The United States faces a severe Patriot missile shortage in Europe as stocks are diverted to West Asia amid the Iran conflict, raising concerns about Nato’s defense against potential Russian ballistic threats.

Germany and other European buyers are moving forward with Patriot production and delivery plans, with a new production facility in Germany slated to open in the fall and initial deliveries expected early next year to Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain.

US defense officials and Nato representatives stress that European Patriot levels are not critically depleted and that Nato can still block threats and donate air-defense munitions to Ukraine while maintaining overall defenses.

Over the next two years, urgent actions are urged: accelerate production using already appropriated funds, relax procurement rules, and employ broad industrial policy tools to expand output rapidly.

The author advocates treating elevated defense investment as a normal, ongoing priority to keep the industrial base prepared for future conflicts rather than a wartime exception.

Under Section 708 of the Defense Production Act, the government has coordinated production among competitors without antitrust exposure, while the White House seeks a large supplemental package that includes billions for munitions and industrial base capacity.

Experts warn that despite current advantages, Biden and Trump administration initiatives will take years to bear fruit, making immediate action essential.

The two-year focus is framed as a bridge to longer-term reforms, emphasizing a wartime footing for mass production to deter China and support allied operations beyond the Pacific.

Overall, the situation is a setback for near-term deterrence and stock readiness, though ramped-up production and funding could eventually restore inventories with time and sustained political support.

A seven-year, $35 billion contract aims to quadruple THAAD interceptor production to 400 per year, though full ramp-up will take years.

Bottlenecks in spending and procurement slow defense expansion; a shift toward faster, risk-managed, as-needed solutions is proposed.

The plan prioritizes high-volume production of precision systems, including drones and sensors, for rapid, scalable deployment.