Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), the U.S. defense giant, is moving swiftly to forge new partnerships across Europe, according to Raymond Piselli, the company’s vice president for international business. This push aligns with Europe’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on American defense suppliers and bolster its own military manufacturing capabilities.
The company aims to deepen its integration within Europe’s aerospace and defense sectors by expanding local production and supply chains. Piselli stressed that Lockheed Martin’s growth plans in Europe remain resilient despite the European Union’s ambitions to foster an independent defense industry.
These moves come as the European Commission proposes a new loan framework to help EU nations ramp up weapons manufacturing, with stipulations that largely exclude U.S.-based firms.
This pivot toward homegrown defense production has galvanized European competitors like Dassault Aviation, Saab, and the Eurofighter consortium—which includes BAE Systems (LSE:BAES), Airbus, and Leonardo—keen to boost sales of their Rafale, Gripen, and Typhoon fighter jets.
Piselli highlighted that Lockheed Martin’s expanding collaborations in Europe not only support the continent’s defense industrial goals but also strengthen the company’s U.S. operations, which have been challenged by supply chain disruptions.
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