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This is the daily record across four areas, with the voices' opinions marked as opinion. Every item is graded Verified or Reported and states what it does not test, and the weekly email and the monthly issue are drawn from it.

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UK signs GBP 1.6 billion Thales missile contract for Ukraine UK Defence Equipment and Support signed a GBP 1.6 billion, UK Export Finance backed contract with Thales for more than 5,000 Lightweight Multirole Missiles for Ukraine. It is the largest contract ever placed with Thales's Belfast site. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Saab wins SEK 1.7 billion order to upgrade Germany's Taurus cruise missiles Saab received a SEK 1.7 billion order from Taurus Systems, the MBDA Germany and Saab joint venture, for ten years of upgrades and life cycle maintenance of Germany's TAURUS KEPD 350 cruise missiles, running 2025 to 2035. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted Dutch quantum chip maker QuantWare closes EUR 20 million Series A Delft based QuantWare raised a EUR 20 million Series A co-led by Dutch state fund Invest-NL and InnovationQuarter, with the European Innovation Council Fund joining, to scale its quantum processor chips and build fabrication capacity. Compute and infrastructure ReportedAI-drafted Aragon says Microsoft to invest EUR 2.9 billion in new Zaragoza campus Aragon's regional government said Microsoft will invest EUR 2.9 billion in a new 59-hectare data centre campus beside Puerto Venecia in Zaragoza. Regional president Azcon put the first EUR 582 million phase's start in 2026. Compute and infrastructure ReportedAI-drafted Bitkom survey finds 96 percent of German firms import digital technology A Bitkom survey of 603 German companies found 96 percent import digital technology, mainly from the EU, China and the USA, and 90 percent call themselves dependent on it. Dependency is highest in semiconductors, quantum computing and 5G components. Policy and law VerifiedAI-drafted Nammo UK engine lands Firefly's Blue Ghost, first commercial Moon touchdown Nammo UK's LEROS 4-ET engine, built at its Westcott and Dublin sites with UK Space Agency and ESA support, powered the descent of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost, the first commercial lander to reach the Moon, on 2 March 2025. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted Italy opens consultation on draft national quantum strategy Italy's research ministry opened public consultation on a draft National Strategy for Quantum Technologies, after EUR 227.4 million in public quantum funding since 2021. It targets new labs, graduate training and tax credits. Compute and infrastructure ReportedAI-drafted Google opens Luxembourg AI centre tied to Clarence sovereign cloud Google opened new Luxembourg offices and an AI and cybersecurity Centre of Excellence at the University of Luxembourg, with USD 500,000 from Google.org for training. The release links this to Clarence, the EU-jurisdiction sovereign cloud it powers for Proximus Luxembourg and LuxConnect. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted Germany's BAAINBw contracts Polaris Spaceplanes for hypersonic vehicle Germany's BAAINBw procurement office contracted Polaris Spaceplanes to design a reusable hypersonic research vehicle, later named HYTEV, for defence related test and experimentation use, with no contract value disclosed. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Cyprus VC firm 33East launches with EUR 26 million EIF backed first close Cyprus venture firm 33East held its official launch with the European Investment Fund and EIB, confirming a EUR 26 million first close for pre-seed and seed startups, the EIF's first Cypriot VC investment. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted SpaceForest hits required burn time for Polish PERUN rocket engine Polish rocket builder SpaceForest test fired its SF-1000 hybrid engine for 39 seconds, matching the burn time its PERUN suborbital rocket needs to reach space, a milestone part funded by EUR 2.4 million from ESA's Boost! programme. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted EU Commission unconditionally clears Nokia's USD 2.3 billion Infinera takeover The European Commission unconditionally cleared Finland's Nokia to acquire US optical equipment maker Infinera for about USD 2.3 billion (Case M.11663), finding no competition concerns in the EEA. Closing was expected around 28 February 2025. Compute and infrastructurePolicy and law ReportedAI-drafted Microsoft completes EU Data Boundary for the Microsoft Cloud Microsoft completed the final phase of its EU Data Boundary, now storing and processing professional services data from EU and EFTA technical support cases within the bloc, alongside the customer and pseudonymised data already covered. Compute and infrastructurePolicy and law VerifiedAI-drafted Italy's CIRA qualifies composite heat shield for ESA's Space Rider Italy's CIRA completed qualification testing of the ceramic matrix composite body flaps for ESA's reusable Space Rider spaceplane, developed jointly with Petroceramics, clearing the way to build flight ready units. