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Romania, Poland take different tacks on buying new combat vehicles
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Romania and Poland are advancing plans to boost their tracked vehicle fleets. The two countries have different strategies towards foreign suppliers and technology transfers. Romania aims to purchase 246 vehicles along with simulators and a logistics package over an eight-year period after a deal is signed, earmarking close to €2.55 billion ($2.96 billion) for this acquisition. Poland’s Ministry of National Defence signed a contract worth PLN 6.57 billion ($1.8 billion) to buy 111 Borsuk (Badger) tracked infantry fighting vehicles from Polish state-run defense group PGZ, and potentially almost 1,300 more Borsuks and accompanying vehicles in the coming years. The 111 ordered vehicles are to be delivered to the nation’s land forces in the years 2025 to 2029. Poland wants to spur the creation of weapons consortia that will jointly buy weapons.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what’s in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways
WARSAW, Poland — As numerous Eastern European allies pursue acquisitions of infantry fighting vehicles, Romania and Poland are advancing plans to boost their tracked vehicle fleets, yet with different strategies towards foreign suppliers and technology transfers.
In Romania, the country’s government decided on July 10 to launch its much-awaited program to replace outdated Soviet-times MLI-84 tracked infantry fighting vehicles with new gear. Bucharest aims to purchase some 246 vehicles along with simulators and a logistics package over an eight-year period after a deal is signed, earmarking close to €2.55 billion ($2.96 billion) for this acquisition. In the program’s potential second stage, a further 52 vehicles could be ordered.
Local observers say Romanian Ministry of National Defence is to select between Germany’s Rheinmetall with the Lynx, the CV90 made by BAE Systems Hägglunds in Sweden, South Korea’s Hanwha with the AS21 Redback, and General Dynamics European Land Systems with its Ascod, among others. A committee consisting of Defence Ministry officials and representatives of state-owned defense company Romtehnica is to pick the winner.
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The Romanian authorities expect that, after an initial batch of 26 vehicles is made by the selected supplier, the country’s state-dominated defense industry will take over manufacturing activities and produce the remaining 220 IFVs.
“The essential security interest for the Romanian state is to protect the supply chain through a technology transfer of the assembly, integration, testing and maintenance capabilities for the aforementioned technology and products to Romania,” the Ministry of National Defence said in a statement.
A spokesperson for the Romanian ministry told Defense News that, when contracting for major acquisitions, one of the institution’s priorities is to maximize the involvement of the country’s defense sector.
“The Ministry of National Defence is interested in increasing the contribution of the national defense industry to the procurement process of the Romanian Armed Forces and in ensuring, at local level, the lifetime maintenance of weapon systems and major equipment,” the spokesperson said.
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Alexandru Georgescu, a security and defense analyst based in Bucharest, told Defense News that the past years have brought investments in the country’s defense industry by foreign groups, including Rheinmetall and Hanwha, which has whetted the appetites of Romanian officials for domestic production of the IFVs.
“But it all depends on how the bidding process will go, and anything other than a government-to-government acquisition could create delays as competitors are likely to contest the winner,” he said.
Poland eyes heavy IFVs
Last March, Poland’s Ministry of National Defence signed a contract worth PLN 6.57 billion ($1.8 billion) to buy 111 Borsuk (Badger) tracked infantry fighting vehicles from Polish state-run defense group PGZ, and potentially almost 1,300 more Borsuks and accompanying vehicles in the coming years.
The Borsuk is set to replace the Soviet-designed BWP-1 vehicle as the Polish Army’s flagship tracked IFV. The 111 ordered vehicles are to be delivered to the nation’s land forces in the years 2025 to 2029.
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On top of the amphibious Borsuk, which weighs around 28 tons in its basic variant, the ministry is advancing plans to order up to 700 heavier IFVs with improved ballistic and anti-mine protection.
Poland’s Defence Ministry has declared that, in cooperation with other European allies, it wants to spur the creation of consortia that will jointly buy weapons. Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the Borsuk could be one of the products that Poland could buy together with other countries, as a number of Eastern European allies are currently planning to purchase new IFVs.
At the same time, most of the companies that are actively marketing their tracked vehicles in Romania are also advancing similar campaigns in Poland, as PGZ is evaluating the available platforms produced by foreign groups for a potential purchase of a license, local observers say.
An official decision whether PGZ is to develop a heavy IFV on its own or buy a license from abroad has yet to be made.
