Bloomberg reports that the worldwide competition for cutting‑edge military technologies—artificial intelligence, hypersonic weapons, drones and space systems—has entered a new phase, with investment surpassing $2 trillion. The United States, China, Russia and Europe have all increased defense budgets and are heavily funding AI development, hypersonic missile programs, unmanned aircraft, space initiatives and missile‑defense systems. Russia is leading in hypersonic weapons, China in integrating AI into defense industries, and the United States in operational AI applications and missile‑defense development.
NATO and European allies are shifting their defense strategies from conventional equipment to advanced technologies, prioritizing indigenous defense systems, long‑range weapons, space projects and AI. Bloomberg notes that AI could become the decisive factor for future military superiority, while the erosion of arms‑control agreements heightens global competition.