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Russian drones and missile attacks continue to strike Ukraine. Credit: Volodymyr Zelenskyy via X

In early October, for the second weekend running, air raid warnings were in effect across the entirety of Ukraine as hundreds of missiles and suicide drones were launched by Moscow. 

Whereas a week prior the missiles struck Kyiv and central and eastern cities, strikes over 4-5 October hit western regions, including Lviv.

However, a key disclosure on 6 October by the Ukrainian government revealed the presence of Western components in Russia’s munitions, including from the UK, despite the heavy sanctions levied against Moscow as a result of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

According to a release by the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a total of 549 drones and missiles were launched by Russia into Ukraine, containing over 100,000 foreign-made components sourced from companies in the US, China, Taiwan, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, and the Netherlands.

“Every Russian missile and every Russian attack drone also contain parts that are still being supplied to Russia from Western countries and various countries close to Russia,” Zelenskyy stated.

Romania has opted to further tie itself to US defence structures with a further purchase for hundreds of additional Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 main battle tanks (MBT) in a multi-billion-euro acquisition.

Announced on 30 September 2025, by Romania’s Ministry of National Defence, the Abrams purchase, being undertaken under Stage II of the Main Battle Tank Procurement Programme will see 216 M1A2 SEPv3 MBTs acquired for nearly €6.5bn ($7.6bn), along with 76 “derivatives”, likely a reference to engineering and recovery vehicles.

The Romanian acquisition is exactly the kind of programme the European Union would prefer went to member states’ defence industries, potentially funded by the recently announced SAFE defence loan fund.

However, a 2023 award in a direct government-to-government deal under Stage I of the MBT programme for 54 modernised M1A2 SEPv3 MBTs and 12 engineering variants for around $1.1bn, a shfit to European MBT suppliers was bound to be an unlikely solution for Bucharest.

Ongoing concerns about tariffs among businesses globally have continued to rise significantly over the last six months, according to a new report.

The most recent edition of GlobalData’s Tariffs Sentiment Polls report shows that 37% of 444 businesses polled are significantly more concerned about tariffs than they were six months ago. The figure represents the first notable slowdown in rising concerns for nearly half a year, with it having remained in the mid-50s since April.

Despite that, it shows that business concerns about tariffs have continued to rise significantly throughout 2025 and continue to do so. The main challenge reported by companies is higher input costs, with 58% indicating as much compared to 50% in April. Then, uncertainty in long-term planning had been the main challenge reported, with 57% of businesses flagging the issue.

Despite uncertainty now placing second among challenges faced, it remains a major concern at 54%. Among the other challenges faced are reduced demand from international markets (33%) and increased regulatory complexity (35%).  

Israel’s Ministry of Defence announced it has demonstrated its 100 kilowatt laser directed energy weapon (LDEW) system alongside the Air Force and Rafael on 17 September 2025.

Iron Beam is a ground-based laser weapon system which the IMOD said will be used in an air defence role. It is said that the system proved effective in “a complete operational configuration”, intercepting rockets, mortars, aircraft, and uncrewed aerial vehicles over a period of several weeks.

The first systems are scheduled for integration into the Israel Defence Forces’ integrated air and missile defence arrays before the end of 2025.

Though in its current state, LDEW technology remains incapable of delivering the ‘ace-in-the-pack’ solution to nuclear weapons originally envisaged in the Strategic Defense Initiative, ‘Star Wars’ programme during the Cold War, LWS and high-power microwave weapons platforms have proven successful as counter-uncrewed aerial systems (C-UAS) technologies.

According to GlobalData’s strategic intelligence report on Counter-Drone Technologies, DEW systems have the potential to succeed as a C-UAS solution because of the unique firing techniques. 

The European Council has approved the commencement of negotiations with the UK and Canada concerning their involvement in the €150bn ($176bn) Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence loan instrument.

This decision, made on 18 September 2025, authorises the European Commission (EC) to engage in discussions. These talks will focus on the conditions under which British and Canadian companies and products might partake in procurements supported by the SAFE funding initiative.

Enacted by the council in May 2025, SAFE is a financial tool aimed at assisting EU member states in enhancing their defence capabilities through collective procurement.

It is the first element of the EC’s ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 initiative. This strategy seeks to facilitate up to €800bn in total defence spending over five years.

The loans provided under SAFE will be available to interested member states upon request and based on their national plans.

The SAFE framework also accommodates participation from third countries, including nations that have entered into Security and Defence Partnerships with the EU, such as the UK and Canada.