US Air Force Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the supreme allied commander of Europe, is calling on industry to deliver real capabilities to the field in record time. He emphasized that the defense industrial base must become fully activated to meet the growing global threats.
Grynkewich stressed that it’s not just about investing in one area or another, but rather creating a seamless industrial base that can deliver capability and capacity for the alliance. The US military and NATO have developed solid regional plans, including the “Eastern Flank Deterrence Line” plan to enhance ground-based capabilities and drive military-industrial interoperability.
The plan includes standardized data-driven systems, common launchers, and cloud-based coordination to counter Russian threats and enable scalable global deterrence. Grynkewich also highlighted the need for air defense capabilities, particularly against unmanned aircraft systems and ballistic missiles.
Industry now has real incentives in place, with NATO nations committing to spend 5% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2035. Grynkewich urged industry leaders to expand production lines and increase research and development spending to achieve this goal.
He emphasized that there’s no time to waste in delivering new and emerging technology to the battlefield along with legacy technology that is still relevant. The US Europe commander challenged leaders to hold themselves accountable for meeting this deadline, highlighting the need for swift action from industry to support military operations.
Source: https://www.defensenews.com/land/2025/07/18/no-time-to-waste-nato-chief-urges-rapid-industrial-mobilization