BRUSSELS, April 14 (UPI) -- EU to fly solo on defense equipment through EDA
During a high-level European Defense Agency meeting last week, EU member states agreed to work toward common development, production and procurement of defense equipment.
Through the EDA, they will also seek to produce a common armaments strategy to orchestrate military equipment matters for the short and long run.
Additionally, a key goal of the agreement will be to develop and produce equipment that is interoperable and to keep production and development within the confines of the EU. Agreement was also reached on further funding of the agency's unmanned air-vehicle project.
The meeting was attended by all EU member states save Denmark, which isn't a member of the EDA.
The EDA will also encourage EU countries to purchase defense equipment from one another, which could hurt the U.S. defense industry. Generally, the EDA's idea is to keep defense development, procurement and production entirely within the continent, making the EU self-sufficient in all of its defense equipment needs.
The armaments strategy will be presented to the EDA's steering board in November and will detail how the bloc's defense capability needs will be converted into collaborative programs.
The member states will start sharing their test and evaluation facilities for military equipment, which is thought to be the first in a line of steps that will cut costs for all those involved.
At Britain's suggestion, the EDA will look to harmonize the airworthiness of new UAVs to save every country from having to certify the vehicles separately.
The EDA, which was founded by the European Council and is officially a part of the European Union, is increasingly shaping the European defense landscape. Last year 260 tenders were published through the EDA's electronic bulletin board by 18 governments. This resulted in the awarding of 60 contracts worth almost $1 billion, 16 of which were won by companies in another EU state. The value of the tenders on the bulletin board ranges from a few thousand dollars to more than $1.5 billion.
Turkey to buy U.S. MK41 vertical-launch systems
Turkey is looking to buy American MK41 Vertical Launch Systems for a possible total value of $227 million.
The deal would also include accessories and spare parts and operating, training and maintenance services. The exact order would be for six MK41 Vertical Launch System Baseline VII tactical modules, two MK41 upgrade kits for their MEKO Track IIA frigates, four ex-Perry Class FFG Frigates and upgrades for two MEJO Track IIB MK41 VLS from baseline IV to baseline VII, according to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The envisioned contractor for the deal would be Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors.