Iran warns citizens of growing recruitment attempts by enemies, state media say
Iran is ever more concerned about infiltration by the Israeli Mossad spy agency. Israel was able to assassinate numerous military commanders and nuclear scientists in its 12-day air war on Iran.
DUBAI (Reuters) – The intelligence unit of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards has warned Iranian citizens of an increase in recruitment attempts by enemy intelligence agencies, state media reported on Tuesday.
Entangled in a decades-long shadow war with Israel, which was able to assassinate numerous military commanders and nuclear scientists in its 12-day air war on Iran last month, Iran is ever more concerned about infiltration by the Israeli Mossad spy agency.
(Reporting by Elwely Elwelly; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
27 inmates are still at large following an Israeli airstrike during the 12-day war, Iran says
Iran says 27 inmates still at large after Israeli airstrike last month targeted Evin prison. Spokesman says 75 prisoners had escaped following the strike, of which 48 were either recaptured or voluntarily returned. Israeli Defense Ministry had said that 50 aircraft dropped 100 munitions on military targets “based on high-quality and accurate intelligence’
The airstrikes were part of Israel’s 12-day bombardment of the Islamic Republic that killed about 1,100 people. while 28 were left dead in Israel in Iranian retaliatory strikes.
Judiciary’s news website, Mizanonline, quoted spokesman Asghar Jahangir as saying 75 prisoners had escaped following the strike, of which 48 were either recaptured or voluntarily returned. He said authorities will detain the others if they don’t hand themselves over.
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Jahangir said the escapees were prisoners doing time for minor offenses.
Iranian officials said the Israeli strike killed 71 people, but local media reported earlier in July that 80 were left dead at the time, including prison staff, soldiers, inmates and visiting family members. Authorities also said five inmates died.
It’s unclear why Israel targeted the prison. The Israeli Defense Ministry had said that 50 aircraft dropped 100 munitions on military targets “based on high-quality and accurate intelligence from the Intelligence Branch.”
The New York-based Center for Human Rights had criticized Israel for striking the prison, seen as a symbol of repression of any opposition, saying it violated the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets.
Zelenskyy renews offer to meet with Putin as officials say Russian attacks kill a child in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy renews offer to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Kremlin dampens hopes for Istanbul talks, saying “a lot of work needs to be done” Russian forces strike four Ukrainian cities in overnight attacks, killing a child. Ukraine wants to secure the release of more prisoners from Russian captivity and the return of children Ukraine says were abducted.. Russia is also firing upwards of 700 drones a night at Ukrainian cities, officials say, killing at least 41 people, including a boy, 6, and wounding at least 13. The talks in May and June led to a series of exchanges of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers, but produced no other agreements.. The sides remain far apart on how to end the war begun by Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, and are at odds over how to stop the fighting. The U.S. and Western officials have accused the Kremlin of stalling in talks in order for its bigger army to capture more Ukrainian land.
Russian forces, meanwhile, pounded four Ukrainian cities in nighttime attacks that officials said killed a child.
Putin has spurned Zelenskyy’s previous offers of a face-to-face meeting to end Europe’s biggest conflict since World War II. But the Ukrainian leader insists that lower-level delegations like the ones expected for talks in Istanbul on Wednesday don’t have the political heft to stop the fighting. The sides remain far apart on how to end the war begun by Russia’s full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.
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“Ukraine never wanted this war, and it is Russia that must end the war that it itself started,” Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post.
The Kremlin dampens hopes for Istanbul talks
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that “a lot of work needs to be done before having a detailed discussion on a possibility of high-level meetings,” effectively scrapping hopes of a summit any time soon. He didn’t provide a date for the Istanbul talks.
Ukrainian and Western officials have accused the Kremlin of stalling in talks in order for its bigger army to capture more Ukrainian land. Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukraine.
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Zelenskyy’s announcement late Monday that the negotiations would take place generated little hope of progress. That is despite the Trump administration’s efforts to push forward peace efforts, which have moved slowly because Putin is reluctant to budge from his demands.
Peskov said that “we have no reason to expect any magical breakthroughs, it’s hardly possible in the current situation.”
The previous two rounds were held in Istanbul, and Russian media reports said that the Turkish city likely would also host the meeting this time. The talks in May and June led to a series of exchanges of prisoners of war and the bodies of fallen soldiers, but produced no other agreements.
