Military

Serbia buys Cypriot helicopter gunships to bolster air force

BELGRADE, (Reuters) - Serbia has acquired 11 Russian-made Mi-35 helicopter gunships from Cyprus as it seeks to bolster its air force and maintain regional military supremacy, country's President Aleksandar Vucic…

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Germany pledges to make its military ‘the backbone of defence in Europe’

By Sabine Siebold BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will strengthen its military to make it the backbone of deterrence and collective defence in Europe, its defence minister pledged as Berlin issued…

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Iran ground forces launch two-day drill in central region

Oct 27 (Reuters) - Iran’s ground forces on Friday launched two days of exercises to test the flight readiness of more than 200 helicopters, state television reported. The drills, which…

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U.S. continues to strengthen military presence in Eastern Mediterranean

The U.S. 6th Fleet command-and-control ship USS Mount Whitney is heading to the Eastern Mediterranean Sea to support U.S. operations there, the Navy announced Wednesday, as tensions escalate in the…

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US-Saudi defence pact tied to Israel deal, Palestinian demands put aside

By Samia Nakhoul, James Mackenzie, Matt Spetalnick and Aziz El Yaakoubi Sept 29 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia is determined to secure a military pact requiring the United States to defend…

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New submarines and nuclear drones: Why is North Korea developing its navy?

By Josh Smith SEOUL, (Reuters) - Over the past year North Korea has moved to boost its navy with new nuclear weapons, including an underwater drone, warships, and its first…

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New rules would give Europe more scope for military spending post-Ukraine invasion

Revamped fiscal rules would allow flexibility on defence budget European nations want to bolster armies after Ukraine invasion Deal sought by end of the year, but that may be ambitious…

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Russia signs 280,000 for contract military service this year -Medvedev

Sept 3 (Reuters) - Some 280,000 people have signed up so far this year for professional service with Russia's military, the deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, former President…

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US B-1B bomber deployed for joint military drills with South Korea

By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL, Aug 30 (Reuters) - A U.S. B-1B bomber joined military drills by the United States and South Korea on Wednesday, the 10th such flight by an…

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‘Tragic’ crash injures 23 US Marines in Australia exercises

SYDNEY, Aug 27 (Reuters) - Twenty-three U.S. Marines were injured during military exercises in northern Australia on Sunday, officials said, in a helicopter crash that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called…

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US dispatches warships after China and Russia send naval patrol near Alaska

The US dispatched four navy warships as well as a reconnaissance airplane after multiple Chinese and Russian military vessels carried out a joint naval patrol near Alaska last week. …

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Russia to expand number of men liable for compulsory military service

By Caleb Davis Russia will keep compulsory military service for 18-year-olds, state media reported, permanently increasing the number of young men liable to conscription, after lawmakers dropped a proposal not…

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Berlin aims to have “best equipped” NATO army division in Europe in 2025

By Sabine Siebold BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is confident it will have the best equipped army division amongst European NATO allies in 2025, Army Chief Alfons Mais told Reuters, as…

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Russia extends eligibility for military call-up by at least five years

(Reuters) - Russia's parliament on Tuesday extended the maximum age at which men can be mobilised to serve in the army by at least five years - in the case…

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Germany to send two warships to Indo-Pacific in 2024

BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany will send two warships to the Indo-Pacific in 2024, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said, amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan and over the disputed South…

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Japan’s growing military strength not a threat – minister

SINGAPORE, June 3 (Reuters) - Japan will not use its growing military strength to threaten other countries, its defence minister said on Saturday, while affirming its aim to prioritise diplomatic…

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US military to bolster defensive posture in Gulf after Iran seizes tankers

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. military will work to bolster the defensive posture in the Gulf region following Iran's seizure and harassment of commercial shipping vessels in recent months, U.S.…

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Switzerland holds military drills, its role in European defence in focus

By Gabrielle Tétrault-Farber and Denis Balibouse LES PRADIERES, Switzerland, (Reuters) - In one of Switzerland's largest military exercises in more than three decades, soldiers rehearsed repelling a fictional enemy, tossed…

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China’s aircraft carriers play ‘theatrical’ role but pose little threat yet

By Greg Torode, Eduardo Baptista and Tim Kelly HONG KONG (Reuters) - When China sailed one of its two active aircraft carriers, the Shandong, east of Taiwan last month as…

