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Defence

Defence is the industry sector encompassing the design, manufacture, procurement and maintenance of military equipment, weapons systems, platforms and technologies for national security and armed forces operations. The sector includes aerospace and aviation (fighter jets, helicopters, drones), naval systems (warships, submarines), land systems (armoured vehicles, artillery), munitions, missile systems, cybersecurity, intelligence and surveillance technologies, and command-and-control infrastructure. Defence is a strategically sensitive industry characterised by high barriers to entry, long development cycles, substantial government funding and close collaboration between state agencies and private contractors. Major defence-producing nations include the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, South Korea and Japan, with companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Airbus Defence and Space, and Northrop Grumman among the global leaders. The sector is a significant consumer of advanced materials and rare-earth elements, particularly for precision-guided munitions, radar systems, jet engines, electronic warfare equipment and permanent magnets in motors and actuators. Defence spending is driven by geopolitical tensions, modernisation programmes, technological competition and national sovereignty considerations. The industry is subject to stringent export controls, international arms treaties and domestic procurement regulations. Technological convergence with semiconductors, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and hypersonics is reshaping the defence landscape, while supply-chain security and critical-mineral access have become strategic priorities for defence planners worldwide.

Defence News


USA Rare Earth Round Top project site
USA Rare Earth to invest $1.2bn in South Carolina facility to boost domestic supply
3rd June 2026 By: Reuters

USA Rare Earth said on Tuesday it will invest $1.2-billion to build a magnet manufacturing and rare earth metals facility in South Carolina, as it expands domestic production capacity. Shares of... 


Components for Booyco Engineering’s third generation military HVAC system move through production as the company ramps up full-scale manufacturing for advanced 8x8 amphibious infantry vehicle applications
Booyco Engineering Advances Military HVAC With Third Generation System Now in Full Production
29th May 2026

Booyco Engineering has moved into full production of its third generation heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system for a customer’s latest 8x8 amphibious infantry vehicles. This... 


US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping
Trump, Xi to weigh rare earth truce extension, but China's curbs still bite
13th May 2026 By: Reuters

China and the US are considering extending a truce on Chinese rare earth export curbs at a leaders' summit this week, but Chinese customs data shows Beijing is still throttling shipments of the... 


Piles of critical minerals
Need for hedging could spur new derivatives for niche critical minerals, Traxys CEO says
23rd April 2026 By: Reuters

Derivative contracts for niche critical minerals including rhenium could emerge over time as supply concerns and price volatility push industrial users to seek better hedging tools, said Mark... 


Autonomous drone
Adisyn granted use of ‘breakthrough’ stealth drone IP
22nd April 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Adisyn has been granted worldwide exclusive rights to commercialise graphene-based radar signature reduction technology, marking a transition from research to a structured commercial... 


Image of a technician assembling a HVAC unit
S Africa-based company expands global presence in defence sector
17th April 2026

South Africa-based Booyco Engineering is supplying specialised heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to global defence-industry customers. The company’s recent projects include... 


KEY BENEFITS
From a sustainability perspective, the three key benefits of additive manufacturing are that it reduces material waste compared with subtractive methods, enables material reuse and lowers logistics requirements and associated costs
Additive manufacturing gains traction in niche production
10th April 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

Greater adoption of additive manufacturing is enabling South African manufacturers to produce complex, low-volume components more cost effectively, says additive manufacturing company Aditiv... 


Pipestone XL nickel alloy project area
First Atlantic’s awaruite recognised as strategic for US defence industry
1st April 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V-listed First Atlantic Nickel Corporation has been accepted as a member of the US Defence Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC). The DIBC operates as a consortium-based contracting vehicle under... 


Drawing on 45 years of experience, Booyco Engineering rapidly designs and delivers military-approved HVAC and climate-control systems
Booyco Engineering strengthens global defence footprint with mission-critical HVAC solutions
23rd March 2026

As geopolitical uncertainty drives renewed defence investment in many regions, South Africa-based Booyco Engineering is providing specialised industrial HVAC solutions to a global customer base.... 


Booyco Engineering HVAC/climate control system manufacturing facility, with workers
Faster delivery times trending as geopolitical climate boosts defence contracts
20th February 2026 By: Tracy Klückow

The need for rapid development and delivery of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) units, and climate-control systems for military use is well known. However, the geopolitical issues... 


The above image depicts CSIR CEO Dr Thulani Dlamini and Denel CEO Tsepo Monaheng signing the memorandum of understanding
Partnership formalisation advances SA aerospace, military technology
20th February 2026

To strengthen their collaboration – which is aimed at advancing research, technology development, innovation, knowledge sharing and technology commercialisation –  national research organisation... 


The above image depicts Zero USV MD Matthew Ratsey
New USV increases payload and capacity possibilities
20th February 2026 By: Lynne Davies

A new class of large, long-distance, high payload uncrewed service vehicle (USV) –  the Oceanus 17 –  by marine automation company Zero USV, will enable the autonomous deployment of defence,... 


Image of Etion Create’s CheetahNAV Compact
South African electronics system showcased at defence expo
19th February 2026

Pretoria-based electronics company Etion Create unveiled a range of products, including cybersecurity systems, at the recently held World Defense Show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The company’s new... 


Canada's defence strategy opens door for critical minerals, resource growth
Canada's defence strategy opens door for critical minerals, resource growth
19th February 2026 By: Mariaan Webb

Canada’s newly unveiled defence industrial strategy could unlock opportunities for the country’s mining and critical minerals sectors, as policymakers look to strengthen national security while... 


New African defence exhibition, set for October, formally launched in Nigeria
6th February 2026 By: Rebecca Campbell

The launch of the first ever Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) has been officially announced. The event will be held from October 26 to October 29 this year at Eko Atlantic,... 


Mining billionaire Robert Friedland
Australian miner backed by Robert Friedland expects to supply US critical minerals stockpile, CEO says
4th February 2026 By: Reuters

An Australian scandium project backed by mining billionaire Richard Friedland is expected to contribute to the $12-billion US critical minerals stockpile, the company's CEO told Reuters on... 


attendees at the airforce exhibition
National recognition strengthens ambitions
16th January 2026 By: Devina Haripersad

The South African government has formally declared the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition a national event. It is hosted by several governmental bodies, including the Department of... 


Copper produced in Chile
AI to boost copper demand 50% by 2040, but more mines needed to ensure supply, S&P says
8th January 2026 By: Reuters

Growth in the artificial intelligence and defence sectors will boost global copper demand 50% by 2040, but supplies are expected to fall short by more than 10-million metric tons annually without... 


Metal Heart clinches Seifsa award for patient-specific medical implants
Metal Heart clinches Seifsa award for patient-specific medical implants
8th December 2025

Additive manufacturer Metal Heart has been named the winner of the Additive Manufacturing BRICS+ Award at the tenth Steel and Engineering Industry Federation of Southern Africa (Seifsa) Awards for... 


Red Mountain joins US critical minerals momentum with OTCQB listing
Red Mountain joins US critical minerals momentum with OTCQB listing
5th November 2025 By: Mariaan Webb

Acquisitive antimony company Red Mountain Mining is gearing up to join the growing US critical minerals movement, with the ASX-listed explorer announcing plans to begin trading on the OTCQB, as it... 


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