With more than 21,000 employees across 65 facilities in Europe, U.S.-based RTX is a major player in the European defense sector, building on the region’s technical and manufacturing talent.
In addition to direct investment, RTX works with approximately 11,000 suppliers across Europe and spent $8 billion in the European supply chain in 2024 alone.
Industrial cooperation brings long-term stability to suppliers, encourages innovation, and anchors high-value industrial capabilities in Europe.”
Andres Maz, vice president, Global Government Relations Europe, at RTX
For example, in 2025, Pratt & Whitney announced a partnership with Czech company PBS Group to develop a next-generation auxiliary power unit to provide electrical power for on-board systems on commercial and military aircraft.
This kind of transatlantic partnership advances European strategy by strengthening local industry. “The project will significantly increase the competence and capacity of Czech industry, which is essential for ensuring security of supply in crisis situations,” said Radka Konderlová, director general for industrial cooperation at the Czech Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces.
“Many of our programs have European supply chains, with hundreds of companies involved,” says Andres Maz, vice president, global government relations Europe, at RTX. “And those suppliers have other suppliers. And this is the real defense industrial base: it’s tier two and tier three suppliers who source the industry. Many of these companies are owned by Europeans, based in Europe, managed by Europeans, with Europeans working on the production line.”
The Patriot® air and missile defense system, developed by Raytheon is used by nine European countries ― including Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Poland and most recently Ukraine. Raytheon works with 24 European suppliers on Patriot, and has a joint venture with Germany’s MBDA Deutschland, COMLOG, to produce the missile system in Germany.