Aircraft
European Defense Budget Rises Could Boost Air Power
Spending is set to accelerate in the coming years
Eurofighter Typhoons
Eurofighter Typhoons from Spain (foreground), Germany, and Italy in formation during an exercise. All three nations have new Typhoons on order. © Eurofighter/G. Colla

In late May, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte reaffirmed a desire to set a defense expenditure rate of 5% of gross national product (GDP) for NATO’s current 32 allies. It will be one of the chief topics of conversation at this year’s NATO Summit to be held in The Hague later this month, where Rutte is hopeful of ratification from the NATO members.

The ramifications of this major strategic shift will also be high on the agenda at the Paris Air Show. Europe's aerospace and defense industry leaders are having to rapidly recalibrate their planning and assess how the new U.S. administration's abrupt reset on defense spending and defense partnerships could reshape the continent's approach to air power procurement.

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