Editor's letter

Issue 159 • Autumn 2026

Construction is an industry built on momentum. When things are moving, they move quickly. When they stall, the knock-on effects are felt everywhere – on programmes, on cash flow and on people.

Welcome to the 159th issue of Global Defence Technology magazine.

The US military’s munitions inventory is depleted, brought about by the combined pressures of ongoing support – albeit reduced – to Ukraine, and the massed expenditure of air defence missiles in the conflict against Iran.

As a result, the US is investing heavily into replenishing its stockpiles, awarded contracts across its industrial base to recapitalise its weapons portfolio. However, this could also impact export sales, as allies will have to wait for their own orders until Washington has completed its own rearmament.

Elsewhere, the naval vessels and surface combatant market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.2% over the next decade, reaching $90.3bn by 2036 and a cumulative expenditure of $772.5bn over the forecast period. Of individual platform types, frigates and destroyers are in a near-dead heat, with Asia-Pacific the strongest regional market.

Meanwhile, Global Defence Technology's sister publication Mining Technology provides expert insight into the importance of platinum-group metals in defence, which for manufacturers is less about the quantity consumed than the consequences of not having them.

In addition, our reporting and analyst teams explore other areas such as US Army mobility, the role of Türkiye’s defence primes in drone innovation, exclusive industry interviews, and much more.

All of the industry news, comment, and analysis available in Global Defence Technology leverages the GlobalData intelligence network, offering unparalleled insight to the data-driven factors and thematics driving defence.

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