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Denmark proposes spending extra $5.7 bln for armed forces over 10 years

COPENHAGEN, May 4 (Reuters) - Denmark's government on Thursday proposed allocating an extra 38 billion Danish crowns ($5.65 billion) over the coming 10 years to upgrade its armed forces and…

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Russia’s new T-14 Armata battle tank debuts in Ukraine

Russia has begun using its new T-14 Armata battle tanks to fire on Ukrainian positions "but they have not yet participated in direct assault operations," the RIA state news agency…

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UPDATED: ‘Military object’ found in northern Poland, reported to be possible missile

WARSZAWA, April 27 (Reuters) - The remains of a "military object" were found in a forest in northern Poland on Thursday, which a broadcaster said authorities believed could be part…

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Australia to prioritise long-range strike capability in defence shakeup

CANBERRA, April 24 (Reuters) - Australia's government will prioritise long-range precision strike, domestic production of guided weapons, and diplomacy - key points of a review released Monday recommending the country's…

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Photo Story: Iranian Army unveils 200 new drones

A handout photo made available by the Iranian Army shows drones on display during a ceremony at an unknown location in Iran, 20 April 2023. According to the Iranian Army,…

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Slovakia hands over all 13 promised MiG fighter jets to Ukraine

April 17 (Reuters) - Slovakia has handed over all 13 MiG-29 fighter jets it had pledged to Ukraine, the Slovak Defence Ministry said on Monday. Slovakia joined Poland in promising…

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Romania aims to buy F-35 fighter planes to boost air defences

BUCHAREST (Reuters) - Romania aims to buy the latest generation U.S. F-35 fighter planes to boost its air defences, the country's supreme defence council (CSAT) said in a statement this…

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Moldova needs $275 mln to modernise armed forces -defence official

By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova needs 250 million euros ($275 million) to modernise its armed forces following Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last year, a senior defence official…

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Russia’s e-conscription overhaul underlines scramble for military manpower

Russia introduces electronic draft papers Expected to make draft-dodging harder Recruitment drive widens amid tough fighting in Ukraine Activists predict new exodus of young draft-age men MOSCOW (Reuters) - A…

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Big U.S. intelligence leak was by gun enthusiast in 20s – Washington Post

(Reuters) - The person who leaked U.S. classified documents prompting a national security investigation is a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base, the Washington Post…

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Canada deploys military aircraft to Japan to implement North Korea sanctions

By Kanishka Singh (Reuters) - Canada said it will deploy a military aircraft to Japan to support implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Deployment of the…

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Ireland to consult public on military neutrality in wake of Ukraine war

Ireland neutrality remains widely popular Minister says must 'respond to new reality' Cites Russia's brutal disregard for international law DUBLIN, (Reuters) - Ireland's government is to ask the public for…

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Russia to form special division of Poseidon torpedo carriers

April 3 (Reuters) - Russia plans to form a division of special-purpose submarines that will carry Poseidon nuclear-capable torpedoes as part of the country's Pacific Fleet by the end of…

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Denmark acknowledges military shortcomings as it hosts large NATO drill

OKSBOL, Denmark, (Reuters) - Denmark has major shortcoming in its ability to defend its territory and meet its NATO commitments despite pledges to increase defence spending, its army chief said,…

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New Zealand defence minister says military needs more resources amid growing challenges

By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON, March 30 (Reuters) - New Zealand's military will require big investment as it faces new challenges and greater expectations from regional allies, the country’s new defence…

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UPDATED: Several feared dead after two US army helicopters crash during training in Kentucky

March 30 (Reuters) - The governor of Kentucky said on Thursday fatalities were expected after two U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopters crashed during a routine training mission over the state…

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North Korea’s use of missile silo could mean less warning of launches -analysts

By Hyonhee Shin and Minwoo Park (Reuters) - North Korea's presumed use of a silo in its missile test a week ago was aimed at boosting the speed and reliability…

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Nordic countries plan joint air defence to counter Russian threat

COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Air force commanders from Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark said on Friday they have signed a letter of intent to create a unified Nordic air defence aimed…

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Russia cannot meet arms delivery commitments because of war, Indian Air Force says

