Capability
Source · Private Equity Poised for Exits in Booming Defence Sector
What is the central argument of “Private Equity Poised for Exits in Booming Defence Sector”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
With defence valuations soaring, private equity firms that invested in the sector in recent years are now eyeing lucrative exit opportunities . The rapid run-up in military spending and defence company share prices has created a seller’s market for PE owners of defence assets. Many buyout firms moved into defence around 2018–2022 when…
Capability
Source · Raytheon UK Strengthens Britain’s Space Defence Capabilities with New Orbital Analysis Contract
What is the central argument of “Raytheon UK Strengthens Britain’s Space Defence Capabilities with New Orbital Analysis Contract”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The United Kingdom has taken another step toward consolidating its role as a leader in space defence and orbital security with the award of a new contract to Raytheon UK , a subsidiary of RTX . The agreement, signed with the UK Space Agency , tasks the company with providing orbital analysis and situational awareness capabilities to…
Capability
Source · Private Capital Returns to Focus on European Defence
What is the central argument of “Private Capital Returns to Focus on European Defence”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In 2024, venture capital investment in European startups operating in defence, security and resilience sectors reached an all-time high of $5.2 billion, marking a 24% increase over the previous year. This growth outpaced that of artificial intelligence investments in the same period, indicating a shift in capital allocation priorities…
Capability
Source · Over-the-Horizon Radar: A Strategic Partnership Between Australia and Canada
What is the central argument of “Over-the-Horizon Radar”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In the context of technological advancement in surveillance systems and shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and Arctic regions, the cooperation between Australia and Canada on Over-the-Horizon Radar (OTHR) represents a compelling case of alignment between scientific capability, strategic interest, and industrial…
Capability
Source · Safran Consolidates Its Position in Flight Control Systems
What is the central argument of “Safran Consolidates Its Position in Flight Control Systems”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In the current strategic environment, the ability to control mission-critical components of aerospace platforms has become a defining factor in ensuring both technological sovereignty and industrial competitiveness. Across the defense and civil aviation sectors, nations are increasingly seeking to strengthen their hold on key…
Capability
Source · Strategic Industrial Scale-Up: Europe’s Cleantech Failure as a Warning for Defence Tech
What is the central argument of “Strategic Industrial Scale-Up”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In recent years, the European Union has positioned itself as a climate leader through ambitious political initiatives such as the European Green Deal. However, these ambitions have not translated into industrial power. While Europe crafted frameworks and targets, China built infrastructure, secured critical minerals, and deployed…
Capability
Source · Reviving the Franco-German Axis: A Strategic Pillar for Europe’s Defence
What is the central argument of “Reviving the Franco-German Axis”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The renewed partnership between France and Germany marks a decisive moment for European security, placing the Franco-German axis once again at the centre of continental defence policy. The joint article by President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, published ahead of the NATO summit in The Hague, outlines a strategic…
Capability
Source · Technology and Conflict: From the Industrial Revolution to Digital War
What is the central argument of “Technology and Conflict”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Military history clearly shows that every major technological innovation has profoundly transformed the nature of war. The introduction of gunpowder, the industrial revolution, mechanization, and ultimately nuclear weapons all redefined strategic balances and the logic of deterrence. Today we are witnessing a new phase in this long…
Capability
Source · Sweden Strengthens Gripen Fleet with New Saab Launcher Contract
What is the central argument of “Sweden Strengthens Gripen Fleet with New Saab Launcher Contract”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Sweden has placed a new order with Saab AB for the production of a next-generation launcher system for the Gripen C/D and Gripen E fighter aircraft, marking another key investment in the country’s domestic air combat capabilities. The contract, valued at approximately SEK 1 billion (around €86 million) , was awarded by the Swedish…
Capability
Source · Strengthening Continental Autonomy: The “European Priority” in the €90 Billion Ukraine Support Package
What is the central argument of “Strengthening Continental Autonomy”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The European Commission has formally advanced a €90 billion financial assistance proposal for Ukraine spanning 2026-2027, signaling a paradigm shift in how the Union balances geopolitical support with industrial sovereignty. While the package—supported by EU leaders and currently in its final legislative stages—aims for April…
Capability
Source · Redefining the Concept of Victory and the Resilience of Public Opinion
What is the central argument of “Redefining the Concept of Victory and the Resilience of Public Opinion”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The transformation of contemporary conflicts has undermined the classical notion of victory. In past wars, victory was tied to the conquest of territory, the surrender of the adversary, or the signing of a peace treaty. Today, wars often lack a clear beginning and end, and in many cases they never end at all. We speak of “endless wars,”…
Capability
Source · One Threat, Three Fronts: The Strategic Convergence of the Transatlantic and Indo-Pacific Theaters
What is the central argument of “One Threat, Three Fronts”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The notion that Europe and the Indo-Pacific are distinct strategic theaters is increasingly obsolete. What is emerging instead is a growing recognition that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions is interdependent, structurally and operationally. This interdependence is no longer theoretical or diplomatic rhetoric; it…
Capability
Source · Market Volatility After Israel’s Strikes on Iran
