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Specialist brief 02 · Defence & Security

How UK and European defence posture is shifting, and what that means for industry and policy.

A working read of defence and security developments across the UK, NATO, and European institutions. Focus on procurement, industrial base, alliance politics, and the policy signals that drive contracting and capability decisions.

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The Defence Brief, the cover of issue 02

What arrived on Sunday.

Issue 02, sent on Sunday 27th September 2026: the headline, the bottom line, one of the week’s assessments with how likely it is, and the week ahead, quoted as sent. The full issue ran to 33 pages.

An InStone Publication
Issue 02
Sunday 27th September 2026

Defence and sovereign capability; distilled

UK · NATO

The RAF has stood up its first squadron built to fight in space

The bottom line

The RAF's new space squadron is likely to become the permanent home of Britain's counter-satellite work, though its size and equipment are not public. Defence spending with UK industry hit a record £34.1bn, funded in part by capital budgets reallocated across government. The UK is likely to stay in Saudi air operations over Yemen.

From the assessments

Defence spending with UK industry will keep rising through the spending review period

Highly likely · 75 to 90%Confidence: Moderate

So what. Suppliers should aim at the sectors and regions where the growth is: electronics, weapons and ammunition, equipment support. The regional tables are also the strongest evidence base for local bids and political argument.

Where things stand

Consultations

  • The Future of Ilford Park Polish Home

    Government response

    Government response on 14th September.

The week ahead

  • 7Oct

    Briefing call for UK industry on the Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce swarming competition

    Ministry of Defence

  • 22Oct

    Submissions close for the Rapid AI Delivery Taskforce swarming competition

    Ministry of Defence

An excerpt. The full issue is a 33-page PDF: every assessment with its evidence, the outlook, the week on the record, method, caveats and a linked source for every point, sent with a short covering email.

A short email to read, a full report to keep.

  1. 01

    The bottom line: the week's judgement, before the working

  2. 02

    An assessment of each development, with how likely each outcome is

  3. 03

    Where the bills, regulations and consultations we follow now stand

  4. 04

    The week ahead: tenders, consultations and dates to watch

  5. 05

    A linked source for every point

Written for

Government and alliance policy staff, parliamentary researchers, and think tanks, alongside defence contractors and MoD suppliers working on dual-use or sovereign capability files.

Recent issues covered

  • The RAF's first squadron built to act in space
  • Record Ministry of Defence spending with UK industry, region by region
  • The 3% of GDP target and what the spending review has to settle
  • Conduct and complaints reform after the Shepherd and Hook court martial
  • UK support to Saudi air operations over Yemen

Often read alongside it.

All eight specialist briefs

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Essential reading for anyone shaping or responding to international trade policy.

Read about the Trade Brief

Specialist brief 06 · Financial Services

Regulatory and political signals across UK, EU, and international financial services.

Read about the Financial Brief

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