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Defense ETF

Invest in the Global Defense Industry

Marketing Communication

Amid global uncertainty, the topic of security and defense returned to the financial investors’ minds. VanEck‘s Defense ETF provides investors with an opportunity to invest in the leaders of defense technologies, large-scale cybersecurity and providers of relevant services.

Defense ETF - Fund Overview

VanEck Defense UCITS ETF

  • Exposure to companies at the forefront of the global defense industry
  • Diversified exposure to major market participants
  • A comparatively transparent investment possibility in this industry
    Key risks to consider:
  • Government budget cuts or export restrictions can quickly reduce revenues.
  • Legal or reputational issues may affect even leading companies.
  • Sector focus increases volatility compared to broader markets.
  • Please refer to the KID and the Prospectus for other important information before investing.
DFNS

ETF Details

ETF Details

Basis-Ticker:DFNS
ISIN:IE000YYE6WK5copy-icon
TER:0.55%
AUM:$7.1 B (as of 04-12-2025)
SFDR Classification:Article 6

Lower risk

Typically lower reward

Higher risk

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Risk: Investors in the Defense ETF may lose money up to the total loss of their investment due to the Main Risk Factors such as Industry or Sector Concentration Risk and Liquidity Risks as described in the KID and prospectus.

Changing Tides

Traditionally, defense investments have been a sensitive topic in the Developed World. The share of EU Defense Spending dipped below 2% after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the USSR and has not recovered since. However, due to the recent geopolitical conflicts and global security worries, the paradigm started shifting. The Western European governments, perennial violators of NATO’s 2% military expenditure rules, announced serious investments into defensive infrastructure and stockpiles as well as the intent to stick to the 2% rule going forward. The ongoing war in Ukraine showed deficiencies in countries lack of ammunitions capacities and put a spotlight on a chronic underinvestment in maintenance.

  • Germany
  • Netherlands
  • Sweden

In May 2022, German government passed a bill allocating €100bn to a special fund for armaments in a so-called „Zeitenwende“ - a change of a long-standing defensive policy. The government also announced its intention to increase its yearly defense by €10bn in 2023.


(West) Germany Defense Spending, % of GDP

Source: Reuters, World Bank.

The government of the Netherlands has approved an additional €5bn in defense investments in a structureal policy shift. This will bring a 40% increase to the defense budget in 2023.


Netherlands Defense Spending, % of GDP

Source: Reuters, World Bank.

Traditionally neutral Sweden faced a drastic public opinion shift, which encouraged the country to pursue a NATO membership. The incoming government announced their plans to ramp up the defense investments to reach the 2% target by 2026.

Sweden Defense Spending, % of GDP

Source: Reuters, World Bank.

A History of Innovation

Defense companies often invest heavily in research and development to create cutting-edge technology and products. This focus on innovation can lead to advancements that spill over to areas beyond just military use.

  • Jet Engines
  • GPS
  • Internet
  • Microwave Ovens

Jet engines were developed by the military in the 1940s for the jet fighters and have since been adapted for use in commercial aircraft, which have revolutionized air travel.


Source: Britannica.

Global Positioning System, which is now commonly used in mobile devices for navigation, was originally developed by the US military for navigation and targeting purposes.


Source: U.S. Department of Defense.

ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet was developed by the US Department of Defense in the 1960s as a way to facilitate communication and information sharing between military installations.


Source: Britannica.


Internet hosts count (IPv4) – log scale


Internet hosts count (IPv4) – log scale


Source: Internet Systems Consortium.

In 1937 a group of UK physicists built a first multi-cavity magnetron, an instrument capable of producting short waves, for the British and American military radar installations in World War II. In 1940, as the need in more precise measurments arose, English scientists invented a valve that for the first time could produce pulses of microwave radio energy at a wavelength of 10 cm – so-called microvawes. In 1945, the heating effect of a high-power microwave beam was accidentally discovered by Percy Spencer, an American engineer employed by Raytheon at the time. Raytheon later licensed its patents for the first home-use microwave oven produced in 1955.


Source: Whirlpool.

Comprehensive Methodology of a Defense ETF

VanEck‘s Defense ETF adopts a robust approach to select and screen the companies included in the investment strategy, based on its long-standing experience in ETF construction. Only “pure play” companies (i.e., companies with at least 50% revenues in defense) are eligible to enter the Fund.

Click on the following buttons for more info:

Thematic Approach Liquidity Controversy Screening

Source: MarketVector Indexes.

Main Risk Factors of a Defense ETF

  • Industry or Sector Concentration Risk
  • Equity Market Risk
  • Liquidity Risks
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The Fund’s assets may be concentrated in one or more particular sectors or industries. The Fund may be subject to the risk that economic, political or other conditions that have a negative effect on the relevant sectors or industries will negatively impact the Fund's performance to a greater extent than if the Fund’s assets were invested in a wider variety of sectors or industries.

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The prices of the securities in the Fund are subject to the risks associated with investing in the securities market, including general economic conditions and sudden and unpredictable drops in value. An investment in the Fund may lose money.

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Exists when a particular financial instrument is difficult to purchase or sell. If the relevant market is illiquid, it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous or reasonable price, or at all.

For more information on risks, please see the “Risk Factors” section of the relevant Fund’s prospectus, available on www.vaneck.com.

Please contact us for more information: