The M(I) variant entered IAF service in 1986. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has commenced deliveries of retired SEPECAT Jaguar airframes to the Indian Air Force (IAF) following their procurement by New Delhi, a ministry spokesperson has confirmed to Janes. The MoD has sold nine Jaguar aircraft to the Indian government, the spokesperson saidon 8 July. “These comprise a mix of single-seat GR 3/3A and twin-seat T4 variants from the UK's out-of-service fleet,” the spokesperson added. “The aircraft are not in an airworthy condition.” While the IAF did not comment on the acquisition at the time of publication, the aircraft will likely be used for spares to support the air force's existing fleet of Jaguars. According to Janes inventory data, the IAF operates 11 Jaguar M(I) single-seat maritime strike aircraft, 89 Jaguar S(I) single-seat, deep-penetration strike aircraft, and 25 Jaguar B(I) two-seater operational trainers. Transfers ongoing In a written response to a question in UK Parliament on 25 June, Luke Pollard, the UK Secretary of State for Defence, said that of the nine Jaguars transferred to India since 1 January, five are single-seat aircraft and four are two-seat trainers. He added that the UK MoD still holds 42 retired Jaguar aircraft. The UK government has not disclosed the value of the sale. According to the MoD spokesperson, the “transfer activity [to India] is currently ongoing”. The spokesperson added, “A number of aircraft have already been transferred to India, with the remaining aircraft expected to be dismantled, collected and shipped over the coming months.”

Italy has designated AeroVironment’s JUMP 20 unmanned aircraft as the MQ-31A for the Italian Army, marking its formal replacement of the RQ-7C Shadow 200 tactical reconnaissance system. Announced by AeroVironment on July 13, 2026, the move gives the Army a vertical-takeoff-and-landing platform that can operate without runways and deploy closer to frontline units. The five-year, $46.6 million contract covers aircraft, engineering, initial sustainment and on-site technical support, although fleet size and sensor configuration remain undisclosed. The MQ-31A is expected to improve tactical surveillance flexibility, reduce dependence on prepared launch sites, and strengthen intelligence support for dispersed land forces. The MQ-31A is a 97.5 kg Group 3 unmanned aircraft with a 5.7-meter wingspan, a length of 2.8 meters, and a maximum payload allowance of 13.6 kg. AeroVironment publishes an endurance of more than 13 hours, an operational range of 185 km, and an operating altitude of 17,000 feet. Compared with the Italian Army’s Shadow 200, which has a stated line-of-sight radius of 125 km and endurance exceeding seven hours, the JUMP 20 extends the published communications reach by 60 km, or approximately 48 percent, while providing almost twice the nominal endurance. These figures describe the manufacturer’s reference configuration; actual endurance will vary with payload mass, fuel reserve, weather, operating altitude and the electrical demand of installed sensors. The acquisition therefore represents a measurable increase in persistence, but not an unconditional 13-hour mission with every possible payload.

Poland has received its first M1110 Joint Assault Bridge armored bridge-layers, adding a critical mobility capability to support the Polish Army’s growing fleet of M1A1 FEP and M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams tanks. The delivery, announced by the Polish Armament Agency on July 14, 2026, strengthens the ability of armored forces to maintain momentum during combat by rapidly overcoming battlefield obstacles that could otherwise slow or halt an advance. Built on the Abrams chassis, the M1110 deploys an 18.3-meter Heavy Assault Scissor Bridge to carry heavy armored vehicles across anti-tank ditches, canals, damaged roads, and other short gaps under operational conditions. The planned fleet of 25 bridge-layers closes a key capability gap in Poland’s Abrams force, improving combat mobility, survivability, and the ability to sustain high-tempo operations in a contested environment. The quantities indicate that the bridge-layer requirement was calculated against the size of the tank fleet rather than treated as a small national-level engineering reserve. The M1A2 package provides one M1110 for every 14.7 tanks, while the M1A1 package provides one for every 14.5 tanks. Across both acquisitions, Poland will field 366 Abrams tanks and 25 M1110s, or approximately one bridge-layer for every 15 tanks before accounting for training vehicles, maintenance downtime, and reserve stocks. Final operational availability will therefore depend on how the Polish Army distributes the vehicles among brigade engineer units and whether sufficient crews, spare bridges, and recovery support are assigned with them. The M1110 consists of three main elements: a modified M1A1 Abrams hull, the heavier suspension used on the M1A2, and a hydraulic Bridge Launch Mechanism carrying the HASB span. U.S. Army documentation also identifies the Total Integrated Engine Revitalization configuration of the AGT1500 gas turbine, retaining the Abrams family’s 1,500-horsepower power pack and associated transmission architecture. This common chassis matters primarily at the maintenance and movement levels. Tracks, suspension components, power-pack procedures, diagnostic equipment, and much of the mechanic training can be aligned with Poland’s Abrams support system, although the hydraulic launcher and bridge introduce separate maintenance demands. The arrangement also gives the M1110 cross-country mobility closer to an Abrams tank than to truck-carried bridges.  

