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The World Ahead | Business in 2025

Conflict is driving investment in European defence firms

Established suppliers are rubbing up against a bunch of new startups

Illustration of soldiers in a defending circle, taking cover using the stars of the euro flag
Illustration: Ricardo Rey

By Kenneth Cukier, Deputy executive editor, The Economist

If there IS one iconic image from the Ukraine war, it may be that of a small drone destroying a Russian tank. Examples of such destruction abound on social media. The asymmetry of cost and damage typifies modern warfare. It is also spurring a major retooling of armed forces. In 2025 Europe’s traditional defence businesses will bump up against the innovation ecosystem of entrepreneurial startups.

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This article appeared in the Business section of the print edition of The World Ahead 2025 under the headline “Present new arms”

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