Investing into Defence Assets

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By Dr. Mike Körner und Dr. Martin Krause //

More than two years after Russia’s major attack on Ukraine, the super cycle in the defence sector has led to a strong and growing interest of private investors, family offices and private equity in the sector. The valuations of defence assets have now reached new, ambitious heights. For investors with little experience in the defence sector, it is therefore even more important to correctly value the pitfalls and specifics of the industry.

Creating defence-specific growth projections

Traditional corporate planning as the basis for a company valuation is reaching its limits in these times. Traditional market data and analyses such as Jane’s Defence only partially reflect the dynamics of the expected growth. There is a lack of a reliable market projection. Estimating the top-down market potential requires not only a good understanding of the military planning logic, but also specific industry expertise.

Understanding technological change & innovation

The war in Ukraine is an impressive example of the impact that technological innovation can have on the weapon systems used and their military value, for example in the areas of unmanned systems or digitalisation. Such rapid and far-reaching changes have a fundamental impact on military planning and the resulting future requirements and procurements. For an investor, this results in significant opportunities and risks with regards to their defence investment strategy.

Identifying defence-specific risks

In the particular context of the defence industry, there are a number of constraints, specifics, and pitfalls that need to be included in the assessment. Some example keywords here are procurement cycles, complex programmes, technological developments, export control, political stakeholders, and financing problems. All of these industry-specific issues must be realistically factored in when making the assessment.

Incorporating defence-specific expertise

ACTRANS is a management consultancy with a focus on the defence sector and has experience in supporting defence investors in the areas of commercial, technical and programme due diligence. By integrating our network of defence experts, we are able to assist with specific topics in all military domains.

Deterring Russia – Consequences from Russian military aggression for Europe

Digital event on Thursday, January, 13th 2022, 5 pm CET //

European countries and NATO have been dealing with Russian military probing, subversion, disinformation, cyberattacks, and overt diplomatic and economic pressure for many years. However, the latest military force build-up at the Ukrainian border as well as the open military threats of Russia against NATO members increase the probability of an open military conflict.

Is NATO / Germany prepared for a military conflict? What needs to be done.

Speaker

Ben Hodges

Ben is Pershing Chair in Strategic Studies of the CEPA Think Tank. During his impressive military career in the US army, he served in many countries. In his last mission before retirement, he served as commanding general for the United States Army Europe. Ben is co-author of many publications on Deterring Russia a.o. “One Flank, One Threat, One Presence- A Strategy for NATO’s Eastern Flank (2020)” as well as recently published book “Future War and the Defence of Europe” (2021).

Form

Digital Event via GoToWebinar, approx. 1 hour, in English language, free of charge.

Video recording

To access the video recording, please register via the link below.

Video recording

This link to the GoToWebinar recording is identical to the link for registering for the webinar. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to access the recording.

Russia’s Strategy in Cyberspace

Digital event on Wednesday, September, 8th 2021, 5 pm CET //

Headlines connecting Russia to the vague notion of ‘cyber’ have become daily bread for Western publics and decision makers alike. As part of Russia’s information confrontation, Russia uses the cyberspace for physical attacks on infrastructure as well as cognitive attacks such as disinformation. Russia’s centre of gravity in the ‘information confrontation’ lies in peoples’ minds and perception of events, both domestically and internationally.

Speaker

Jazlyn Melnychuk

Jazlyn is co-author of the NATO StratCom report “Russia’s Strategy in Cyberspace” and works for the Canadian Department of National Defence.

Form

Digital Event via GoToWebinar, approx. 1 hour, in english language, free of charge

Video recording

To access the video recording, please register via the link below.

Video recording

This link to the GoToWebinar recording is identical to the link for registering for the webinar. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to access the recording.

Drone war – the military paradigm change: Lessons learned from Nagorno-Karabakh and Syrian battle-space

Digital event on Wednesday, February, 10 2021, 5 pm CET //

Modern drones have entered the battlespace and are changing dramatically the nature of future conflicts. High value traditional land units, artillery as well as even sophisticated air-defence capabilities are highly vulnerable against advanced drone warfare weaponry and concepts. Furthermore, troops get demoralized by the continuing threatening presence of UAVs. The Azerbaijani-Armenian as well as the Syrian battlespace offer important lessons-learned for the military community.

Speaker

Dr. Can Kasapoglu

Defense expert and military analyst working as director of the Security and Defence Research program at the Istanbul-based think-tank EDAM.

Form

Digital Event via GoToWebinar, approx. 1 hour, in English language, free of charge

Video recording

To access the video recording, please register via the link below.

