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<\/a> From Burden Sharing to Capability Scaling:<\/p>\n Moderator Heidi Grant, former director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, opened the panel by noting that co-production means different things to different people, ranging from shared assembly to full co-development of platforms.<\/p>\n But across the panel, a common theme emerged: speed and scalability are essential in building modern deterrence.<\/p>\n Patrick Mason, the Acting Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, said the fragility of supply chains over the past five to ten years, especially since Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has forced a reckoning.<\/p>\n The surge in demand for munitions and platforms has outpaced the capacity of individual nations, underscoring the need for greater coordination and shared investment. Scaling production through isolated national efforts is increasingly seen as unsustainable.<\/p>\n ________________________________________<\/p>\n A Strategic Need, Not Just a Business Model:<\/p>\n Sweden\u2019s Eva Hagwall, deputy director general of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration, emphasized that industrial capacity is no longer just an economic asset, it is a strategic military capability.<\/p>\n To meet rising global demand, governments must deepen trust with industry, broaden the base to include small- and medium-sized firms, and improve transparency in requirements.<\/p>\n \u201cProduction capacity is military capability. It is essential,\u201d Hagwall said. She emphasized that meeting growing defense needs will require closer collaboration between governments and industry.<\/p>\n Hagwall emphasized that shortening the feedback loop between governments and suppliers is critical. Lengthy procurement processes and national-level customization have slowed integration, even among allies. To accelerate progress, she said, nations must reduce individual requirements.<\/p>\n ________________________________________<\/p>\n Data, Not Just Metal:<\/p>\n Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Kirk Smith, now a consultant with Pentacle Global, argued that today\u2019s battlefield depends as much on data and digital integration as on armor or artillery.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2018Heavy metal\u2019 doesn\u2019t do anything without the right data,\u201d he said, stressing that the next fight will demand seamless interoperability, not just compatible munitions. Understanding how allies define capability, and where they accept risk, must be part of any co-production effort, he added.<\/p>\n Smith pointed to lessons from Africa and the Indo-Pacific, where differing threat landscapes require customized approaches. Each global combatant command knows what it needs, but industry must be brought into that conversation sooner, he suggested.<\/p>\n ________________________________________<\/p>\n Aligning Demand Signals and Sharing Risk:<\/p>\n A recurring concern was how to clearly communicate the \u201cdemand signal\u201d to industry. With countries pursuing similar capabilities, companies can often receive conflicting or diluted messages.<\/p>\n Mason said NATO\u2019s standardization efforts help provide a shared reference, but the alignment between governments, timelines, and budgets remains a challenge. He urged governments to co-invest and issue licensing arrangements for assembly abroad, particularly for critical systems.<\/p>\n Grant asked whether industry is getting the information it needs in time to respond. Panelists acknowledged the system still suffers from delays and missed signals.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to \u2018de-learn the bureaucracy,\u2019\u201d Mason said, calling for more agile policies and leaner contracting models. \u201cFast, cheap, good… you can only pick two,\u201d Smith added, pointing to the enduring tension between speed, cost, and quality.<\/p>\n ________________________________________<\/p>\n
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\n Heidi Grant (right), president and CEO of Heidi Grant Global, and Patrick Mason, acting principal deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army, speak at the “Updating the Arsenal of Democracy: Co-Production with Allies” panel at LANDEURO at the RheinMain CongressCenter in Wiesbaden, Germany, July 17, 2025. LANDEURO brings together industry and Allies to shape and accelerate industrial resilience, strengthening NATO\u2019s force posture, and reinforcing global deterrence. LANDEURO is the launchpad, and USAREUR-AF is the test bed for joint transformation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Osburn)
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\n From right to left: Patrick Mason, acting principal deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army, and Eva Hagwall, deputy director general and deputy national armament director for the Swedish Defence Materel Administration, speak at the “Updating the Arsenal of Democracy: Co-Production with Allies” panel at LANDEURO at the RheinMain CongressCenter in Wiesbaden, Germany, July 17, 2025. LANDEURO brings together industry and Allies to shape and accelerate industrial resilience, strengthening NATO\u2019s force posture, and reinforcing global deterrence. LANDEURO is the launchpad, and USAREUR-AF is the test bed for joint transformation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Osburn)
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\n Retired Lt. Gen. Kirk Smith, consultant from Pentacle Global, speaks at the “Updating the Arsenal of Democracy: Co-Production with Allies” panel at LANDEURO at the RheinMain CongressCenter in Wiesbaden, Germany, July 17, 2025. LANDEURO brings together industry and Allies to shape and accelerate industrial resilience, strengthening NATO\u2019s force posture, and reinforcing global deterrence. LANDEURO is the launchpad, and USAREUR-AF is the test bed for joint transformation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Osburn)
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\n From right to left: Heidi Grant, president and CEO of Heidi Grant Global, Patrick Mason, acting principal deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army, Eva Hagwall, deputy director general and deputy national armament director for the Swedish Defence Materel Administration, and retired Lt. Gen. Kirk Smith, consultant from Pentacle Global, speak at the “Updating the Arsenal of Democracy: Co-Production with Allies” panel at LANDEURO at the RheinMain CongressCenter in Wiesbaden, Germany, July 17, 2025. LANDEURO brings together industry and Allies to shape and accelerate industrial resilience, strengthening NATO\u2019s force posture, and reinforcing global deterrence. LANDEURO is the launchpad, and USAREUR-AF is the test bed for joint transformation. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Osburn)
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