1. Ready to meet Zelensky if he comes to Moscow: Putin

The Russian President has said he is ready to meet Zelensky if he comes to Moscow, but he cautioned that it remains to be seen whether such a meeting is worthwhile.

Speaking in China at the end of a visit there, Putin said he had always been open to meeting Zelenskiy but reiterated the Kremlin's oft-repeated stance that such a meeting had to be well prepared in advance and lead to tangible results.

Zelenskiy has been pressing to meet Putin to discuss the terms of a possible deal, and U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been trying to broker a peace settlement, has said he wants the two leaders to meet.

2. Lockheed Martin awarded $9.8 billion contract for the Patriot missile

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $9.8 billion contract for the production of 1,970 Patriot Advanced Capability – 3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) interceptors and associated hardware. 

PAC-3 MSE defends against incoming threats through direct body-to-body contact, delivering exponentially more kinetic energy on the target than can be achieved with blast fragmentation mechanisms. 

The interceptor is combat-proven against ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, hypersonic and airborne threats. 17 partner nations, including the U.S., have chosen PAC-3 to defend against incoming threats.  

3. Czech Republic to buy 44 Leopard 2A8 Tanks

The Czech government on Wednesday approved the purchase of Leopard 2A8 tanks for the Czech military. The deal is worth more than 34 billion koruna ($1.6 billion). 

In the first phase, the country plans to acquire 44 command and battle tanks. Under a separate deal, the country, which agreed last year to procure up to 77 Leopard tanks from Germany and other countries, is also in discussions to buy 19 specialised version 2A8s.

The Leopard 2A8 is the latest and most advanced version of the Leopard tank. The first Leopard 2A8 tanks are expected to arrive in 2028, with deliveries running until 2031.

4. ANAVIA Inaugurates New HQ and Advanced UAS Prototyping Centre in Switzerland

EDGE entity ANAVIA, a Swiss company specialising in advanced rotary-wing unmanned aerial systems (UAS), is expanding its European footprint and UAS prototyping capabilities through the launch of a new facility in Bilten, Switzerland.

The new facility, officially unveiled in August, marks ANAVIA’s second site, complementing its original hub in Näfels. This facility will serve as ANAVIA’s new headquarters (HQ) and dedicated R&D centre for next-generation unmanned helicopters, advancing the UAE’s and Europe’s capabilities in designing and delivering the latest technology in unmanned rotorcraft.
The latest project encompasses the development of the modular HT-750 heavy-lift unmanned helicopter. With an endurance of 15 hours, payload capacity of 750 kg, and a range of over 2,500 km, the HT-750 is designed to transport personnel or cargo via manual-assisted or fully autonomous flight.

5. TB-2 drones enter service in Croatia

According to a report in The Defence Post, the Bayraktar TB-2 drones have entered service with Croatia. Croatia has inducted six Turkish-built Bayraktar TB2 unmanned aerial systems into its armed forces service, expanding the country’s surveillance and strike capabilities 

The commissioning builds on a November 2024 initiative worth about $95 million to support Zagreb’s broader defence modernisation program aimed at replacing outdated Soviet-era equipment and improving NATO interoperability. 

The Bayraktar TB2 is currently operated by 37 countries, including several NATO members, and has seen extensive deployment in conflicts across Ukraine, Libya, Syria, and Nagorno-Karabakh.

6. F-35 Block 4 upgrade delayed until at least 2031: GAO

The Pentagon now anticipates the F-35’s Block 4 modernisation won’t be complete until 2031 at the earliest, a five-year delay from its original timeline, even as the department rescopes the effort to include fewer capabilities than originally envisioned.

The latest estimate, published in a Government Accountability Office report on September 4, is two years later than the last published projection of 2029 in May 2024.

The F-35 Joint Program Office is currently reorganising the F-35’s Block 4 modernisation and Technology Refresh 3 into a new subprogram due to a 2023 congressional mandate, which sought to improve execution of those efforts in light of continued cost increases and schedule delays.

Arjun Dev Singh

Arjun Dev Singh has a deep interest in defence, security, and strategic affairs. With a strong analytical lens and a passion for military and geopolitical developments, Arjun strives to bring clarity and context to complex national and international issues.