CMS Global Radar 2026 - third edition

We present the third edition of CMS Global Radar, bringing together legal perspectives on the developments that are redefining the global aerospace and defence sector.

Defence and space are no longer niche sectors. They are central to national policy, industrial strategy and cross-border collaboration. Governments are scaling investment, tightening regulatory frameworks and reshaping procurement models. At the same time, companies face growing pressure to secure supply chains, manage compliance risks and adapt to new technology.

In this environment, legal insight is not optional. It is a key part of decision-making.

In this edition, our CMS teams share updates from across jurisdictions. The focus is on practical issues that affect your business. You will find analysis of new procurement instruments, evolving defence strategies and emerging areas such as satellite communications, industrial policy and innovation incentives.

Each article looks at what is changing, why it matters and where risks and opportunities may arise. The aim is to help you assess your position and plan your next steps with clarity.

We continue to build this legal briefing as a platform for cross-border insight. By bringing together perspectives from across our network, we help you understand how national developments connect and where consistency or divergence may affect your operations.

If you would like to discuss any of the issues covered in this edition, contact your relevant CMS contacts. We will help you assess the impact and identify the right approach for your organisation.

Regulation and public procurement

• Third-country suppliers in public procurement in the EU
• Complex public procurement opportunities on the horizon
• The 35% rule and design authority: how EDIP’s third-country restrictions reshape defence supply chains

National strategies and policy direction

• The German Government’s National and Alliance Defence Strategy
• The Delhi–Paris axis: building a strategic partnership in the defence sector

Technology and emerging capabilities

• AI in Defence in Europe: Innovation, caution and the push for human control
• From Toys to Tactics: the evolution of drone regulation in Germany and Europe
• IRIS²: the future of European satellite communications – legal, technological and strategic implications for defence suppliers and telecommunications operators

Industrial policy and global developments

• Abu Dhabi launches defence industrial free zone

Innovation and tax

• French Research Tax Credit: key developments in 2025