Tag: europe
217 articles
Russia Likely Conducted Covert Drone Campaign Over European Military Bases
The Kremlin may have secretly flown drones over a dozen European countries, including multiple US bases in England and a major air base in Germany, in a covert campaign that spanned over a year and a half. This shocking revelation raises serious concerns about European security and the reach of Russian espionage.
Germany Scraps F126 Frigate Program, Shifts to TKMS MEKO A-200
Germany is ditching its F126 frigate program, opting instead for Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems' MEKO A-200 DEU frigates, after citing significant delays, soaring costs, and unpredictable risks. Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the decision brings a tough but welcome end to a drawn-out limbo.
Navies Pivot to Proven Warship Designs Amid Cost Overruns
Germany is ditching its troubled F126 frigate programme, opting instead for the tried-and-tested MEKO A-200 design, a move that will likely save the country billions of euros in costs. The pivot comes after massive cost overruns and delays plagued the F126 project, with projected costs ballooning to over €18 billion.
Poland Seeks Bidders for Air Defence Laser Systems
Poland is taking a giant leap in air defence technology, exploring cutting-edge laser directed-energy weapons with twenty potential contractors already on board. The Armament Agency is seeking innovative solutions for its Laserowy System Broni Skierowanej Energii (LSBSE), a game-changing system designed to provide layered air defence capabilities.
Russia Targets Messaging Credentials with Fake Support Texts
Beware of fake support texts that could compromise your personal data and sensitive information! A joint investigation by the Security Service of Ukraine and the FBI uncovered a systematic campaign to steal messaging platform credentials from government officials, military personnel, and activists worldwide.
Microsoft Uncovers ZIP Phishing Campaign Targeting Hotels with Node.js Implant
Microsoft warns of a sneaky ZIP phishing campaign that's been targeting hotels across Europe and Asia since April 2026, using photo-themed attachments to deliver a Node.js implant to front-desk machines. The cleverly crafted emails, often written in Japanese, Danish, or Dutch, use urgent and reputation-focused themes to trick recipients into opening the malicious attachments.
Ransomware Attacks Surge Across Europe
Ransomware attacks are surging across Europe, with a staggering 55.1% year-over-year increase in just the first four months of 2026, averaging 171 incidents per month. Five key countries - Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain - are bearing the brunt, accounting for 70% of all recorded attacks.
Germany Scraps F126 Frigate Program, Shifts to MEKO Vessels
Germany is ditching its F126 frigate program, a costly endeavor that was projected to balloon to over €18 billion, and is instead turning to Meko vessels in a sudden overhaul of its surface fleet plans. The cancellation comes after delays and a potential contractor change threw the original €10 billion project off track.
Pentagon Shakeup: Top US General in Europe to Step Down
In a significant leadership shakeup, General Christopher Donahue will step down as the top US general in Europe on July 2, 2026, handing over the reins to his trusted deputy, Major General Christopher Norrie. The Army has expressed its gratitude to General Donahue for his leadership of US Army Europe and Africa.
Europol Operation Disrupts StealC and Amadey Infostealers
In a major win for cybersecurity, a coordinated international effort has dismantled the operations of two notorious malware families, StealC and Amadey, freezing a whopping €41m in crypto assets of criminal origin. This significant disruption was made possible through the collaboration of Europol, Germany's Federal Criminal Police Office, J-CAT, and Eurojust.
Pentagon Orders Review of US Troop Posture in Europe
The Pentagon has ordered a comprehensive review of US troop deployments across Europe, sparking significant implications for the region. This pivotal move is dissected in The Break Out's latest episode, where experts Lee Ferran and Ashley Roque delve into the directive's details and potential impact.
Australia Forges European Alliances to Counter Hybrid Threats
Australia is stepping up its game in Europe, forging strong alliances with key nations to tackle the growing threat of hybrid coercion that knows no borders. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong recently led a diplomatic push, meeting with UK, German, French, and Finnish leaders to strengthen ties and safeguard Indo-Pacific security.