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted UK commits GBP 13.4 billion defence rise by 2027, funded by aid cut UK PM Keir Starmer told the Commons defence spending will rise to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, about GBP 13.4 billion more a year, funded by cutting aid from 0.5 to 0.3 percent of GNI. Defence and spacePolicy and law ReportedAI-drafted Safran signs Geonyx inertial navigation contract with Finnish Defence Forces Safran signed an agreement with the Finnish Defence Forces to supply Geonyx inertial navigation systems, using its HRG Crystal technology, for artillery pointing; the contract runs from 2024 to 2031, value undisclosed. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted UK propulsion startup Magdrive raises USD 10.5 million seed round UK propulsion startup Magdrive closed a USD 10.5 million seed round led by Redalpine, with Founders Fund returning, to fund its high thrust electric Rogue thruster, a UK manufacturing site and a first US office. Defence and spaceIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Airbus led consortium wins EUR 480 million DGA contract for RIFAN 3 navy network France's DGA awarded a consortium led by Airbus Defence and Space, with Naval Group, a contract worth up to EUR 480 million over ten years. It covers RIFAN 3, a secure IP network upgrade for more than 80 French Navy and naval air force vessels. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted German government's Microsoft licence spending rises to record EUR 204.5 million Germany's federal government paid Microsoft EUR 204.5 million for software licences in 2024, up from EUR 197.7 million, Interior Ministry figures given to Linke MP Victor Perli show. Total federal software spending hit a record EUR 1.3 billion. Policy and law ReportedAI-drafted Eutelsat, MediaTek and Airbus achieve first 5G NTN link over LEO satellites Eutelsat, MediaTek and Airbus completed the world's first successful 5G non terrestrial network trial over Eutelsat's Airbus built OneWeb LEO satellites, making Eutelsat the first operator to run the 5G air interface on a commercial LEO fleet. Compute and infrastructureDefence and space VerifiedAI-drafted Commission proposes new EU cybersecurity blueprint for crisis coordination The European Commission proposed a new EU cybersecurity blueprint, updating 2017 crisis rules and setting out roles for ENISA, the CSIRTs network and EU-CyCLONe during large scale cross border cyber incidents. Policy and law VerifiedAI-drafted EU approves EUR 227 million Chips Act aid for ams OSRAM's Austrian fab The European Commission approved up to EUR 227 million in Austrian state aid under the Chips Act for ams OSRAM's wafer facility expansion in Premstaetten. The company plans EUR 567 million total investment, with full production from 2030. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Dutch firm Bird's CEO says company is mostly leaving Europe over AI rules Bird, the Dutch messaging software firm formerly MessageBird, said it will move most operations out of Europe to New York, Singapore and Dubai. Chief executive Robert Vis blamed restrictive regulation and a weak AI era talent pool. Policy and lawIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Avio test fires Italian made green rocket engine for first time Italy's Avio ran the first bipropellant ignition tests of its Multi Purpose Green Engine prototype at Colleferro, under a PNRR funded programme. The hydrogen peroxide and kerosene engine is designed, built and tested wholly in Italy. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Proximus names AWS strategic cloud and generative AI provider Belgian telecom group Proximus signed a multi-year deal naming AWS strategic provider of global cloud infrastructure and generative AI, covering network cloudification and its Connect, Engage and Protect products. Compute and infrastructure VerifiedAI-drafted EU Commission and HR/VP present action plan to secure submarine cables The Commission and High Representative presented a Joint Communication on submarine cable security built on prevention, detection, response and deterrence, including a planned EU Cable Vessels Reserve and EUR 347 million for 2026 to 2027 cable projects. Compute and infrastructurePolicy and law VerifiedAI-drafted Apple withdraws encrypted iCloud backup for UK users after