Defense Briefing

Ongoing US military operations against Iran are incurring costs of nearly one billion dollars per day, while the US is rapidly burning through its weapons stockpiles. The Pentagon confirms massive ammunition consumption – a warning signal for the defense industry and NATO allies alike. The Economist already describes the Iran war as a 'strategic catastrophe' for Trump and the US.

The US State Department has officially acknowledged on its website that the war against Iran began at Israel's urging – an unprecedented diplomatic admission. The incident triggers massive domestic debate and strengthens voices questioning US military aid to Israel fundamentally. For transatlantic security architecture, the revelation is explosive: it undermines the US narrative of self-defense.

US Army Europe (USAREUR-AF) has launched the major exercise 'Sword 26' across eight countries – for the first time with the explicit objective of operationally validating NATO's regional defense plans for the Northern Flank and Eastern Flank, not merely training them. The exercise marks a paradigm shift: from training toward combat readiness for the alliance contingency. This is a direct response to dampened US reliability and continued Russian pressure.

The Ukrainian intelligence service SBU conducted a massive strike against Crimea on the night of April 26: a MiG-31 fighter jet, three Russian warships, a radar station, and a military headquarters were destroyed. In parallel, Ukrainian drones attacked the Rosneft Tuapse refinery on the Black Sea for the third time in two weeks, triggering a major evacuation. These strikes deep into Russian territory demonstrate Ukraine's growing offensive reach despite strained resources.

SIPRI reports record global military budget spending for 2026: the US Congress has already approved over $1 trillion for 2026, and Trump's new budget proposal could reach $1.5 trillion by 2027. For the European defense industry and NATO partners, this means increased pressure for self-financing on one hand, but massive market opportunities on the other. The defense sector is experiencing the strongest demand surge since World War II.