B2 DEFENSE

Review of Emmanuel Chiva's troops during the annual DGA parade, September 22, 2022, in Balard. (©ECPAD)

[In Brief] France. Innovator Emmanuel Chiva replaced by chief of staff Patrick Pailloux at the head of the DGA

November 15, 2025 Romain Mielcarek ANSSI, Brief, DGA, Dgse, Emmanuel Chiva, France, Patrick Pailloux 1 min read

(B2) The Council of Ministers confirmed on Wednesday, November 12, the appointment of Patrick Pailloux as Director General of Armaments (DGA). He replaces Emmanuel Chiva, whose departure remains surprising…

One of the Awacs engaged in the NATO campaign in Libya - at Trapani airport (B2 archives - credit: Canadian Forces / MA Gaudreault)

[News] AWACS. Runway excursion for Boeing. A European solution?

November 14, 2025 Olivier Jehin Awacs, NATO 1 min read

(B2) The seven partners in NATO's AWACS replacement program are abandoning the acquisition of Boeing's E-7A. A boon for Saab and its GlobalEye? The announcement has…

(photo: EUNAVFOR Atalanta)

[News] Greek oil tanker hijacked in the Indian Ocean, freed by the Spanish navy

November 7, 2025 Nicolas Gros Verheyde mother ship, EUNAVFOR Atalanta, Somali pirates, Puntland 4 min read

(B2) The European forces of the EUNAVFOR Atalanta maritime operation succeeded on Friday, November 7, in liberating the Greek tanker MT Hellas Aphrodite, 24 hours after it had been captured…

[News] Negotiations concluded on the Defense minibus

November 6, 2025 Olivier Jehin European Defense Fund, European horizon, Mini-omnibus, Administrative simplification, STEP, Ukraine 1 min read

(B2) The delegations of Parliament and the Council reached an agreement late Wednesday evening, 5 November, on the regulation aimed at facilitating investments in…

Comparison of main combat capabilities. (©IFRI, Military Balance 2025 data)

[Analysis] "Capability autonomy is not in sight for Europe" (IFRI Study)

November 3, 2025 Romain Mielcarek defense capabilities, China, United States, NATO, European pillar NATO, Russia 3 min read

(B2) The French Institute of International Relations (IFRI) provides an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of Europe's capability autonomy. In a context where the American ally might be more hesitant to…

Illustration of some obstacles to military mobility (AI-generated image B2)

[Analysis] Military mobility at a pivotal moment, according to the Austrevicius-Zile report

October 29th 2025 Emmanuelle Stroesser Dual-use goods, Market Contracts, Facilities, Military mobility, European Parliament, Ports, European preference, report, European transport networks 8 min read

(B2) The ability of the armed forces to rapidly move troops and equipment across the European Union is a top priority. With a new mobility package expected from…

A tank of the future imagined by the Dall-E AI. The authors of the report encourage integrating Italy into the Franco-German MGCS program. (©Romain Mielcarek)

[Alert] The European Council has adopted its conclusions on defence

October 23th 2025 Olivier Jehin European Council, to the defense 0 min read

(B2) As the European Council continues its meeting, it has already approved the Defence and Security section of its conclusions. The text approved on Thursday, 23 October, does not...

[News] Unexplained fire on board an LNG carrier in the Gulf of Aden (v2)

October 20th 2025 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Attack, Djibouti, EUNAVFOR Aspides, Gulf of Aden, Iran, UNVIM 3 min read

(B2) The Falcon LPG exploded 116 nautical miles east of Aden, Yemen, early Saturday morning, October 18. The unknown origin leaves all the...

Kaja Kallas at the European Council, October 15. (Consilium)

[Verbatim] Defense Ministers Called to Move Up: What to Remember from the Defense Council (October 15)

October 17th 2025 Mathis Delamare Drones, Preparation for defense, Readiness 2030 8 min read

(B2) At the end of a marathon day in Brussels, the Defence Ministers of the Twenty-seven met on the evening of Wednesday 15 October for a Foreign Affairs Council in…

[News] White smoke for the EDIP program

October 16th 2025 B2 Writing to the defense, OEDIP, Defense industry 3 min read

(B2) The Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU and representatives of the European Parliament reached an agreement on the defence industrial programme on the evening of Thursday, 16 October...

Europe's future air defense seen from the sky (IA/B2 creation)

[Decryption] Readiness 2030: a multiple-choice guide for Member States

October 16th 2025 Olivier Jehin Shield of the sky, Spatial capabilities, Drones, EDA, EDPCI, flagships, East flank, SAFE Instrument, NATO, Preparation for defense, Readiness 2030 5 min read

(B2) On the menu of the roadmap, adopted by the Commission on Thursday 16 October: coalitions to be formed on a voluntary basis by the Member States to remedy...

[Confidential] European Council could call for strengthening of European Defence Agency (V2)

October 15th 2025 Olivier Jehin defense capabilities, Spatial capabilities, CARD, EDA, Roadmap, East flank, Preparation for defense, Readiness 2030 3 min read

(B2) The draft conclusions of the European Council of 23 October give pride of place to the EDA, in a defence section which calls for progress in all directions. "After…

Defence Minister Jana Černochová defended her support for Ukraine (Photo: MOD Cz - B2 Archives)

[News] The Czech initiative on munitions for Ukraine. Profitable! Dixit Černochová

October 15th 2025 Nicolas Gros Verheyde Jana Chernokhova, Ammunition, Czech Republic, Military support for Ukraine 7 min read

(B2) The outgoing Czech government led by conservative Petr Fiala (ODS) intends to save military support for Ukraine. Supporting figures were presented in an unprecedented exercise this Wednesday, 15…

(credit: Italian Ministry of Defence)

[News] Italy still aims for 2% by 2025 and focuses on the F-35 and new-generation frigates

October 14th 2025 Lionel Changer B2 Budget, F-35, frigates, Italy 5 min read

(B2) Defense spending is expected to reach 31,3 billion euros this year. And even 45,3 billion, in a clever way, the recipe for which Italy provides in the 2025 version of the…

Visit to the Rafah crossing point by a European delegation in March 2025 (credit: EU)

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