The aerospace and defence (A&D) sector is undergoing a profound transformation.

Amid increasingly complex challenges, including cost pressures, persistent supply chain disruptions, unstable geopolitical scenarios, and demand for faster development cycles, organisations are rethinking how they design, build, and deliver.

The latest report from the Capgemini Research Institute, The strategic edge: How digital continuity drives business outcomes in aerospace and defence, explores how digital continuity is emerging as a critical enabler of this transformation, helping A&D organisations integrate data across the product lifecycle, reduce time to market, and respond faster to demand surges.

Key findings from the report include:

Digital continuity is a top priority for the C-suite: More than 80% of executives view digital continuity as essential to business transformation and a key driver of competitive advantage.

Strategic investment leads to measurable impact: In 2024, A&D organisations allocated an average of 2.1% of annual revenue to digital continuity initiatives. These investments are already delivering value – driving a 13% reduction in time to market, and a 17% increase in quality.

Faster, smarter, and more resilient production ramp up: 86% of organisations say that digital continuity enables rapid production ramp-up, while 77% believe it accelerates operational processes to ramp up.

With insights from an industry survey of 179 senior executives at leading A&D organisations across 16 countries, The strategic edge provides C-suite executives with clear recommendations for accelerating digital continuity benefits:

  • Design a clear digital continuity strategy
  • Build interoperability across systems to close the feedback loop
  • Ensure robust  data and model management practices
  • Build a connected supply chain integrated with operations
  • Implement a cultural change management strategy for digital continuity.

By following these recommendations, A&D executives can use digital continuity as a tool to help guide them through the pressures of transformation, toward great value and competitive advantage. To discover more about how A&D organisations can accelerate digital continuity benefits, download the report today.