernization enhances the system’s versatility and survivability, signaling a resurgence of Cuban air defense capabilities. This evolution reflects deeper military ties between Havana and Minsk, with broader implications linked to Russia, thereby challenging U.S. strategic interests in the Western Hemisphere. The upgrade of Cuba’s S-125 Pechora missiles was confirmed by the Belarusian State Military-Industrial Committee. The modernization was carried out by ALEVKURP, a Belarusian defense company, which transformed the legacy system into the enhanced Pechora-2BM variant. Factory tests validated the system’s improvements, with four missiles successfully hitting their targets. The updated system retains its core air defense function while gaining the ability to engage land, maritime, and fixed-coordinate targets, increasing its tactical flexibility. Cuba is believed to operate around 144 S-125 launchers, long in service with the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR).

As reported by the Indian newspaper "India Today" on May 4, 2025, the Indian Army has taken delivery of a new shipment of Igla-S Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS), NATO reporting name SA-24 "Grinch", supplied by the Russian Federation. This $3 million acquisition enhances India’s tactical air defense capabilities, particularly along the border in Jammu and Kashmir, and holds notable geopolitical significance as it occurs amidst ongoing U.S. and European sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Despite sustained international pressure, Russia continues not only to honor existing defense commitments but also to produce and export advanced military equipment to a wide array of international clients, maintaining its status as a major global arms supplier. The SA-24 Igla-S is a Russian-made third-generation, man-portable surface-to-air infrared-guided MANPADS designed to engage low-flying aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). It is an evolution of the earlier Igla and Igla-1 systems, offering improved accuracy, resistance to electronic countermeasures, and a more powerful warhead. The system is shoulder-fired, highly mobile, and can be deployed rapidly by infantry units. It has a maximum range of approximately 6 kilometers and can reach targets at altitudes up to 3.5 kilometers. Its advanced seeker and proximity fuze give it a significant edge over older VSHORAD systems, making it particularly effective in mountainous terrain like that of northern India. Indian Army units stationed in Jammu and Kashmir have already begun fielding these systems. This deployment aims to bolster defenses against persistent aerial threats, especially from UAVs frequently used for surveillance and potential cross-border hostilities. The portability and rapid reaction capability of the Igla-S make it especially suited for India's rugged and challenging border environments, where mobility and immediate responsiveness are crucial.

On May 7, 2025, the French company Arquus announced during the DEFEA 2025 defence exhibition in Athens a contract to deliver 12 Sherpa Station Wagon armored vehicles to the Republic of Cyprus. These vehicles will be equipped with MBDA’s Akeron MP missile system. The agreement, formalized between France’s Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) and the Cypriot Ministry of Defence, is part of a bilateral partnership aimed at enhancing cooperation in the field of land defence systems. Arquus will be responsible for both vehicle delivery and integration of the Akeron missile onto the Sherpa platform. This delivery follows previous French-Cypriot discussions initiated during a meeting between President Níkos Christodoulídis and President Emmanuel Macron. During DEFEA, a Cypriot Ministry of Defence delegation led by Permanent Secretary Anna Aristotelous and National Director of Armament Panayiotis Symeou visited the Arquus stand, where they were received by Arquus CEO Emmanuel Levacher. The vehicle exhibited was configured with both MBDA’s Akeron MP missile and Hornet Remote-Controlled Weapon Station (RCWS). This contract represents the first confirmed instance of the Sherpa-Akeron configuration ordered for operational use by Cyprus. According to statements made during DEFEA, Arquus considers this agreement as the first step toward further bilateral programs between the company and the Cypriot Ministry of Defence, including the potential modernization of existing vehicle fleets.

