Linus Höller

Austria is torn over age-old question of neutrality and NATO Amid an unprecedented budget crunch and drastic spending cuts in Vienna, defense spending continues to increase year over year.

Austria has a long tradition of neutrality. Recent comments by the foreign minister have reinflamed a debate about Vienna's relationship with NATO. Read my article here:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Russia is turbocharging its drone industry using large amounts of cash, special rules, and even schoolchildren. My latest investigation reveals how Putin wants to make Russia a drone superpower by 2030:

Drug cartel operatives snuck into Ukraine for drone training: report The revelations highlight Ukraine’s unintended emergence as a training ground for modern asymmetric warfare techniques amid the conflict with Russia.

Cartel members from Latin America have infiltrated Ukraine's drone schools to glean insights into how to best eliminate their rivals back home, a new intelligence report says. Read my latest story here:

www.defensenews.com/global/the-a...

Germany, Jordan want to supply Gaza by air – here is how it could work Previous German aid-dropping operations in the territory may give a glimpse of what to expect, according to a defense spokesman in Berlin.

I scooped some new info on the Gaza airlift announced by German chancellor Merz. Read my latest story here:

www.defensenews.com/global/midea...

My latest story: France and the UK sign a sweeping set of defense agreements, including coordinating their nuclear forces to fend off threats against Europe. Read it here:

Great to see an OSINT legend give their seal of approval to my work.
If you haven't yet, go read this story!

Researchers home in on origins of Russia’s Baltic GPS jamming Analysts have been tracking Russian electronic warfare from across the Gdańsk Bay, pinpointing familiar sites in Kaliningrad.

Analysts have been tracking Russian electronic warfare from across the Gdańsk Bay, pinpointing familiar sites in Kaliningrad.

Researchers home in on origins of Russia’s Baltic GPS jamming Analysts have been tracking Russian electronic warfare from across the Gdańsk Bay, pinpointing familiar sites in Kaliningrad.

I have long wondered what's up with Russian GPS jamming over the Baltic. So, I set out to seek answers—and located exactly where these strange signals are coming from. Read my latest investigation here:
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Kyiv plans exit from anti-landmine treaty as mines litter Ukraine “Ukraine is compelled to give unconditional priority to the security of its citizens and the defense of the state,” Ukraine’s foreign ministry said.

A series of countries have left the landmark treaty banning the use of landmines, and Ukraine looks set to be the latest, following a decree by Zelensky. Read my story here:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Germany plans to double its defense spending within five years Berlin's defense spending is allowed to increase faster because lawmakers voted to loosen borrowing limits.

New story out:

Germany will double its military budget by decade's end. At current levels, that would lead to it overtaking Russia as the world's third-largest military spender.

Read more here:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

UK F-35 buy paves way for a return to warplane-based nuclear deterrent A dozen jets of the A variant will bring dual-capable aircraft to the Royal Air Force, allowing Britain to partake in NATO's airborne nuclear deterrent.

New story out now:

The UK is buying new warplanes to carry nuclear bombs, signalling a major shift in its deterrence posture. It is part of a major upgrade of Britain's atomic arsenal.

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Most Germans want Europe to have its own nuclear umbrella, poll finds Uneasy about U.S. commitment, Germans back the idea of a nuclear protective umbrella carried by atomic-weapons nations and NATO members France and Britain.

New story out:

A large majority of Germans want Europe to have its own nuclear deterrent, marking a dramatic shift in public opinion as they ruminate on questions over American reliability. Read my story here:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Eyes on the Clock: What Comes Next for Iran’s Nuclear Program Dr Ian Stewart, 22 June 2025The attacks by Israel and the US on Iran's nuclear program have disabled and perhaps destroyed key facilities. While the next few days are likely to be consumed with analys...

I just wrote a quick piece that i'd encourage you to read and share: Eyes on the Clock - What Comes Next for Iran’s Nuclear Program
I focus on the HEU, the potential for Iran to withdraw from the NPT & prospects for UN snapback. We have till October.
www.nonproarchive.com/article/2025...

Look who's airborne: An Iranian VIP transport known to frequently shuttle Supreme Leader Khamenei around. No way of knowing whether he's on board, but still an interesting thing to show up on ADS-B in the current situation!

German defense chief pledges $10 billion in Ukraine aid for 2025 Berlin won't deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, but more Iris-T antimissile systems are in the pipeline.

Germany will strengthen its position as Ukraine's main backer aside from Washington, delivering €9 billion in aid to Kyiv this year, the defense minister announced on his fifth visit to the country.

Read my story here:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Images show new North Korea uranium enrichment plant, analysts say The facility has been referenced by the UN system’s nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.

North Korea is building a third uranium enrichment facility for its nuclear program - signalling that it's here to stay. It could provide enough material for several nuclear bombs a year. Read the full story here:

www.defensenews.com/global/asia-...

