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
Turkey grounds all C-130 military aircraft after Georgia crash kills 20 Authorities said the aircraft’s maintenance was up to date, no ammunition was on board and the investigation is ongoing. Turkey
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
Analysis How Russia's Redut PMC forced rival Wagner to withdraw from Syria Almost all of Wagner's mercenaries have already left Syria on planes departing from the Khmeimim air base, and the remaining few dozen are handing over weapons to the military and processing documents. By Anton Mardasov
Azerbaijan, Turkey launch joint military exercise as Fidan meets Armenia FM The joint military exercise coincided with a five-country summit in Tehran between Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iran and Russia. Turkey
Iran’s Khamenei threatens US as Pentagon readies 2,000 troops for region The Pentagon has ordered some 2,000 US military personnel readied to respond to the fallout of Israel’s war in Gaza and extended the deployment of the USS Ford carrier strike group. Palestine
US sells Oman $70 million worth of TOW antitank missiles The Biden administration advanced the sale proposal even as Yemen's Houthis have engaged in peace talks in Saudi Arabia last month. Legacy: Gulf
Israel's defense exports on the rise, drone customers up 40% since 2020 Israel’s defense exports have been boosted in part by the normalization of relations with several Arab states. Israel
Israel, Germany sign $3.5B Arrow 3 deal Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signed a letter of commitment in Berlin for the sale of the advanced Arrow 3 air defense system, signaling a strengthening of ties between Israel and Germany. Israel
Erdogan says Turkey will keep promise on Sweden's NATO bid if US approves F-16s Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country's ratification of Sweden's NATO accession depends on Washington keeping its promises to Ankara. Turkey
US approves $500 million sale of spare parts to Saudi military The announcement comes a day after Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that Saudi normalization with Israel is getting closer. Legacy: Gulf
Turkey’s Fidan, NATO chief discuss Sweden’s bid, Ukraine grain deal The phone call comes a day after the meeting in Sochi between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. Turkey
4 Arab Israelis arrested for Hezbollah ties, smuggling Iranian explosives The Shin Bet announced today that four Arab Israelis suspected of involvement with Hezbollah's smuggling activities were arrested last month. Israel
Iran unveils new armed drone, defying pressure over shipments to Russia With a range of over 1,200 miles, Mohajer 10 is the latest from a family of drones that Russia is believed to have imported from Iran to use in its war on Ukraine. Iran
Iran claims to have produced key engine for supersonic missile tech The announcement was the latest in a chain of advancements Iran has claimed in its missile technology in defiance of Western criticism and amid regional tensions. Iran
