Major defence tenders rarely begin when they appear on a procurement portal. Long before the formal process becomes visible, requirements are shaped, stakeholders form positions, narratives emerge and routes to market are tested. This Insight examines the hidden architecture behind strategic defence procurement and explains why serious consulting is less about access and more about understanding the system.

China’s Type 076 Sichuan trials are more than a ship milestone. They show how China is building a wider naval aviation ecosystem around carriers, amphibious assault ships, drones, fixed-wing aircraft and operations beyond the First Island Chain. The result is not yet parity with the US Navy, but it is a visible shift from naval mass towards aviation-enabled maritime power.