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Land

Private Military Companies: Controversies and differences with mercenary activities

Private Military Companies (PMCs) are often, wrongly, conflated with mercenary, even though they operate under distinct legal, political, and operational logic. Before assessing their legitimacy or effectiveness, it is therefore essential to clarify what these two concepts actually encompass. The difference between PMCs and traditional mercenaries is subtle but important. Mercenaries are individual combatants hired […]

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Air

Multi-role fighters: evolution, doctrine, and the new standard of air power

A multi-role fighter aircraft is designed to carry out various types of missions, air superiority, close air support, reconnaissance, strike, and even electronic warfare within a single cell. Unlike specialized jets built solely for interception or bombing, multi-role fighters aim to deliver tactical flexibility with a single platform. The term “multi-role” gained prominence in the […]

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Air Land

SAMP/T: Europe’s high-end air defense system under real-world pressure

For years, the Franco-Italian SAMP/T MAMBA system sat on the slidelines of European air and missile defense: technically impressive, sparsely deployed, and largely untested in combat. That began to change with its deployment to Ukraine and a recent series of high-intensity live-fire campaigns off the French Mediterranean coast. The SAMP/T MAMBA is a ground-based air defense […]

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Cyber

GPS/GNSS jamming: how Europe is building its plan B

In Europe, dependence on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems), satellite navigation systems such as the U.S. GPS or Europe’s Galileo, is no longer just an engineering concern. It has become a tangible risk for aircraft, ships, and the energy and telecom networks that rely on ultra-precise timing. In recent years, reports of interference have mounted: […]

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Naval

Sweden sharpens Baltic maritime surveillance

As geopolitical tensions rise in the Baltic Sea, Sweden is accelerating the modernization of its maritime surveillance architecture, blending national initiatives, a stronger Coast Guard, and NATO integration, to secure a vital yet vulnerable domain. In 2025, a string of subsea incidents affecting data and energy cables helped trigger Baltic Sentry, NATO’s vigilance activity focused […]

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Land

Poland’s ground forces: from urgent modernization to industrial power

Over the past few years, Poland has transformed its army from a post-Soviet structure into one of Europe’s most ambitious modernization programs. What began as an urgent catch-up effort has evolved into a full-scale industrial acceleration, backed by a defense budget approaching 4.7% of GDP in 2025, the highest ratio within NATO.  Behind the headline […]

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Naval

The global rise of modular vertical launch systems at sea

Navies worldwide are accelerating their transition toward modular vertical launching systems (VLS), universal launch cells designed to fire multiple types of missiles from a single platform. From air-defense interceptors to land-attack cruise missiles and anti-ship weapons, these systems are redefining not only naval lethality but also integration costs and fleet versatility. The U.S. Mk 41, […]

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Air

Spain’s next fighter: continuity or bet?

Spain’s Air and Space Force is entering a decisive phase. Its aging F/A-18 Hornets are nearing retirement just as the Spanish–German–French Future Combat Air System (FCAS) will not enter service before 2040. Balancing industrial continuity, operational requirements, and geopolitical choices, Madrid faces a critical question: which fighter will guarantee Spanish air superiority over the next […]

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Picture of Bayraktar Akıncı Air Land Naval

The global rise of Turkey’s defense industry: breakthroughs, risks, and ambitions into 2025

Turkey’s defense industry is hitting export records in 2025, powered by drones, the KAAN fighter program, and broader diversification across Europe and Asia. Bayraktar drones, the KAAN fighter, armored vehicles in Europe, and rising exports: Turkey is establishing itself as a major defense actor, despite persistent technological and geopolitical challenges. A confirmed upward trajectory Turkey’s […]

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