A key aspect of ensuring security and encouraging innovation on the continent is the European defense industry. It contributes significantly to establishing Europe's strategic autonomy and determining its worldwide influence thanks to its extensive history and intricate network of participants. The purpose of the article is to provide a succinct overview of the significance of the European defense sector, emphasizing its key traits, difficulties, and potential for future expansion. The author has relied mostly on a literature review and formed conclusions from the events that have shaped our current security environment. These conclusions also reflect the author's personal experience of defense development and armed forces modernization. The article comes essential, but important conclusions, one of them is that international cooperation and collaboration within the defense industry is essential to generate the promotion of specific branches of the defense industry, which can become an essential tool for successful defense. This is in addition to the increase in defense spending and defense capabilities generated by the current and future geopolitical situation.