Even before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, critics of Ireland’s near-passive approach to defense have been urging the government to spend more on security.

Macron said he wants to “open the strategic debate on protection by our deterrent of our allies from the European continent.”

The Philippine Air Force has grounded its entire fleet of KAI FA-50 fighters after one was lost during a night mission, killing two crew onboard.

The comments are a shift in the Air Force’s recent history with adversary aircraft.

Thales has been contracted to manufacture 5,000 of the laser-guided missiles in a deal worth £1.6 billion ($2 billion).

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in Brussels on March 4 that the proposed loans were part of a new initiative called ReArm Europe.

The service said it decided to pause deliveries on Feb. 27 after identifying cracks in the “outboard fixed-trailing-edge support structure” of two aircraft.

The news of additional defense spending will undoubtedly be welcomed within the UK Defense Ministry, but in truth, it probably does not go far enough.