WisdomTree Expands Defence ETF Range with Asia and Global Exposures

Providing targeted access to structural defence spending cycles across global and Asia-Pacific markets

WisdomTree, a global financial innovator, has today announced the launch of the WisdomTree Asia Defence UCITS ETF (WDAF) and the WisdomTree Global Defence UCITS ETF (WDGF). The ETFs¹ seek to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree Asia Defence UCITS Index and the WisdomTree Global Defence UCITS Index, respectively. WDAF has a Total Expense Ratio (TER) of 0.50%, while WDGF has a TER of 0.40%.

Both ETFs listed today on Börse Xetra, Borsa Italiana, Euronext Paris and SIX Swiss Exchange, and will list on the London Stock Exchange on 1 April 2026.

The launches expand WisdomTree’s successful range of defence ETFs and provide investors with differentiated ways to access what is increasingly becoming a structural, policy-driven investment theme as governments around the world prioritise national security, military readiness and domestic defence industrial capacity.

The new ETFs build on the success of the $5.258bn WisdomTree Europe Defence UCITS ETF (WDEF), which launched in March 2025 and was the fastest equity ETF ever in Europe to reach $3bn in AUM. This investor demand has continued into 2026 as geopolitical conflicts have reaffirmed the investment case for defence, resulting in $1.3bn in net flows this year.

Defence spending has shifted from a cyclical or event-driven trade to a longer-term policy priority across multiple regions. Governments are strengthening military capabilities, rebuilding stockpiles, modernising equipment and investing in advanced technologies ranging from cyber capabilities and space systems to unmanned platforms and artificial intelligence.

These priorities typically translate into multi-year procurement programmes, sustained research and development investment and long-duration order backlogs, creating a more persistent demand environment for defence companies than many traditional industrial cycles.

Pierre Debru, Head of Research, Europe, WisdomTree, said: “Defence has become a structural investment theme rather than a short-term reaction to geopolitical events. Governments are embedding defence spending into long-term security strategies, creating sustained procurement pipelines and industrial investment cycles. With these new ETFs, investors can access the theme through both a global strategy that captures multiple rearmament cycles and a dedicated Asia strategy focused on a region where defence spending is accelerating rapidly.”

The WisdomTree Asia Defence UCITS ETF targets defence companies across the Asia-Pacific region (excluding China). The strategy aims to capture a rising defence investment cycle across Asia as governments expand budgets, strengthen domestic supply chains and prioritise strategic autonomy amid rising geopolitical tensions and a renewed US strategic focus.

The WisdomTree Global Defence UCITS ETF provides focused exposure to companies globally that derive a meaningful portion of their revenues from defence activities. By focusing on firms directly involved in defence manufacturing, systems and technologies, the strategy seeks to avoid dilution from broader industrial or civil aerospace revenues often present in traditional sector classifications. The global strategy seeks to capture multiple rearmament cycles simultaneously, reflecting differences in procurement timelines, capability priorities and defence spending across regions. By broadening the opportunity set beyond a single country or supply chain, it offers diversified exposure to the global defence industry.

Both ETFs prioritise companies with significant defence revenues, applying a revenue-based exposure scoring and weighting methodology and thoughtful investability criteria to maintain thematic purity while ensuring diversification and liquidity. The indices also incorporate screens that exclude companies involved in certain controversial weapons, as defined in the index methodology.

Alexis Marinof, CEO, Europe, WisdomTree, added: “WisdomTree has built a strong reputation for delivering differentiated thematic ETFs backed by proprietary research and index design expertise. The addition of Global Defence and Asia Defence strengthens our defence offering and provides investors with new ways to access a theme that is becoming increasingly important in portfolios. As geopolitical tensions persist and governments prioritise security and resilience, defence remains a powerful example of how policy-driven megatrends can shape long-term investment opportunities.”

ETF information

WisdomTree Asia Defence UCITS ETF

WisdomTree Global Defence UCITS ETF

¹ ETF refers to exchange-traded fund