Europe's dependency on foreign technology poses a worrying question, Science Editor Sean Corduff discusses the uncomfortable answers

By Sean Corduff | Sep 10 2026

Europe is seen worldwide as a global superpower. Yet when it comes to defence technology, its position is less secure. The war in Ukraine has exposed significant weaknesses in Europe’s defence capabilities, from ammunition shortages to the lack of readily deployable drones and counter-drone systems. The EU is now investing heavily in developing its own defence technology, with billions being committed to research, production, and deployment.

But developing these technologies takes years. Israel, by contrast, has spent decades and tens of billions of shekels developing technologies that they have been able to test freely, despite the close watch of the international community. These technologies have been tried and tested in the battlefield, much to the dismay of competing European producers hoping to procure Government contracts. This has made Israeli technology particularly attractive as European countries rapidly attempt to strengthen their militaries. The scale of demand is becoming hard to ignore. According to the Israeli Military of Defence, defence exports reached a record $19.2 billion in 2025, a nearly 30% surge on the previous year, with 36% of total exports sold to Europe.

One area where the advantage over domestic producers is particularly evident is drones. Israeli company Sightec develops AI-powered visual-navigation technology that allows drones to operate without relying on GPS. Its systems can interpret their surroundings and navigate in environments where GPS is unavailable, jammed or spoofed. The company now says its technology has been deployed in more than 4,000 systems worldwide and describes it as “combat-proven”.

This type of technology has become increasingly important as warfare changes. Cheap drones have become an integral part of Russian advances into Ukraine, while electronic warfare can make traditional GPS systems vulnerable. Europe isn’t therefore looking solely for more weapons; it is looking for technology that will determine how those weapons will operate on future battlefields.

This is where Europe’s dependence on foreign technology becomes uncomfortable. The Franco-German led Future Combat Air System (FCAS) has been plagued by delays and budget overruns. As reported by Reuters, the project had been completely disbanded.

The question is not solely the amount of weapons Europe is importing from Israel, but how Israeli defence companies are becoming embedded in Europe’s own defence industry. Increasingly, Israeli firms are partnering with European manufacturers on joint projects and industrial cooperation, allowing 

European countries to produce or assemble systems locally while retaining links to Israeli technology, intellectual property and expertise. This creates a less visible form of dependence, allowing a country to reduce direct purchases from Israel whilst still relying on Israeli software, components, intellectual property or expertise.

This is becoming increasingly controversial as European governments face political pressure to reconsider their ties with Israel due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and Israel’s wider military objectives in the region. Israel’s defence industry is closely connected to the state’s security apparatus, and many of its systems are marketed on the basis of battlefield experience.

That experience is not politically neutral. It is linked to prolonged conflict, occupation and military operations that have drawn widespread condemnation. The European Union now faces a difficult question, should Israel’s continued actions prompt the bloc to impose stricter restrictions on arms transfers and defence cooperation? Can Europe really distance itself from Israeli technology when it has already become embedded in the industry? Europe has spent years arguing that it needs greater strategic autonomy, the ability to defend itself without excessive reliance on foreign powers. Replacing dependence on the United States with dependence on Israel would not solve that problem.