2025 air market review: European defence independence, next-gen tech and export concerns dominate
The F-35 Block 4 development has been delayed until around 2031. (Photo: USAF)
This year’s (geo)political turmoil has challenged many long-prevailing assumptions, leading to far-reaching consequences for air forces and their supplier bases in industry worldwide – with five key trends in review for 2025.
2025 will clearly be remembered largely for one event: the re-election of Donald Trump, whose impact on the global system has for his opponents been an unmitigated disaster and for his supporters the fulfilment of many dreams.
While various other forces, personalities and random events may have significant sway over the course of 2026, the unscripted ponderings of the US president – and the agendas of those at home and abroad with whom he speaks – will likely remain the greatest single factor governing world events.
As the year draws to a close, this analysis identifies five major defence aerospace
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