VanEck Defense UCITS ETF
VanEck Defense UCITS ETF (XETRA: DFEN) is an exchange-traded fund listed on XETRA, trading at €51.47 (about ₹5,606 a unit) as of 30 Sep 2026, 9:14 AM ET. It has an expense ratio of 0.55% and holds 44 securities. Indian residents can buy DFEN through Paasa under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
Quote
Today's low
€51.37
Today's high
€51.74
52 week low
€48.08
52 week high
€64.51
DFEN opened at €51.60, closed previously at €51.22, and has traded between €48.08 and €64.51 over the past 52 weeks.
About
Given ongoing global instability, national security and defense have re-emerged as paramount concerns for governments around the world. The VanEck Defense UCITS ETF provides investors with a focused opportunity to invest in this critical area, including prominent defense technology innovators, significant cybersecurity firms, and specialized defense service providers.
Key statistics
Expense ratio
0.55%
Assets (AUM)
€6.0B
Holdings
44
NAV
€51.22
Avg. volume
—
1-year price change
-6.18%
5-year price change
—
Price change excludes dividends.
Top 10 holdings
DFEN holds 44 securities in total. These 10 are 60.3% of the fund.
Where the money is invested
Sectors
Countries
Similar funds
This is not an investment recommendation
How to buy DFEN from India
Indian residents can buy DFEN units through Paasa in three steps. Funds leave India under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme and the units are held in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Open your Paasa account
KYC takes a few minutes: PAN, Aadhaar and address proof. Your brokerage account is opened in your own name with Interactive Brokers.
Add funds from your Indian bank account
Remit up to $250,000 a year under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme. Your bank converts the rupees to US dollars at its rate on the day you remit, and Interactive Brokers converts the dollars to EUR when you buy.
Search DFEN and buy
Find the fund by its ticker, DFEN, on XETRA, and place your order.
Read the full guide: how to invest in DFEN from India
Trading and taxes when buying DFEN from India
Trading and limits
- Trading hours
- 9:00 am – 5:30 pm CET
- LRS limit
- $250,000Per financial year, under the RBI's Liberalised Remittance Scheme.
Tax for Indian residents
- TCS on remittance
- 20%Collected by your bank on LRS remittances above ₹10 lakh in a financial year. The TCS is adjustable against your income-tax liability.Adjusting TCS against your tax
- Capital gains in India
- 12.5% or slab rateGains on foreign ETF units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation. Gains on units held for 24 months or less are short-term and taxed at your income-tax slab rate.Capital gains explained
Custody. Units are held in your own name at Interactive Brokers, segregated from Paasa's own assets.
FAQs
What is the DFEN price today?
VanEck Defense UCITS ETF (DFEN) last traded at €51.47 on XETRA, as of 30 Sep 2026, 9:14 AM ET. That is ₹5,606 a unit at the 29 Sep 2026 EUR/INR rate.
When does DFEN trade, in Indian time?
XETRA trades 12:30 pm – 9:00 pm IST. The window shifts to 1:30 pm – 10:00 pm IST when Germany is on standard time. Orders can only execute during that window.
How big is DFEN, and what does it cost to hold?
VanEck Defense UCITS ETF manages about €6.0B. Its expense ratio is 0.55% a year, deducted inside the fund. It launched in 2023.
Is DFEN a UCITS ETF?
Yes. VanEck Defense UCITS ETF is a UCITS fund domiciled in Ireland, set up under the European Union's UCITS rules for funds sold across Europe. It is listed on XETRA and trades in EUR.
What are DFEN's largest holdings?
The top three are Palantir Technologies Inc (9.0%), Rtx Corp (7.7%) and Hanwha Aerospace Co Ltd (7.3%). DFEN's 10 largest positions make up 60.3% of the fund.
Is DFEN subject to US estate tax?
No. Because DFEN is domiciled in Ireland rather than the US, it is not a US-situs asset, so US estate tax does not apply to it. US-listed ETFs held directly can be taxed at up to 40% above $60,000 when they pass to your family.
How are US dividends taxed inside DFEN?
The US withholds 15% on dividends from the US shares the fund holds, and that tax is paid inside the fund. You cannot claim it as a Foreign Tax Credit in India.
How are gains on DFEN taxed in India?
Units held for more than 24 months are long-term and taxed at 12.5% without indexation; units held for 24 months or less are taxed at your income-tax slab rate. The gain is worked out in rupees, so the currency move counts.
How has DFEN performed?
DFEN's price is down 6.2% over the past year. These figures are price change only and exclude dividends; past performance does not guarantee future returns.
How is DFEN different from a US-listed ETF?
DFEN is domiciled in Ireland rather than the US. That keeps it outside US estate tax, and dividend withholding on its US shares is 15%, paid inside the fund, instead of the 25% withheld on a US-listed ETF. The 25% can generally be claimed as a credit in India; the 15% cannot. Capital gains on both are taxed the same way in India.