7. European Collaboration in the Development of New Weapon Systems

The purpose of this chapter is threefold: firstly, to offer a historical profile of Europe’s arms industrial collaborative experience; secondly, to evaluate the process and impact of major European collaborative programs, especially with regard to research and development (R&D); and, thirdly, to explore the contemporary status of collaborative effort in the light of recent EU policy initiatives, including the 2009 European Procurement Directive and the contemporary pressures and challenges that have forged the shape and direction of the EU’s Horizon 2020 Defence Research Programme. In this regard, the Commission’s underlying thematic is to evolve the European defense industrial base into a single common entity. Arms collaboration is viewed as a transformative device in this process, promoting cross-border engagement, enhancing military-related standardization and fostering economies of scale and industrial and technological rationalization. The chapter will analyze progress toward these goals, advancing our understanding of the topic through empirical assessment of the collaborative model’s contribution to the sustainability and enhancement of European defense R&D in a post-BREXIT environment.