WEDNESDAY
Forecast International’s latest white paper, Navigating Defense in an Age of Tariffs and Turbulence, comes at a pivotal moment for the defense sector. The reemergence of protectionist trade policies—most notably the Trump administration’s whipsaw tariffs on critical industrial materials—is sending shockwaves through defense supply chains, escalating costs, and raising new challenges for international cooperation.
Rheinmetall and Anduril Industries have formed a partnership to jointly develop autonomous air systems and propulsion technologies for the European market. The collaboration focuses on adapting Anduril’s Barracuda and Fury air vehicles for integration into Rheinmetall’s Battlesuite framework, and exploring European applications for solid rocket motors using Anduril’s production methods, with development and manufacturing to involve European suppliers and partners.
Drone Forge and Airbus Helicopters have signed the largest-ever order for Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems, acquiring six systems comprising 17 aircraft to support diverse operational needs across the Asia-Pacific region. The Flexrotors will feature maritime-optimized heavy fuel engines, Starlink connectivity for beyond-line-of-sight operations, and PT-6 imaging technology for high-resolution intelligence and surveillance, enabling missions from littoral and inland surveillance to infrastructure and environmental monitoring.
Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to broaden their long-standing collaboration to include rotorcraft manufacturing, next-generation platforms, space systems, and uncrewed technologies. This agreement builds on a 30-year partnership that began with F-16 licensed production and has since grown to encompass key programs like the T-50 trainer, FA-50 light attack aircraft, and KF-21 multirole fighter.
Thales has introduced a lightweight electronic warfare solution aimed at enhancing electromagnetic operations across all military units, including non-specialized forces, by enabling autonomous detection, location, and analysis capabilities. Weighing under 5 kg and requiring less than 40 W of power, the system is optimized for deployment on light drones—free-flying, autonomous, or tethered—and can detect radio sources tens of kilometers away without emitting signals, making it suitable for use in contested environments.
India’s Raghu Vamsi Aerospace Group presented the Astra 100, a jet-powered kamikaze UAV with a 200 km range and 450 km/h top speed, developed under its ARROBOT brand. The system, which recently completed test trials, is built entirely with indigenous components, including flight control, propulsion, and telemetry.
Greenerwave has been awarded a key role in a French Ministry of Defense contract, led by Airbus Defence and Space and Eutelsat OneWeb, to enhance military connectivity using its low-power, next-generation satellite communication technology. The project will test Greenerwave’s SATCOM system in mobile vehicle-based configurations using the Ku-band on OneWeb’s LEO constellation, supporting France’s strategic communication efforts and complementing the SYRACUSE IV system.
Hanwha Systems and South Africa’s Milkor Aerospace and Defence have partnered to integrate Hanwha’s AESA Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) into the Milkor 380 Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance UAV. This collaboration aims to improve the UAV’s surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities with high-resolution, all-weather imaging and target detection features, targeting export markets including the Middle East.
Diehl Defence and Safran Electronics & Defense have agreed to jointly develop a new line of modular, air-to-ground munitions compatible with various military platforms. The weapons will focus on precision targeting and reduced collateral damage, incorporating technologies such as optronics, inertial navigation, and AI-based processing.
Boeing and the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Angola signed a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation at the 2025 Paris Air Show to support the development of Angola’s aviation sector in collaboration with TAAG Angola Airlines. The agreement focuses on enhancing operational efficiency through digital transformation, improving technical and maintenance capabilities, expanding route networks, and modernizing the fleet. Angola views this partnership as a key step toward boosting tourism and economic growth, while Boeing reaffirms its long-standing support for African aviation and anticipates strong demand for new aircraft across the continent in the coming decades.
RTX and the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining a 10-year strategic roadmap to deepen collaboration in Singapore. The agreement reinforces Singapore’s role as a key global hub for RTX operations, particularly in aerospace maintenance, advanced manufacturing, innovation, and talent development. Key focus areas include artificial intelligence, next-generation technologies, and workforce skills enhancement. Both parties emphasized their commitment to expanding Singapore’s aerospace ecosystem and strengthening its position in the Asia-Pacific aviation market.
Airbus and Singapore have signed an agreement to test crewed-uncrewed teaming technology, pairing one of Singapore’s H225M helicopters with Airbus’ Flexrotor UAV. Airbus will integrate its HTeaming system into the H225M as part of the project.
Indra is advancing its global strategy through two new international partnerships. The company signed an MoU with AXISCADES to manufacture key aerospace systems—such as TACAN antennas, distance measuring equipment, and aircraft countermeasure technologies—in India, supporting local defense industry growth. In parallel, Indra entered into a collaboration agreement with Belgium’s Intersoft Electronics to expand its footprint in the European C-UAS and military radar markets, including plans to relocate some production to Belgium to better serve regional customers and enhance cooperation within the European defense sector.
Dassault Aviation and the French Agency for AI in Defence (AMIAD) signed an MoU to initiate research and development work on several air combat use cases. The aim of the collaboration is to integrate new technologies such as artificial intelligence, controlled and supervised, while keeping humans at the heart of decision-making.
Join Forecast International at the Paris Air Show to gain valuable insight into the evolving dynamics of the global defense market. Traditionally regarded as insulated from broader economic fluctuations, the defense sector is now increasingly impacted by global economic forces. Tariffs, trade disputes, and rising economic nationalism are introducing new complexities that affect the stability, cost-efficiency, and resilience of critical defense programs. Visit us at Hall 3, Booth C164 to learn how our expert analysis can strengthen your planning and elevate your strategy.
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For 50 years, Forecast International intelligence reports have been the aerospace and defense industry standard for accurate research, analysis, and projections. Our experienced analysts compile, evaluate, and present accurate data for decision makers. FI's market research reports offer concise analysis of individual programs and identify market opportunities. Each report includes a program overview, detailed statistics, recent developments and a competitive analysis, culminating in production forecasts spanning 10 or 15 years. Let our market intelligence reports be a key part of reducing uncertainties and mastering your specific market and its growth potential. Find out more at www.forecastinternational.com
