NATO to overhaul its defense industry after Ukraine war highlights shortcomings

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NATO announced plans on Wednesday to enhance its defense industry, responding to the significant increase in demand for supplies triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This surge has exceeded NATO’s current production capabilities for weapons and ammunition.

“We couldn’t produce the necessary capabilities in the volumes required for our own defense or to support Ukraine,” a senior NATO official reported anonymously.

The Defense Industrial Pledge obliges NATO members to avoid trade barriers within the alliance’s defense market, make joint weapon purchases when possible, and collaborate more closely with Ukraine and NATO’s Indo-Pacific partners on defense production. A crucial aspect of the pledge is the standardization of weapons across the alliance, as the war in Ukraine revealed that even standard 155mm ammunition has minor differences that prevent its use in different countries’ artillery.

“It’s problematic for military commanders because it results in various ammunition supplies and extends supply lines. It’s a significant issue,” the official explained. Ammunition purchases within the alliance will now adhere to standardized guidelines, he added.

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The new pledge acknowledges the West’s previous difficulties in boosting its defense industrial base. The EU’s commitment to send a million artillery rounds to Ukraine by March will…