Thursday, October 30, 2025
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Thursday, October 30, 2025

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https://nordictimes.com/tech/spotify-founders-company-may-sell-attack-drones-to-germany/

Tech

Spotify founder’s company may sell attack drones to Germany

The new cold war

Published today 1:08 pm – By Editorial staff
Daniel Ek with the HX-2 drone. German contract could generate billions in euros for Helsing.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The German government plans to award three companies contracts worth €1 billion for the delivery of kamikaze drones – one of them is Daniel Ek's military technology company Helsing.

The three companies expected to share the contract are the Ek-backed startup Helsing, German competitor Stark – which counts Silicon Valley billionaire Peter Thiel among its investors – and military-industrial giant Rheinmetall. Each company is expected to be awarded contracts of around €300 million each, according to sources speaking to the Financial Times.

No formal agreements have yet been signed, but if the contracts are approved by the German Bundestag's budget committee, they will likely be the largest deals for both young startups to date.

Under the agreement, the three companies are to deliver up to 12,000 kamikaze drones, though only a portion of that number will be delivered initially. The drones are expected to be deployed with a new German brigade stationed in Lithuania, with the official mission of defending NATO's eastern border against potential Russian attacks and airspace violations.

According to sources who spoke with FT, German authorities hope that splitting the contract among three players will stimulate innovation and competition.

— They're doing it to keep the competition alive and make sure they get the best system, said one of the sources.

European drone armament buildup

The deal comes at a time when European countries are significantly building up their drone warfare capabilities, both in terms of defensive technology to protect against potential drone attacks and offensive drones to conduct attacks against targets in other countries.

Investment in Europe's military technology startups has soared since the war in Ukraine escalated in 2022, with various venture capital firms now investing large sums in military operations.

Helsing has been described as Europe's most valuable military startup with a valuation of €12 billion, and over the past year the company has announced plans to deliver 6,000 drones to Ukraine, acquired German aircraft manufacturer Grob, and presented plans to manufacture underwater surveillance systems in the United Kingdom.

Stark was founded just 15 months ago and is backed by investors including American tech billionaire Peter Thiel and venture capital firm Sequoia Capital. The company has a team in Ukraine working on testing and development, and in July announced plans to open a factory in the English town of Swindon.

Rheinmetall surprised observers

That part of the contract would go to artillery and tank manufacturer Rheinmetall, which has already won tens of billions of euros in government contracts, came as a surprise to some players in the military-industrial sector.

Although the company has partnerships with American drone manufacturer Anduril and Israeli company UVision, it had until recently not had its own armed drone in its product portfolio.

Rheinmetall, headquartered in Düsseldorf, Germany, offered to deliver the armed drone FV-014 to the German army, which the company publicly presented in September. The drone, also known as Raider, can carry a 5-kilogram payload and has a range of 100 kilometers.

Stark will deliver its armed drone Virtus and Helsing its HX-2.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/world/two-us-military-aircraft-crash-in-south-china-sea/

World

Two US military aircraft crash in South China Sea

The new cold war

Published October 28, 2025 – By Editorial staff
The past six months have seen a number of losses of American fighter aircraft in connection with accidents.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A US helicopter and a fighter jet crashed during separate routine missions in the South China Sea on Sunday. According to the US Navy, all crew members were rescued unharmed.

The incidents occurred within half an hour of each other, and preliminary reports point to technical failures.

The US Pacific Fleet reported on Sunday that an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter crashed at approximately 2:45 PM local time during a routine mission from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the South China Sea.

Three crew members were quickly rescued by nearby vessels and are in good condition, reports Associated Press.

Approximately thirty minutes later, the fleet also lost an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet, which was also operating from the Nimitz. The two pilots ejected and were shortly thereafter picked up by rescue units.

The Navy has launched a formal investigation to determine the causes of both accidents, which occurred over one of the world's most strategic and contested maritime areas.

Trump: "Very unusual"

President Donald Trump commented on the incidents during his Asia tour, calling the two consecutive crashes "very unusual".

– They think it might be bad fuel. We’re gonna find out, Nothing to hide, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Malaysia to Japan.

According to the Navy, this is the fourth time this year that an F/A-18 aircraft, with an estimated cost of approximately €56 million each, has been lost in an accident.

Two losses occurred earlier in the year in the Red Sea, and one accident happened off the US East Coast in August.

The South China Sea has long been a geopolitical flashpoint where China claims nearly the entire area.

In recent years, Beijing has expanded military installations on disputed islands and reefs, prompting the US to maintain a constant military presence in the region to protect freedom of navigation, according to official statements.

The dual aircraft crashes occurred while Trump is on an extended diplomatic tour in Asia, where he is expected to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week for talks on trade and security.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/sweden-accelerates-space-defense-development-military-satellites-planned-before-2030/

Sweden

Sweden accelerates space defense development – military satellites planned before 2030

The new cold war

Published October 28, 2025 – By Editorial staff
The Swedish Armed Forces monitors other countries' satellites and space movements in real time.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Swedish Armed Forces is accelerating the development of a Swedish space defense capability and plans to launch its own operational satellites earlier than previously planned.

The initiative, which aims to enhance surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities amid escalating conflicts and a deteriorating security situation, involves an expedited procurement process where the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) has been tasked with speeding up the process.

The conflict with Russia and "the deteriorating security situation" have prompted the Swedish Armed Forces to accelerate work on a national space defense capability. The goal of having its own military satellites was originally set for 2030, but FMV has now been tasked with implementing an expedited procurement so that the satellites will become operational earlier. The defense forces currently do not wish to specify an exact year or how many satellites will be included in the system.

