Strengthening Europe’s deterrence requires technical expertise, operational readiness and the capacity to produce and deliver defense capabilities at scale.

This January, French President Emmanuel Macron argued to give preferential treatment to EU military companies at the expense of timely product delivery to Ukraine’s front line.

European efforts to reinforce resilience and industrial sovereignty have raised concerns about its reliance on U.S. technology. The European Commission’s 2026 work program,  “Europe’s Independence Moment,” reflects this shift, with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for a stronger, more sovereign Europe.

Yet five years ago, NATO launched its 2030 transatlantic agenda to protect the international rules-based order amid growing global uncertainty. The agenda underscores cooperation between North America and Europe as vital to maintain a technological advantage and counter external threats.  

The EU’s own Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 ― its 2025 plan to build a strong European defense posture that can credibly deter adversaries ― aligns with NATO’s view that transatlantic cooperation is essential to developing and acquiring modern defense capabilities that are both advanced and readily available when needed.

“European sovereignty and transatlantic cooperation do not conflict,” says Doug Stevenson, vice president of Europe and NATO, requirements and capabilities, at Raytheon, an RTX business. “When anchored in co-production, trusted platforms and common operational needs are mutually reinforcing.”

A long history of coproduction

Developing Europe’s defense industrial base in partnership with the U.S. does not have to come at the expense of European investment or technological sovereignty.

In fact, European companies are heavily involved in what are often perceived as American innovations: “About 25 percent of the F-35 Lightning II’s capabilities come from Europe. This is the world’s most advanced aircraft, developed in partnership with many companies,” says Stevenson. Meanwhile, multiple European companies are critical partners in sustaining the F-35’s F135 engine, manufactured by RTX’s Pratt & Whitney.

With more than 21,000 employees across 65 facilities in Europe, U.S.-based RTX is a major player in the European defense sector, building on the region’s technical and manufacturing talent.

In addition to direct investment, RTX works with approximately 11,000 suppliers across Europe and spent $8 billion in the European supply chain in 2024 alone.

For example, in 2025, Pratt & Whitney announced a partnership with Czech company PBS Group to develop a next-generation auxiliary power unit to provide electrical power for on-board systems on commercial and military aircraft.

This kind of transatlantic partnership advances European strategy by strengthening local industry. “The project will significantly increase the competence and capacity of Czech industry, which is essential for ensuring security of supply in crisis situations,” said Radka Konderlová, director general for industrial cooperation at the Czech Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces.

“Many of our programs have European supply chains, with hundreds of companies involved,” says Andres Maz, vice president, global government relations Europe, at RTX. “And those suppliers have other suppliers. And this is the real defense industrial base: it’s tier two and tier three suppliers who source the industry. Many of these companies are owned by Europeans, based in Europe, managed by Europeans, with Europeans working on the production line.”

The Patriot® air and missile defense system, developed by Raytheon is used by nine European countries ― including Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland and most recently Ukraine. Raytheon works with 24 European suppliers on Patriot, and has a joint venture with Germany’s MBDA Deutschland, COMLOG, to produce the missile system in Germany.

“Industrial cooperation brings long-term stability to suppliers, encourages innovation and anchors high-value industrial capabilities in Europe,” says Maz.

Partnerships to build strength, fast

Leveraging talent and technical expertise on both sides of the Atlantic will support the EU and NATO in achieving deterrence at the speed and scale required, while strengthening the innovation pipeline.

“A strong industrial base is fundamental to deterrence,” says Doug Stevenson. “The challenge is not whether it can be built, but how to scale it quickly and effectively ― something that can only be achieved through deep, trusted collaboration.”

Amid global uncertainty, Europe’s path to stronger defense is clear: decisive action through pragmatic transatlantic collaboration that boosts capability, capacity and innovation ― while protecting its autonomy.

“Coproducing defense systems such as Patriot and NASAMS®, and missiles such as GEM-T and RAM™ in Europe enables us to deliver capabilities faster while simultaneously building European industrial capacity,” says Stevenson.

The U.S. also benefits from a stronger European defense industrial base. “The demand exceeds U.S. industrial capacity alone, so expanding production in both Europe and the U.S. is essential to meet the needs of our forces and allies,” says Stevenson.

Deterrence depends on credible capability ― delivered at speed and at scale. In a harsher security environment, transatlantic industrial cooperation is not a constraint on Europe’s autonomy but a force multiplier. It enables Europe to close urgent capability gaps while strengthening its industrial base at home. Coproduction and integrated supply chains expand European manufacturing capacity, support skilled employment in Europe and accelerate delivery of the systems that matter most in conflict. The real choice is not sovereignty versus partnership, but readiness versus delay.

Learn more about RTX in Europe.

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