NATO's Munition Challenge - Costs, Recent Lessons & Rebuilding Magazine Depth

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From the Red Sea to the War in Ukraine, it's been demonstrated that the US and many NATO states can produce high-quality munitions.

What isn't clear is that they can produce them in sufficient quantities, or at low enough prices, to meet the demands of a deteriorating security environment and rising focus on conventional deterrence against peer and near-peer competitors.

In this episode I look into how many Western munitions became so expensive, what strategic risks that creates, and some of the methods nations might use to rebuild their stocks without destroying their national budgets in the process.

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Reading and Sourcing (to be updated due to late release):

USN Missile pricing per:
https://www.twz.com/sea/what-the-navy...

ERAM RFP - OT Solicitation Number: FA8682-24-R-0014
https://govtribe.com/file/government-...

USN Weapon Procurement (including SM-3)
https://www.secnav.navy.mil/fmc/fmb/D...

GAO on Abrams Operating Costs (1991)
https://www.gao.gov/assets/nsiad-91-1...

RUSI - Silicon Lifeline
https://static.rusi.org/RUSI-Silicon-...

ERAM, MACE, ETV & FAMM:
https://breakingdefense.com/2025/03/a...
https://www.twz.com/air/air-forces-ch...
https://www.twz.com/air/cheap-long-ra...

Gray Wolf
https://www.twz.com/32669/air-forces-...

Cleaver
https://www.wpafb.af.mil/News/Article...

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidham...

https://www.twz.com/33716/air-force-u...

US Munitions Expenditures in Red Sea
https://www.twz.com/news-features/nav...
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/04/us...
https://www.twz.com/news-features/u-s...

Standard Missile Production & Contracts
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/...
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/202...

JSM for USAF F-35
https://www.twz.com/air/usaf-f-35s-ar...

APKWS & APKWS II
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopt...
https://www.twz.com/air/f-16s-with-la...
https://www.twz.com/air/air-launched-...


Barracuda
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/and...
https://theaviationist.com/2024/09/13...

CMMT
https://www.twz.com/air/lockheeds-low...

JASSM/LRASM:
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/loc...

Caveats & Comments:

All normal caveats and comments apply. In particular – I would like to note as always that this material has been created for entertainment purposes and is not intended to be a complete or comprehensive examination of the topic in question and should not be relied upon to inform financial or other similar decisions.

Any content relating to the conduct, views, activities or any aspect of any person or character in this video is included for entertainment purposes and does not represent an assertion of fact on those matters or any matters in relation to that person or character.

Care has been taken in compiling data, quotes, and other inputs from various sources but errors can occur. Quotes and included data should be considered illustrative, not definitive and their veracity should not be relied on.

Timestamps:
00:00:00 — Opening Words
00:01:19 — What Am I Talking About?
00:03:37 — the Cost Problem
00:12:18 — Nuances
00:15:13 — Meeting Demand?
00:22:17 — Conversion
00:37:58 — Scaling Down
00:47:22 — Technology Substitution
00:50:04 — Industry
00:55:10 — the Risk
00:56:58 — Teaming
01:00:34 — Channel Update