Military 20 February 2026 - 27 April 2026

UK Typhoons to Take On Iranian Drones With Lower-Cost Weapons
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UK Typhoons to Take On Iranian Drones With Lower-Cost Weapons

UK moves new anti-drone weapon to RAF Typhoons in Middle East Britain said Sunday it has put a low-cost anti-drone weapon onto Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets in the Middle East, shifting the kit from trials to actual missions in under two months. The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, or APKWS, gives pilots a cheaper option for shooting down drones compared to the bigger missiles now used for some intercepts. Small attack drones have made air defence as much a cost issue as a tactical one. Iran has hit Israel and Gulf states where U.S. forces are based after U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran in late February. This month, Washington approved sales of APKWS to Qatar, Israel and
May 17, 2026
CSL Shares Bounce After Buyback Tops 6 Million, But Pentagon Flu Vaccine Shock Lingers
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CSL Shares Bounce After Buyback Tops 6 Million, But Pentagon Flu Vaccine Shock Lingers

CSL Limited’s on-market buyback has now topped 6 million shares, keeping capital return plans in the spotlight as investors gauge whether the Australian biotech’s stock has finally stabilized. According to an ASX filing dated Monday, the company picked up another 86,383 shares during the prior session, spending A$11.2 million. That brings the ongoing tally to 6,084,879 shares repurchased, with roughly A$1.024 billion spent so far. CSL’s buyback program allows for up to US$750 million of ordinary shares. Timing counts here. CSL finished Monday at A$131.82, gaining 1.4%, yet still hovering only slightly above Friday’s 52-week low of A$127.75. The stock traded between A$129.61 and A$132.21 during the session, according to price data.
April 27, 2026
BAE Systems Stock Hit as £10 Billion Norway Frigate Deal Reopens Royal Navy Worries
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BAE Systems Stock Hit as £10 Billion Norway Frigate Deal Reopens Royal Navy Worries

BAE Systems dropped 2.9% to finish at 2,020.5 pence in London on Friday, a notable retreat for the defence giant as fresh scrutiny over Type 26 frigate build slots brought renewed attention to its Clyde shipyards. According to Bloomberg, shares fell 59.5p, with trading wrapped for the session. This isn’t just paperwork—Type 26 anchors a £10 billion deal with Norway, tying together a joint British-Norwegian order for 13 anti-submarine frigates. For BAE, it’s proof that swelling NATO budgets could keep the assembly lines running for quite some time.
April 25, 2026
CSL Shares Near Nine-Year Low After Pentagon Flu Shot U-Turn Tests Buyback
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CSL Shares Near Nine-Year Low After Pentagon Flu Shot U-Turn Tests Buyback

CSL Limited shares found some footing Friday, though the Australian biotech still hovered near a nine-year trough. Confidence in its Seqirus vaccine division took a blow after a shift in U.S. military flu-vaccine policy. Shares closed at A$130, up 0.8%, having hit A$127.75 earlier in the day. It matters now: the Pentagon’s move to make flu shots optional for both active and reserve troops, as well as civilians, has shaken a channel investors once counted on for steady demand. Speaking on the change, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told troops the vaccine remains available, but “we will not force you.”
April 24, 2026
BAE Systems’ Norway Frigate Win Hits a UK Navy Bottleneck as Shares Slip
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BAE Systems’ Norway Frigate Win Hits a UK Navy Bottleneck as Shares Slip

BAE Systems plc’s involvement in Britain’s £10 billion Norway frigate contract is under the microscope again. A UK defence minister has acknowledged that Royal Navy frigate slots were given up to Oslo and, so far, there are no new UK orders to offset the loss. Luke Pollard, responding in writing on Wednesday, confirmed “a number” of slots had been ceded. He added that the “delta”—the shortfall—will be addressed in the government’s 10-year Defence Investment Plan. The Clyde program isn’t simply about exports anymore. BAE’s Glasgow yards are set to overhaul the Royal Navy and assemble vessels for Norway as well—part of an allied North Atlantic effort focused on anti-submarine missions and safeguarding key infrastructure.
April 24, 2026
Rolls-Royce Just Won Two Navy Deals. Its Shares Are Still Falling
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Rolls-Royce Just Won Two Navy Deals. Its Shares Are Still Falling

Rolls-Royce Holdings plc has picked up two new naval propulsion contracts. The company’s MT30 turbine is set for installation on Australia’s next round of upgraded Mogami-class frigates, while mtu engines will go into another 10 U.S. Coast Guard fast response cutters. These orders should help lift momentum for the London-listed aerospace and defence group’s marine power segment, though shares are still struggling. It’s clear enough why the stakes are higher now: every fresh contract gets weighed against tougher expectations. Back in February, Rolls-Royce projected underlying operating profit of £4.0 billion to £4.2 billion for 2026, set out a hefty £7 billion to £9 billion buyback through 2028, and put the final dividend at 5 pence per share. That profit figure—Rolls-Royce’s
April 22, 2026
BAE Systems Stock Price Falls Again Despite Fresh Pentagon and NATO Spending Push
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BAE Systems Stock Price Falls Again Despite Fresh Pentagon and NATO Spending Push

Shares of BAE Systems slipped further on Friday, losing about 1.2% to close near 2,070 pence. That move comes on the heels of Thursday’s 2.92% drop, despite continued positive signals for defence spending. This is notable: demand keeps ramping up, even with the stock slipping. In just the past two days, Norway boosted long-term defence outlays and stuck with its order for a minimum of five BAE frigates. Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced that both BAE and Lockheed Martin are set to increase production of seekers for THAAD—the U.S. missile-defense system designed to intercept ballistic threats.
March 27, 2026