China, UAE to hold third air force drills as defense ties warm: What we know China and the United Arab Emirates are further deepening their defense and military ties with a third round of aerial exercises. United Arab Emirates
Turkey defense firms break record with $10B in revenues: SIPRI Turkey set a new record with five companies in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's Top 100 for 2024, which included nine Middle Eastern countries for the first time amid conflict-driven arms demand. Turkey
US approves $1.4B in military sales to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain: What to know An estimated $1 billion in foreign military sales will go to Saudi Arabia, and $445 million will go to Bahrain. United States
Trump says US will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia, first Arab country to acquire jets The deal could rattle Washington's ties with Israel and is not likely to be approved by Congress unless conditioned on Saudi normalization of ties with Israel. Saudi Arabia
Analysis Turkey boosts R&D spending to $20B amid push for defense self-sufficiency By Barin Kayaoglu In Ankara, reporting on geopolitics and national security
Turkey’s ambitious drone carrier project dogged by uncertainties Keen on becoming a major sea power in the region, Turkey plans to convert an amphibious assault ship into a drone carrier, a project that raises operational and technical challenges for the Turkish navy. Turkey
Is Canadian embargo harbinger of more sanctions for Turkey? The Canadian government’s decision to indefinitely cancel military export permits to Turkey has touched a nerve in the Turkish defense industry and bureaucracy. Turkey
UN says Libya arms embargo 'totally ineffective' A United Nations panel of experts accused several member states, including Turkey and Russia, of fueling the Libyan conflict. Libya
Israel, US reveal cooperation on Arrow 4 ballistic missile interceptor The Arrow 4 is set to replace the high-altitude Arrow 2 in the coming decades. Israel
Israel’s military skirts budget restrictions for $9 billion air force upgrade The IDF will use a chunk of US aid and foreign borrowing to help fund its planned expansion of the air force's strike range Israel
Activists petition against Israeli arms export to Uganda Israeli human rights activists fear that the leadership of Uganda might use Israeli-made weapons in its efforts to stop and silence local opposition. Originals
Turkish defense industry risks big damage from US sanctions The US sanctions targeting Turkey’s defense industry agency may be seen as rather mild by some observers, but they threaten to deprive Turkey of key military technology should they last more than a year. Turkey
Israel receives advanced warship amid heightened tensions with Iran The Saar 6 can fire missiles, launch helicopters and deploy Israel's Iron Dome technology. Its arrival comes following the killing of an Iranian nuclear scientist, allegedly by Israel. Israel
Egypt's military ties with Sudan linked to stance on Nile River Dam Egypt seeks to consolidate military relations with Sudan in various military fields, with Cairo and Khartoum signing most recently a military cooperation agreement and conducting joint military exercises. Egypt
Intel: Trump administration notifies Congress of proposed F-35 sale to UAE Lawmakers have introduced legislation intended to ensure the sale does not eclipse Israel's regional military edge. United Arab Emirates
Massive war games light up Iran's skies Leaders of Iran’s armed forces said they were testing air defense preparedness in a large-scale exercise involving half of the country’s airspace. Iran
Armenia recalls Israel ambassador over arms sales to Azerbaijan The diplomatic rebuke came after an Azerbaijani official said Israeli-made drones were being put to use in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Israel
