In view of the European Union’s growing efforts to reduce its dependence on US defense companies, the US defense giant Lockheed Martin is intensifying its activities and partnerships in Europe.
“We are trying to build more production and supply chains in Europe,” Raymond Piselli, Vice President International Business of the US group, told the Wall Street Journal, told the Wall Street Journal. “So we’re becoming more part of the European aerospace and defense ecosystem.”
EU plans new industrial policy – US companies face exclusion
The background to this is the EU Commission’s plans to launch a new credit instrument to specifically promote European arms production. US manufacturers would be largely excluded from this funding – which is causing nervousness among companies such as Lockheed Martin, RTX and Northrop Grumman.
In addition, some European countries – including France and Portugal – have expressed skepticism about further purchases of US systems such as the F-35 jet, both openly and behind the scenes.
Concrete investments in Europe
In response, Lockheed Martin is systematically expanding its industrial presence on the continent:
- In Germany, together with Rheinmetall a new plant for the production of missiles and guided weapons – including ATACMS, GMLRS and Hellfire.
- In Poland, the PZL Mielec site is being expanded, where Lockheed subsidiary Sikorsky is already producing Black Hawk helicopters.
- Lockheed emphasizes that work is only awarded “where it brings real added value to the supply chain and platforms – in Europe and in the USA”.
The F-35 fighter aircraft has already been sold to 13 European countries, including Germany, the UK and Switzerland. Other potential customers such as Spain and Portugal are in negotiations.
“It’s about more than just business”
“It’s not just about business,” emphasizes Piselli. “It’s about building sustainable industrial projects together with European partners – not for political reasons, but because it makes industrial sense.”
Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall are also working closely together on the new GMARS multiple rocket launcher – the European counterpart to the HIMARS. Development is progressing, a first live firing is planned for the summer and there could possibly be a first customer this year, as Militär Aktuell recently learned at the GMARS Summit. recently at the GMARS Summit. recently.
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