Week 4 of 2026 was marked by intense defence activity across the Nordic region and Europe. Sweden took new NATO steps, the European defence industry strengthened its position, and several countries concluded important materiel agreements. Here is a comprehensive overview of all the week's news.

Domains

Naval

  • Operation Clockwork is ongoing for the 57th consecutive year in Bardufoss (northern Norway), where the British Royal Air Force and Royal Marines are training in extreme Arctic conditions. The British Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) is participating with Wildcat and Merlin helicopters ahead of Cold Response 2026. Read more

Air

  • Norway has delivered additional air defence missiles to Ukraine's NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System), funded through the Nansen Programme, under which 85 billion Norwegian kroner has been allocated for support during 2026. The delivery is motivated by intensified Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Read more
  • The French Air and Space Force (Armée de l'air et de l'espace) deployed two Rafale F4.1 fighter aircraft from squadron 1/30 "Côte d'Argent" to Uppsala (eastern Sweden) during the week, under the France Agile Combat Employment (FRA-ACE) concept, to practise rapid redeployment and test winter performance. Read more
  • Sweden is participating in NATO's incident preparedness in Iceland during February and March with a combat air unit equipped with JAS 39 Gripen fighters from Skaraborg Wing (F 7) (western Sweden), based at Keflavík Air Base. This is the first time F 7 has participated in a NATO operation. Read more

Land

  • The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has delivered a new flatbed truck to the Swedish Armed Forces. A total of 300 all-wheel-drive trucks of the Volvo FMX model (designation FLB14 LY S VO/T) have been ordered with a 6x6 wheel configuration, tarpaulin cover, and tail lift. Read more
  • EuroTrophy has signed an agreement worth 330 million euros with KNDS Deutschland for the delivery of the Trophy Active Protection System (APS) for Leopard 2 A8 main battle tanks in Lithuania, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Croatia. The agreement includes spare parts, training, and logistics support. Read more

Cyber

  • The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (Forsvarsmateriell, FMA) has signed a contract worth 280 million SEK with Swedish company Clavister AB for the delivery of the Tactical Core Network System (TCNS), under the strategic Mime Programme for modernisation of the Norwegian Armed Forces' command and communications systems. Read more

Policy & Strategy

  • Finnish Military Intelligence has published its public annual report for 2026. The report assesses that the international security environment is characterised by increased tensions and great-power rivalry, but that Finland is not considered to face an immediate military threat during the year. Read more
  • Sweden's Supreme Commander Michael Claesson received France's Chief of Defence, General Fabien Mandon, for a visit to Norrbotten (northern Sweden) that included I 19, A 8, and F 21. The purpose was to deepen bilateral defence cooperation as well as cooperation within NATO, with particular French interest in the space domain. Read more
  • The Swedish Parliament has decided to increase the daily allowance for conscripts and officer cadets from the turn of the year. Conscripts will receive 200 SEK per day (up from 146 SEK) and officer cadets 240 SEK per day (up from 175 SEK), with retroactive payment from February. Read more

Industry

  • Denmark is one of eight countries whose national plans have been approved by the European Commission under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) programme. The EU Council has four weeks to adopt the implementing decisions, and the first disbursements are expected in March 2026. Read more
  • The Danish Defence has signed a Public-Private Partnership (OPP) contract worth approximately 2.6 billion Danish kroner with a consortium led by PensionDanmark and MT Højgaard for the construction of 1,600 new accommodation rooms at eleven military installations. The construction phase begins in 2026 and concludes in 2028, with 20 years of operation and maintenance included. Read more
  • Tobias Billström, former Foreign Minister and Member of Parliament for twenty years, is taking up the role of Director of Strategy and Government Affairs at Nordic Air Defence. Read more
  • Deutsche Telekom Capital Partners (DTCP) has launched the investment fund Project Liberty with a target size of 500 million euros, focused on defence, security, and resilience technology in Europe, including cyber defence and artificial intelligence (AI). The fund plans up to 30 investments in technology companies. Read more
  • QinetiQ has extended its contract with the British Ministry of Defence for engineering services related to Typhoon aircraft, worth 205 million pounds. The contract includes AI and digital engineering, secures 250 jobs, and allocates an additional 10 million pounds for new technology. Read more

Week 4 of 2026 confirmed the broad trend towards increased defence spending, deepened Nordic and European cooperation, and continued industrial capacity building across the NATO sphere.