NATO warns Western industry cannot meet missile production demands after Ankara summit

At a NATO summit in Ankara, Admiral Pierre Vandier, the alliance’s Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, cautioned that Western industrial bases lack the capacity to sustain mass production of advanced missiles and air‑defence systems. He noted that manufacturing limits prevent producing the tens of thousands of Patriot interceptors or other high‑tier weapons that modern conflicts require, and advocated a shift toward cheaper, attritable weapons for layered defence.

Allies at the summit pledged billions of euros for new air‑ and missile‑defence capabilities, including 900 Patriot interceptors and substantial spending on counter‑drone systems. The briefings also highlighted Turkey’s growing defence‑industrial base, particularly in ammunition and drone technology, as a short‑term stabilising force for Europe’s shortfalls in manpower and munitions. However, constraints such as reliance on external supply chains, limited interoperability within NATO and EU frameworks, and ongoing political frictions mean Turkey cannot serve as a comprehensive strategic shield for the alliance.