The UK Ministry of Defence has awarded three companies 3.14 million pounds ($4.22 million) in contracts to develop low-cost drone interceptors. Under the Low‑Cost Air Defence Effectors (LCADE) program, Frankenberg Technologies, Greenjets, and Cambridge Aerospace will develop and trial their designs. The interceptors are intended to provide a lower-cost means of countering large numbers of inexpensive, mass-produced drones that can overwhelm traditional air defense systems. The program aims to strengthen UK defense capabilities by accelerating innovation, speeding equipment delivery, and fostering collaboration with industry and international partners. All three companies have a UK presence and have committed to expanding manufacturing in the UK, supporting jobs at small- and medium-sized enterprises in Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Bristol, and Stevenage. “I am delighted we have been awarded the LCADE contract. Through this contract we will develop low-cost, mass-manufactured missiles in the UK to defeat the scale of the mass drone threat,” Frankenberg Technologies Managing Director Dan Hallett said. “This contract from the MOD represents a significant step in our commitment to deliver low-cost, high-scale interceptors to the UK and Europe,” Cambridge Aerospace Chief Executive Officer Steven Barrett added.

The European Union has taken a new step to strengthen Moldova's military capabilities with the approval of €120 million in aid to finance a medium-range air defence system for the Moldovan Armed Forces. The measure, approved by the Council of the EU under the European Peace Facility (EPF), constitutes the largest military assistance package granted to the country to date and brings the cumulative European support to €317 million since 2021. As explained by the Council, the new package will make it possible to improve Moldova's air defence capabilities through the acquisition of a medium-range anti-aircraft system, complementing previous aid aimed at strengthening airspace surveillance and short-range air defence. The aim is to increase the operational effectiveness of the Moldovan army and improve the protection of both the civilian population and the national airspace. The decision comes amid growing concern about the security of Moldova, a country bordering Ukraine and Romania that, since the start of the Russian invasion, has repeatedly denounced drone and missile incursions into its airspace. Although Moldova constitutionally maintains a status of neutrality, the deterioration of the strategic environment has driven a profound process of modernisation of its Armed Forces, supported mainly by the European Union and several Member States. The Moldovan Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the Council's decision, considering that it will make a "significant contribution" to strengthening national air defence capabilities and improving the security of citizens.  