By Krishn Kaushik NEW DELHI, March 23 (Reuters) - Russia is unable to deliver vital defence supplies it had committed to India's military because of the war in Ukraine, the…

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US to send old A-10 attack planes to Mideast and shift newer jets to Asia, Europe – WSJ

March 23 (Reuters) - The U.S. will send old A-10 attack planes to swap for more advanced combat aircraft in the Middle East as part of efforts to shift more…

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German military in worse shape than before Russia’s invasion

BERLIN (Reuters) - The German military is suffering from a greater shortage of weapons and equipment than before Russia's invasion of Ukraine a year ago, the Parliamentary Commissioner for the…

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EU to hold joint naval exercises amid growing maritime security threats

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, March 10 (Reuters) - The European Union wants to hold joint naval exercises as part of plans to step up its efforts to protect critical infrastructure…

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Studying Ukraine war, China’s military minds fret over US missiles, Starlink

China needs the capability to shoot down low-earth-orbit Starlink satellites and defend tanks and helicopters against shoulder-fired Javelin missiles, according to Chinese military researchers who are studying Russia's struggles in…

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Belarus says it has 1.5 mln potential soldiers outside armed forces

Feb 26 (Reuters) - Belarus, a small Russian ally bordering Ukraine, has as many as 1.5 million potential military personnel outside its armed forces, a senior official was quoted as saying on…

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Russia’s defence spending to climb as revenues shrink – German IW Institute

BERLIN, Feb 24 (Reuters) - Russia is clearly developing into a war economy, with spending on defence increasing while state revenues shrink, the German Economic Institute IW said in a…

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Selfie image shows US pilot flying over Chinese ‘spy balloon’

The US Department of Defense has released an image taken by an airman as he flew over the Chinese balloon shot down earlier this month. The selfie was taken from…

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Estonia procured twice as much ammunition in 2022 than in previous 30 years

In 2022 and in the wake of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Estonian state acquired double the volume of ammunition as it had in the preceding 30 years,…

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What’s up there? Possible explanations for mystery objects downed by U.S.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Weather balloons, civilian drones and other non-military aerial gadgets are all possible explanations for the mysterious objects the U.S. military has shot out of the sky in…

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Will Ukraine get Western fighter jets and what are the challenges?

LONDON, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Thursday several Western countries were ready to provide Kyiv with aircraft to defeat Russia's invasion. There was no immediate…

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U.S. approves up to $10 bln sale of HIMARS rocket launchers, ammunition to Poland

By Mike Stone and Rhea Binoy (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of long-range missiles, rockets and launchers to Poland in a deal valued at…

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Poland ‘open to sending fighter jets to Ukraine’

Poland’s prime minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, has said he is open to supplying Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets if the decision were taken together with Nato allies. In an interview with…

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UPDATED: Germany confirms approval of Leopard 1 tank deliveries to Ukraine

Germany has approved the export of Leopard 1 battle tanks to Ukraine from industry stocks, a government spokesperson confirmed on Friday at a regular news conference in Berlin. "I can confirm…

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Belarus says it is now operating Russian Iskander missiles autonomously

(Reuters) - Belarus said that its armed forces were now in autonomous control of Russian-supplied nuclear-capable Iskander mobile guided missile systems after completing training in Russia as well as exercises…

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Two Indian air force jets crash, one pilot killed

NEW DELHI Jan 28 (Reuters) - Two Indian air force fighter jets crashed on Saturday after becoming involved in an accident and one pilot was killed, the air force said. "The aircraft…

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France’s Macron proposes big hike in military spending for 2024-2030

By Michel Rose and Clotaire Achi Mont-de-Marsan, FRANCE, Jan 20 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron proposed on Friday boosting military spending by over a quarter in coming years, saying…

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Israel vows to protect its military from politics

JERUSALEM, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Israeli leaders vowed on Monday to keep the country's conscript military free of politics after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave far-right coalition partners increased control…

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Japan unveils record budget in boost to military capacity

TOKYO, Dec 23 (Reuters) - Japan unveiled on Friday a record 114.4 trillion yen ($863 billion) budget for the next fiscal year from April, pushed up by increased military spending…

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Japan approves biggest military buildup since WWII amid China fears

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan unveiled a new national security strategy on Friday along with details of its biggest military build-up since World War Two, in a marked shift away from…

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