Capability
Source · Critical Materials For European Defence
Critical Materials for European Defence: what capability does it address, and how mature is it?
Rare earth permanent magnets, gallium and germanium sit beneath the visible architecture of European defence capability. They shape the performance of motors, actuators, radar systems, sensors, electronic-warfare equipment, satellite components and electro-optical systems, yet the strategic constraint is not simply access to mineral…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · Protection Of Critical Infrastructure
Protection of Critical Infrastructure: what capability does it address, and how mature is it?
The strategic prioritisation of critical infrastructure protection and national resilience has consolidated as a central organising principle across NATO [1] , the European Union [2] and allied national security architectures because contemporary deterrence and defence now depend materially on the continuity of complex civilian networks…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · Operational Dimension And Multidomain Architecture
Operational Dimension and Multidomain Architecture: what is at stake for Europe's space and communications resilience?
The strategic environment of the twenty-first century has decisively transformed space from a passive enabler of terrestrial activities into an active and contested domain of geopolitical significance. As NATO, the European Union, and their respective member states expand their reliance on space-based capabilities for secure…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · Strategic Rationale And Political Context
Strategic Rationale and Political Context: what capability does it address, and how mature is it?
Information superiority and counter-hybrid operations have emerged as decisive components of contemporary defence and security strategy within the Euro-Atlantic space. In recent years, adversaries have intensified the use of non-conventional tools to undermine democratic institutions, manipulate public opinion, and disrupt critical…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · Natoeu Strategic Priority Defence
Natoeu Strategic Priority Defence: what capability does it address, and how mature is it?
The emergence of large-scale war in Europe has redefined the strategic centrality of industrial capacity as a determining factor of deterrence credibility. The conflict in Ukraine demonstrated that high-intensity operations cannot be sustained without deep reserves of ammunition, explosives, propellants and missile components, exposing…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · Operational Dimension And Multidomain Architecture
Operational Dimension and Multidomain Architecture: what is at stake for Europe's space and communications resilience?
Emerging and disruptive technologies (EDTs) have risen to the forefront of NATO, EU and national security strategies due to rapid shifts in the international security environment. Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 vividly demonstrated the game-changing impact of new technologies on modern warfare: off-the-shelf drones…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · European Defence Integration In Focus
European Defence Integration in Focus: what capability does it address, and how mature is it?
European security has entered a new era of urgency. Russia’s war against Ukraine shattered post-Cold War assumptions and spurred a historic increase in defence efforts across the EU. Member states are drastically hiking budgets and reversing long-standing policies – Germany, for example, reached 2% of GDP on defence in 2024, making it…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · Integrated Air And Missile Defence
Integrated Air and Missile Defence: what capability does it address, and how mature is it?
Integrated Air and Missile Defence has moved from being a specialist concern of planners to one of the central tests of whether NATO and the European Union are able to protect their territory, populations and critical infrastructure. The large-scale use of missiles, drones and guided munitions in Ukraine has shown how quickly an…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · Maritime Security And Undersea Infrastructure
Maritime Security and Undersea Infrastructure: what does it signal for European naval and maritime industrial capability?
Maritime security and the protection of undersea infrastructure have become central tests of how resilient European and allied democracies really are. Gas pipelines on the seabed, fibre-optic cables carrying almost all international data, and the dense clusters of offshore platforms and wind farms form an invisible but essential layer of…
#strategic-autonomy
Capability
Source · Estonia’s Ammunition-Industrial Reentry at Ämari
What is the central argument of “Estonia’s Ammunition-Industrial Reentry at Ämari”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The inauguration of Nitrotol’s facility at Ämari is a small-state production decision that speaks to a larger European constraint: munitions output is increasingly limited not by demand or policy intent, but by the availability of qualified energetics and filling capacity, the licensing regimes that govern them, and the ability to…
Capability
Source · Rheinmetall, Lockheed Martin Team Up to Produce Missiles in Germany
What is the central argument of “Rheinmetall, Lockheed Martin Team Up to Produce Missiles in Germany”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Rheinmetall and Lockheed Martin have agreed to establish a new missile and rocket production center in Germany, with Rheinmetall taking the lead. The facility will be designed to manufacture and distribute various types of munitions not only for Germany but also for broader European use. This move reflects a wider effort to strengthen…
Capability
Source · Growth of Public Spending and Government Commitments
What is the central argument of “Growth of Public Spending and Government Commitments”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
European defence spending has surged to unprecedented levels , propelled by the war in Ukraine and a drive for strategic autonomy. New data show European military expenditure jumped 17% in 2024 – the steepest rise since the Cold War – reaching ~$693 billion. All but one European country increased spending last year, and a record 18 NATO…
Capability
Source · Elbit Secures $260 Million in Contracts for Advanced Airborne Munitions
What is the central argument of “Elbit Secures $260 Million in Contracts for Advanced Airborne Munitions”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The development and acquisition of advanced airborne munitions have become central to modern defense strategies, enabling air forces to strike with precision, adapt to diverse mission requirements, and counter increasingly sophisticated adversaries. Precision-guided weapons are no longer considered niche systems but the backbone of…
