Farnborough brings the aerospace industry together in one place. The conversations on the ground tell us more about the state of the industry than any report could.
This year, our team came back with one clear signal: defence MRO is no longer a secondary conversation. It is front and centre, and the investment numbers are backing it up globally.
A Global Shift in Defence Investment
Worldwide, defence budgets are expanding at a pace not seen in decades. Canada is making significant strides, reaching NATO’s 2% GDP defence spending benchmark in 2026, backed by an $87.4 billion commitment for NORAD modernization and a federal Defence Industrial Strategy allocating approximately $500 billion between 2026 and 2035. What often gets less attention is what comes next: the sustained MRO of these platforms over their full service life.
“Defence MRO is no longer a question of if, or when. It is now. And as a Controlled Goods registered company, Shockform is already cleared to be part of that conversation.” — Brigitte Labelle, CEO, Shockform
As a result, that is where Shockform’s expertise becomes directly relevant, including our Controlled Goods registration, recognized as equivalent to U.S. ITAR requirements and qualifying us to support regulated defence and aerospace programmes across Canada and the United States.
The MRO Challenge: Precision, Access, and Zero Tolerance for FOD
Aircraft components are complex, geometries are tight. FOD inside an engine or airframe carries consequences no operator can ignore. However, traditional surface treatment approaches simply do not fit these operational realities.
“What we saw at Farnborough confirmed: the demand is there, and growing. Operators need solutions that are precise, deployable, and that don’t require tearing down a platform to treat a localized component. This is exactly what Shockform’s portable peening solutions are designed for.” — Felix Dionne, Director of International Business Development, Shockform
Our Portable Peening Solutions in MRO Environments
All three solutions address corrosion and stress fatigue on critical all-metal components, wherever the work happens.
Spiker®-ES : Needle Peening for Engine Components
Developed in partnership with MTU Aero Engines, the Spiker®-ES enables FOD-less needle peening on critical components. Its small head reaches complex geometries where other peening methods can’t, and the integrated E-Strip® technology provides real-time intensity measurement for faster, more reliable process validation.
FlapSpeed® PRO : Flapper Peening for Landing Gear Components
The only closed-loop RPM controller for rotary flapper peening, the FlapSpeed® PRO meets Boeing BAC5730-2 Rev D, MIL-R-81841, Air Force TO 1-1-691, and other major aerospace and military standards. The FlapSpeed® PRO is portable and field-deployable, operates in FOD-less conditions, and delivers full process traceability.
SmartPeen® — Shot Peening with Reclaim media vacuum
The SmartPeen® is designed on wheels to move within the shop or can be integrated directly into a dedicated work area. Combined with a built-in media reclaim vacuum, it minimizes FOD risk and keeps the work environment clean and controlled.
What We Are Seeing
Shockform has seen a consistent increase in defence sector inquiries and contracts over the past two years.
The shift toward higher defence spending is not a temporary spike; it reflects a structural change in how governments are approaching military readiness and fleet sustainability. For MRO providers and military operators, portable peening solutions that work in the field, meet MRO and OEM qualifications, and generate full process documentation have become a baseline requirement.
Furthermore, Shockform has been building these capabilities for over 20 years, for airlines, OEMs, and defence operators across civil aviation, defence, energy, and space. Farnborough 2026 confirmed that the market is moving in exactly the direction we have been preparing for.
Get in touch with our Team today to find the peening solution that is right for you.
Interesting Links
- Aviation Week MRO Podcast — MRO Insights and Highlights from Farnborough 2026
- Aviation Week — How Defence Stole the Show at Farnborough
- Department of National Defence — Canada Achieves 2% GDP Defence Spending Benchmark
- Skies Mag — New Funding to Help Quebec SMEs Integrate into Aerospace and Defence Supply Chains
- ISED — State of Canada’s Aerospace Industry