The biennial World Defense Show 2026 was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on 8–12 February. The show maintained a steady and thorough focus on industrial cooperation in line with the country’s Vision 2030 ambitions to localise 50 percent of defence spending by the end of this decade. The show featured over 900 exhibitors from 80 countries.
On 6 February, the US launched its America First Arms Transfer Strategy, under which the country will prioritise and streamline Foreign Military Sales, employing them to strengthen domestic production capacity and incentivise partner investment in the US defence industrial base.
South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace announced a partnership with Estonian defence company Frankenburg Technologies to jointly develop counter-unmanned aircraft systems for land weapon platforms. Under the MoU, announced on 9 February, Hanwha will integrate the systems into its platforms, while Frankenburg Technologies will develop the guided missiles, launchers, and fire control software.
UK engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has offered to co-develop a jet engine to power India’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft. The proposal was discussed on 12 February during a meeting between Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. has signed a USD250m agreement with the Vietnamese MoD to manufacture Spike anti-tank missiles locally. The contract signed last month includes provisions to establish a missile production facility in Vietnam with know-how transfer from Rafael.
Germany’s Dynamit Nobel Defence (DND) signed an MoU with Latvia’s state-owned defence company State Defence Corporation (SIA Valsts aizsardzības korporācija; VAK) on 5 February to jointly establish an anti-tank mine production facility in Latvia. The facility will be built as part of the Latvian MoD’s contract with DND signed in October 2025 to deliver the Skorpion-2 remote mine-laying system to the country’s National Armed Forces, with local industry participation.