The first meeting of the Defence Industrial Production Board was held at NATO Headquarters in Brussels on December 13, with senior representatives from across the Alliance in attendance. The purpose of the Board is to enhance efforts for defence production, aiming to increase national capabilities for deterrence and defence, as well as replenish stockpiles that have been depleted by support to Ukraine. A robust and flexible defence industry is seen as crucial in strengthening the Alliance’s deterrence and defence capabilities. The Board will report to the Conference of National Armament Directors, which brings together top national officials responsible for defence procurement in NATO member and partner countries.
Allied experts, along with the NATO Industrial Advisory Group, discussed national and NATO perspectives on defence industrial capacity at the meeting. Measures to boost defence production, develop recommendations to address supply chain security, and engage more closely with the defence industry were key topics of discussion. The goal is to accelerate joint procurement, boost production capacity, and enhance Allies’ interoperability, as agreed upon at the 2023 Vilnius Summit. NATO Allies are committed to sustaining the defence industrial production capacity required in peacetime, crisis, and conflict. NATO plays a crucial role in harmonizing defence procurement demands among Allies and helping industry understand and meet Allied requirements for a sustainable supply.
The Defence Production Action Plan, agreed upon at the 2023 Vilnius Summit, aims to accelerate joint procurement, boost production capacity, and enhance interoperability among Allies. NATO Allies are committed to maintaining the necessary defence industrial production capacity during peacetime, crisis, and conflict. NATO serves as a convener and standard-setter, helping Allies align their defence procurement demands and assisting industry in understanding and meeting Allied requirements for a sustainable supply. The Defence Industrial Production Board plays a key role in stepping up efforts for defence production, with a focus on increasing national capabilities for deterrence and defence, as well as replenishing depleted stockpiles due to support provided to Ukraine. The Board will report to the Conference of National Armament Directors, which brings together top national officials responsible for defence procurement in NATO member and partner countries.
