As European countries increase their defense spending to counter the threat from Russia, China, and Iran, can Europe’s arms manufacturers up their game?
European countries are ramping up their defense spending in response to growing threats from not just Russia, but also China and Iran, amid growing concern that the United States could withdraw its military umbrella from the continent.
And the European Union is keen to make sure the extra money is spent in Europe itself.
On March 18, the EU unveiled a strategy document called Readiness 2030, which encouraged members of the 27-nation bloc to buy as much of their military equipment as possible from suppliers in Europe, rather than the United States or further afield.
The Aerospace, Security, and Defence Industries Association of Europe, which represents 3,000 companies, says the combined industries recorded a turnover of 290.4 billion euros ($317 billion) in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 10 percent.
So who makes Europe’s military planes, ships, and other equipment—and where are the gaps?
Planes: Battle for the Skies
Air superiority has been considered—as far back as the Battle of Britain in 1940—to be essential to defend a country against its invader, and the backbone is the fighter jet.
In 2025, four main fighter jets are being flown by Europe’s air forces, three of which are made in Europe, and one in the United States.
A consortium of firms from Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain together makes the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.
A total of 729 Typhoons have been ordered, and almost 600 are in use by the air forces of Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar.
Most Typhoons—such as those flown by Britain’s Royal Air Force—are equipped with a 27mm Mauser cannon, ASRAAM, Meteor and AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, Paveway II and Paveway IV precision-guided bombs, and both Storm Shadow and Brimstone air-to-ground missiles.
The three biggest firms in the Eurofighter consortium are Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo.
Leonardo, from Italy, also assembles U.S.-manufactured F-35 Lightning II fighters for the Italian and Dutch navies.
The F-35 Lightning II, designed and built by the U.S. giant Lockheed Martin, is also the mainstay of the air forces of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, and Switzerland.
By Chris Summers
