NATO military chiefs meet in Brussels to discuss the urgent need to increase weapons production. The war in Iran is consuming arsenals at an alarming rate, especially the costly Patriot systems and high-quality munitions. Spending has exceeded $29 billion since May 2026, and allies fear that deterrence capability against Russia will be compromised if they are not replenished in time.
Patriot Systems: the black hole of the allied budget 💸
The Patriot systems, designed to shoot down ballistic missiles, are being fired at low-cost drones and rockets in Iran. Each interceptor costs millions, while the enemy threat is worth pennies. NATO seeks to optimize production lines to manufacture faster, but the supply chain for electronic components and propellants remains a bottleneck. The question is whether the industry can scale without losing quality.
NATO discovers that bullets don't grow on trees 🤦
The generals have realized that firing million-dollar missiles at thirty-euro targets is not sustainable. Now they debate whether it is better to manufacture more or pray that the enemies use stones. Meanwhile, the alliance's accountants calculate how many tanks could have been bought with what was spent on anti-aircraft rockets that, in the end, only shot down dust clouds.