The UK government has announced a major boost to its air defences, awarding a £453 million contract to upgrade radar systems on Typhoon fighter jets.
The deal, worth about $608 million, has been handed to defence contractors including BAE Systems and Leonardo.
On Thursday Defence Minister John Healey, ahead of a visit to Leonardo's facility in Edinburgh said, “As the threats we face increase, and as Russian drones continue to strike Ukraine and violate NATO airspace, this cutting-edge radar capability will keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad for many years to come."
The Typhoon is the backbone of the UK’s air defence fleet and the country’s upgrades to the fleet are important not just to protect the UK but to encourage other countries to order the jets, helping sustain production lines and jobs at home. The government also says the investment is about more than security, it is designed to support the UK economy.
Ministers argue that modernising the Typhoon fleet will make the aircraft more attractive to overseas buyers, helping to sustain production lines and protect skilled jobs. Officials say the contract will secure more than 1,500 jobs across Britain.
In October, the UK secured an £8 billion (more than $10 billion) deal to sell Typhoon jets to Türkiye, and officials believe further sales to Qatar and Saudi Arabia could follow.
The government has also pledged to increase defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2027, signalling a long-term commitment to military investment.
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The UK government has announced a major boost to its air defences, awarding a £453 million contract to upgrade radar systems on Typhoon fighter jets....
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China's proposed embassy in the UK would be built near the Tower of London and cover about 600,000 square feet, according to planning documents, making it one of the largest diplomatic missions in the world.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has spoken with US President Donald Trump as Washington plans to impose 10 per cent tariffs on the UK and several European allies.
British Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy arrived in Ukraine’s capital on Friday to attend the 100-Year Partnership Forum and meet Ukrainian leaders, highlighting ongoing cooperation between London and Kyiv.
The UK economy grew more strongly than expected in November, according to official figures, offering signs of resilience after months of weak performance.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington would “work something out” with NATO allies on Tuesday, defending his approach to the alliance while renewing his push for U.S. control of Greenland amid rising tensions with Europe.
At the World Economic Forum’s “Defining Eurasia’s Economic Identity” panel on 20 January 2026, leaders from Azerbaijan, Armenia and Serbia discussed how the South Caucasus and wider Eurasian region can strengthen economic ties, peace and geopolitical stability amid shifting global influence.
The European Union has proposed new restrictions on exports of drone and missile-related technology to Iran, while preparing additional sanctions in response to what it described as Tehran’s "brutal suppression" of protesters.
Türkiye is closely monitoring developments in Syria and considers the country’s unity and territorial integrity vital for regional stability, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told President Donald Trump during a phone call on Tuesday, according to Türkiye’s Communications Directorate.
Poland will begin phasing out the special residence and welfare rules granted to Ukrainians who fled the war with Russia, shifting them onto the country’s standard legal framework for foreign nationals from March, the government said on Tuesday.
A commuter train collided with a construction crane in southeastern Spain on Thursday (22 January), injuring several passengers, days after a high-speed rail disaster in Andalusia killed at least 43 people.
U.S. President Donald Trump launched his Board of Peace at a ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday (22 January). Initially intended to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, he also spoke about other conflicts, such as the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine.
Hong Kong's High Court began hearing on Thursday a landmark national security trial of the three former leaders of a disbanded group that organised annual vigils marking Beijing's 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
The stark, frozen beauty of the Arctic has become the unlikely stage for a high-stakes diplomatic standoff that threatens to dismantle the transatlantic security architecture.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 22nd of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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