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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


Armscor image
ARMSCOR – A strategic partner of choice for defence and security solutions
11th September 2026

State-owned company the Armaments Corporation of South Africa (Armscor) is an acquisition agency for the South African Department of Defence (DOD) and other organs of state and entities. Armscor’s... 


DOMESTIC DEFENCE: Paramount Group chairperson Mathews Phosa believes South Africa’s defence industry is poised to benefit from the pressing need to modernise the country’s military equipment. However, he says this benefit will flow only if orders are placed with local companies. Phosa was speaking during a showcase of the company’s portfolio at the Gerotek Test Facility, in Gauteng. Including the Paramount Mbombe 6, seen here embarking on a 31osteep descent to showcase its rough-terrain capabilities. Photograph:Creamer Media Chief Photographer Donna Slater
DOMESTIC DEFENCE
11th September 2026

DOMESTIC DEFENCE: Paramount Group chairperson Mathews Phosa believes South Africa’s defence industry is poised to benefit from the pressing need to modernise the country’s military equipment.... 


Image of rare earths
Freedom rare-earth separation and metallisation project, US
4th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The project forms part of a wider initiative that also includes the significant expansion of Phoenix Tailings’ existing US processing facilities. 


Graphite
Blencowe Resources’ Orom-Cross graphite used in successful US hypersonic rocket testing
1st September 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

LSE-listed Blencowe Resources has reported further successful testing of its Orom-Cross graphite products within advanced aerospace and defence applications. On August 18, Blencowe COO Iain Wearing... 


Hemerdon mine
UK gov makes strategic £71m investment to fully fund Tungsten West's Hemerdon mine restart
25th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The UK Government has committed up to £71-million through the National Wealth Fund to support the restart of Aim-listed Tungsten West's historic Hemerdon mine in Devon, securing access to one of... 


Hertha Metals plant in Texas
US-based Hertha achieves magnet-quality iron purity ahead of commercial plant build
18th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The developer of the world's first single-step process for producing steel and high-purity iron at lower cost, Hertha Metals, has successfully achieved iron production at 99.95% (3N5) purity, which... 


Fine antimony
Nova Minerals endorses US executive order on defence, critical minerals supply chain consolidation
27th July 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

NYSE- and ASX-listed Nova Minerals has welcomed an executive order by US President Donald Trump on July 20 to secure the US’s defence supply chains and ensure the domestic acquisition of critical... 


Image of components for Booyco Engineering’s third generation military HVAC system
Local company producing third generation military HVAC system
10th July 2026

South African heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) specialist Booyco Engineering says that full production of its third generation HVAC system for an 8 X 8 amphibious infantry vehicle... 


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,... 


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pqt: 0.088s - ct: 0.193s - 275pq - 2rq
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