Defence Fiasco in Europe! Opportunity for Airbus, Hensoldt and MTU Aero Engines? Multi-Bagger Potential in Antimony Resources Shares!

Another Defence Fiasco in Europe

While the US, Russia, and China are rearming and securing raw materials, Europe continues to lag. The latest concrete example of European disunity is the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) fighter jet project. After years of dispute, the multi-billion-euro project has finally failed. Germany and France have ended the development of a joint sixth-generation fighter jet. They could not agree on which of the participating industrial groups, Airbus or Dassault, would take the lead. They also apparently failed to reach common ground on access to technology, patent rights, and the division of labour. Originally launched as a flagship European project, the program was intended to replace today's Eurofighter and Rafale fleets starting in 2040. Instead, the project is ending as one of Europe's biggest defence fiascos.

Now Germany and France will develop their own models and set out to find partners. Airbus is also already looking ahead. Together with several German defence and technology companies, the "Team Gen 6" initiative was launched, which aims to develop its own concept for a next-generation fighter jet.

The Airbus-led consortium plans to officially present itself at the ongoing ILA aviation trade fair in Berlin and sign a joint declaration of intent. The German federal government has already been informed in advance.

A Boost for Hensoldt and MTU Aero Engines Shares?

In addition to Airbus, "Team Gen 6" includes the publicly traded companies Hensoldt and MTU Aero Engines, as well as Diehl Defence, MBDA, and Rohde & Schwarz. This could represent a major opportunity for Hensoldt. The company is one of the leading suppliers of sensor, radar, and electronic systems for modern air combat systems. Should the Airbus consortium be awarded the contract for a new European fighter jet program, Hensoldt could play a key role in radar, reconnaissance, and networking technologies and thus benefit in the long term from development and production contracts worth billions.

Hensoldt shares have not yet benefited from this. Yet the company could certainly use some new growth momentum. So far this year, the stock has lost about 15% of its value. Most recently, Deutsche Bank confirmed its "Buy" recommendation. The analysts' price target is EUR 101. Yesterday, Hensoldt shares were trading just above EUR 78.

MTU Aero Engines shares have fallen by more than 18% so far in 2026. Analysts have recently been rather cautious. For RBC, Berenberg, and Warburg, MTU shares are currently only a "Hold".

Antimony Resources: Over 100% Upside Potential to the Year's High

The escalation in Iran shows that raw material supply and security will remain a critical issue. The US has recognized this and has been building a strategic raw material reserve since 2025. This includes the critical metal antimony. It is not only essential for the defence industry but also, for example, for semiconductors and flame retardants.

In March 2026, the US government allocated funding to expand the extraction, processing, and refining of antimony in order to reduce dependence on China. Antimony Resources could soon benefit from this as well.

The antimony explorer has provided further evidence of the great potential of its deposit with the latest results from its winter trenching program at the Bald Hill project in New Brunswick. In the newly defined South Zone, located about 900 m south of the Main Zone, 38 rock samples were collected along a section over 200 m long. The analyses returned an average of 19.5% antimony, with peak values reaching as high as 44.2% antimony. The South Zone trends northwest-southeast, similar to the Main Zone, and appears to represent a distinct, parallel mineralization structure. This significantly expands the project's exploration potential beyond the previously known areas.

For management, the results confirm the assumption that Bald Hill could be significantly larger than previously thought. CEO James Atkinson emphasized that the high-grade discoveries impressively underscore the potential of the newly identified zones. Drilling that has already begun is now intended to verify the extent and continuity of the mineralization. In parallel, the company is planning extensive further exploration measures, including aerial geophysical surveys, soil sampling programs, and additional mapping and trenching. Given a concession area of more than 3,700 hectares, only a portion of which has been systematically explored to date, Antimony Resources finds itself in a promising position to significantly expand the resource base of the Bald Hill project in the coming months.

At present, an attractive buying opportunity could be emerging for investors. Just a few months ago, the stock was still trading at around EUR 1. Yesterday, the stock was quoted at EUR 0.39. The company's market capitalization remains modest at CAD 65 million. At the same time, the news flow continues to be positive. Analysts at GBC Research estimate the fair value of Antimony Resources at CAD 3.

Antimony Resources remains operationally on track. If the ongoing drilling programs continue to deliver convincing data, the stock should also regain upward momentum. Defence stocks are currently lacking momentum. However, if plans for a multi-billion-euro contract for "Team Gen 6" materialize, this could provide new impetus for MTU Aero Engines and Hensoldt. The performance of Airbus shares is largely driven by developments in its commercial aviation segment.