All articles tagged with #air defence
Sweden and Denmark will jointly provide Ukraine with €245 million for the TRIDON Mk2 mobile air-defence system, with Sweden contributing about €2.1 billion kronor of the €2.6 billion total. The system is designed to counter cruise missiles and long-range strike drones, enabling Kyiv to form its own air-defence battalion as Russia escalates attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure amid winter outages.
Ukraine appointed Mykhailo Fedorov, a tech-savvy reformist, as defence minister and ordered fast, technology-driven changes to strengthen air defence, frontline supplies, and battlefield connectivity (including drones and Starlink). Zelenskiy pushed for broader mobilisation reforms as parliament extended martial law, amid a grinding Russian offensive and ongoing corruption concerns in the energy sector.
Sweden will spend 15 billion Swedish crowns ($1.6 billion) on short-range air defence aimed at protecting civilians and critical infrastructure, a move tied to lessons from Russia's invasion of Ukraine; Defence Minister Pal Jonson says the systems will defend cities, bridges and power plants, while Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson criticizes U.S. rhetoric on Greenland and Denmark.
Germany will send six "Sea King" helicopters to Ukraine from its military inventory, with deliveries expected to begin in the second quarter of this year. The helicopters are intended to support Ukraine in tasks such as surveillance of the Black Sea and troop transportation. This move comes as part of a broader effort by over 50 states and organizations to bolster Ukraine's frontline capabilities, with air defense being a top priority.
Inna Voronova, the wife of a Kyiv drug dealer, has been sentenced to five years in prison for revealing the results of Ukrainian air defence work on social media during a Russian attack on Kyiv. However, she was released from punishment and given one year of probation after pleading guilty and making a deal with the investigation. Six other individuals were also identified for illegally spreading information about the air defence work.
Ukrainian air defences thwarted 32 of 35 Shahed exploding drones Russia launched early Tuesday, exposing gaps in the country’s air protection after almost 16 months of war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged leaders to collectively rebuild following the "predatory" act of Russia's full-scale invasion at the Ukraine recovery conference in London. The Pentagon overestimated the value of weapons it has sent to Ukraine by €5.7 billion over the past two years, and the department now has additional money in its coffers to use to support Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov pushed back against NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg's comments about the resolution of the war in Ukraine, accusing the West of waging a war against Russia.
France has summoned its allies to challenge Germany's plan to lead a joint air defence programme with the Netherlands, which it claims would undermine NATO and the European Union's defence autonomy. France has proposed an alternative plan that would see the creation of a European air defence system, but Germany has rejected the proposal, stating that it would duplicate NATO's efforts. The dispute highlights the ongoing tensions between France and Germany over defence policy.
Taiwan activated its air defence systems after detecting 37 Chinese military aircraft flying into its air defence zone, some of which flew into the western Pacific. China views Taiwan as its own territory and has regularly flown its air force near the island. Taiwan sent its aircraft and ships to keep watch and activated land-based missile systems. Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan, said the US had an enduring interest in preserving stability in the Taiwan Strait and would continue to arm the island.
Taiwan activated its air defence systems after detecting 37 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, flying into its air defence identification zone (ADIZ). Some of the Chinese planes flew into the western Pacific for "air surveillance and long distance navigation training". Taiwan sent its aircraft and ships to keep watch and activated land-based missile systems. China did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, with the US reaffirming its commitment to arm Taiwan.
Taiwan activated its air defence systems after detecting 37 Chinese military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, flying into its air defence identification zone (ADIZ). Some of the Chinese planes flew into the western Pacific for "air surveillance and long distance navigation training". Taiwan sent its aircraft and ships to keep watch and activated land-based missile systems. China did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the two countries, with the US reaffirming its commitment to arm Taiwan.
Russia launched its 15th air assault on Kyiv in May, with a missile and drone attack overnight, following the largest drone barrage on Kyiv the previous night. The attack caused several explosions in the city, but there were no casualties. Ukraine's President thanked the country's air defence forces and asked its parliament to impose sanctions against Iran for supplying Russia with weapons. With a Ukrainian counteroffensive looming, Moscow has intensified its attacks, targeting military infrastructure and supplies.
A military object found in a Polish forest was linked to the testing of Poland's air defence systems, according to private broadcaster RMF FM. Officials have not yet identified the object, but it is not believed to have been fired from abroad. The area where the object was found is hundreds of kilometres from Poland's borders with Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Poland has been on alert for possible spillover of weaponry from the war in neighbouring Ukraine.
Russia plans to overhaul its air defence forces and bolster its air defences to counter Finland's accession to the NATO military alliance. Lieutenant General Andrei Demin, deputy commander-in-chief of aerospace forces, said air defence forces had faced a number of challenges in the face of Ukrainian strikes. Russia had added more than 50 mobile radar stations and A-50 early warning and control aircraft patrolled 24 hours a day while missile and anti-aircraft installations in regions next to Ukraine had been bolstered.