Europe Urged to Rapidly Enhance Military and Space Capabilities, Airbus Calls for Action
Europe’s security landscape is at a critical juncture.
René Obermann, CEO of Airbus SE, has issued a compelling call for European nations to accelerate efforts in strengthening their military and space capabilities, focusing on strategic areas such as electronic warfare, low Earth orbit satellites, and nuclear deterrence.
According to him, Europe remains overly dependent on the United States for military and space assets, which becomes especially dangerous amid rising global competition and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
During the Berlin Global Dialogue conference, Obermann emphasized that leaders from countries like the UK, France, and Germany must craft and implement new strategies that foster innovation and bolster the continent’s technological independence.
“The time to act is now.
By fostering closer cooperation between business and political sectors, we increase our chances of success,” he stated.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed these sentiments, highlighting that Europe is entering an era of geo-economics that requires rethinking approaches to economic and security challenges: acting swiftly, anticipating risks, and enhancing resilience to crises.
She called for strategic thinking and the development of new operational models.
In the space sector, Obermann pointed out that Europe is lagging behind the US, China, and India in launch capabilities, resulting in reliance on Elon Musk’s Starlink for satellite access in low Earth orbit—an essential element for both civil and military communications.
To reduce security risks, he urged European leaders to develop an alternative satellite network.
He also praised Airbus’s partnerships with Italian firm Leonardo SpA and French Thales SA, which could form the backbone of a resilient, competitive European space infrastructure.
“Our system has the potential to become robust and competitive on a global scale,” Obermann said.
Furthermore, he stressed that European countries should not only provide subsidies but also actively ensure that government contracts facilitate faster access to funding for innovative tech startups.
As part of this strategy, major aerospace firms such as Airbus, Leonardo, and Thales signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create a new leading player in the European space market.
This initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy in space, boost the region’s innovation capacity, and enhance its competitiveness in the fast-expanding field of space technology.