Erginbilgic made the comments during Rolls-Royce’s second-quarter earnings call covering its first-half 2026 results. He did not disclose the potential value of business connected with the NATO commitments or provide expected engine volumes or revenue timing.
“Rolls-Royce also benefits from the commitments made at the recent NATO summit, including for Saab, GlobalEye, and MQ-4C Triton,” Erginbilgic said. His remarks did not include details on new Rolls-Royce contracts linked specifically to those programmes.
The reference to the MQ-4C Triton adds a US-focused element to a broader defence growth strategy described by the CEO. Erginbilgic also identified autonomous propulsion as a market with significant growth potential for Rolls-Royce.
He highlighted the US Navy’s successful first flight of the MQ-25A Stingray unmanned aerial refuelling vehicle, powered by Rolls-Royce AE engines. The milestone was among several developments Erginbilgic cited when discussing the company’s position in autonomous military aviation.
The CEO also pointed to the UK Defence Investment Plan, which includes a commitment to spend £5 billion on autonomous platforms over the next four years. Rolls-Royce is separately working under contract in Germany on a scalable core engine concept for multiple autonomous platforms in the medium Collaborative Combat Aircraft class.
Erginbilgic said Rolls-Royce aimed to complete the German engine concept work towards the end of 2026. He did not disclose the contract value or provide details about potential follow-on production.
The NATO programmes sit within a wider defence market that Rolls-Royce expects to support its growth over the medium term and beyond. Erginbilgic identified higher defence spending as one of the global trends behind the company’s longer-term growth prospects.
Rolls-Royce provided no separate financial forecast for GlobalEye or MQ-4C Triton during the call. Erginbilgic’s comments nevertheless placed both among the defence programmes the company expects to benefit from as government commitments support demand across its military portfolio.