Home Office order Apple withdrew its end to end encrypted Advanced Data Protection feature for UK iCloud users, after a Home Office order under the Investigatory Powers Act reportedly demanded backdoor access to encrypted data. Policy and law ReportedAI-drafted Virkkunen says Commission will simplify overlapping EU tech rules in 2025 Commissioner Henna Virkkunen told reporters the Commission will table at least five simplification packages in 2025, including one addressing overlap between the AI Act, DSA, DMA and GDPR. She said simplification would not weaken enforcement of these rules. Policy and law ReportedOpinionAI-drafted UK and Norway launch talks on new bilateral defence cooperation pact UK defence secretary John Healey and Norway's Tore Sandvik launched talks on a new bilateral defence agreement covering industrial cooperation and undersea cable protection, targeting signature by summer 2025. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted PLD Space agrees to launch Miura 5 rocket from Oman's Etlaq Spaceport Spanish launch firm PLD Space signed an agreement with Oman's Etlaq Spaceport to fly its Miura 5 rocket from Duqm from 2027, a second launch base alongside its Kourou site, citing a shortage of launch infrastructure for Middle East customers. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted EU clears EUR 920 million German state aid for Infineon's Dresden fab The European Commission cleared EUR 920 million in German state aid for Infineon's new wafer fab in Dresden under Chips Act rules. The front end plant, part of a roughly EUR 3.5 billion investment, is due to reach full capacity in 2031. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted STMicroelectronics unveils PIC100 photonic chip for AI data centre links STMicroelectronics unveiled PIC100, a silicon photonics chip on its BiCMOS55X platform for 800G and 1.6T AI data centre optical links, made at its Crolles, France fab with AWS as a named collaborator, ramping in the second half of 2025. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Stantec and Drees & Sommer to design Silicon Box's EUR 3.2 billion Italy chip plant Stantec and Drees & Sommer were hired to design Silicon Box's EUR 3.2 billion chip packaging and test plant near Novara, Italy, targeting about 1,600 jobs and operations from 2028. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Denmark proposes DKK 50 billion Acceleration Fund for defence build-up Denmark's government proposed an Acceleration Fund of DKK 50 billion for 2025 and 2026, on top of existing agreements, to push defence spending above 3 percent of GDP and speed up procurement. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted Romanian AI faith app Bible Chat raises USD 14 million Series A Romanian startup Bible Chat, a faith themed AI chat app with about 10 million users, raised USD 14 million in a Series A round led by US firm True Ventures, with Early Game Ventures and Play Ventures also joining. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted ATMOS Space Cargo wins EUR 13.1 million EU funding for capsule German reentry capsule startup ATMOS Space Cargo secured EUR 13.1 million from the EU's EIC Accelerator: a EUR 2.5 million grant plus EUR 5.3 million EIC equity and EUR 5.3 million private co-investment, to advance its Phoenix 2 capsule. Defence and spaceIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted CEPA's Majcin and Taylor urge Europe to build defence and industrial capacity CEPA's Juraj Majcin and Paul Taylor argue Europe must urgently build its defence, technology and industrial capacity. They urge governments to raise spending, borrow jointly, and have finance treat defence investment as a public good. Defence and space ReportedOpinionAbroadAI-drafted US approves USD 84 million Small Diameter Bomb sale to Romania The US State Department approved an USD 84 million Foreign Military Sale of 400 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs, built by Boeing, to Romania, funded from Romania's own national budget rather than a European supplier. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted T&E study finds no tech transfer terms in EU-subsidised Chinese battery plants Transport & Environment says EU state aid for CATL's Hungary and LG Energy Solution's Poland battery plants (EUR 900 million combined) and the Stellantis-CATL plant in Spain (EUR 300 million) carries no technology-transfer conditions. Policy and lawIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted London AI construction startup Nodes & Links raises USD 12 million Series B London based construction AI firm Nodes & Links raised USD 12 million (about EUR 11.4 million) in a Series B round led by ETF Partners. CEO Greg Lawton said the funds will expand its predictive scheduling platform into the United States. