HANetf to Make ARMY the Only SFDR Article 8 Defence ETF in Europe
21 OCT, 2025
By Joanna Piwko from RankiaPro Europe
HANetf, Europe’s leading white-label UCITS ETF and ETC platform, has announced its intention to change the underlying index of the Future of European Defence UCITS ETF (ticker: ARMY) to achieve classification under Article 8 of the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR). This move would make ARMY the only defence-focused ETF in Europe with such a status.
The ETF will transition from the VettaFi Future of Defence Ex US Index to the VettaFi European Future of Defence Screened Index. The change is designed to meet growing European investor demand for responsible access to the European defence sector, without diluting the fund’s core exposure. The new index focuses exclusively on companies headquartered in European NATO countries, while implementing strict exclusions for controversial weapons and additional responsibility criteria. Revenue screening and single-stock caps will remain in place to ensure diversified, pure-play exposure to the European defence theme.
The index update also aims to make ARMY more accessible to investors in regions where regulatory or policy constraints have previously limited exposure to certain defence-related activities. ARMY provides a pathway for investors seeking to support Europe’s strategic defence capabilities while adhering to responsible investment standards.
Europe is undergoing a multi-year modernisation of its defence infrastructure, including stockpile replenishment, increased procurement, and capacity rebuilding. ARMY is structured to reflect this long-term investment theme while raising the bar on how exposure is delivered.
HANetf has a strong track record in defence-themed ETFs, having launched the Future of Defence UCITS ETF (NATO) in July 2023, which now manages $3.13 billion in assets. That fund’s NATO-focused framework was designed to help investors align defence exposure with values, recognising NATO’s defensive mandate. The ARMY transition builds on this experience to provide European investors with a more screened, regionally focused solution.
Hector McNeil, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of HANetf, commented:
We’re very pleased to align our ARMY ETF with SFDR Article 8, marking an important milestone in the evolution of defence investing in Europe. Investors increasingly understand that security and sustainability are complementary — a well-governed defence sector underpins peace, stability, and the rule of law.
The updated, screened index ensures that investor capital supports Europe’s legitimate defence capabilities while adhering to high responsibility standards. It also makes the ETF accessible in regions where certain defence exposures have been restricted, broadening participation in Europe’s defence modernisation. HANetf continues to innovate by offering products that capture long-term strategic themes while meeting European regulatory expectations and investor values.
HANetf Defence ETF Product Range:
- Future of Defence UCITS ETF – NATO
- Future of European Defence UCITS ETF – ARMY
- Future of Defence Indo-Pacific ex-China UCITS ETF – QUAD
