Andrius Kubilius, former Lithuanian prime minister, faced tough questions during his confirmation hearing as the EU’s first defense and space commissioner, emphasizing the urgency of Europe’s defense preparedness. A recent war game revealed Lithuania could fall to Russian forces in days, prompting discussions about doubling defense spending to 6% of GDP. Kubilius stressed the EU’s need for collaborative defense efforts, including a €500 billion defense allocation in its next budget, while ensuring alignment with NATO. However, he avoided committing to specific funding mechanisms, such as repurposing cohesion funds or issuing joint EU bonds, leaving the challenge to “experts” and political […]
Category: EU
EU approves first-ever funding for joint weapons, ammo procurement
Margrethe Vestager, the Executive Vice-President of the Commission, announced a new initiative where EU budget funds will be used for the first time to support member states in jointly procuring defense products. She highlighted that this approach will enhance the value for money of national defense budgets and improve the interoperability of European armed forces. Additionally, this initiative aims to strengthen the European defense industry and enhance Europe’s preparedness against defense threats. The Commission has approved funding for nine countries, including France, Spain, Hungary, and Romania, for the joint procurement of MBDA’s Mistral very short-range air defense systems. Additionally, six […]
EU Is Looking at Ramping Up Ukraine Aid If Trump Pulls Plug
European Union leaders are assessing their ability to sustain support for Ukraine’s war effort if Donald Trump were to withdraw U.S. assistance. The U.S. remains crucial for supplying advanced weapons like F-16s and ATACMs, as well as for producing essential 155mm shells central to Ukraine’s defense. In a Budapest meeting on Thursday, officials examined both financial and military ramifications of a potential U.S. shift. The EU has committed €118 billion in aid to Ukraine—nearly double the U.S. contribution of €85 billion—raising concerns about continued access to military resources primarily provided by the U.S. While Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban questioned […]
EU starts to work on next-generation combat ship for the 2040s
The European Union has begun developing a next-generation combat vessel, aiming for deployment in the 2040s. In two weeks, defense ministers are expected to sign a letter of intent to move forward with the project. Jürgen Scraback of the European Defence Agency noted that six EU member states, including four with major navies, have shown interest. The budget for the project is projected to exceed €20 billion ($22 billion). This advanced vessel will likely feature AI, a naval combat cloud, and directed-energy weapons, and may be included in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation framework after a defense ministers’ meeting on […]
Europe picks consortium for sovereign satellite constellation IRIS²
The European Commission has selected a consortium led by SES, Eutelsat, and Hispasat to deploy the IRIS² satellite constellation, aimed at creating a sovereign satellite broadband system for the EU. A concession contract lasting 12 years is expected to be finalized by December, with key subcontractors including Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Space and Defence, and Telespazio. The IRIS² system is designed to deliver governmental services by 2030, enhancing capabilities such as border surveillance and secure communications. The total project cost is estimated at €10.6 billion, funded through a combination of public funds and private investments. Last year, the EU allocated […]
EU opens defense innovation hub in Kyiv to boost industry outreach
The European Union has opened a defense-innovation office in Kyiv to enhance cooperation between Ukrainian and European defense industries. This office aims to connect European startups with Ukraine’s defense sector, integrating Ukrainian firms into the EU defense-equipment market. By facilitating access to EU funding, the office will help Ukrainian defense companies and startups overcome financial hurdles in ramping up weapon production. Ukraine, a global leader in drone technology, is seen as an invaluable partner for EU defense companies seeking battlefield-tested innovations. Additionally, Denmark announced plans to establish its own defense-industry hub in Kyiv, reinforcing collaboration between Danish and Ukrainian defense […]
Europe’s Quest to Rearm Runs Into Red Tape, Lack of Cash—and Meditation
European countries and defense companies are running into issues as they look to bolster their militaries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. European defense firms have committed to increasing production, including BAE Systems which “tripled its production of 155mm artillery shells after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine.” Original article
European militaries rush to catch up on space traffic mapping
#analysis The rapid growth of space activity has led European militaries to increase their focus on space traffic mapping to address emerging threats. The number of active satellites has more than tripled in the last four years, and most of this activity is occurring in low Earth orbit, creating new challenges for military surveillance systems designed for geostationary orbits. Companies like Safran, Vyoma, and True Anomaly are working with defense departments to improve space awareness and tracking capabilities. Military leaders stress the importance of collaboration between civilian, commercial, and military sectors to enhance space-domain awareness and avoid potential crises. As […]
The EU buys too much defense equipment abroad, especially from the US, a major report says
A new report on EU competitiveness highlights that European Union countries are relying too heavily on foreign defense equipment, particularly from the United States, with nearly two-thirds of purchases coming from abroad. The report, authored by former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, also notes that EU member states are not sufficiently leveraging Europe’s research and development capacities for military modernization. European defense spending is far behind that of the U.S., hindering the development of stronger domestic defense firms. This issue has become more urgent as the EU struggles to provide sufficient arms and ammunition to support Ukraine in its ongoing […]