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted UK legal AI startup Luminance raises USD 75 million Series C London based legal AI firm Luminance raised USD 75 million in a Series C round led by Point72 Private Investments, joined by Forestay Capital, RPS Ventures and Schroders Capital. The round lifts its 12 month total past USD 115 million. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Germany's DLR becomes anchor customer for French-German Nyx capsule Germany's DLR signed a contract with France's The Exploration Company, becoming an anchor customer for its Nyx reentry capsule. DLR secured 160 kilograms of payload space for scientific experiments on Nyx's first flight, planned for 2028. Defence and spaceIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Finnish quantum startup SemiQon wins EUR 17.5 million EIC Accelerator funding Finland's SemiQon, a VTT spin-out making cryogenic CMOS control chips for quantum computers, raised EUR 17.5 million, EUR 15 million equity plus a EUR 2.5 million grant, from the EIC Accelerator for its Cool CHIPS project. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Microsoft pledges USD 700 million more for Poland cloud capacity Microsoft Vice Chair Brad Smith announced in Warsaw with Prime Minister Donald Tusk that Microsoft will spend a further USD 700 million by mid 2026 to expand Polish cloud and AI capacity, building on a 2023 USD 1 billion regional investment. Industry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted UK's DASA awards Magtec 50 percent grant for submarine permanent magnet motor UK's DASA awarded Rotherham's Magtec a 50 percent grant under the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme to develop a permanent magnet motor for Royal Navy submarines, with partner MacTaggart Scott. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted EIC Accelerator selects 71 companies for EUR 387 million grants and equity The European Innovation Council selected 71 companies from 16 countries for Accelerator funding, up to EUR 161 million in grants plus about EUR 226 million in equity, its most competitive round yet under Horizon Europe. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Thales UK wins GBP 245 million Royal Navy comms contract The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed Thales UK had won a ten year, GBP 245 million contract to maintain Royal Navy fleet communications, replacing the prior Fleetwide Communications deal and covering the Type 31 frigate. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Saab relaunches HMS Halland submarine after Swedish upgrade Saab relaunched the Swedish Navy's HMS Halland submarine after a mid-life upgrade at its Karlskrona yard. The SEK 1.1 billion refit replaced over 20 systems with equipment shared with the future Blekinge class. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Forschungszentrum Jülich buys outright its hosted D Wave quantum computer Forschungszentrum Jülich bought outright the D Wave Advantage annealing quantum computer it had hosted for three years, Europe's first such system with over 5,000 qubits, gaining unrestricted access to adjust its parameters. Compute and infrastructure ReportedAI-drafted EuroHPC launches EUR 5 million GANANA project to pool EU and India HPC EuroHPC JU launched GANANA, a three year, EUR 5 million Horizon Europe funded project coordinated by Sweden's KTH with partners across seven EU states, to pool European and Indian supercomputing resources and HPC software expertise. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted EU Council extends Aspides Red Sea naval mission to February 2026 The Council of the EU extended its EUNAVFOR Aspides naval mission protecting Red Sea shipping from Houthi attacks to 28 February 2026, with a budget of over EUR 17 million and a widened mandate covering shadow fleet and arms trafficking surveillance. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted CEPA: France's AI strategy is a geopolitical third way, not sovereignty CEPA fellow Pablo Chavez argued France's AI strategy, built around Mistral and a EUR 109 billion investment coalition, is a third way between US and Chinese AI power, not solo sovereignty. Policy and lawIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedOpinionAbroadAI-drafted Indra leads EU funded EUR 6 million SMAUG maritime security project Indra launched the EUR 6 million, Horizon Europe funded SMAUG project, leading a 22 partner consortium across seven countries to detect underwater threats and trafficking at ports using AI, sonar and underwater drones. Defence and spaceIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Google and Poland's state fund PFR sign AI cooperation memorandum Google and Poland's state fund PFR signed a memorandum on AI in energy and