Video recording

This link to the GoToWebinar recording is identical to the link for registering for the webinar. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to access the recording.

Next Generation Technologies for FCAS (Future Combat Air System)

Digital event on Tuesday, September, 15 2020, 1 pm CET //

The Future Combat Air System will introduce remote carrier vehicles (swarming drones) as well as a New Generation Fighter (NGF), which are all enabled by new technologies such as artificial intelligence as well as next generation stealth technology. But which technologies are FCAS relevant and how do you plan technology developments until the year 2040? In order to have a deep dive into these technology topics. we have the great pleasure to have two FCAS technology experts as guest speakers.

Experts

  • Christian Munzinger
    FCAS R&T Coordinator Airbus DS
  • Mario Hertzog
    FACS Portfolio Integration and Development Manager Airbus DS

Form

Digital Event via GoToWebinar, approx. 1 hour, in english language, free of charge

Video recording

To access the video recording, please register via the link below.

Video recording

This link to the GoToWebinar recording is identical to the link for registering for the webinar. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to access the recording.

Military Space

Digital event on August 26 th, 2020, 5 p.m. //

You are cordially invited to a digital event by ACTRANS, a young boutique management consultancy specialized in aerospace & defense on Wednesday, August 26th, 2020, 5 p.m., on the subject:

Digital event: “Military Space” August 26thth, 5 p.m.

Modern societies are increasingly dependent on space applications in the fields of communication, navigation and science. However, the concerns about security of space assets are increasing as several countries deploy anti-satellite (ASAT) capabilities and declare space as military operational domain.

Speaker

Daniel Salzer

Partner at ACTRANS, a young boutique management consultancy specialized in aerospace & defence.

Video recording

To access the video recording, please register via the link below.

Video recording

This link to the GoToWebinar recording is identical to the link for registering for the webinar. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to access the recording.

Impact of quantum technologies on Aerospace & Defence

Digital event on Wednesday, July 8th, 2020, 5 p.m. //

You are cordially invited to a digital event by ACTRANS, a young boutique management consultancy specialized in aerospace & defense on Wednesday, July 8th, 2020, 5 p.m., on the subject: “Impact of quantum technologies on Aerospace & Defence”

Currently, we are at the beginning of what is called ‘second quantum revolution’, with the emergence of a large variety of new disruptive applications and products in the field of Aerospace and Defence.

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Tommaso Calarco

He is heading the institute for Quantum Control at Forschungszentrum Jülich with focus on quantum technologies (quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum simulation, quantum sensing).

Form

Digital event (via GoToWebinar) on Wednesday, July 8th, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. CEST (approx. 1 hour)

Video recording

To access the video recording, please register via the link below.

Video recording

This link to the GoToWebinar recording is identical to the link for registering for the webinar. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to access the recording.

A pilot’s perspective on FCAS (Future Combat Air System)

Digital event on June 24th, 2020 //

You are cordially invited to a digital event by ACTRANS, a young boutique management consultancy specialized in aerospace & defense on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020, 5 p.m., on the subject:

Pilot’s perspective on FCAS (Future Combat Air System)

The Future Combat Air System will introduce remote carrier vehicles (swarming drones) as well as a New Generation Fighter (NGF), which are all enabled by new technologies such as artificial intelligence. But what will be the role of human intelligence / a prior pilot?

Speaker

Nicola Baumann

She became second female fighter pilot in the history of the German Air Force and now is focusing on new FCAS technologies from a pilot’s perspective.

Form

Digital event (via GoToWebinar) on Wednesday, June 24th, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. CEST (approx. 1 hour)

Video recording

To access the video recording, please register via the link below.

Video recording

This link to the GoToWebinar recording is identical to the link for registering for the webinar. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to access the recording.

Hypersonic Missile Threat

Digital event on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at 5 p.m. //

As part of BDLI initiative ILA goes digital, ACTRANS, a boutique management consultancy specialized in aerospace & defense is inviting you to a series of digital events in June & July.  

You are cordially invited to the initial digital event on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, 5 p.m., on the subject:

“Hypersonic Missile Threat”

Russia and China are progressing well on hypersonic weapon systems. What is the potential of hypersonic weapon systems and how could defensive capabilities against hypersonic systems be applied?

Speaker

Dr. Markus Schiller

He is a specialized missile system analyst and one of the key German experts in the field of hypersonic threats.   

Form

Digital event (via GoToWebinar) on Wednesday, June 10, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. CEST (approx. 1 hour)

Video recording

To access the video recording, please register via the link below.

Video recording

This link to the GoToWebinar recording is identical to the link for registering for the webinar. After registration you will receive a confirmation email with information on how to access the recording.