Nammo CEO warns Europe must maintain defense ties with the US

The European defense industry must maintain industrial ties with the United States to meet rising demand, according to Morten Bratsberg, CEO of the ammunition manufacturer Nammo. Bratsberg emphasized that scaling up production should be viewed as a collective NATO effort rather than a purely European one, noting that Europe cannot meet its requirements through domestic means alone.

Bratsberg highlighted the integrated nature of current supply chains, citing Nammo’s role in producing missile engines for American AMRAAM missiles used in F-35 fighter jets. These engines are manufactured in Raufoss, Norway, sent to the United States for integration by Raytheon, and then redistributed to European allies. He cautioned that the industry may lack the time necessary to fundamentally restructure these production lines to be entirely European-based.