Americas
Canada is set to embark on a significant military modernization effort, with plans to spend $18 billion on a new fleet of helicopters, according to reporting by David Pugliese of the Ottawa Citizen. A primary impetus behind this substantial investment is the need to respond to potential F-35 fighter jet crashes in the Arctic. Concerns regarding the F-35’s suitability for operations in the far north first emerged in 2010 when critics pointed out that the aircraft is equipped with only one engine, a potential drawback for reliability in the harsh Arctic environment.
Northrop Grumman has secured a $267-million contract to produce two additional MQ-4C Triton drones for the US Navy. The deal is part of the service’s plan to have a fleet of 27 MQ-4Cs to bolster its intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. In addition to the high-altitude drones, Northrop will provide the navy with a main operating base as well as associated support services as part of the contract. Most work will be carried out in California, with the project expected to be completed by October 2028.
Middle East & Africa
On March 12, 2025, the Turkish Navy successfully tested the submarine-launched version of the Atmaca anti-ship missile. The test was conducted from the TCG Preveze submarine off the coast of Mersin in the Mediterranean Sea. The missile was launched from a 533 mm torpedo tube using a watertight capsule with a propeller. This achievement enhances Turkey’s underwater strike capabilities and strengthens its defense industry. The Atmaca missile is gradually replacing older systems in Turkey’s naval arsenal.
Europe
Germany’s conservatives sealed a crucial deal Friday for a historic boost to defense and infrastructure spending, with leader-in-waiting Friedrich Merz declaring “Germany is back” as Europe grapples with the upending of the transatlantic alliance. The plans, now likely to be voted through parliament on Tuesday, represent a radical departure for a country traditionally reluctant to take on large amounts of debt or spend heavily on the military given the horrors of its Nazi past. After days of negotiations, Merz’s CDU party and the center-left SPD — who had proposed the reforms and are in talks to form a coalition — struck a deal with the Greens, whose votes are needed to get the proposals through the current legislature quickly. A relieved-looking Merz told reporters that the deal was “a clear message to our partners and friends but also to the enemies of our freedom: we are able to defend ourselves.”
Asia-Pacific
The State Department notified Congress this week of a potential $200 million foreign military sale to support Japan’s Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectile program – an indigenously developed hypersonic missile that could target ships. “The Government of Japan has requested to buy equipment and services in support of its indigenous Hyper Velocity Gliding Projectiles (HVGP) capability, including test preparation, test, and transportation support; coordination meetings in the United States and Japan; etc,” stated the Defense Security and Cooperation Agency release. According to the release, equipment and services related to the sale would be provided by the U.S. However, no further details were provided on what this support entailed.