The Defence Industry and ‘Transformation’: A European Perspective

Delivering the military transformation agenda will require broader and deeper armaments cooperation, both within Europe and across the Atlantic. Europe needs to concentrate on those capability areas that are critical to its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) commitments and the implementation of the European Security and Defense Policy. A strengthened European technological and industrial base is also the most likely way of strengthening transatlantic armaments cooperation and gaining policy support in Washington. While European governments will need to selectively acquire US technologies, stronger European defence technological capabilities will give Europe more leverage at the negotiating table and is the best way to ensure that future transatlantic armaments cooperation is balanced and in European interests.