Finnish veteran who fought in Afghanistan explains why comparing US and European defence spending isn’t necessarily compatible:

The US taxpayer ends up paying much more for the same capability. US bang-per-buck is much lower, up to 10x in some cases.

Inflated prices for defence procurement look good on paper, which may be what has been intended..

https://youtube.com/watch?v=BrzunwO_g1M
#defence #economics #budget #EuropeanDefence

What are Australia's options? Our military relies heavily of US hardware (and associated software).
https://www.politico.eu/article/portugal-rules-out-buying-f-35s-because-of-trump/

#AusPol
#defence
#Trump

, sign the petitition to #CancelTheF35: https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6434 #cdnpoli #polcan #Canada #RCAF #defence #defense #military

#Portugal has decided it will not replace its current F-16 fighter jets with F-35s, and will instead consider European alternatives such as the #Rafale or #Gripen.

In a statement, the Ministry of defence stated: "The predictability of our allies must be taken into account when making procurement decisions" (updated translation)

Russia resumes A-50 Radar plane flights near frontline

Russia has reintroduced its A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft into operations near the frontlines after nearly a year-long pause. On March 10, an A-50 (registration number RF-50601) was spotted flying over Oryol region, marking the return of these reconnaissance missions. The aircraft is designed to provide intelligence on Ukr…
#miltodon #defence
https://defence-blog.com/russia-resumes-a-50-radar-plane-flights-near-frontline/

Portugal transfers missile-ready Puma helicopter fleet to Ukraine in €220 million aid package.

The eight SA-330 Puma helicopters are capable of launching Exocet anti-ship missiles against surface and submerged targets.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250310-portugal-transfers-missile-ready-puma-helicopter-fleet-to-ukraine-in-220-million-aid-package?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

#US Senator Mark #Kelly flew 39 #combat missions over #Iraq. He piloted the #Space Shuttle four times. But he went to #Kyiv and called for the #defence of #Ukraine. So Elon #Musk has branded him a "#traitor".

Poland announces military training plan for all men.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has announced a slew of measures aimed at boosting his country's defence, including large-scale military training for men and a possible exit from a landmark anti-mines treaty.

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250307-poland-announces-military-training-plan-for-all-men?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

European defence plans. A cartoon from a year ago.

‘Watershed moment’: #EU leaders agree plan for huge rise in #defence spending - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/06/watershed-moment-eu-leaders-close-to-agreeing-800bn-defence-plan-ukraine "Leaders endorse Ursula von der Leyen proposal as French president calls Vladimir #Putin ‘an imperialist who seeks to rewrite history’" dramatic but sadly necessary

"What is central Europe?” asked Kundera. “An uncertain zone of small nations between Russia and Germany.” And what was a “small nation”? “One whose very existence may be put in question at any moment; a small nation can disappear, and it knows it.”

https://www.ft.com/content/cd5273ac-ed5b-41ac-ba46-1b0cbdff5c20

Eutelsat plans to supply Ukraine with satellite connectivity amid Starlink uncertainty.

Eutelsat, which owns OneWeb, a competitor to Starlink, stated that it is “actively collaborating with European institutions and business partners,” adding that it has equipment that can be “deployed swiftly in Ukraine to connect the most critical missions and infrastructures.”

https://mediafaro.org/article/20250304-eutelsat-plans-to-supply-ukraine-with-satellite-connectivity-amid-starlink-uncertainty?mf_channel=mastodon&action=forward

If, as I keep saying, we're on the road to Military Keynsianism, then one of the likely immediate 'winners' will be BAE Systems, the UK defence manufacturer & largest non-US defence from in the world... and already you can see that ramping up of business taking place.

#Defence #BAESystems #Militray Keynsianism

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/feb/19/bae-systems-reports-record-orders-as-european-defence-spending-rises

If you're looking for leading indicators on the possible pivot to a European Military Keynsianism, here's one bit of evidence for you:

three key European defence stocks are rising in price rather steeply;

presumably on investors' view that European defence procurement is going to be focussed more on regional suppliers as US security guarantees become less valuable (and approach worthlessness).

Just because it seems relevant; here's a graphic from Visual Capitalist of world-wide defence budgets... you might be interested or you might not....

I'll leave you to draw your own conclusions about what this might all mean.

Ireland has neither the capabilities nor the resources to defend itself. The only way to ensure Ireland's security is to collaborate with other European countries.

The triple lock needs to go immediately. It is ridicules that *any* other country has a veto on Ireland's military.

#ireland #eu #defence

https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2025/0228/1499539-military-capabilities/