The European defence industry "will close" if it remains fragmented. Eurofighter chief executive Filippo Bagnato issued this warning at the show yesterday when he challenged the industry to "think big" - to embrace pan-European collaboration.
It is "absolutely necessary" to have a single common defence industry "if we want to have an independent defence and foreign policy", he said.
Bagnato praised Airbus as an excellent model of co-operation, but pointed out that a pan-European defence industry would have to differ, with greater concentration on research and defining future requirements.
He explained that he was referring to more than an eventual merger between partners who already collaborate, such as Eurofighter and Saab which are linked by BAE's participation in both Gripen and Typhoon. "We have to think big," he said, to embrace all the principal players: "Yes, even Dassault. I would like to get [Eurofighter] interoperability with Rafale. Why are we waiting? For interoperability with the Americans? If we can't concentrate [financial and technical] resources to build the standards of the next decade, we will close.
"We will close," he emphasised.
If it hopes to survive, the European defence industry has to change its "vision of design", he said.
"We will concentrate on the design of capabilities, rather than the design of platforms."
Source: Flight Daily News