With the exception of Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden and Finland most other EU states have very small defence industries that build components for leading aerospace manufacturers. Some states have developed niche industries or provide support services to their armed forces. Portugal’s defence industry is dominated by EID (Empresa de Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Electrónica), which has built communications systems for the armed forces of Portugal, Spain, Lithuania and the UAE. It is part the state-owned holding company Empordef (Empresa Portuguesa de Defesa), which also controls OGMA Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal and Edisoft (Empresa de Serviços e Desenvolvimento de Software). OGMA provides aviation repair, maintenance and overhaul support to the Portuguese armed forces, while Edisoft undertakes software engineering to customers that include the Portuguese Ministry of Defence (Ministério da Defesa Nacional -- MDN) and major defence companies like DCNS, Thales and the VT Group.

Austria’s defence industry produces equipment mostly for domestic use. Main Austrian defence companies include the armoured vehicle manufacturer Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug (SSF), Steyr Mannlicher (military and law enforcement small arms) and Hirtenberger Defence Systems (ammunition, mortar bombs). SSF is part of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS). It manufactures the Pandur II APC on order and operated by Portugal and Slovenia. The company has a 12 per cent stake in Slovenia’s Sistemska Tehnika, which
licence-builds a version of the Pandur II, and has formed the
Austrian-Spanish Co-operation Development (ASCOD) A.I.E with Spain’s Santa Bárbara Sistemas (also owned by GDELS), to develop and market the Austrian Ulan AIFV and the Spanish VC1 Pizarro. Both countries have so far ordered a combined total of 465 vehicles.

In January 2008, the Czech Republic announced that would consider looking again at an order for 199 Pandur II 8x8 armoured vehicles that it had cancelled the previous month. These were due to be assembled domestically under licence from Steyr-Daimler-Puch Spezialfahrzeug in 18 different configurations in 2008–2012 to replace the ageing OT-64. The Czech Republic cancelled the order after political splits emerged with the country. It was also claimed that the Czech Army had reassessed its operational requirements and was concerned that initial vehicle deliveries during 2008 would not meet original specifications.

Belgium’s defence industry is dominated by the firearms manufacturer FN Herstal (Fabrique Nationale de Herstal) and the aerospace companies of the Sonaca Group and Sabca (Sociétés Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aéronautiques). FN Herstal is part of the Herstal Group at Liége, which also comprises American-based Browning and the US Repeating Arms
Company- Winchester. FN Herstal designs and produces a range of firearms for military and law enforcement use. The Sonaca Group manufactures aircraft structures and components, and produced the
B-Hunter UAV currently operated by the Belgian armed forces. Sonaca is the largest aerospace company in Belgium with operations in the US, Canada and Brazil. Sabca and the Sonaca are part of the Flabel Corporation, which is the Belgian consortium involved in the A400M military airlifter, also comprising Asco Industries (aircraft structures, components), Barco Avionics (cockpit displays) and Sabca Limburg (composite aerospace components).

Greece’s defence industry directly and indirectly employs 15,000 people. Only 2,800 people are directly employed. Annual arms exports are valued at US$88 million (EUR60 million). With heavy reliance on defence imports, the government usually seeks offset deals if the value of equipment procured is worth more than US$1.6 million (EUR1.1 million). Greece produces naval vessels, ammunition and aircraft components. The three main companies are Hellenic Defence Systems (EAS), Hellenic Shipyards SA (HSY) and Hellenic Aerospace Industries (HAI). EAS employs about 5,000 people at five sites producing infantry weapons, missiles, bombs and ammunition for the Greek armed forces. HSY is part of TKMS and employs about 1,500 staff at its Skaramagas shipyard. It constructs German-designed vessels for the Greek Navy, such as the Hydra Class (MEKO 200) frigate and the Type 214 submarine. HAI builds components for other aerospace manufacturers. In December 2005, HAI signed a US$88 million (EUR60 million) agreement with Italy’s Aermacchi to undertake about ten per cent of production on the M-346 advanced jet trainer, including building components and parts of the aircraft’s fuselage.

Hellenic Vehicle Industry SA (Elliniki Biomihania Ohimaton -- EABO) has in the past assembled armoured vehicles for the Greek armed forces and export market, including its own designed Leonidas APC. The company has recently licence-built the Leopard II MBT for the Hellenic Army, but largely concentrates on civilian bus and fire-fighting vehicles as well as providing spare parts. Other Greek military vehicle producers include Nik Kioleides SA, which builds MBT transporters and refuelling trucks. EADS 3 Sigma (50 per cent owned by EADS) at Chania in Crete and Athens manufactures UAVs, unmanned surface vessels and drones. Smaller Greek companies include Interoperability Systems International Hellas (ISI Hellas) (C3I software and equipment, software) and Miltech Hellas (defence telecommunications, components, countermeasures equipment, electrical cables and towed targets). Miltech Hellas has supplied electrical boxes for the Leopard IIHEL assembled by EABO, electrical boxes for the Panhard VBL (Véhicule Blindé Leger) light armoured vehicle under contract from Thales and is currently providing electrical harnesses for the NH-90 helicopter project.