Global Defence: Why Speed Is Now Deciding Defence Contracts

6 February 2026.

Defence procurement is being reshaped by a fundamental tension: modernise at speed while sustaining long-term force readiness.

This week’s developments underline a procurement landscape moving in two directions simultaneously. Governments are sustaining investment in established conventional platforms, while accelerating acquisition of newer capabilities that can be delivered quickly, at scale, and with near-term operational impact.

Across Europe and the United States, procurement systems are opening up. Market access is widening, digital infrastructure is being treated as core military capability, and delivery credibility is increasingly determining which suppliers succeed. Speed to fielded capability is no longer a secondary consideration. It is shaping acquisition outcomes.

Market Activity

United Kingdom: Platform Upgrades and Industrial Continuity

Eurofighter and the NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) have signed a contract to progress development, testing and certification of the Aerodynamic Modification Kit for the Eurofighter Typhoon.

According to Eurofighter, the AMK will enable faster integration and certification of new external loads and weapons, including future anti-radar missiles designed to support the suppression and destruction of enemy air defence systems. The upgrade will also support integration of advanced air-to-ground and air-to-air weapons for core customers. Future integrations are expected to include the latest-generation standoff missiles.

Development and production will be conducted by the Eurofighter partner companies Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo. Eurofighter stated that the programme will further strengthen European aerospace expertise through continued cooperation in developing and qualifying modern combat aircraft systems.

The strategic importance of the contract lies in its emphasis on sustained development and upgrade spending for an existing European combat platform. Rather than waiting for next-generation programmes, European customers are investing in extending capability relevance and mission flexibility on sovereign platforms.

The focus on standoff and SEAD roles is notable. These missions have historically received less investment in European forces compared with US counterparts, despite their increasing relevance in contested environments.

Visiongain Insight: Rather than waiting for next-generation platforms, European customers are prioritising upgrades that extend the operational relevance of existing aircraft. Incremental development programmes such as AMK offer a lower-risk path to capability enhancement while preserving industrial skills, system integration expertise and sovereign control over future combat air options.

Germany: Naval Platforms and Industrial Preparation

In German naval procurement, Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support have signed a preliminary agreement to launch the MEKO A-200 DEU frigate project.

The agreement enables preparatory measures to begin from February 2026, with the aim of supporting delivery of the first vessel by the end of 2029. It allows TKMS to begin procurement and initial production activities ahead of a final build decision.

The deal covers work valued at up to €50 million through to the end of March 2026, with options for staged extensions if required. This structure is designed to de-risk the programme schedule by advancing industrial preparation in parallel with formal approvals.

Visiongain Insight: Early industrial mobilisation reflects a wider shift in naval procurement towards schedule assurance. By funding preparatory work ahead of final contract award, Germany is prioritising delivery certainty and industrial readiness over traditional sequential acquisition models.

United States: Drone Dominance and Acquisition Reform

On 3 February, the US Department of Defence (referred to by the Trump administration as the ‘Department of War’) announced the 25 vendors invited to compete in Phase I of the Drone Dominance Program, an acquisition reform initiative designed to rapidly field low-cost, unmanned one-way attack drones at scale.

Announcing the programme, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth described drone dominance as both a technological and process race. In his memorandum Unleashing U.S. Military Drone Dominance, he stated: “We are buying what works, fast, at scale, and without bureaucratic delay. Lethality will not be hindered by self-imposed restrictions.”

Phase I of the programme, known as the Gauntlet, will begin on 18 February at Fort Benning. Military operators will fly and evaluate vendor systems directly. The evaluation will conclude in early March, when approximately US$150 million in prototype delivery orders are expected to be placed. Deliveries will begin shortly thereafter and continue over the following five months.

Drone Dominance is structured across four phases, with a total programme value of US$1.1 billion. Across these phases, unit prices are expected to fall, production volumes to rise, and operational capability to increase. The Department aims to field hundreds of thousands of systems by 2027.

The 25 invited companies span a broad mix of established defence suppliers, start-ups and technology-focused entrants, signalling a deliberate expansion of the procurement ecosystem.

Visiongain Insight: Drone Dominance represents a shift from platform-centric procurement to process-driven acquisition. Competitive cycles measured in months, not years, favour suppliers that can combine acceptable performance with manufacturing readiness and supply chain resilience. For industry, the opportunity lies less in technical novelty and more in the ability to deliver reliably and repeatedly.

Market Outlook

Defence markets remain structurally supported by long-term security requirements. Demand for responsiveness, industrial flexibility and upgrade capacity is rising alongside continued funding for traditional capability areas such as naval shipbuilding and combat aircraft sustainment.

Near-term uncertainty is less about intent and more about timing. Funding cadence, contracting reform and production readiness will determine which suppliers translate policy direction into durable market position. Firms that can demonstrate deployable capability, credible scaling plans and alignment with national priorities are best placed as defence reviews convert strategy into contracts.

Visiongain Insight: The next phase of defence market growth will be determined by delivery, not declaration. Suppliers that move quickly from development to output will capture disproportionate value as procurement systems reward execution over ambition.

Related Visiongain Market Reports

Visiongain market reports provide the detailed data and forward-looking insight needed to evaluate funding priorities, capability development, and execution risk in defence markets. Research is evidence-based and analyst-led, supporting informed decision-making across procurement, industrial planning, and long-term strategy.