This Week in Dual-Use by Sam Burrell

Nov. 12, 2025 - Three major developments in dual-use and defence tech.

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Hegseth announces procurement overhaul

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced a sweeping procurement overhaul that prioritises speed and mandates a “commercial-first” approach, signalling a shift away from bespoke, cost-plus contracting and toward productised, software-style defence technologies. That is good news for early-stage defence startups.

European Space Agency takes on defence role

The European Space Agency is preparing to take on an explicit defence role for the first time, responding to growing counter-space threats from Russia and China; this could open a significant new market for European space-defence companies that have previously relied on the US for customers.

China unveils jellyfish-like underwater drone

China has unveiled a jellyfish-like biomimetic underwater drone designed for ultra-stealthy surveillance. This reflects a broader surge in autonomous underwater and maritime monitoring technologies, mirrored in Western activity such as Helsing’s acquisition of Blue Ocean and Anduril’s earlier purchase of Dive Technologies.

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Samuel Burrell is a Partner at Expeditions, investing in the future of security in Europe.

His weekly newsletter covers developments in dual-use and defence technologies, picking out the changes in the sector, giving them context and analysis.