cybersecurity. Google pledged USD 5 million for cyber training and said future investment would run into billions of zloty, without a fixed figure. Compute and infrastructure ReportedAI-drafted Exploration Company tests Typhoon engine pre-burner, backed by CNES The Exploration Company ran a first test campaign for the pre-burner of its CNES co-financed Typhoon rocket engine. The 16-test campaign reached about 16 seconds of stable combustion before hardware failures ended it. Defence and spaceIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted EuroHPC awards EUR 5 million to MINERVA AI support centre project EuroHPC JU awarded EUR 5 million in Horizon Europe funding to the three year MINERVA project, coordinated by Italy's CINECA with partners in five other states, to build a European AI support centre using EuroHPC supercomputers. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted Rheinmetall signs Embraer contract for Dutch C-390 flight simulator Rheinmetall signed a contract with Embraer, worth a double digit million euro sum, to build a full flight and mission simulator and cargo trainer for the Royal Netherlands Air Force's C-390 transport aircraft, for delivery by late 2026. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted EuroHPC JU contracts Danish firm Akron ApS to build its Access Platform EuroHPC JU signed a contract with Denmark's Akron ApS to build a new Access Platform managing peer review and user applications for its supercomputers. The tender, launched in July 2024, kicked off work in Luxembourg on 12 February 2025. Compute and infrastructure VerifiedAI-drafted European Commission launches EUDIS defence startup accelerator programme The European Commission launched the EUDIS Business Accelerator and Matchmaking programme, an eight month scheme for 20 defence start ups with a EUR 65,000 seed voucher each, plus investor matchmaking. Defence and spaceIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted UK's Research Ventures Catalyst awards GBP 82.6 million to AI health projects The UK government committed GBP 37.9 million through its Research Ventures Catalyst programme to three projects, including PharosAI's cancer AI platform and Bind Research's drug discovery AI, drawing GBP 44.7 million co-investment for GBP 82.6 million total. Industry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted Saab wins EUR 62 million order for CV90 sight and fire control system Saab received an order worth about SEK 700 million (EUR 62 million) from BAE Systems Hagglunds for its UTAAS sight and fire control system for CV90 combat vehicles, tied to Denmark and Sweden's expanded December 2024 CV90 orders. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted UAE's Core42 to run AI infrastructure at DataOne's Grenoble site UAE's Core42, a G42 subsidiary, agreed to install AI computing infrastructure, using AMD Instinct GPUs, at DataOne's data centre in Grenoble, France, with the facility expected to become operational by mid 2025. Compute and infrastructure ReportedAI-drafted EU launches InvestAI, mobilising EUR 200 billion for AI investment At the Paris AI Action Summit, Commission President von der Leyen launched InvestAI, mobilising EUR 200 billion for AI investment, including a new EUR 20 billion EU fund for AI gigafactories. Policy and lawIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted Business groups press Brussels for quick EUCS cloud certification adoption Twenty three European business associations asked Commissioner Virkkunen for swift adoption of the EUCS cloud certification scheme on its March 2024 draft, which dropped EU ownership and "protection against unlawful access" sovereignty criteria. Policy and law VerifiedAI-drafted UK MOD awards Airbus GBP 127 million contract for Oberon spy satellites The UK MOD awarded Airbus a GBP 127 million contract to design and build the two satellite Oberon radar imaging constellation at Stevenage and Portsmouth, for its wider ISTARI reconnaissance programme, launch due 2027. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Royal Navy returns HMS Sutherland to sea after four year LIFEX refit The Royal Navy returned HMS Sutherland to the water after a four year life extension refit, the last Type 23 frigate to receive it. The overhaul fitted a new 2150 sonar and the ship's first Sea Ceptor air defence missile system. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Portugal's Tekever locks in US radar supplier IMSAR for two years Portuguese drone maker Tekever signed a two year partnership with US radar firm IMSAR to integrate IMSAR's synthetic aperture radar into current and future Tekever UAVs, with preferred pricing and no European radar alternative named. