Defense Exec Warned Europe Against Severing US Ties
As nations seek domestic alternatives, manufacturers caution that global supply chain integration remains critical.
Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Manufacturing
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Nammo CEO Morten Brandtzæg warned European leaders that decoupling their defense industries from the U.S. risks undermining necessary production capacity. This caution comes as European countries pursue internal weapon alternatives to combat significant U.S. delivery delays.
Why it matters
US delivery delays, exacerbated by stockpiles depleted in the Middle East, have forced European nations to explore domestic manufacturing or regional partnerships. Operators in the defense supply chain must balance the push for regional autonomy against the reality that Europe currently lacks the scale to meet total demand.
Twelve nations have expressed interest in the SAMP-T NG system as an alternative to US-made Patriot batteries, which currently face delivery backlogs stretching into the next decade. These pressures follow reports from the US in spring 2026 regarding inventory depletions.
The players
Nammo
A defense firm partially owned by the Norwegian and Finnish governments that produces specialized rocket-motor engines for tactical missiles.
Morten Brandtzæg
The CEO of Nammo who is actively advocating for the maintenance of transatlantic industrial integration in the defense sector.
Raytheon
A major US-based aerospace and defense contractor responsible for final assembly of missile systems using components sourced from international partners.
Thales
A European technology company providing aerospace and defense solutions, currently expanding its role in the regional supply of laser-guided rockets.
The details
The current supply chain for critical hardware, such as the rocket-motor engines Nammo produces in Raufoss, Norway, relies on integration with US assembly partners like Raytheon. While Nammo is expanding ammunition production within US facilities to boost overall capacity, European nations are pivoting to regional suppliers like Thales, which is currently negotiating with the UK for laser-guided rockets produced in Belgium. Denmark has already moved to diversify, signing a contract in 2025 for the SAMP-T NG system.
Timeline
The US warned allies of significant delivery delays in the spring of 2026.
Denmark signed a contract to purchase the SAMP-T NG system in 2025.
Denmark expects to receive its first delivery of the SAMP-T NG system in 2028.
Delivery delays for the Patriot air defence system are expected to persist throughout the next decade.
Market Landscape
This pivot reflects a shift within the European defense industrial base as nations move to reduce dependence on foreign hardware. It follows a pattern where delivery constraints for US-made platforms, such as the Patriot system, drive regional capital toward localized procurement and manufacturing alternatives.
Operators in the defense-adjacent supply chain should prepare for longer lead times and monitor shift patterns in government contracting away from US-exclusive suppliers. Procurement officers should track the 2028 delivery window for the SAMP-T NG system as a benchmark for the speed of regional production scaling.
The takeaway
The tension between regional industrial sovereignty and globalized defense manufacturing is creating new competitive opportunities for European firms. Monitor upcoming defense contract awards and production output data to gauge whether domestic alternatives can realistically match the scale of established US systems.
Further reading
For broader insights on global production shifts, visit our Manufacturing section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Financial Times News.
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Should European nations prioritize building a domestic defense industry over maintaining existing weapon supply ties?
