NATO chief calls for a redesigned, mass-producible air-defense backbone
NATO’s top transformation commander warns that Western weapons must be redesigned for modern warfare, arguing that mass-produced, cheaper defenses are needed to counter drone swarms while keeping advanced interceptors like Patriot missiles for ballistic threats. Despite big investments, producing tens of thousands of Patriots annually isn’t feasible due to supply chains and costs. NATO aims a layered approach—lower-cost, attritable systems for drones plus high-end interceptors—while Ukraine’s agile defense industry is pushing Western manufacturers to move faster. The move comes as the INF-era missile race and Russia’s evolving tactics push the West to overhaul its defense industrial base.
