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NATO countries are expected to produce around 4 million artillery shells annually by 2027, Secretary General Mark Rutte said, stressing that the Alliance must continue expanding its defense industrial capacity to keep pace with Russia, UATV English reports.
Speaking at the NATO Summit in Türkiye, Rutte said military production across Allied countries has been increasing rapidly but remains insufficient, as Russia continues to expand its own arms manufacturing.
According to the NATO chief, nearly half of Russia’s state budget is now devoted to military spending, while the country’s defense industry operates around the clock.
“We must accelerate the pace of defense production,” Rutte said, arguing that increasing industrial output is essential for the Alliance’s long-term security.
Meanwhile, Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz announced that a European maintenance center for Patriot missile systems will be established.
The agreement to create the facility was signed by the United States, Poland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.
The maintenance center is expected to strengthen Europe’s ability to service and sustain Patriot air defense systems, which have become a critical element of NATO’s integrated air and missile defense and play a key role in protecting Ukraine from Russian missile attacks.
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