German defense boss teases changes for global Ukraine defense group The idea is to better integrate the group’s work with NATO's Ukraine aid mission and the smattering of so-called capability coalitions.

New story out:
With the US abdicating its leadership role, Germany and the UK have taken charge of the global coalition supporting Ukraine. More changes are in the works:
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Starmer vows ‘battle-ready’ Britain with 12 new attack submarines It’s part of an ambitious industrial expansion program that also entails building new munitions factories.

New story!
Another day, another country rearming. The UK is gearing up for "warfighting readiness," building up to 12 submarines and investing $20 billion into its nukes.
Read more here:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

EU unveils Black Sea strategy with an eye on post-war Ukraine The plan will see the creation of a “Black Sea Maritime Security Hub” to serve as Europe’s early-warning center in the region.

New development:
The EU has unveiled an ambitious security plan for the Black Sea that seeks to bolster the continent's defense and counter Russia's nefarious actions in the area, while also strengthening Europe's influence. Read my rundown of this big move:
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Germany vows to underwrite Ukraine’s long-range missile production Investing in Ukraine will enable Kyiv to have a “substantial” number of long-range weapons this year, the German defense ministry said in a statement.

New breaking news:
Germany will pay for Ukraine to build long-range missiles.
Aside from that, the new German gov has been very hush-hush about its aid to Ukraine - but announced today a further €5 billion for the county's defense.

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Germany’s Merz lifts range limit on weapons donated to Ukraine Merz did not mention Taurus cruise missiles in his announcement, casting fresh mystery on the practical implications of the apparent policy shift.

New story out:
Germany's new leader announced a drastic step this week: lifting all limits on the ranges of Western-supplied weapons to Ukraine. Germany in particular has long been hesitant to take this step out of fear over Russia's reaction.

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Switzerland to expand EU defense ties with new cyber-defense role Swiss defense planners have balanced these new engagements with Bern’s policy of armed neutrality.

New story out!

Despite its longstanding neutrality, Switzerland is joining an EU cyber defense project - the second joint military project in recent months. Read more here:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Rheinmetall to expand satellite business, citing Ukraine support deal The joint venture with ICEYE will focus initially on manufacturing Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites before expanding to other space capabilities.

New story out now!
Germany's arms giant Rheinmetall is repurposing a former car factory to make spy satellites instead. Read my story here:
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

The UK banned sending game controllers to Russia. What’s the point? The ban is meant to prevent the repurposing of entertainment tech for Moscow's unmanned warfare against Ukraine, but the practical effect may be limited.

New feature story!
UK banned exports of video game controllers to Russia, but the move is unlikely to stop the flow of the devices used in Moscow's drone war. So why bother?
Read what experts think in my latest piece:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

Global arms spending made biggest post-Cold War jump in 2024: Report Money for weapons flows amply as the world contends with wars and crises.

New story out now!

Global military spending was almost 10% higher last year than the year before, new numbers show. The world's governments spent more than $300 per person on weapons and the military in 2024.
Read my story here:
www.defensenews.com/global/2025/...

Spanish spending spike to help hit NATO budget target this year Spain so far has been among the alliance’s lowest defense spenders, with just 1.3% of the country’s total economic power going to the military.

Spain's social democratic leadership has traditionally focused on social issues and wealth distribution. But today, the prime minister announced a massive increase in defense spending. Sánchez insists the country remains "pacifist." Read my latest story here:
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

European Defence Agency portfolio swells under bloc’s defense ambition The agency’s role includes managing around 200 projects worth €681 million, from the Low Earth Orbit satellite demonstrator to buying 155mm shells.

New story out!
The EU's defence agency, once a fringe office, is quickly gaining prominence -- and expanding its competences. It can now facilitate joint procurement and is working to develop a shared European warship, among other projects. Read my full story:
www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

How the few freedoms North Koreans enjoyed have vanished since the pandemic The city of Hyesan, just over the river from China, once offered a glimpse of a more open North Korea. Now it exemplifies Kim Jong Un’s mounting authoritarianism.

Very proud to share that my work on North Korea is featured in today's Washington Post.
The team reached out to me for my expertise analyzing satellite images of NK's borders. They have been locked down like never before since the pandemic.
Read it here:
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...

Europe’s defense puts a fresh twist on steel, growth engine of old Europe wants to redouble its efforts to make steel “green” – producing the key ingredient for tanks, shells and ships in an environmentally conscious way.

The EU wants to ramp up its military-industrial complex, but with a European twist: it will be green. The plan isn't just meant to address climate change, but it's also geostrategically wise, the EU argues.

Read my latest feature story here:

www.defensenews.com/global/europ...

There are early indications North Korea and Russia may be building a road bridge - for real this time. This has been teased for decades.
I pulled up some recent sat images and looks like there's some groundwork on a road & possible customs area on the NK side that started after November.