The European Union can achieve greater technological autonomy in defence, but it will need time, sustained investment and political and industrial cohesion, Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani said in an interview with ANSA at the Euronaval exhibition in Paris.
Mariani said technological sovereignty requires a clear political commitment and long-term investment programmes. He estimated that the EU could reach this goal in defence within a period of three to ten years, while stressing that autonomy depends on deciding which technologies Europe wants to control.
Europe already has advanced capabilities in some areas, including radar technology, Mariani said. He also described the European missile-weapons sector, supported by the MBDA joint venture established 25 years ago, as competitive with that of other countries and regions.
Developing fields such as artificial intelligence presents a greater challenge, he added, pointing to the substantial resources invested in the technology by the United States and China in previous years. Mariani said Europe is moving in the right direction, provided it maintains political and industrial cohesion.
Sources: ANSA Economia.