GREECE MOVES FORWARD WITH F-35s: Athens on Thursday signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) through a U.S. government Foreign Military Sale to purchase 20 F-35s, with an option for 20 more. More here.
BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EUROFIGHTERS: “We are living a true Renaissance of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme,” Eurofighter CEO Giancarlo Mezzanatto reportedly said. Spain is in talks to buy 25 new fighter jets; Germany said it would get 20 by the first half of 2025; and Italy is slated to replace 24 of its older models with new ones.
LEONARDO CEO CONFIDENT ON GCAP: The Global Combat Air Programme — a next-generation fighter jet developed by the U.K., Italy and Japan — will survive the U.K. defense review, Leonardo CEO Roberto Cingolani told Defense News.
Joint venture soon: The Italian defense giant’s co-general manager, Lorenzo Mariani, told Breaking Defense that a new joint venture between his company, BAE Systems and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will be finalized in the next two to three months to act as an interface for the three governments involved in GCAP. He also said the new fighter will be ready in 2035 as planned.
GREEN LIGHT FOR NAVAL GROUP IN THE NETHERLANDS: A Dutch court has rejected a legal challenge to the Dutch government’s decision to award a contract to France’s Naval Group for Orka-class submarines. The challenge was filed by German shipbuilder Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, which also bid on the deal.
LITHUANIA, POLAND WILL JOINTLY BUY POLISH MOBILE AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS: The two countries will together purchase PIORUN short-range mobile air defense systems through the EU’s EDIRPA.
LATVIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DEFENDS AMMO FACTORY PLAN: A planned €12 million artillery ammunition plant in southern Latvia’s Lecava, scheduled for completion in 2026, will “benefit everyone,” Andris Spruds said in an attempt to assuage local safety concerns.
IRIS2 BACK TO DRAWING BOARD: We’ve reported throughout the week on troubled plans to build an EU secure-communications satellite network. After canvassing executives and those involved in the project through Thursday, it’s clear everyone’s in a glum mood.
A reset for a smaller, government-only system might be the only way to save IRIS2 this fall.
Josh has the story here.
RUSSIAN DRONES IN ROMANIA: Russia launched 38 Shahed kamikaze drones at Ukraine overnight, three of which strayed into Romania’s airspace. More from Veronika here.
DUTCH, DANES MAKE TANK PLEDGE: A further 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks will be dispatched to Ukraine by the end of August, part of a promise to get 100 of the German-made units to the country by the end of next year.
Story here.
Costing up: Last year, in announcing the deal with Denmark to purchase and refit the tanks for Ukraine, the Dutch said the total cost would be €165 million. The plan was to deliver them in the first few months of this year, so it’s clear there’s been a delay.
HOUTHI DRONES KEEP COMING: Western navies and warplanes haven’t managed to deter Houthi rebels from attacking ships in the Red Sea, Le Monde writes.
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