Spain and the European Union seek to strengthen their technological sovereignty in defence, but Lockheed Martin warns that they will continue to purchase certain capabilities from the United States.
According to La Razón, Spain and the European Union want to reinforce their technological sovereignty in defence, develop their own systems, and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers. Achieving complete autonomy in all military areas is complicated, especially in technologies that require decades of development, large investments, and operational experience.
In an interview published in September 2025, Paul Lemmo, Vice President and General Manager of the Integrated Warfare Systems and Sensors division at Lockheed Martin, defended that the pursuit of European autonomy will not prevent EU countries from continuing to acquire capabilities developed in the United States. His summary was this:
"they seek to be more autonomous, but certain capabilities will still be acquired from the United States"
As an example, he cited the Aegis combat system, developed by Lockheed Martin and used by several navies, including the Spanish Navy. According to the executive, it has accumulated more than five decades of development, has been installed on more than 120 ships, and receives regular software updates.
Replacing a consolidated military technology requires more than just manufacturing an equivalent piece of equipment. Its reliability must be certified, sensors and weapons integrated, maintenance guaranteed, and kept updated for decades.
In Spain, the collaboration between Lockheed Martin, Navantia, and other national companies is particularly visible in the F-110 frigates. The American company provides technologies for combat capabilities, while the Spanish industry participates in the construction and integration of the ships.
The company also announced that it will incorporate engineers specialised in combat systems at Lockheed Martin Spain. The aim is to develop solutions from the country and strengthen collaboration with national technology companies, without renouncing to offer those products to other European clients.
Regarding directed energy weapons, Lemmo stated that laser systems are already ready for deployment on the battlefield and that their cost per shot may be lower than that of some conventional interceptors. Lockheed Martin claims it is in dialogue with the Spanish industry to explore possible national participation in directed energy programmes for the Armed Forces.
The interview also addressed the SPY-7 radar, the potential modernisation of the F-100 frigates with new versions of Aegis, and the MH-60R Seahawk helicopters acquired by the Navy.
The challenge, according to the company's message, is to decide which capabilities are worth developing in Europe and which require international cooperation, without losing industrial knowledge or long-term operational freedom.
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