CEO of Airbus Helicopters urges Europe to back its domestic defence industry

The head of Airbus Helicopters has urged Europe to back its domestic defence industry when launching major new military programmes, as a row simmers over US arms imports.

The comments come weeks after six European NATO nations embarked on efforts to define future transport needs under the alliance's Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) project, Reuters reported on September 22.

They also coincide with a standoff over Berlin's reluctance to buy into an upgrade of Airbus's Tiger attack helicopter over operational problems and a row with Norway over its decision to axe its fleet of NH-90 military helicopters.

"When there is a European solution, I think it is very important – and I have no doubt that Germany is taking that approach – to prefer European equipment: that is what Germany has shown for several decades with the Tiger and NH-90," Airbus Chief Executive Bruno Even told Reuters in a recent interview.

Airbus Helicopters is marking 30 years since it was born through a Franco-German merger prompted by the development of the original Tiger version, sponsored initially by France and Germany and later Spain.

"We are working closely with the German client to improve availability. We have seen results since a few months ago," Even told Reuters.

Even said the door for Germany to join France and Spain in the Tiger Mk III upgrade remained open, but responded sharply to suggestions that Berlin could instead buy Boeing's AH-64 Apache. "I don't imagine it for one second," he said.