I’m not trying to diminish the quality or importance of the French military, the only EU country with an independent industrial military complex, but as of 2025 USAF has 385 operative F-35 and another 1,350 on order. Many NATO allies are procuring this fighter. This is a 5th generation fighter, the Dassault Rafale and the Dassault Mirage 2000 are 4th generation. Currently, no 5th generation fighters are being produced in the EU.
Unpopular opinion, but the Americans have better quality airframes and produce more. On a wide EU-Russia conflict the EU would still depend on US made weaponry. Sad but true.
Which should be a reason good enough to create an EU wide military industrial complex and make your own 5th and 6th generation fighters and your own defense systems.
I’m not trying to diminish the quality or importance of the French military, the only EU country with an independent industrial military complex, but as of 2025 USAF has 385 operative F-35 and another 1,350 on order. Many NATO allies are procuring this fighter. This is a 5th generation fighter, the Dassault Rafale and the Dassault Mirage 2000 are 4th generation. Currently, no 5th generation fighters are being produced in the EU.
Unpopular opinion, but the Americans have better quality airframes and produce more. On a wide EU-Russia conflict the EU would still depend on US made weaponry. Sad but true.
Which should be a reason good enough to create an EU wide military industrial complex and make your own 5th and 6th generation fighters and your own defense systems.
But the EU is eternally disunited.