European governments are demanding more control over defense equipment, prompting US defense companies to expand manufacturing in Europe and form joint ventures. At the Farnborough Airshow, Lockheed Martin announced a lower-cost Patriot interceptor to be developed with European and US partners.

Localization Efforts

US arms makers are responding to European concerns about reliance on American suppliers by localizing production and technology. Lockheed Martin’s senior vice president, Daniel Tenney, stated that Europeans want more sovereignty and localized capability. Raytheon’s president, Thomas Laliberty, noted that Europeans benefit from widely used systems like the Patriot, where multiple countries pool funding to support features like a threat database.

Newer defense-tech firms, such as Anduril, are also making a push into the European market. Anduril has expanded its UK workforce and agreed to establish local production of its Barracuda-500M cruise missile in Poland. Industry insiders and specialists say Europeans want access to underlying technology to build, modify, and maintain equipment themselves, seeking a significant IP transfer.

European Independence

Some Europeans worry that the US could be less willing or able to provide weapons, parts, or support in the future. Europe is making progress in weaning itself off US equipment in areas like early warning aircraft, with NATO recently announcing a plan to buy up to 10 Saab GlobalEye surveillance planes. Europeans are also looking to develop newer technologies themselves, such as unmanned fighter jets.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.