What is the central argument of “Market Volatility After Israel’s Strikes on Iran”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Introduction: On 13 June 2025, Israel launched air strikes on Iranian nuclear and missile facilities. Iran responded with drone attacks, briefly raising fears of a broader war. Financial markets reacted sharply: oil and safe-haven assets surged, while equity indices dipped. The ensuing volatility offers a case study in how investors…
Capability
Source · South Korea Targets Fourth Place in Global Defence Industry Rankings with Expanded Investment in Aerospace and Technology Sovereignty
What is the central argument of “South Korea Targets Fourth Place in Global Defence Industry Rankings with Expanded Investment in Aerospace and Technolog”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
South Korea has announced an ambitious plan to become the world’s fourth-largest defence industry by 2030, underscoring its intention to couple national security objectives with industrial and technological advancement. Speaking at the Seoul International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2025 , President Lee Jae Myung declared that…
Capability
Source · The NATO Innovation Fund in Crisis: Governance, Strategy and the Future of Allied Deeptech Investment
What is the central argument of “The NATO Innovation Fund in Crisis”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Two years after its ambitious launch, the €1bn NATO Innovation Fund (NIF) finds itself at a critical crossroads. Designed as a bold, transatlantic initiative to fund deeptech startups and VC funds aligned with allied defence priorities, the NIF was envisioned as a “strategic venture capital” tool to bridge the technological divide…
Capability
Source · The iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF: Structured Exposure to Europe's Defence Industry
What is the central argument of “The iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The iShares Europe Defence UCITS ETF (DFEU) is a physically replicating exchange-traded fund designed to offer targeted exposure to the European defence sector. It tracks the STOXX Europe Targeted Defence Index, which includes publicly listed European companies deriving a significant portion of their revenue from military equipment and…
Capability
Source · The Return of Black Powder: Bergerac and the New Industrial Geography of French Defence
What is the central argument of “The Return of Black Powder”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The reopening of gunpowder production in Bergerac represents a paradigmatic case of France’s ongoing industrial rearmament. After nearly twenty years of inactivity following the relocation of operations to Sweden in 2007, Eurenco’s production site in Dordogne has been fully renovated to meet the growing demand for munitions, particularly…
Capability
Source · Putin and the Permanent Testing of Western Defenses
What is the central argument of “Putin and the Permanent Testing of Western Defenses”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
At Defence Finance Monitor we have long argued that Russia’s behavior should not be seen as a string of isolated provocations. Vladimir Putin has adopted a gradual strategy of pressure designed to test not only the technical effectiveness of Western defense systems but, above all, the political resilience of commitments undertaken by the…
Capability
Source · The New Privatization of War: When Tech Companies Become Strategic Actors in National Security
What is the central argument of “The New Privatization of War”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The debate on the privatization of war has long been associated with private military companies and mercenaries. Yet the most significant transformation of recent years lies elsewhere: the rise of major private technology firms as indispensable actors for national defense and security. SpaceX, through its Starlink satellite network…
Capability
Source · Private Capital and the Defence Industry: Conditions for a New European Balance
What is the central argument of “Private Capital and the Defence Industry”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The rearmament of Europe, accelerated by the war in Ukraine and uncertainties surrounding the reliability of US security guarantees, has initiated a structural transformation of the continent’s defence industry. In this context, private investors—both private equity and venture capital funds—are increasingly seen as crucial to bridging…
Capability
Source · The Indo-Pacific Frontline: U.S. Allies Rehearse for a Taiwan Conflict
What is the central argument of “The Indo-Pacific Frontline”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
As strategic tensions in the Western Pacific intensify, the United States and its allies are dramatically increasing the scale, realism, and political signaling of joint military exercises. While officially framed as crisis preparedness, these drills now implicitly aim to deter a Chinese move on Taiwan by demonstrating allied cohesion…
Capability
Source · Piper Sandler Expands into Government Services and Defense Technology M&A with G Squared Acquisition
What is the central argument of “Piper Sandler Expands into Government Services and Defense Technology M&A with G Squared Acquisition”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In the evolving intersection of finance and national security, the role of investment banks has expanded beyond traditional capital markets into highly specialized advisory services for the defense and government technology sectors. The growth of these markets, driven by rising geopolitical tensions, technological modernization programs…
Capability
Source · The United States Accelerates Development and Production of Hypersonic Interceptors
What is the central argument of “The United States Accelerates Development and Production of Hypersonic Interceptors”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The evolution of missile threats has redefined the strategic priorities of advanced military powers. In the current geopolitical context, characterized by renewed great power competition and regional instabilities, the proliferation of hypersonic weapons is forcing a fundamental rethinking of air and missile defence architectures…
Capability
Source · The Trinity House Agreement: A Strategic Realignment in European Defence
What is the central argument of “The Trinity House Agreement”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The Trinity House Agreement, signed on 23 October 2024 by the United Kingdom and Germany, represents a landmark shift in bilateral defence cooperation, marking a deliberate response to the shifting European security architecture in the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Rooted in shared values and long-standing NATO…