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Finland's Patria completes delivery of SONAC ACS minesweeping to Norway Finland's Patria completed delivery of SONAC ACS acoustic minesweeping systems to the Royal Norwegian Navy, replacing the retired ELMA-AGATE sweep. The system has been in Norwegian service since spring 2024. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted NXP Semiconductors agrees USD 307 million deal to acquire AI chip maker Kinara NXP Semiconductors, based in Eindhoven, signed a definitive agreement to acquire US edge AI chip maker Kinara for USD 307 million in cash, adding its Ara neural processing units. Closing is expected in the first half of 2025. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted Fluidstack signs EUR 10 billion MoU with France for 1 GW AI supercomputer Fluidstack signed an MoU with France's economy and industry ministers at the Paris AI Action Summit to build a 1 GW AI supercomputer backed by EUR 10 billion in phase one, using nuclear power, with room to expand beyond 1 GW by 2028. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted ESA signs OHB-led consortium to develop optical tech for navigation ESA signed a contract with a 33-company European consortium led by Germany's OHB System to study and predevelop OpSTAR, an optical time-synchronisation and ranging technology for satellite navigation, ahead of a possible 2025 ministerial decision on a demonstrator. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted Mistral AI to build first dedicated AI data centre in France Mistral AI co-founder Arthur Mensch said on TF1 that Mistral will build its first dedicated AI data centre in Essonne, investing several billion euros. He said it will let Mistral control its own infrastructure stack, reducing reliance on AWS and Microsoft. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted Macron pledges EUR 109 billion in AI investment for France at summit President Macron said France had secured EUR 109 billion in AI investment pledges ahead of the Paris AI Action Summit, naming the UAE (up to EUR 50 billion), Canada's Brookfield (EUR 20 billion), and Iliad, Orange and Thales as contributors. Industry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted Taoiseach Martin says Irish defence spending must rise as Baltic fears grow Taoiseach Micheal Martin told the Irish Examiner that Irish capital spending on defence would rise within two to three years, citing a radar system in tendering and fear among Baltic states over Russia. Defence and spacePolicy and law VerifiedOpinionAI-drafted Germany commits EUR 870,000 more to its offshore launch platform project Germany's transport ministry committed a further EUR 870,000 to the OSLIOS planning study for a mobile offshore launch platform in the North Sea, run by the German Offshore Spaceport Alliance with OHB and partners. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted Europol forum urges urgent coordinated plan for post quantum crypto Europol's Quantum Safe Financial Forum urged financial institutions and regulators to coordinate an urgent, voluntary transition to post quantum cryptography, warning of store now, decrypt later attacks on encrypted data. Policy and law ReportedAI-drafted EU adopts EUR 1.065 billion European Defence Fund 2025 work programme The European Commission adopted the European Defence Fund's fifth annual work programme on 7 February 2025, allocating EUR 1.065 billion to collaborative defence research and development across nine calls and 31 topics. Industry, investment and R&DDefence and space VerifiedAI-drafted EIB's Calviño says Europe must end strategic dependence on tech EIB President Nadia Calviño said Europe must end strategic dependence in energy, chips, technology and defence. She said EIB security and defence lending doubled to EUR 1 billion in 2024 and will double again in 2025. Policy and lawDefence and space VerifiedOpinionAI-drafted Rheinmetall wins EUR 3.1 billion German soldier system framework Germany's BAAINBw signed a EUR 3.1 billion framework with Rheinmetall on 6 February 2025 to digitise Bundeswehr infantry soldier systems, with a firm EUR 417 million order for 24 new and 68 upgraded IdZ-ES platoon systems. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Germany selects Israel's Elbit PULS rocket artillery over European rivals Elbit Systems said Germany awarded it a contract worth about USD 57 million for PULS rocket artillery, with KNDS Deutschland integrating German command systems, picking the Israeli system over Rheinmetall and Lockheed's GMARS. