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…
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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…
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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,”…
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Source · The Defence Industry in Transformation: The Revival of Safran’s Montluçon Site in the New Geopolitical Context
What is the central argument of “The Defence Industry in Transformation”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
In a context of growing international attention to rearmament, the Safran plant in Montluçon stands as a significant example of the transformation underway in the European defence industry. Located in the department of Allier, this factory, specialised in the production of guidance and propulsion kits for AASM bombs (Armement Air-Sol…
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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…
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Source · The Indo-Pacific: Containing China at the New Global Epicenter
What is the central argument of “The Indo-Pacific”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The gradual shift of the world’s strategic center of gravity toward the Indo-Pacific represents one of the most consequential changes in the current international order. This region, spanning two oceans and home to more than half the world’s population, has become the stage for the defining rivalries of the twenty-first century. China is…
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Source · The Erosion of the U.S.-Centric Order and the Emergence of Autonomous Security Blocs
What is the central argument of “The Erosion of the U.S.-Centric Order and the Emergence of Autonomous Security Blocs”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The international system historically anchored to American primacy, consolidated in the aftermath of the Second World War, is now undergoing a structural weakening. This decline is due not only to external challenges but also to self-inflicted setbacks by the United States itself. The core pillars of the U.S.-led order—economic…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Source · The SPEED Act and the Strategic Reboot of U.S. Defense Acquisition
What is the central argument of “The SPEED Act and the Strategic Reboot of U.S. Defense Acquisition”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The introduction of the SPEED Act by the House Armed Services Committee marks a critical inflection point in the evolution of U.S. defense acquisition policy. Rather than pursuing incremental process reforms, House leaders Mike Rogers (R-Ala.) and Adam Smith (D-Calif.) are calling for a structural reset aimed at restoring strategic speed…
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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…
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Source · Erding and the Future of German Defense Innovation
What is the central argument of “Erding and the Future of German Defense Innovation”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The transformation of modern warfare increasingly relies on the integration of autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, and rapid-response technological infrastructures. As the nature of conflict evolves, national defense strategies are shifting towards platforms that prioritize speed, flexibility, and precision over mass and…
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Source · Thyssenkrupp’s Naval Spin-Off and the Future of European Defense Shipbuilding
What is the central argument of “Thyssenkrupp’s Naval Spin-Off and the Future of European Defense Shipbuilding”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The naval defense sector has long been one of Europe’s most politically sensitive and technologically demanding domains. Unlike land or air systems, where production can often be scaled or standardized across clients, naval platforms are typically bespoke, capital-intensive, and subject to complex export regulations. Submarines…
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Source · Strategic Burden-Shifting in Northeast Asia: U.S. Analysts Call for Deep Troop Cuts in Korea
What is the central argument of “Strategic Burden-Shifting in Northeast Asia”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
A new report released on July 9, 2025 by Defense Priorities, a Washington-based think tank aligned with the "restrainer" school of U.S. foreign policy, proposes a drastic reduction in the U.S. military presence on the Korean Peninsula. Authored by Dan Caldwell and Jennifer Kavanagh, the report recommends slashing U.S. forces in South…
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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…
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Source · EU Civil Research Funds and Dual-Use Defence: Scope, Risks, and Institutional Trade-offs
What is the central argument of “EU Civil Research Funds and Dual-Use Defence”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Europe is debating whether civilian research funds should support defence-relevant innovation in response to a deteriorating security environment. The discussion focuses on allowing selected dual-use projects to access instruments historically reserved for purely civilian purposes. Advocates argue that dual-use pathways can accelerate…
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Source · Emerging Investments in Air Defence and Electronic Warfare
What is the central argument of “Emerging Investments in Air Defence and Electronic Warfare”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The war in Ukraine has redefined the hierarchy of military priorities across Europe, and none more decisively than the need for integrated air defence and robust electronic warfare capabilities. For decades, European defence planning assumed that air superiority was guaranteed under the NATO umbrella and that high-intensity conflict on…
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Source · EIB’s €17.7 Billion Push to Strengthen Europe’s Strategic Industries
What is the central argument of “EIB’s €17.7 Billion Push to Strengthen Europe’s Strategic Industries”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The European Investment Bank Group’s decision to approve a €17.7 billion financing package marks a notable acceleration in Europe’s industrial and technological repositioning, with implications that reach far beyond traditional infrastructure investment. The package spans semiconductors, battery storage, grid reinforcement, rail…
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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…
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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…