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‘Europe is FALLING BEHIND!’ Airbus issues warning as US and China DOMINATE space
EUROPE is lagging behind China and the US in space and defence technology developments and must “get its act together” to keep up, a senior industry figure has warned.
By SIMON OSBORNE
PUBLISHED: 21:22, Tue, Jan 22, 2019 | UPDATED: 21:36, Tue, Jan 22, 2019
China's recent moon landing came as no surprise to Airbus boss Dirk Hoke (Image: GETTY)
Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space said China’s recent lunar success with its mission to the dark side of the moon came as no real surprise. He said: “The space agency is huge — they have more than 3,000 employees and they invest into all kinds of new technologies. They are definitely moving very fast.”
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Hoke warned there was a real risk Europe could fall behind and then struggle to make u lost ground.
He said: “It is very important for Europe to get their act together and define a clear vision for European space and for us a European supplier.
“The US and China are definitely moving faster right now.”
Mr Hoke also said Donald Trump was right to say some European countries had to step up their spending on military defence.
In 2014, NATO member countries signed up to a “Defence Investment Pledge” to push allies towards a target of spending 2 percent of their gross domestic products (GDP).
Three years later in 2017, data revealed that the US was still way ahead of other countries in its percentage spend with defence expenditure accounting for 3.57 percent of its GDP in that year.
During 2017 only three other NATO countries managed to meet the 2 percent target although Germany was praised for increasing its defence budget.
Mr Trump has criticised European nations for relying on US military might to prop up NATO and has threatened to pull out of the alliance if others fail to divert more cash to defence.
Mr Hoke said “on this topic Trump is right”.
He said: “Europe has to step up and live up to its commitment of 2 percent.
“It is also necessary to keep capabilities in Europe and keep the European defence industry alive.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...chnology-us-china-nato-donald-trump-dirk-hoke
EUROPE is lagging behind China and the US in space and defence technology developments and must “get its act together” to keep up, a senior industry figure has warned.
By SIMON OSBORNE
PUBLISHED: 21:22, Tue, Jan 22, 2019 | UPDATED: 21:36, Tue, Jan 22, 2019
China's recent moon landing came as no surprise to Airbus boss Dirk Hoke (Image: GETTY)
Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space said China’s recent lunar success with its mission to the dark side of the moon came as no real surprise. He said: “The space agency is huge — they have more than 3,000 employees and they invest into all kinds of new technologies. They are definitely moving very fast.”
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Hoke warned there was a real risk Europe could fall behind and then struggle to make u lost ground.
He said: “It is very important for Europe to get their act together and define a clear vision for European space and for us a European supplier.
“The US and China are definitely moving faster right now.”
Mr Hoke also said Donald Trump was right to say some European countries had to step up their spending on military defence.
In 2014, NATO member countries signed up to a “Defence Investment Pledge” to push allies towards a target of spending 2 percent of their gross domestic products (GDP).
Three years later in 2017, data revealed that the US was still way ahead of other countries in its percentage spend with defence expenditure accounting for 3.57 percent of its GDP in that year.
During 2017 only three other NATO countries managed to meet the 2 percent target although Germany was praised for increasing its defence budget.
Mr Trump has criticised European nations for relying on US military might to prop up NATO and has threatened to pull out of the alliance if others fail to divert more cash to defence.
Mr Hoke said “on this topic Trump is right”.
He said: “Europe has to step up and live up to its commitment of 2 percent.
“It is also necessary to keep capabilities in Europe and keep the European defence industry alive.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/worl...chnology-us-china-nato-donald-trump-dirk-hoke