Capability
Source · Diamond Aircraft Expands 2Excel’s Surveillance Fleet with Fifth DA62 MPP Delivery
What is the central argument of “Diamond Aircraft Expands 2Excel’s Surveillance Fleet with Fifth DA62 MPP Delivery”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The demand for versatile, cost-effective special mission aircraft is rising as states and private operators look to expand intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) coverage across maritime, border, and environmental domains. While high-end platforms such as large UAVs or military jets dominate strategic operations, smaller…
Capability
Source · ETL Systems Forms Strategic Alliance with UR Group and Aicox for Advanced Communications Technologies
What is the central argument of “ETL Systems Forms Strategic Alliance with UR Group and Aicox for Advanced Communications Technologies”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The modernization of defense and industrial communications increasingly depends on resilient, interoperable, and high-capacity satellite and RF systems. As conflicts highlight the importance of secure and redundant communication infrastructures, partnerships that combine expertise in RF distribution, integration, and deployment have…
Capability
Source · Deterrence, Not Reaction, Builds Real Security
What is the central argument of “Deterrence, Not Reaction, Builds Real Security”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
One of the fundamental principles of strategic thought—too often overlooked—is that security is not built by reacting to threats, but by actively shaping the conditions that render those threats ineffective. In other words, a sound defense strategy does not rest on a simple response to the adversary’s capabilities, but on the ability to…
Capability
Source · Globalstar Expands Government and Defense Market with $60M SATCOM and 5G Wins
What is the central argument of “Globalstar Expands Government and Defense Market with $60M SATCOM and 5G Wins”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The fusion of satellite communications and 5G technologies is emerging as a decisive enabler of modern defense operations. In an era where contested electromagnetic environments, dispersed force structures, and autonomous systems drive operational concepts, militaries require communications architectures that are flexible, resilient, and…
Capability
Source · Eutelsat and Europe’s Strategic Autonomy: A Satellite Investment Aligned with EU Priorities
What is the central argument of “Eutelsat and Europe’s Strategic Autonomy”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The recent €163 million investment by the UK government in Eutelsat, a French satellite company that merged with OneWeb in 2022, must be understood within the broader context of the European Union’s strategic priorities. As the only European player capable of challenging the dominance of Elon Musk’s Starlink in the low Earth orbit (LEO)…
Capability
Source · Europe Is Racing to Build Its Own Version of the U.S. Military-Industrial Complex
What is the central argument of “Europe Is Racing to Build Its Own Version of the U.S. Military-Industrial Complex”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Europe is attempting to create a consolidated defense-industrial structure similar to that of the United States, motivated by geopolitical urgency and a sharp rise in military spending. Germany has requested EU approval to bypass fiscal rules on defense investment, aligning with a five-year rearmament plan. Estimates suggest NATO members…
Capability
Source · Cubic Wins Long-Term USAF Contract to Sustain and Modernize Air Combat Training Systems
What is the central argument of “Cubic Wins Long-Term USAF Contract to Sustain and Modernize Air Combat Training Systems”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The evolution of live air combat training reflects the growing complexity of modern warfare, where interoperability, precision, and secure data exchange are essential. Unlike previous generations of training ranges that emphasized simple maneuver replication, today’s systems must replicate contested multi-domain environments with…
Capability
Source · Israel’s MoD Awards Gilat Defense Multimillion Contract for Strategic SATCOM Systems
What is the central argument of “Israel’s MoD Awards Gilat Defense Multimillion Contract for Strategic SATCOM Systems”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
The centrality of satellite communications (SATCOM) to modern defense operations has become increasingly evident as armed forces seek resilient, secure, and high-capacity connectivity across contested and austere environments. From coordinating joint operations to enabling real-time ISR feeds, SATCOM systems are now recognized as…
Capability
Source · Indra Unveils Fully Digital Aircraft Self-Protection Suite for Modern Threat Environments
What is the central argument of “Indra Unveils Fully Digital Aircraft Self-Protection Suite for Modern Threat Environments”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Aircraft survivability in high-threat environments increasingly depends on electronic countermeasures capable of adapting to rapidly evolving missile and sensor technologies. Traditional analog or hybrid defensive suites, while reliable in the past, struggle against advanced radar-guided, laser-guided, and infrared-tracking weapons…
Capability
Source · Lockheed Martin Secures $720 Million Contract for JAGM and HELLFIRE Production
What is the central argument of “Lockheed Martin Secures $720 Million Contract for JAGM and HELLFIRE Production”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
On August 21, 2025, Lockheed Martin announced it has been awarded a $720 million contract by the U.S. Army for the production of Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM) and HELLFIRE missiles. This award marks the fourth and final follow-on order under the current multi-year framework agreement. The contract will provide procurement and…
Capability
Source · Indra Secures EU Support for High-Tech Defense Hub in Madrid
What is the central argument of “Indra Secures EU Support for High-Tech Defense Hub in Madrid”, and why does it matter for European defence and dual-use markets?
Indra, Spain’s leading technology and defense group, has obtained €385 million in financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to fund the development of its new Indra Technology Hub (ITH) in Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid. The total investment planned for the hub amounts to €200 million, with EIB’s support enabling a broader framework…