Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has urged Europe to enhance collaboration on defense projects and increase investments in production capacity. In an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Faury highlighted the disparity between European and American armament procurement, noting that the European Union purchases significantly fewer armaments compared to the United States, with up to 75% of these being produced outside Europe, primarily in America.
“There is too little investment in production capacities here and in the end quickly available armaments are procured in the United States,” Faury stated. He emphasized the importance of politicians focusing not just on short-term needs but also on long-term strategic investments.
Faury advocated for closer defense cooperation with Britain, which is involved in the GCAP jet fighter project alongside Italy and Japan. This contrasts with the FCAS jet project being developed by France, Germany, and Spain, with Airbus collaborating with France’s Dassault Aviation on a demonstrator agreement reached in 2022.
“It is conceivable, for example, to consider standardising the IT systems for FCAS and GCAP at some point,” Faury remarked, suggesting that such standardization would enhance interoperability at a NATO level.
Furthermore, Faury called for a security and defense agreement between the EU and the UK, underscoring the need for unified and cohesive defense strategies in the region. “I also think we need a security and defence agreement between the EU and the UK,” he added.
Faury’s comments reflect ongoing concerns about Europe’s defense capabilities and the need for increased investment and cooperation to ensure the region’s strategic autonomy and readiness in the face of global challenges.