Allied Arsenal: Building Strength Through Shared Production

Throughout the 75-year history of NATO, no member has been attacked by Russia or the Soviet Union. In addition to its nuclear umbrella, the alliance achieved conventional deterrence by establishing strong interoperability standards, enabling large, distributed, and interchangeable munition stockpiles. All laser-guided weapons, regardless of origin, operate on a standardized laser pulse frequency. Networked weapons and sensors are guided through interoperable datalinks. Artillery shells and bullets are compatible and interchangeable with various allied gun systems. Today, global U.S. and allied munition stockpiles and defense-industrial capacity are at historic lows. Meanwhile, the pacing threat in the Pacific has unparalleled latent industrial strength and is becoming increasingly assertive.

In this security environment, where overmatch can no longer be assumed, deterrence requires long-range, interoperable, and interchangeable munitions to alter an adversary’s calculus. Conflicts are rapidly depleting existing stockpiles, and the United States lacks the industrial capacity to replenish them in sufficient time. Concurrently, allied defense industries require an infusion of capital, technology, and shared purpose. Co-manufacturing interchangeable weapon systems with trusted allies, particularly when combined with innovative employment concepts, presents a compelling solution. The U.S. government should seize opportunities for co-manufacturing and joint procurement of existing munitions with allies to maximize deterrence. Doing so will strengthen the credibility and resilience of the global defense-industrial base required to prevail in a major conflict.

Deterrence By Integration and Interchangeability

The geography of the Pacific presents a different problem set than the primary threat faced in Europe, demanding different weapon capability requirements. The framework that underpinned conventional deterrence in Europe, however, can still be applied, specifically the concepts of weapon interchangeability and interoperability. Fortunately, some already exist. During the Rim of the Pacific exercise in 2024, the U.S. Navy officially confirmed the existence of its long-range air-to-air missile, the AIM-174B, an air-launched adaptation of the Standard Missile (SM) 6 that was originally designed for warships. Standard Missile variants offer capabilities for engaging air, surface, and ballistic missile targets. The SM-6 forms the proven backbone of U.S. Navy air defense, with a 40-year lineage that traces back to the SM-2. Over the past 25 years, the U.S. Navy has fielded six variants, and has additional models in development, promising longer ranges and hypersonic engagement speeds.