WASHINGTON D.C.: As the Russian invasion of Ukraine increased demand for U.S. weaponry, European governments have approached the U.S. government and defense contractors to purchase arms, including drones, missiles and missile defense systems.
Sources familiar with the requests said Germany, which is nearing an agreement to buy 35 Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-35 jet fighters, has inquired about a ballistic missile defense system.
Poland urgently wants to purchase sophisticated Reaper drone systems from the U.S., and requests are also coming from other countries in Eastern Europe, which are keen to acquire weaponry used successfully by Ukraine against the Russian military, including anti-aircraft Stinger missiles and anti-tank Javelin missiles, reports Reuters.
After a congressional hearing held last week, Mara Karlin, a Pentagon assistant secretary of defense, said European allies are “doubling down” on their defense spending, in response to Russian aggression that threatens the territorial integrity of Europe.
A source added that the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Administration is having weekly meetings of its European Crisis Management Team to review specific requests related to the current situation in Ukraine, since the sale of arms by U.S. contractors to foreign governments requires U.S. approval.
Raytheon Technologies and Lockheed Martin Corp jointly produce Javelins, while Raytheon manufactures Stingers.
Raytheon executive Tom Laliberty said the company recognizes “the urgent need to replenish depleted inventories of Javelin and Stinger.”
However, any significant shift toward the U.S. as a supplier is likely to trigger a backlash from Europe’s fragmented defense industry.
Earlier this month, the head of Dassault Aviation criticized Germany’s decision to order the F-35, claiming it could weaken support for collaborative European projects, such as the Franco-German FCAS fighter shared by Dassault and Airbus.
Germany is also examining U.S.-made missile defense systems, such as the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD). A German defense ministry spokesman declined to comment.
In an interview last week, Lt. Colonel Krzysztof Platek, spokesperson for the Polish Defense Ministry’s Armament Agency, said under a special accelerated procedure, Poland also plans to buy several MQ-9 Reaper drones made by General Atomics, and is eyeing further procurements.
“This order is an answer to the security situation, particularly in central and eastern Europe,” he said.