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted France and UAE sign framework for EUR 30-50 billion, 1 GW AI data centre France and the UAE signed a framework agreement for a 1 gigawatt AI data centre campus in France, worth an estimated EUR 30 to 50 billion. France's Jean-Noel Barrot and Mubadala CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak signed it, witnessed by Macron and Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted France delivers first Mirage 2000 fighter jets to Ukraine French Defence Minister Lecornu said France's first Mirage 2000 fighter jets had arrived in Ukraine, flown by Ukrainian pilots trained in France. Up to six of 26 French Mirage 2000-5s are reportedly earmarked for transfer. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted EU and ESA approve one year extension of Sentinel-2A satellite The European Commission and ESA approved a one year extension of Sentinel-2A operations, moving the satellite 36 degrees from Sentinel-2B via an orbital manoeuvre planned for January to March 2025, keeping Copernicus data continuous. Defence and space VerifiedAI-drafted Slovenia submits EUR 150 million EuroHPC bid for new supercomputer Slovenia's IZUM, backed by its Ministry of Digital Transformation, submitted a EuroHPC Joint Undertaking tender for a new high performance supercomputer with an AI Factory, costed at EUR 150 million split evenly between national and EU funds. Compute and infrastructureIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted Rheinmetall hands Bundeswehr first Skyranger 30 air-defence verification model Rheinmetall handed the Bundeswehr the first Boxer based Skyranger 30 air defence verification model on schedule, under the EUR 595 million February 2024 order for 19 vehicles plus an option for 30 more. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Norway sets July deadline for data centres to register with Nkom Norway's regulator Nkom set a 1 July 2025 deadline for existing data centres to register under the Electronic Communications Act, in force since January. Non-compliant operators risk fines of up to 5 percent of turnover. Policy and lawCompute and infrastructure ReportedAI-drafted EU auditors find military mobility budget exhausted, goals unmet The European Court of Auditors found EU armed forces still cannot move quickly across the bloc. Action Plan 2.0's EUR 1.69 billion Connecting Europe Facility budget, covering 95 projects in 21 states, was already exhausted by 2023. Policy and lawDefence and space VerifiedAI-drafted Airbus delivers France's last NH90 Standard 1 transport helicopter Airbus Helicopters delivered the final NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter in Standard 1 configuration to the French Army, completing a 63-aircraft fleet built by the NHIndustries consortium. A further 18 Standard 2 aircraft are still to follow. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Thales Alenia Space to build Emirates airlock for NASA's Lunar Gateway Thales Alenia Space signed a contract with Dubai's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre to build the Emirates Crew and Science Airlock Module for NASA's Lunar Gateway. The UAE secures a future astronaut seat on the station in exchange. Defence and spaceIndustry, investment and R&D VerifiedAI-drafted Saab opens Fareham UK plant, doubling European radar output Saab officially opened its new Fareham, UK manufacturing campus on 4 February 2025, doubling its radar production capacity alongside Gothenburg. The site builds Giraffe 1X radars and Seaeye underwater robotics, supporting up to 400 jobs. Defence and spaceIndustry, investment and R&D ReportedAI-drafted France's DGA awards Airbus and Thales study contract for new patrol aircraft France's DGA awarded Airbus, with Thales as sensor partner, a 24 month study contract for the future A321 Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Airbus called it a sovereign solution for France's nuclear deterrent patrol mission. Defence and space ReportedAI-drafted Starmer pitches 'ambitious' UK-EU defence and security partnership At an informal EU Council meeting in Brussels, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the UK wants 'an ambitious UK-EU security partnership' covering military technology and R&D, force mobility, critical infrastructure and deeper defence industrial collaboration. Defence and spacePolicy and law VerifiedOpinionAI-drafted Luxembourg's Frieden backs France's made in EU arms procurement push Luxembourg's prime minister Luc Frieden said in Brussels that he backs France's push for the EU to prioritise "made in the EU" military equipment, arguing Europe must become more self reliant in defence procurement. Defence and spacePolicy and law ReportedOpinionAI-drafted EU AI Act bans on unacceptable risk AI practices, literacy duties start The EU AI Act's ban on eight unacceptable risk AI practices, including social scoring, untargeted biometric scraping and workplace emotion recognition, took effect on 2 February 2025, alongside new AI literacy duties for providers and deployers. Policy and law ReportedAI-drafted