NATO’s deterrence success has relied on interoperability and shared munitions standards, but today, U.S. and allied stockpiles are critically low as threats like China grow. To sustain deterrence, the U.S. should prioritize co-manufacturing interoperable weapons, such as the SM-6 and Tomahawk, with trusted allies. This approach enhances readiness, expands production, and optimizes supply chains, key to countering industrial overmatch and maintaining security in the Indo-Pacific. Reflecting a more aggressive defense posture, President Trump recently declared, “We’ll have more ammunition than any country has ever had. We’re going to have more missiles than any country has ever had,” signaling a renewed focus on missile stockpile expansion. They write:

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. […]

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.  […]

Co-manufacturing partnerships are invaluable, evidenced by the Russo-Ukrainian war, which significantly depleted U.S. stockpiles of 155mm artillery shells. Australia and South Korea, which also manufacture 155-milliimeter shells, helped replenish U.S. stockpiles. Similarly, conflicts in the Middle East depleted U.S. stockpiles of Standard Missiles, Tomahawks, and other munitions, representing years of industrial output and raising fears that depleted weapon stockpiles undermines U.S. readiness for conflict in the Indo-Pacific. […]

U.S. missile production capacity constraints are attributed to bottlenecks in rocket motor manufacturing and the availability of rare earth supplies from China. […]

Through co-manufacturing and integration, the United States can establish a distributed, resilient deterrent that magnifies the collective strength of like-minded nations in preserving regional security.

Read more here.