Europe’s defense industry urged to adopt a ‘COVID-19 vaccine’ model for production

Fiona Murray, head of the NATO Innovation Fund, stated that the political landscape in Europe demands urgent changes in the defense industry, similar to the steps taken in 2020 for the mass production of coronavirus vaccines.

Speaking at a conference in London, as reported by Bloomberg, Murray said that Europe, with NATO’s support, must develop military startups and scale these projects to large production capacities.

Murray recalled that during the pandemic, successful vaccines were first developed by small teams and then mass-produced by large pharmaceutical companies.

Noting that governments at the time swiftly removed bureaucratic obstacles to accelerate production, Murray commented, “The conditions now are at least as urgent.”

Mass production essential for ‘drone wall’

Fiona Murray emphasized that new deterrence systems based on unmanned aerial vehicles require large-scale mass production to be effective.

Stating that demand is already increasing, Murray reported that the European Union is discussing an initiative to create a “drone wall” for protection against Russia.

Europe is investing at a record level in its defense sector as US engagement in the region weakens.

These investments have led to the emergence of several technology startups valued at over $1 billion and the development of advanced weapons such as hypersonic missiles, kamikaze drones, and next-generation interceptors.

To accelerate production, NATO’s €1 billion fund plans to connect new startups with traditional European industrial companies that have not previously been involved in defense manufacturing.

Skepticism towards traditional industry

However, some actors in the sector are skeptical about the capabilities of the “old guard.”

Alexander Fitzgerald, founder of the British company Isembard, said, “If you expect cutting-edge systems from obsolete companies, you will get obsolete results.”

Another problem cited is that the European defense market operates significantly differently from Silicon Valley.

The fact that most public contracts are still awarded to traditional contractors causes new technological solutions to be sidelined.

Despite this, NATO believes that the combination of production capacity and increased demand can transform defense startups into a “truly large industry.”

Torsten Reil, co-founder of Helsing, which produces AI-powered drones, noted that early investors often act on emotion, asking, “Even if this is a bubble, why not use it as a dynamo?”