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EU defense chief: Europe's arms industry must abandon 'boutique' approach for mass production

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • The EU's defense chief urges member states to open their weapon stockpiles to support Ukraine.
  • He called for a shift from producing high-end, complex weapons to mass-producing simpler, more affordable systems.
  • The EU is preparing policies to boost defense production and integrate the fragmented European defense industry.

European Union defense officials are calling for a significant overhaul of the continent's military-industrial complex, urging member states to release arms from their stockpiles to aid Ukraine. Andrius Kubilius, the EU's Commissioner for Defense, emphasized the need to move away from a "boutique mentality" in arms production towards a model focused on "good enough" and high-volume output.

Countries should open their weapon stockpiles and provide Ukraine with the equipment it needs.

— Andrius KubiliusThe EU's Commissioner for Defense urging member states to supply arms to Ukraine.

Kubilius warned that Europe is falling behind Russia and Ukraine in missile production due to its focus on overly sophisticated, expensive, and slow-to-produce weaponry. "Europeans make so-called haute couture weapons," he told the Financial Times, contrasting this with Ukraine's wartime production methods. He highlighted that Ukraine expects to produce around 700 of its own Flamingo cruise missiles this year, while the EU's annual output for similar missiles is less than 300, compared to Russia's 1,200.

To address this, Kubilius proposed using €60 billion of a recently approved €90 billion EU loan for military aid to Ukraine. This funding could enable countries to purchase weapons from EU stockpiles, with suppliers reinvesting the proceeds to expand production or replenish inventories. The EU is also preparing a series of policies aimed at enhancing defense production capabilities and overcoming the fragmented nature of the European defense industry, where individual national regulations and procurement systems hinder cooperation.

Europeans make so-called haute couture weapons. The technology is very complex, very advanced and expensive, but it is completely impossible to scale up production quickly.

— Andrius KubiliusDescribing the European approach to arms manufacturing in contrast to wartime needs.

Upcoming initiatives include a plan expected in July to further integrate the market by addressing issues like differing regulations and procurement systems. Reforms will also tackle technical barriers, such as mutual recognition of testing and certification, and streamline licensing for the movement of military components within the EU, which currently varies significantly between member states.

And the Ukrainians produce weapons that the European industry calls good enough.

— Andrius KubiliusHighlighting the difference in production philosophy between Europe and Ukraine.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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