As reported by InfoDefensa on April 29, 2025, the Government of the Federal District of Brazil has purchased six Roshel Senator armored vehicles for the Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal (PMDF), including both the Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) and Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) variants. The APC version will be assigned to the Riot Police Battalion (BPChoque), with four units equipped with Level 3 ballistic protection, while two MRAPs with Level 4 protection will be allocated to the Special Police Operations Battalion (BOPE). This procurement aims to support the operational capacity of two specialized units of the PMDF amid the growing complexity of criminal organizations and the increased availability of military-grade weapons in illicit networks. The Roshel Senator’s protection capabilities include ballistic resistance from 5.56 mm and 7.62 mm rounds at velocities of 695 m/s, fired from a distance of 30 meters. Mine protection options allow for resistance to up to 6 kg of TNT-equivalent explosives under each wheel or the vehicle's center. The crew compartment and engine bay are protected to CEN B7 standards. Each vehicle includes an explosive gas and radiation detection system, a military-grade electric winch with a 7-ton pulling capacity, and shock-absorbing individual seats designed to mitigate the effects of explosions. The lighting system supports emergency and convoy modes. The Senator is a Canadian 4x4 infantry mobility vehicle built on a modified Ford F-550 chassis, which includes components such as ballistic steel certified to military specifications, optional underbody protection against anti-tank mines and IEDs, and a V-shaped hull in the MRAP configuration to mitigate blast effects. In terms of observation and surveillance, these vehicles are equipped with integrated systems that include a high-resolution thermal vision camera, a long-range infrared beacon invisible to the naked eye, and multiple cameras around the vehicle for 360-degree situational awareness. The onboard communication system allows real-time data transmission to command and control centers via encrypted digital radios.

As reported by Army Technology on May 2, 2025, the British Army has officially withdrawn the AS90 Braveheart 155mm self-propelled howitzer from its inventory, concluding more than three decades of service for one of the UK’s most emblematic artillery platforms. This development comes as the United Kingdom completed the transfer of its remaining AS90 units to Ukraine, reinforcing Kyiv’s long-range firepower as the war against Russian forces intensifies. Initially intended to remain operational into the 2030s, the AS90’s retirement was unexpectedly accelerated in response to Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and the British Army’s transition towards newer, more capable artillery systems. In total, approximately 68 AS90s have been delivered in three tranches since 2023. The withdrawal of the AS90 does not leave a vacuum in the UK’s artillery capability. Instead, it marks the beginning of a transition period led by the Swedish-designed Archer system, which will serve as a bridge until the introduction of the RCH 155 under the UK’s Mobile Fires Platform program scheduled for deployment from 2029.

As confirmed by a French parliamentary report submitted by Deputies Jean-Louis Thiériot and Matthieu Bloch on April 30, 2025, a detailed technical-operational study aimed at preparing the successor to France’s CAESAR artillery system is scheduled for launch in 2025. This initiative reflects growing concern within the French defense establishment that current and planned artillery capabilities, even with the introduction of the CAESAR Mk2, will not fully address the strategic and operational requirements expected in the 2040s. The study is expected to center on four key axes of development: increased firing range, enhanced automation, greater precision, and advanced robotic integration. It is being launched independently of the delayed Franco-German Common Indirect Fire System (CIFS), which has now been pushed back to a notional 2045 delivery timeline. As of December 31, 2023, the French Army maintained 78 155mm artillery systems, a number that included both the older CAESAR Mk1 models and the tracked AUF1 howitzers. Since then, the CAESAR inventory has been reduced due to transfers to Ukraine, where the system has been well-received by Ukrainian artillery units. According to General Éric Lendroit, commander of the artillery coalition for Ukraine, Ukrainian forces have praised the CAESAR for its high mobility, rapid deployment and withdrawal capabilities, precision, resilience under sustained fire, and robustness in field repair scenarios. Its 600-kilometer autonomy, compact dimensions that reduce detection risks, and lack of tracked footprints were all cited as operational advantages over similar foreign systems. Currently, the French Army operates 63 CAESAR systems and 32 AUF1s. However, the AUF1 fleet is slated for retirement following a decision made in March 2025, with the schedule contingent on CAESAR delivery timelines. Twelve CAESARs are expected to be delivered before summer 2025 to replenish stocks following Ukrainian donations.