Arms industry events that defined 2025
Here is another article summarizing the year 2025. This time, we present what we subjectively consider to be the most important events that took place in the arms industry in the year that is coming to an end.
The European Union announces the SAFE program
The SAFE programme (Security Action for Europe) is a €150 billion instrument that was officially established by the Council of the European Union on 27 May 2025. Its main aim is to finance joint defence procurement and strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base. SAFE is a part of the ReArm Europe which is comprehensive defence plan aiming to mobilise even €800 billion in investments across the European Union.
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NATO'S Summit in Hague
The NATO summit in Hague in June was groundbreaking in several respects. The most important decision taken during the summit was to oblige alliance countries to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2035.
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F-15IA for Israel
In the last days of this year the US Department of War awarded Boeing a $8.58 billion contract to manufacture F-15IA fighter jets for Israel. Israel is to receive 25 F-15IA fighter jets. There is an option to purchase another 25 aircraft.
The United States still help Taiwan
The United States has approved a historic arms package for Taiwan worth approximately $11 billion. This has resulted in Chinese sanctions against 20 American arms companies and led to recent military maneuvers around Taiwan.
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Announcement of reform in the American arms industry
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced a reform aimed at speeding up the process of procuring equipment in the United States. The US Department of War also intends to reform the arms export system with the aim of speeding up deliveries of equipment to US allies and partners.
Record-breaking Great Britain
The United Kingdom has broken its record for military equipment exports. The total value of contracts signed in 2025 exceeded £20 billion. This was influenced, among other things, by the recent agreement with the Kingdom of Norway concerning Globat Combat ships manufactured by BAE Systems.
Poland picks Sweden for its Orka submarines procurement
Three new submarines will be purchased by Poland from Sweden. The cost of implementing the program may exceed PLN 10 billion.
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Defense exhibitions in 2025
The year 2025 was full of major defence exhibitions, such as DSEI in London, the Paris Air Show, the Polish MSPO and the PARTNER exhibition in Serbia. One of the largest was the International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX) and the Naval Defence & Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX), which took place in Abu Dhabi in February. The exhibition attracted over a thousand exhibitors from more than 60 countries worldwide.
