BERLIN, Germany - The German military has officially inaugurated part of the Arrow-III missile defense system, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced in a statement.

"With this strategic capability, which is unique among our European partners, we are securing our central role at the heart of Europe," Pistorius said. "So we are protecting not just ourselves but also our partners."

Arrow-III will defend Germany and its allies from ballistic missile threats at high altitudes. The German government selected the system as part of the European Sky Shield Initiative in 2022, signing a contract the following year that could be worth up to $4.4 billion.

Delivery of the system got underway earlier this year. The military plans to introduce the system into service in phases.

Source: The Jerusalem Post
Associated URL: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-876672

BUCHAREST, Romania - The Romanian Ministry of Defense has placed an order the purchase of a corvette from Turkey, the ministry announced on Wednesday.

Under the EUR223 million contract, the Romanian Navy will receive the lead ship in Turkey's Hisar class, TCG Akhisar (P-1220). The vessel was laid down in August 2021 and launched around two years later, in September 2023. It is presently in sea trials.

"The entry of a new ship into the service of the Naval Forces is a concrete step, a step that strengthens our defense capacity in the Black Sea," Romanian Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu said in a statement. "We are not just talking about military equipment, but about the security of Romania and about respect for our military who need the best conditions to carry out their missions."

Acquisition of the corvette will help address capability gaps for the Romanian Navy. In 2018, the Defense Ministry announced that it planned to order four naval vessels. The following year, Naval Group won a contract to supply its Gowind class vessel to the Romanian Navy, but the agreement suffered from a series of delays, ultimately leading to its cancellation in August 2023, without any deliveries.

Source: Naval News
Associated URL: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/12/turkey-finalizes-export-of-hisar-class-light-corvette-to-romania/

WASHINGTON -- Spain’s Council of Ministers has approved the signing of an execution order for the mid-life modernization of the F100 frigates, also known as the Álvaro de Bazán class. Once enacted, the modernization will have an estimated value of €3.2 billion ($3.73 billion) and a duration of 120 months from the day after the date of the signing of the execution order. The project is expected to be carried out at the Ría de Ferrol shipyard in Spain.

The F100 frigates, built by Navantia and delivered between 2002 and 2012, are halfway through their service life. This program aims to extend the operational life of the entire series until 2045, eliminate identified obsolescence, establish commonalities in the updated systems, improve their efficiency and operability, and adapt them to environmental regulations.

Designed to operate in the most demanding environments, the F100 frigates combine advanced air, anti-submarine, and anti-surface warfare capabilities. They serve as flagships in battle groups and provide comprehensive fleet protection and international projection capabilities.

Source: Naval News
Associated URL: https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2025/11/navantia-to-modernize-f100-frigates-to-extend-their-lifespan-until-2045/