新参与者、新压力、新机遇

Defense disrupted: new players, new pressures,new possibilitiesThe global defense market faces rapid change, driven byevolving military requirements and shifting acquisitionneeds. As nations navigate an increasingly volatilegeopolitical landscape, defense contractors face acritical imperative: swiftly adapt to remain competitiveamid ongoing disruption.Traditional defense contractors face a complex triplechallenge today. First, software-driven technologies—like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and new types of drones—are rapidly reshaping both market expectations anddefense capabilities. Second, the industry is beingdisrupted by new digital-native companies whosespeed and technological expertise create seriouscompetitive pressure. Third, alternative suppliers fromemerging countries, such as Turkey and South Korea,are introducing advanced, cost-effective solutions thatintensify global competition. These disruptions challengethe established defense market dynamics.Further complicating matters are shifting political andtrade relations between the United States and the restof the world. The wave of new tariffs from the US and itschanging approach toward allies and adversaries presentan additional major disruption for defense companies,especially those in Asia Pacific and Europe. These shiftsand accelerating deglobalization have already fueleda noticeable surge in European military spending,Preface Roberto Cingolani, CEO, Leonardo“The defense industry is facingunprecedented challenges, such asunmanned systems, AI, sixth-generationfighters, cybersecurity and space…technological cooperation is necessaryand urgent to accelerate progress andensure global security.”1Faisal Al Bannai, Chairman,EDGE Group“National defense, security and globalstanding are no longer definedexclusively by the number of rifles, tanksor physical resources in a country’sarsenal, but…by its technological prowessand capabilities.”2 stronger efforts toward strategic autonomy and industrialsovereignty, as well as a “buy European” approach.To understand and navigate these complex dynamicsbetter, we engaged directly with defense industryexecutives through our second annual in-depth surveyand interviews. Our research this year identified the keychallenges both established suppliers and new marketentrants face and surfaced strategic solutions for successamidst elevated uncertainty and changing conditions.The bottom line? All companies need to partner in newalliances that mitigate weaknesses and pool strengths.We find such strategic collaboration can help establishedcontractors and new market entrants overcome thechanging landscape as well as significant structuralchallenges they face. Established defense contractorsremain tied to traditional, inflexible business models,limiting their ability to swiftly pivot and incorporateinnovative technologies. New market entrants, while agileand innovative, often lack organizational depthand financial resources necessary to fully capitalize onmarket opportunities.Our research underscores how effectively leveraging eachother’s strengths, like incumbents’ established marketpresence and newcomers’ innovative agility, can positionthe entire industry to better respond to shifting dynamics. AuthorsContributorsDavid Max Korzen | Kamil Mazurek | Nicholas Neforas | Jeremy Riehl | Navdeep Saboo | Jeffrey WhelessJohn Schmidt leads Accenture’s global Aerospaceand Defense practice, guiding a team that deliverstransformational solutions across commercialaerospace, defense, and space. With deep industryexpertise, John has helped major OEMs and Tier 1suppliers drive strategy, improve operations, andboost shareholder value. He is known for managinglarge global teams and delivering programs that cutcosts and enhance performance. John’s experiencespans aerospace and defense, as well as sectors likeconsumer electronics and health sciences. Beforerejoining Accenture in 2013, he held leadershiproles at Capgemini Consulting and UnderwriterLaboratories, among others. Based in Chicago,John serves on the Aerospace Industry Association’sBoard of Governors and is a frequent speaker onindustry trends, AI, and the supply chain. Defense disrupted: new players, new pressures,new possibilitiesLaunched in 2024, the Accenture InternationalDefense Insight Report is an answer to the growingneed for data-driven insight on changing dynamicsin the defense environment globally. For thissecond annual report, Accenture combined analysisof primary and secondary research on ongoingdisruption in the defense market and industryresponses to changing market dynamics. Weconducted primary research through a survey of 80industry executives from both established suppliersand emerging market entrants from 19 countriesin North America, Europe and growth markets,alongside interviews with current and former defenseexecutives. We supplemented both methods withfinancial analysis of major defense companies, as wellas analysis of the secondary sources including thirdparty