Industry fairs and exhibitions are the place where big defence business is done, with billions’ worth of contracts being signed at the major events each year. With Eurosatory & co cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it won’t be business as usual this year – but how will business be done, and could this be the end of the large-scale arms fair as we know it?

Also in this issue, we explore how the defence industry has stepped in to support the response to the coronavirus pandemic, how recent events have highlighted the crucial role of armed forces in crisis response, and whether the economic fallout could have a negative impact on defence budgets. 

Plus, we take a look at the latest developments in electronic warfare around the globe, check in on some of the US military’s most promising laser weapon projects, and investigate why major naval programmes have a tendency to run significantly over time and budget. 

Susanne Hauner, publisher