Ukraine Bolsters Europe's Long-Range Strike Capabilities with Cruise Missile Tech
Ukraine's groundbreaking cruise missile tech is set to supercharge Europe's defense capabilities, with German defense firm Diehl Defense partnering with Ukrainian manufacturer Fire Point to produce the game-changing FP-5 "Flamingo" missile. This powerful collaboration is a win for both nations, marking a major leap forward in their joint defense innovation.
Europe's Digital Sovereignty Drive Needs New Operating Model
Europe's reliance on just a few major cloud providers is sparking concerns about digital sovereignty, with policymakers worried that over-dependency on foreign technology can compromise national resilience. This concentrated market - where just 3 providers hold around 70% of the market - is driving the urgent need for a new operating model that prioritizes European control and flexibility.
UAE's EDGE Group Expands into Europe with Paris Office
EDGE Group is taking a strategic leap into Europe with its new Paris office, driven by CEO Hamad Al Marar's vision to offer tailored solutions to the region. The move is fueled by France's long-standing, rock-solid relationship with the UAE, built on decades of defense partnerships and major platform acquisitions.
Europe Bolsters Defense with AI-Enabled Battle Management Systems
As European defense budgets rise, modern armies are recognizing that advanced Battle Management Systems are no longer a luxury, but a necessity. With spending increases driving modernization across the continent, the focus is on bolstering capabilities in areas like air and missile defense, counter-UAS, and next-generation command systems.
Europe's Space Ambitions Take Center Stage at Berlin Air Show
At the 2026 ILA Berlin Air Show, The Break Out team uncovered a story of resilience and innovation, tracing the ripple effects of a major European program's collapse to the cutting-edge tech on display, from drones in flight to a student-built satellite designed to tackle orbital debris. This compelling narrative framed the air show coverage, highlighting Europe's bold ambitions in military and aerospace.
Council of Europe Probes ShinyHunters Data Breach Claims
The Council of Europe is actively investigating claims by the ShinyHunters extortion group that sensitive internal documents were stolen, and is working to assess the situation. The organization, which represents 46 European member states, has confirmed the probe but declined to provide further comment at this stage.
French Govt Breach Exposes 73,000 Employees' Data
A major data breach at France's digital affairs directorate, DINUM, has exposed the sensitive information of 73,000 public-sector employees, affecting nearly 9% of the Tchap instant messaging platform's users. The breach compromised public chat rooms, user metadata, and shared files, but thankfully, private conversations remained encrypted and secure.
US Arms Sales to Europe Hit by Delivery Delays
European countries are facing a frustrating dilemma: they're being urged to boost defense spending, but when they try to purchase US arms, they're met with lengthy and uncertain delivery timelines, sometimes as far off as 2029-2030. This has led some, like Poland, to look elsewhere, such as to the Korean defense industry, for quicker solutions.
Kongsberg Bolsters Cruise Missile Arsenal with Rusty Dagger Acquisition
Kongsberg supercharges its cruise missile capabilities with the acquisition of Zone 5 Technologies, a US start-up that brings cost-efficient design and mass production expertise to the table. This strategic move combines Kongsberg's cutting-edge tech with Zone 5's production prowess, paving the way for affordable cruise missiles in European markets.
Russia's Satellite Exposes GPS Vulnerability with Targeted Bursts
Researchers have uncovered a concerning pattern of targeted GPS disruptions, with at least 75 brief outages detected across northern Europe between 2019 and 2026, all triggered by high-powered radio energy bursts. These 10-second jamming events, occurring at a frequency used by GPS and European navigation satellites, coincided with navigation antenna failures from Romania to Greenland.
Airbus Unveils Ravenstorm Combat Drone in Expanded Portfolio
Meet the Ravenstorm, a cutting-edge combat drone that's part of Airbus' bold new lineup of uncrewed systems designed to supercharge air power. With its expanded portfolio, Airbus is empowering nations to defend their skies like never before.
France Investigates Breach of Government Messaging Platform
French authorities are on high alert after a hacker hijacked a user account on a government messaging platform, sparking an investigation into the breach. The attacker claims to have accessed far more data than initially reported, raising concerns about the security of sensitive information.