Updates with further details and background throughout, adds comments from analysts

By Rishab Shaju

June 25 (Reuters) - Doncasters DPC.N shares leapt 33.3% in their New York Stock Exchange debut on Thursday, the latest in a string of buoyant aerospace and defense listings as countries ramp up military spending amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

The Derby, United Kingdom‑based company’s shares opened at $44 apiece, compared with the offer price of $33. Doncasters had raised $919.3 million in its IPO, selling 27.9 million shares above the marketed price range of $28 to $32 apiece.

Issuers have been accelerating IPO plans amid rising investor enthusiasm for the sector, with Doncasters' debut adding to a series of high-flying listings, including that of peer Arxis ARXS.O, which soared nearly 36% in its April debut. Elon Musk's rockets-to-AI firm SpaceX SPCX.O also made a record market debut earlier this month.

"Global conflict and rapidly increased military spending have certainly driven a fair amount of growth here, and growth is what's selling these aerospace deals," said Matt Kennedy, senior strategist at Renaissance Capital, a provider of IPO-focused research and ETFs.

Doncasters also raised an additional $144 million through concurrent private placements from certain existing shareholders and the Qatar Investment Authority, according to the company's regulatory filings.

NOT JUST A "PURE-PLAY DEFENSE STORY"

Founded in 1778, Doncasters started out as a file-making business, but has since evolved into a global supplier of aerospace and industrial components.

"Doncasters... is not just a pure-play defense story, but has broader appeal through AI-linked power demand connected to its industrial gas turbines," IPOX Research Associate Lukas Muehlbauer said.

The debut marks the latest chapter in the nearly 250-year-old aerospace and industrial parts maker's turnaround after a 2020 debt restructuring saw lenders take over ownership from Dubai International Capital.

Doncasters, which competes with Howmet Aerospace HWM.N and Precision Castparts, reported a $930 million order backlog for its engine products as of March 29, its latest regulatory filing showed.