Passive radar can detect aircraft without transmitting a radar signal of its own. By exploiting FM radio, digital television, cellular networks and potentially satellite communications, these systems are becoming an increasingly important layer of modern air defence.

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine brought industrial-scale attrition back to Europe. The 2026 conflict with Iran is now straining high-end missile and interceptor inventories. This Deep Dive follows the new defence boom from government budgets to factory floors, examining who benefits, who pays and why its largest industrial effects may still lie ahead.

Artificial intelligence is no longer a future add-on to military operations. It is becoming the software layer through which modern warfare is increasingly seen, understood, and directed. From Palantir’s Maven Smart System to Ukraine’s DELTA ecosystem and NATO’s rapid adoption of AI-enabled command tools, battle management is shifting toward a new model where decision advantage matters as much as firepower. This deep dive examines how AI-supported battle management works, why it is gaining strategic importance, where its operational advantages lie, and why its rise is triggering growing controversy over speed, accountability, and the future role of humans in the kill chain.