— We need to see further, says Anders Sundeman, new head of the Swedish Armed Forces' space operations, to state television SVT.

The satellites will primarily be used for reconnaissance and surveillance and aim to provide an improved situational picture, including over the Baltic Sea region. Weaponization of the satellites is reportedly not currently under consideration.

"Weapons reach further"

The Swedish Armed Forces cites two main reasons for the increased pace: the deteriorating security situation and the development of weapon systems with longer range. The ability to detect and follow developments at greater distances has therefore become increasingly important, while space technology has become cheaper and more accessible.

— Distances have increased so much nowadays, weapons reach further. Therefore, we need to have a good understanding of how developments are unfolding at considerably greater distances, says Anders Sundeman.

In the long term, launches are intended to be possible from Esrange in northern Sweden, but the first operational satellite is likely to be launched from foreign soil. The defense forces already have two training satellites in orbit: Gna-3, which was launched last year, and the Swedish-Danish satellite Bifrost, which followed earlier this year.

Space as a domain of conflict

Today, around fifteen people work with space defense within the Swedish Armed Forces, and within five years the staff is expected to double. In the monitoring room that handles the space situational picture, other countries' satellites are tracked, passages over Sweden are noted, and suspicious movements are analyzed.

Sweden is one of several countries now building up space defense capabilities. The US-led military alliance NATO has also highlighted space as a possible future domain of conflict.

— With increased interest, increased activity and increased dependence, potential conflicts, or space as a potential domain of conflict, will increase, says Anders Sundeman.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/sport/russian-skiers-banned-from-olympics-a-price-im-ready-to-pay/

Sport

Russian skiers banned from Olympics: “A price I’m ready to pay”

The new cold war

Published October 22, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Russian President Vladimir Putin presents awards to Veronika Stepanova (third from right) and other medalists from the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The International Ski Federation (FIS) decided on Tuesday that Russian and Belarusian skiers will not be allowed to participate in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics.

Veronika Stepanova, who won Olympic gold in the relay in 2022, condemns the decision, defends her country and accuses the federation of hypocrisy.

The decision from FIS means that Russian and Belarusian cross-country skiers remain banned from international competitions. The suspension has been in place since the war in Ukraine escalated in 2022.

Shortly after the decision was announced, Veronika Stepanova, who was part of the women's relay team that won Olympic gold in Beijing 2022, commented on the event in a message to Swedish public broadcaster SVT Sport.

"It's very simple: Vladimir Putin is my president, and my country is always right. If that's the reason why some questionable, nameless characters won't allow me to compete internationally... Well, then that's a price I'm ready to pay", she writes.

Stepanova simultaneously accuses FIS officials of political discrimination:

"You're stopping me and my teammates solely based on political beliefs. Next you should start suspending Israelis and Americans who support Trump. Because that's what your system is built on: Stopping people who think differently".

Intense lobbying behind the decision

Karin Mattsson, Swedish board member of FIS, rejects the comparison with other conflicts and believes the situation is unique.

— Both Putin and Lukashenko have for so many years used sports, and she herself is a very good example of that when she expresses herself as she does – and that's the reason why this war has been treated in this way, she says.

FIS president Johan Eliasch, who is Swedish-British, has previously been a driving force for reinstating Russian skiers with the argument that "athletes are not responsible for where they are born". Several southern European federations have supported this position.

But the Nordic countries have had a different view on the matter. According to Russian national team coach Yuri Borodavko, their opposition was decisive.

— Norway conducted intense lobbying and threatened a boycott. Sweden, Finland and France joined in. That's why FIS made such a tough decision against Russia, he tells the Russian website Championat.

"Completely in line with our position"

Pernilla Bonde, secretary general of the Swedish Ski Association, is very positive about FIS's stance.

— We have been clear all along: as long as the war in Ukraine continues, Russian and Belarusian skiers should not participate in international FIS competitions. FIS's decision is completely in line with our position, she says in a statement.

— Sports has a strong voice and a responsibility. By standing up for our values, we show what sports is really about – community, democracy and fair play, she further claims.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/swedish-defense-minister-calls-on-europe-to-enter-war-mode/

World

Swedish defense minister calls on Europe to enter “war mode”

The new cold war

Published October 21, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson wants Europe to tighten sanctions against Russia and accelerate military preparations.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Europe must enter "war mode" and mentally prepare for armed conflict with Russia. This is the demand from Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson in an interview with the German media network RND, where he also calls for tightened sanctions.

The statements come as the EU accelerates its military investments, and the defense minister's words have attracted international attention, not least from Russian media.

— A change in mentality is needed – we must enter 'war mode' to resolutely deter the threat, defend and preserve peace. Russia constantly tests our unity and determination, Jonson declares.

He emphasizes that Europe must prepare "both mentally and militarily for the possibility of war".

The Swedish defense minister also calls for tightened sanctions against Russia and believes that frozen Russian assets should be used to support Ukraine's military.

— Only then will Putin understand that this war threatens his own power and cannot be won, he asserts.

The defense minister refers to Russia's alleged military losses in Ukraine. Over the past year, according to Jonson, "more than 300,000 of the country's soldiers have been killed or wounded" to capture "less than 0.5 percent of Ukraine's territory".

Arms deliveries from the US

Jonson also defends European arms purchases from the United States and argues that Europe "simply does not have or cannot yet produce" certain weapons systems.

— Ukraine needs these assets quickly. If Europe lacks them, it is logical to procure them from the US, he says.

The statements coincide with the European Commission presenting a plan last week to expand joint arms procurement to at least 40 percent by 2027.

Moscow has previously rejected European claims that Russia poses a threat to the EU and described the narrative as a political distraction from Europe's domestic crises.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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