The Arctic Pivot: Capitalizing on the Autonomous Defense Architecture

Geneva, 21 January 2026

Dear Valued Investor,

President Trump's most recent tariff threats - 10% effective February 1, 2026, escalating to 25% by June 1 - against eight NATO allies represent an unprecedented maneuver tied to Greenland acquisition ambitions.​

This diplomatic shockwave has shattered the status quo. As fault lines fracture beneath the Arctic ice, strategic priorities are rapidly synchronizing - fundamentally re-pricing the global defense and national security landscape, and triggering a fresh wave of awareness across Europe after US Vice President JD Vance’s remarks at the Munich Security Conference last year. 

This geopolitical backdrop validates the meticulously constructed architecture of our Great Visionaries and Global Alpha (CHF) actively managed certificates (AMC). 

These investment vehicles, currently diversified across more than 40 high-conviction positions each, are engineered precisely to capture structural shifts across a spectrum of transformative themes such as Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Computing, Clean Energy, Biotechnology and last but certainly not least, Critical Defense and National Security. 

By maintaining broad exposure to these engines of structural change, we ensure that our portfolio benefits not just from isolated winners, but from the compounding trajectory of high-growth sectors. 

Undeniably, the tactical edge in modern warfare is no longer defined by manned platforms alone, but by the proliferation of loitering lethality and expendable mass. 

Leading this kinetic revolution, AeroVironment (+96.5% since last addition) has effectively rewritten the doctrine of asymmetric engagement. Their recent $874 million U.S. Army contract for the Switchblade - a loitering munition often termed a "kamikaze drone" for its ability to wait airborne before delivering a precision strike - and the JUMP 20 (a vertical-takeoff surveillance system that operates independently of runways), serves as the cornerstone for nations scrambling to secure autonomous capabilities.​

Yet, the future belongs to the "loyal wingman" - an unmanned aircraft designed to fly alongside and protect piloted fighters. This concept has been brought to life by Kratos Defense & Security Solutions (+17.0% since last addition). By integrating their Valkyrie (XQ-58) - a stealthy, autonomous high-speed drone - into the Marine Corps’ next-generation expeditionary program for ship-based aerial support, they have bridged the gap between human pilots and AI-driven swarms, delivering affordable mass to high-threat environments.

Conversely, as the skies darken with autonomous threats, the imperative to deny airspace - namely protecting civilian and military airports against enemy drone incursions - has elevated Ondas Holdings (+37.8% since last addition). Their Iron Drone Raider system, which recently secured consecutive multi-million dollar European orders, employs a sophisticated "hunter-killer" mechanic to physically capture hostile drones, thereby mitigating the collateral risks inherent in electronic jamming within sensitive terminal airspaces.​

Ascending beyond the atmosphere, the "fog of war" is being pierced by satellites - dense constellations that convert the battlefield into a continuously refreshed dataset, where revisits compress from days to hours and ambiguity collapses under persistent imaging. 

In that paradigm, Planet Labs (+90.1% since last addition) is effectively transforming planetary observation into actionable data thanks to AI: a capability so strategically scarce that the German government committed €240.0 million to secure it. That same satellite-derived advantage has been reinforced by a seven-figure NATO contract for AI-enhanced surveillance, signaling that allied command structures are operationalizing commercial space as a core layer of modern deterrence.​

This ubiquitous vision is supported by the rapid deployment of resilient orbital infrastructure, a domain where Rocket Lab (+64.7% since last addition) has solidified its status as a prime defense contractor. With over $1.3 billion in cumulative contracts from the US Space Development Agency, they are now building the very backbone of the Pentagon's hypersonic missile tracking network.​

Simultaneously, Kraken Robotics (+10.2% since last addition), headquartered in Newfoundland, Canada, patrols the murky depths, providing the underwater autonomy necessary to secure the subsea cables and pipelines that form the nervous system of the global economy.

However, the operational envelope of many of these aerial and submarine assets is strictly governed by the physics of energy storage, a frontier currently being redrawn by Amprius Technologies (+83.0% since last addition). Their silicon anode batteries have shattered previous endurance ceilings, enabling platforms like the Airbus Zephyr to remain stratospheric for months rather than days - a critical advantage for persistent Arctic monitoring.​

Finally, the strategic depth of our thesis extends to the unseen domains that underpin this entire ecosystem. Ucore Rare Metals (+31.6% since last addition) is fortifying the future supply chain of critical rare earth minerals essential for every guidance system and propulsion magnet in the various types of fleets cited above.

In a world where security is the ultimate premium, we remain steadfast in our mission to deliver superior, risk-adjusted returns. 

While the Great Visionaries AMC (+19.6% YTD) and Global Alpha (CHF) (+18.8% YTD) have delivered strong early results, we believe the most significant revaluation lies ahead. 

Many of our core positions have not yet fully reflected their fundamental intrinsic value, offering a compelling entry point for the next phase of growth across our diversified thematic spectrum.

Whether you are looking to scale your exposure or just beginning this journey with us, we look forward to discussing how our certificates can fit into your long-term investment strategy..

Best regards,

Wilhelm Sissener, CFA
+41 (0)79 447 57 48
www.starvestcapital.com 

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