Japan's Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency (ATLA) selected Terra Drone's  Terra A2 interceptor drone for operational trials under its Interceptor Drone Rapid Acquisition Program. The move accelerates Japan's effort to field an indigenous capability against the growing threat of long-range one-way attack drones. Announced on July 15, 2026, Terra Drone said its proposal was chosen after a competitive assessment involving 38 companies. The Japanese-developed interceptor drone will enter demonstration trials beginning in July 2026, with the program structured to move quickly into volume procurement if the system meets ATLA's required performance standards. The initiative is intended to strengthen the Japan Self-Defense Forces' counter-drone capabilities as unmanned aerial threats continue to evolve across the Indo-Pacific. The selection reflects a shift in Japan's procurement priorities as Tokyo seeks to field counter-UAS capabilities at a pace rarely seen in its defense acquisition process. Launched on June 5, 2026, the ATLA program compresses the traditional development timeline into roughly three months between proposal submission and operational testing. Beyond technical performance, the agency requires participating systems to be designed and manufactured in Japan and supported by an established domestic industrial base capable of sustaining high production rates during prolonged operations. The requirement directly reflects lessons drawn from Ukraine, where interceptor drones can be expended in large numbers and rapid industrial replacement has become as important as battlefield effectiveness. Although Terra Drone has not officially identified which interceptor drone will be demonstrated, the company currently offers two complementary systems forming a layered counter-UAS architecture. Their development has accelerated following Terra Drone's acquisition of operational expertise through two Ukrainian companies that have accumulated combat experience intercepting Shahed-type loitering munitions. The first system, Terra A1, is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) interceptor designed for point defense. The aircraft reaches speeds exceeding 300 km/h, operates within a radius of approximately 32 km and remains airborne for around 15 minutes. Equipped with a compact explosive payload intended for kinetic interception, it can be deployed without dedicated launch infrastructure from military bases, forward operating positions or naval vessels. According to Terra Drone, the system has already demonstrated successful interceptions of Shahed-type drones during operations in Ukraine, providing practical feedback that has shaped subsequent development. Terra A2 addresses a different operational requirement. The fixed-wing interceptor is designed for longer-range engagements against one-way attack UAVs before they approach defended assets. Launched by catapult, it reaches a maximum speed of approximately 312 km/h, offers an operational range of about 75 km and remains airborne for more than 40 minutes. The aircraft can operate at altitudes reaching 5,000 meters and integrates electro-optical and thermal sensors while supporting connection to external radar systems for target detection, tracking and engagement. Its modular design also simplifies production, maintenance and logistics, capabilities that increasingly influence procurement decisions as armed forces prepare for sustained high-intensity operations.

On July 13, 2026, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) utilized a Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle to intercept and destroy an RSF-operated Chinese-made drone northwest of El Obeid in North Kordofan, according to Clash Report. This aerial engagement represents a critical tactical shift, utilizing air-to-air guided munitions deployed from a medium-altitude, long-endurance (MALE) platform rather than relying on ground-based surface-to-air defense systems. The tactical interception establishes a protective perimeter over the strategic transportation junction of El Obeid, contesting long-range hostile reconnaissance and strike capabilities before they can threaten key government-controlled logistics hubs in central Sudan. The interception of the Chinese-manufactured drone northwest of El Obeid represents the latest in a documented series of at least five Chinese-built drone losses, specifically FH-95 and CH-95 models, sustained by the Rapid Support Forces between June 23 and July 14, 2026. This trend demonstrates the increasing deployment of Turkish Bayraktar Akinci drones, equipped with advanced active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and Roketsan Sungur missiles, to enforce localized denial of airspace against the paramilitary group's long-range surveillance assets. On July 13, 2026, according to Clash Report, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) used a Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci unmanned combat aerial vehicle to intercept and destroy an RSF-operated Chinese CH-95 northwest of El Obeid in North Kordofan, firing an air-to-air missile in the process. The engagement followed a series of FH-95 interceptions earlier in the month in the central Sudan corridor, near Tendelti in White Nile State, and along the Khartoum-North Kordofan axis. It was also a rare operational case of a high-altitude, long-endurance UCAV conducting an air interception against another large fixed-wing UAV, rather than striking a ground target or providing surveillance. The event shows that both belligerents are now using heavier unmanned aircraft equipped with radar, satellite communications, precision weapons, electronic warfare payloads, and flight endurance measured in dozens of hours. The tactical result was the destruction of one RSF aircraft, but the operational significance was the SAF's demonstrated ability to contest RSF reconnaissance and strike missions before they reached El Obeid, White Nile State, or infrastructure deeper inside government-controlled Sudan. The El Obeid engagement formed part of a concentrated sequence of losses affecting the Rapid Support Forces (RSF)'s Chinese UAV fleet. On July 2, the SAF intercepted an FH-95 near Tendelti, a town in White Nile State located on the principal route between Kosti and western Sudan. A second drone was destroyed during the following week along the highway linking Khartoum with North Kordofan, while the July 13 interception occurred northwest of El Obeid. A separate FH-95 had already been destroyed north of Tawila in North Darfur on June 23, and another was lost north of Al-Andaraba in North Kordofan on July 7. This produces a sequence of at least four FH-95 losses between June 23 and July 14, in addition to at least one CH-95 destroyed in flight and another CH-95 reportedly struck on the ground. The relevant pattern is geographical as well as numerical. Tawila lies inside the Darfur theater, Tendelti protects the White Nile approach, Al-Andaraba sits on the North Kordofan front, and El Obeid controls the main east-west junction toward Darfur.  

