René Obermann, the Chairman of the Airbus Board of Management, has appealed to European nations to foster better cooperation regarding defense and military matters. Speaking to the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” (Thursday edition) and “Le Monde”, he stressed that overcoming “industry nationalism” within the defense sector is “more vital than ever.”
While acknowledging the challenges faced by various European governments in achieving this level of cooperation, the former Telekom CEO warned that if current threats escalate into actual conflicts, it might be too late to react effectively.
Obermann criticized the principle of “Geo-Returns”-the “geographic return”-as untimely in this context. This principle guarantees that national entities receive industry contracts for communal projects proportional to their financing contribution, a system he believes strengthens national interests at the expense of collective European interests, thereby “shooting Europe in the foot.” Furthermore, he highlighted the ongoing delay in making concrete decisions necessary for standardizing military systems, harmonizing procurement, and accelerating key programs.
Calling for greater efficiency in resource allocation and a clearer division of responsibilities within European cooperation programs, Obermann noted that some “encouraging changes” were occurring, such as faster procurement procedures. He urged that the focus must shift to rapid implementation of finding the optimal solution, requiring closer collaboration with Ukrainian companies and adapting to their pace of development and innovation cycles. He argued that specifications for contract awards needed to be “less complex and more focused on operational goals.”
Refuting the term “disaster” regarding the troubled Franco-German combat aircraft program, FCAS, Obermann disagreed with the description, stating, “Do you really want to call it that? I don’t. Several elements of FCAS can be continued.”
He called the sixth-generation fighter jet an “absolute necessity.” Describing it as an “edge-computing platform that coordinates manned and unmanned units in real-time close to the area of operation via satellite, ground, and aerial networks,” Obermann concluded by asserting that Airbus possesses the necessary expertise to play a leading role in this development.
