Collaborative Naval Procurement and Grand Strategy Post-Brexit

After the Cold War, several cooperative ventures involving continental EU member states have produced joint or similar submarines, amphibious vessels, destroyers and frigates. Although the Royal Navy has been Europe’s preeminent naval power throughout most of its existence, UK’s participation has been cautious. This is contrasted by the European exposure of Britain’s naval industry. Rolls Royce and BAE Systems have major continental manufacturing stakes and most UK naval sensor production is carried out by pan-European defence firms. Utilising scholarly insights and a mapping of competing national preferences on EU’s grand strategy, this chapter explores how these contradicting tendencies may impact post-Brexit European naval programmes and industry structure in the event of either a Brexit deal in the defence and security domain or absence thereof.