Bombardier Defence has won a contract from Korean Air to supply two Global 6500 long-range business jets for South Korea's electronic warfare (EW) aircraft program. Korean Air formalised the aircraft purchase at a signing ceremony in Seoul, Bombardier Defence said on 14 July. Neither company disclosed the contract value. South Korea's ‘Block I Electronic Warfare (EW) System Development Project' aims to deliver four airborne EW platforms to the Republic of Korea Air Force (RoKAF), providing a capability similar to the US Air Force's (USAF's) EA-37B ‘Compass Call' EW fleet. In December, LIG Nex1 received a KRW1.56 trillion (USD1 billion) contract from South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) to develop the aircraft. Korean Air is the programme's systems integrator. The two aircraft on order will perform a Stand Off Jammer (SOJ) mission, with the disruption of enemy electromagnetic signals from a safe distance, according to Bombardier Defence. Korean Air has previously said the Block I aircraft will feature a modified cockpit, a dorsal jammer antenna behind the cockpit area, and another towards the rear of the fuselage. The concept model also included a ventral canoe fairing, likely housing a signals intelligence (SIGINT) system with a direction-finding capability to geolocate targets at long range.  

France and Ukraine signed a bilateral defense roadmap in Paris on July 13, 2026, launching a long-term integration program to equip the Ukrainian Air Force with French-made Rafale fighter jets. The agreement secures the purchase of an initial batch of 16 Rafale multirole aircraft scheduled for delivery between 2028 and 2029. This procurement marks a strategic transition for Ukraine from immediate operational stopgap transfers toward a structured, multi-decade modernization of its tactical aviation fleet to replace Soviet-era combat aircraft.   The bilateral defense agreement establishes the procurement of 16 Rafale fighter jets alongside next-generation SAMP/T NG air defense batteries and advanced radar networks. It additionally grants Ukraine industrial licenses for the domestic production of SCALP-EG cruise missiles, Aster 30 interceptors, and AASM precision-guided bombs to ensure sovereign manufacturing capability. On July 13, 2026, France and Ukraine signed a bilateral defense roadmap that launches the long-term integration of the Rafale fighter jet into the Ukrainian Air Force through the acquisition of an initial batch of 16 units scheduled for delivery in 2028-2029. Announced by French President Emmanuel Macron following the Coalition of the Willing meeting in Paris, the agreement also includes SAMP/T NG air defense batteries, additional radar systems, pilot and maintainer training, expanded missile deliveries, and production licenses covering AASM precision-guided bombs, SCALP-EG cruise missiles, and Aster interceptor missiles. The roadmap implements the declaration of intent signed in November 2025, which established a long-term objective of acquiring up to 100 Rafales together with French-produced air defense assets. Unlike previous transfers of Western fighter jets intended to satisfy immediate operational requirements, the Rafale program follows a conventional procurement cycle based on new production, infrastructure development, logistics, weapons integration, and personnel generation. The agreement therefore establishes the framework for replacing Soviet-era tactical aviation through a force-generation process extending well into the 2030s while simultaneously expanding Ukraine's domestic defense industrial capacity. The first procurement covers 16 Rafale jets, corresponding to the size of one tactical fighter squadron once conversion aircraft, maintenance reserve, and attrition reserve are considered.

Between June 23 and 25, the Supply Headquarters of the Logistics Command (C Sup/COLOG) of the Brazilian Army successfully carried out a complex international operation to transport HEAT-T M456A1 105 mm anti-tank ammunition. Acquired from the Granada Munitions Factory (FMG) in Spain, the ammunition for the Leopard 1A5 battle tanks was introduced in Brazil with the aim of recomposing and strengthening the strategic and operational stocks of the Land Force. Strategic air transport logistics began at the Morón Air Base in Seville, Spain, bound for the Galeão Air Base in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The priority cargo mobilization was carried out by aircraft of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB). The joint action not only optimized defense resources, but also evidenced the high level of operational interoperability between the Brazilian Armed Forces and the permanent commitment to national logistical preparedness. Upon arriving in national territory, the Army Logistics Support Base (Ba Ap Log) assumed the reception flow, through the Division of Import and Export of Material (DIEM). The technical team conducted all the legal procedures of customs clearance with speed and precision. After the corresponding authorization, the convoy was moved to the Central Ammunition Depot for the proper storage of the batch of ammunition received.