Ukraine's battlefield churn showed the West how much its weapons-making needed an overhaul, NATO official says

"Innovative Ukrainian companies are rapidly responding to what is being seen on the battlefield and rapidly changing their equipment to meet the new challenges. They can get fresh solutions to soldiers within weeks. It's an important lesson that we need to learn from Ukraine. NATO needs to actually see how we can change our own mindset and our own way of working when we talk about capability development."

"NATO members traditionally buy hardware and stockpile it. The problem now is that hardware can become obsolete in six months' time or need substantial upgrades, often massive, expensive reworks. To avoid that, new business models are needed."

"In Ukraine, the effectiveness of new combat technology, particularly drone technology, quickly drops on the field of battle as new countermeasures arise. It suggests that NATO allies can't prepare for future wars the way they have traditionally."

NATO's traditional approach to weapons procurement and stockpiling is becoming obsolete due to lessons from Ukraine's conflict with Russia. Ukrainian companies rapidly innovate and upgrade equipment to address battlefield challenges within weeks, contrasting sharply with NATO's conventional lengthy development cycles. Hardware can become obsolete within six months or require expensive upgrades. NATO must fundamentally change its mindset and business models to enable faster capability development and adaptation. This shift is critical because combat technology effectiveness, particularly drones, quickly diminishes as countermeasures emerge. NATO allies need to embrace innovative solutions while managing risks differently than historically practiced.

Read at Business Insider