More prisoner exchanges on agenda for talks
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Russia, meanwhile, is driving hard to break through at eastern and northeastern points on the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. It is also firing upwards of 700 drones a night at Ukrainian cities.
Zelenskyy said that at the next Istanbul talks, Ukraine wants to secure the release of more prisoners from Russian captivity and the return of children Ukraine says were abducted.
The Ukrainian delegation will be headed by former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who is now the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine. It will include representatives of Ukrainian intelligence, the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the president’s office, Zelenskyy said.
Peskov said that “the issue of a Ukrainian settlement is so complex that even reaching agreements on prisoner exchanges or the return of bodies is already a success.”
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Russia hits Ukrainian cities with drones, glide bombs
Russian forces struck four Ukrainian cities in three regions in overnight attacks, killing a child and wounding at least 41 other people, officials said. From dusk on Monday evening, Russia struck the Ukrainian regions of Sumy in the northeast, Odesa in the south and eastern Kramatorsk.
In Kramatorsk, a glide bomb hit an apartment building, starting a fire, according to the head of the city’s military administration, Oleksandr Honcharenko. A boy born in 2015 was killed, local officials said, without giving his exact age. Five other people were reported wounded.
The Sumy region came under multiple waves of attacks, the regional military administration reported. A drone hit a gas station in the town of Putyvl, wounding four people, including a 5-year-old boy, it said. A second drone strike hit the same location less than two hours later, wounding seven other people.
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After dark, two powerful Russian glide bombs were dropped on Sumy city, wounding 13 people, including a 6-year-old boy. According to regional authorities, five apartment buildings, two private homes and a shopping mall were damaged in the attack. The blasts shattered windows and destroyed balconies in residential buildings, acting Mayor Artem Kobzar said.
Russia’s Defense Ministry, meanwhile, said Tuesday that air defenses downed 35 Ukrainian long-range drones over several regions overnight, including three over the Moscow region.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
False TikTok rumor claims Trump has 4 days left to live
Several videos on TikTok say the president only has four days left, some with hundreds of thousands of likes. There is no indication that is true. Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency that has caused swelling in his lower legs. The White House physician described the condition as “benign and common,” and the White House said it is common for people in their 70s (Trump turned 79 years old on June 14) The bruising on the back of his hand was caused by frequent handshaking and aspirin, the White house said. He is in his second term, which ends in 2029. Presidents are limited to two terms by the Constitution. He shares the record with former President Joe Biden for the oldest president at their swearing-in.
Trump was recently diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency that has caused swelling in his lower legs. The White House physician described the condition as “benign and common,” and the White House said it is common for people in their 70s. (Trump turned 79 years old on June 14.)
Several videos on TikTok say the president only has four days left, some with hundreds of thousands of likes. There is no indication that is true.
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“The president remains in excellent health,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the July 17 briefing, where she announced the condition. She also told reporters he wasn’t in any pain.
More: Can Donald Trump run for president in 2028? Constitution sets two-term limit
White House gives Trump’s health news update
Swollen ankle of U.S. President Donald Trump as he meets with Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (not pictured), in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. In a July 17, 2025 press briefing, U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from his doctor that President Trump has a chronic venous insufficiency”.
Photos from Trump’s recent appearances have shown swelling around Trump’s ankles and bruising on the back of his right hand. Leavitt gave an update on the results of the president’s health tests on July 17 following media speculation about the visible symptoms.
He was diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency or CVI, which occurs when leg veins fail to send blood back to the heart properly.
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The bruising on the back of his hand was caused by frequent handshaking and aspirin, the White House said.
Make-up partially covers the back of the right hand of U.S. President Donald Trump as he shakes hands with Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 16, 2025. In a July 17, 2025 press briefing, U.S. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read a statement from his doctor that President Trump has a chronic venous insufficiency”.
As part of his testing, Trump underwent an echocardiogram, diagnostic vascular studies, bloodwork and ultrasounds.
“Importantly, there was no evidence of deep vein thrombosis or arterial disease,” White House physician Capt. Sean Barbabella said in a July 17 memo. “All (lab work) results were within normal limits.”
How old is Donald Trump?
Trump turned 79 on June 14. He shares the record with former President Joe Biden for the oldest president at their swearing-in.
When is Trump’s term up?
Trump is in his second term, which ends in 2029. Presidents are limited to two terms by the Constitution.
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Contributing: Joey Garrison and Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump has ‘4 days left’ to live is a false TikTok rumor. What to know