Defense
Europe stands at a critical juncture in defense, facing a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape that demands renewed strategic investment and collaboration. Strengthening European defense capabilities is not only essential for security—it is a catalyst for innovation, industrial resilience, and long-term economic competitiveness.
Munich Security Conference 2026 Compendium
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European defense by the numbers
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The McKinsey European Defense Dashboard presented here provides a comprehensive set of metrics to track the evolving defense...
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Opportunities through consolidation in the European defense industry
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Supply chain consolidation could unlock €9 billion in annual run-rate cost synergies, while boosting interoperability and...
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Europe’s €1 trillion challenge for flexibility and scale
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Current European defense acquisition systems are no longer effective in the uncertain geopolitical landscape. Fundamental reform...
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Future defense tech: Multidomain stacks to build affordable mass
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In the face of modern warfare, a multidomain defense system is vital—necessitating a move from a vertically integrated...
Interview
Mike Schoellhorn on uniting European defense through scaled leadership and collaboration
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Europe can tackle fragmentation by collaborating on early tech maturation, practical approaches, and a winning team mindset,...
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Is Europe still on the launchpad? Reshaping its space ecosystem to lead
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Despite its advanced capabilities, the European space ecosystem’s competitive edge has eroded. Amid shifting space industry...
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Cutting Europe’s €800 billion Gordian knot: Five catalysts to transform defense
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Europe is at a critical juncture in its defense transformation, facing an urgent need to reinforce collective deterrence and...
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European defense tech start-ups: In it for the long run?
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A defense tech start-up ecosystem is developing in Europe as countries look to boost innovation in defense capabilities.
Interview
Innovation at Thales: An interview with Patrice Caine
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Patrice Caine, chair and CEO of Thales, shares insights on the role innovation plays in the defense sector, especially the current...
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Improving military aircraft sustainment to strengthen Europe’s defense
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With European NATO countries seeking to rapidly expand their defense capabilities, we explore how maintenance, repair, and overhaul...
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A different lens on Europe’s defense budgets
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European NATO countries are looking to ramp up their defense budgets—potentially adding much more direct in-country readiness...
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The future of European defense and security
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A new compendium explores European defense and security in the current geopolitical context, with articles on talent, supply...