EU defense remains heavily reliant on the United States
Despite efforts to boost independence, the European Union's military defense remains largely dependent on US weaponry and technology. At the NATO summit in Ankara, new contracts reinforced this reliance, while European alternatives are under development.
The NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, in July again highlighted the European Union's military dependence on the United States. At the high-level Defense Industry Forum, US companies secured lucrative contracts, including a memorandum of understanding between Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall to jointly produce ATACMS missiles in Germany. This step allows increasing stockpiles without upsetting the US, but Europe aims for greater independence in the long term.
Patriot air and missile defense systems best symbolize European NATO members' reliance on the US. They have been used for decades in NATO countries and recently in Ukraine to protect strategic targets. European governments are developing several systems to reduce dependence. France and Italy created the SAMP/T NG system for high-altitude interception, with first units scheduled for 2027. Germany's Diehl developed the IRIS-T for medium-range defense, already in use in Ukraine. The IRIS-T SLX, with a range of 80 kilometers, will be available from 2029.
For deep precision strikes, Europe also relies on US systems like Tomahawk cruise missiles. Germany recently agreed to purchase Tomahawks, filling a strategic gap. The European Long-Range Strike Approach (ELSA) project, involving six governments including France, Germany, and Britain, is developing a ground-launched missile system. However, true battlefield independence is not expected until the 2030s.
The EU is also dependent on the US for the "kill chain"—target identification and attack structure—lacking a joint sensor and satellite reconnaissance network. The Drone and Counter Drone European Resolve (DECODER) project aims to equip EU militaries with drones and counter-drone systems. All 26 EU member states, plus Norway and Ukraine, are involved; investments of €3.5–5 billion are expected by 2033.
The EU is developing its own multi-orbit satellite constellation, IRIS², with 290 satellites for defense and secure communications. Costing over €10 billion, it should be operational by 2030. NATO has entered formal negotiations with Sweden's Saab to replace Boeing AWACS aircraft with GlobalEye early-warning planes, possibly by 2030.
However, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project for a sixth-generation fighter jet collapsed due to disputes between France and Germany, a major setback for EU autonomy.
