Interview with Indra’s David Luengo

What are your responsibilities at Indra and what roles have you had within ASD?

I was Head of the Brussels Office, representing Indra as a corporation and reporting to the CSO/CEO office, and represented Indra in ASD’s External Affairs Commission since 2013, and then Chairman of the ASD Security Business Unit since 2019.

What has been the main motivation for you to be involved in ASD working groups?

ASD is an essential platform, dealing with core businesses of my company Indra. This platform is useful for three things: information sharing, intelligence production on all kind of events and people in Brussels, and the elaboration of common positions with regards to the policymaking of European institutions. 

In this context, Indra has always been willing to be an active and contributing member of the ecosystem, engaging with our peers in ASD, fostering consensus and engaging with the rest of stakeholders promoting a shared stance among us.

What has been the most rewarding aspect of your involvement with ASD working bodies?

ASD aggregates profound knowledge on technical and business aspects which are of high value for its members. It is also a varied community of people with different goals and sensitivities. To be involved in this environment is enriching by itself. Additionally, it is an awesome opportunity to learn and grow from a personal perspective. 

Looking back over your time and work with ASD, what do you consider the most significant milestone or success in the security and defence sector in recent years?

This specific sector has grown in relevance in the last ten years, which is the period of time I have been in Brussels representing Indra. The game changer so far has been the ability to consolidate a relationship with the European Commission, the most entrepreneurial policy maker of the EU. The day the Commission informed industry that they had decided to use article 173 of the Treaty on the Function of the European Union (which says “The Union and the Member States shall ensure that the conditions necessary for the competitiveness of the Union's industry exist”) as the legal base to deploy a defence industry policy was to me the most relevant milestone. 

What role does ASD play in and for the European aerospace, security and defence industry landscape, and how has it evolved over time?

Again, it is all about the platform to share, agree and project the position of the sector to inform the policymaking. ASD has matured alongside its stakeholders in the EU. Industry and officials have in ASD a reference point to meet and discuss with a broad perspective. This will keep evolving in the years to come.

From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges that ASD and the European security and defence sector will face in the next decade, and how is ASD positioned to address them?

I would cite three main challenges: First, have a plan for the next political cycle. The election in the US will determine much of the expectations on this sector, especially from a common endeavour point of view. Second, ensure effectiveness in terms of internal management. ASD has improved a lot in the last ten years, but to further consolidate its credibility towards stakeholders, we need to think about how we can best translate our common values into concrete action. And finally, be a proactive, influential player in all EU institutions.