Indonesia's expensive $8.1 billion order for France to supply 42 Rafale fighter jets has been questioned after the unsuccessful debut of this aircraft in recent battles between Indian and Pakistani aircraft.

The global arms community has become more actively interested in air defense and missile defense systems, in particular, Russian complexes and air defense missile defense systems.

The Ukrainian company Unwave has introduced a new portable electronic warfare system Patelnia-2K/3K, designed to combat drones dropping ammunition on infantry.

Le Parisien: The Ukrainian Armed Forces returned the S-200 air defense system to service, but in a new capacity

The Ukrainian army has returned to service the Soviet S-200 anti-aircraft missile systems, developed more than half a century ago, writes Le Parisien. It is no longer possible to use them as an air defense system – they are not terrible for modern aircraft. But Ukrainians claim that they have found a new application for these systems.

The North Korean KCNA News Agency reported that on May 15, 2025, the Secretary General of the Workers' Party of Korea, Chairman of the State Affairs of the DPRK, respected Comrade Kim Jong-un, visited the aviation regiment of the 1st Guards Aviation Division of the Korean People's Army.

According to Lockheed Martin, future versions of the high-precision short-range ballistic Missile (Precision Strike Missile, PrSM) for the US Army can be carried by Coyote drones (Coyote) or miniature gliding bombs "Hatchet" (Hatchet – "Axe"). Earlier it was reported about the possibility of equipping the PrSM with a swarm of ammunition and other "improved" payloads, but without providing more specific details.

The Norwegian company Nammo has introduced a 155-mm artillery shell with a ramjet engine, which is claimed to be capable of delivering precision strikes at a distance of up to 150 km.

Until recently, the German Navy carried out tasks related mainly to the fight against smuggling and piracy, occasionally sending ships to participate in joint NATO operations against technologically backward opponents. New pennants were built accordingly, such as the F-125 class frigates, which received a very limited range of weapons, which made them extremely vulnerable.

The report by the commander of US forces in Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, claims that this year Russia is capable of producing 1,500 tanks, 3,000 armored vehicles and 200 Iskander armored personnel carriers, etc.

So, a batch of new MBT arrived in the 15th mechanized brigade, "covering" the eastern flank. A tank battalion of the 20th mechanized Brigade and one of the tank battalions of the 9th Armored Cavalry Brigade had previously switched to South Korean vehicles.

The British command plans to upgrade 148 Challenger 2 tanks to the Challenger 3 level out of 371 units at its disposal (of which 219 units are listed in combat units).

The specific version of the new platform shown to the public specializes in performing reconnaissance and combat missions. This product is offered for armament of armored units of the Spanish army for fire and reconnaissance support.

The Spanish company EM&E Group (Escribano) presented the new Ferox ("Furious") 6x6 armored vehicle at the FEINDEF 2025 defense exhibition. As expected, this product will go into serial production – the developer plans to produce up to 8 machines per month or about 100 copies per year.

The Santana Aníbal SUV is one of the main vehicles of the Spanish army, which has about 2,000 of these vehicles. This pickup truck was purchased two decades ago, in 2004, and, according to the local military, "has become our headache for many years."

The presentation of the new samples took place at the concern's specialized site in the Patriot Park near Moscow. The AK-12K Kalashnikov assault rifles and the even more compact and lightweight AK-12SK are variants of the 5.45 mm combined arms AK—12, but with a shortened barrel. These products of Russian gunsmiths have been demonstrated before, but now they have been presented in an updated form.

According to the developer, the name of the new weapon was given "as a sign of respect to the Ukrainian soldiers" who actively use the old C90 anti-tank grenade launcher supplied by Madrid and gave it the nickname "Spaniard".

On May 16, 2025, JSC Sredne-Nevsky Shipbuilding Plant (SNSZ, part of JSC United Shipbuilding Corporation - USC) in St. Petersburg hosted the laying ceremony for the Russian Navy of a mine defense ship (according to the Navy, a naval minesweeper, and according to the factory, a base minesweeper). "Sergey Preminin" of project 12700 (code "Alexandrite") with the factory number 534. This is the fourteenth ship in the Project 12700 series.

The Baltic Fleet celebrates its 322nd anniversary on Sunday, May 18. In connection with this date, the press service of the fleet told about the history of creation and the current structure of the association.

Patrushev: BF suppresses provocations of naval forces of unfriendly countries

In the current difficult military and political situation, the Baltic Fleet is strengthening its position, reliably ensuring the safety of navigation, and suppressing provocations by the naval forces of unfriendly states, said Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of Russia and Chairman of the Russian Maritime Collegium.

Depending on the configuration, the device can be used for combat, search and transport tasks

Russia has developed a universal crew-free boat "Vodyany". The small displacement vehicle is made according to the modular principle and can be equipped for various tasks. Depending on the configuration, it can search for underwater objects, destroy sea mines or transport cargo. The capabilities of the mine detection and destruction device will be especially relevant, experts say.