Opinion: Is deferential Duterte dancing with the devil?

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• Companies’ results boom as countries dig deep to buy missiles and air defence systems

  Air defence systems are continuing to appear top of countries’ shopping lists but broadly across different capabilities it is a sellers’ market, as demonstrated by backlogs and double-digit percentage point growth.

• Details revealed on Germany’s big spending plans

  In May this year, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the government plans to position Germany as “Europe's strongest conventional army”. A new blueprint outlines how this is going to occur through massive investment.

• European Council to deliver at “pace and scale” on European defence readiness 2030 roadmap

  Two of the concrete projects outlined in the readiness report, the European Air Shield and Space Shield, will aim to be launched by Q2 2026.

• Malaysia’s defence budget sets out major procurement goals for 2026

  The country has allocated RM21.70 billion for defence spending next year, with some major procurements set to be initiated across the country’s army, navy and air force.

• GAO highlights the need for more commercial data and availability improvements

  The US Government Accountability Office recently released two reports; one into the availability of selected equipment and another looking at how the government gets data and intellectual property rights through contracting.