The strategy, known as SYNC, sets out three main objectives for cooperation between NATO and industry. These are enhanced communication and collaboration with industry, advancing innovation and interoperability, and strengthening, scaling and sustaining defence production across the Alliance.
NATO said the strategy is intended to improve industry’s access to the Alliance, provide greater visibility of Allied capability needs and simplify engagement with the NATO Enterprise. The approach is designed to apply to companies of all sizes, including small and medium-sized enterprises and non-traditional suppliers.
The document says an increasingly dangerous and contested security environment requires NATO to pursue a deeper relationship with industry. It links that effort to the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and stability, the persistent threat of terrorism and Allied delivery of The Hague defence commitment.
NATO said increased defence spending by Allies makes a strong, innovative and responsive defence industry essential to collective security. The strategy says defence industry provides equipment required for fighting, strengthens the Alliance’s technological edge and supports the readiness and interoperability of Allied forces.
The strategy states that transatlantic defence industrial cooperation is a critical part of NATO’s deterrence and defence. It also says NATO is working as a convenor, standard setter, requirements setter and aggregator, and delivery enabler to expand defence industrial capacity across the Alliance.
Under the strategy, NATO aims to give industry greater insight into Allied and Alliance capability needs and open new pathways for collaboration. It also recognises the importance of industry perspectives throughout the capability lifecycle, while keeping industrial policy as a national prerogative.
NATO said the strategy will complement measures already taken by Allies to support the development and growth of defence industry. It said sharing national defence industrial strategies and plans would improve coordination and coherence, including in discussions with industry.
The Alliance will prioritise deeper cooperation with industry over the next three years, guided by a dedicated implementation plan. NATO said progress will be reviewed at the end of that period in consultation with industry, and the strategy will be adjusted if needed.
The strategy covers both traditional and non-traditional defence industry and is based on a commitment to foster an innovative, competitive and sustainable defence industrial base. It focuses on cooperation across the capability lifecycle, with particular attention to engagement in pre-competitive phases.
NATO said early engagement with industry, robust contracting frameworks and agile procurement are important enablers of Allied defence. The strategy also says it will take account of relevant policies and efforts in other international organisations, including the European Union, where appropriate, to avoid unnecessary duplication.
The first strategic objective is to enhance communication and collaboration with industry through reciprocal communication channels and early-stage engagement. NATO said this would help integrate industrial perspectives into capability development and industrial capacity planning.
The strategy provides for a new engagement platform called the NATO Front Door for Industry. NATO said the platform will be the principal vehicle to inform companies how to connect with the NATO Enterprise and will later expand to offer opportunities to connect with interested individual Allies.
The NATO Front Door for Industry will include an engagement calendar and support industry access to procurement, testing, experimentation, verification and validation opportunities. NATO said the platform will evolve through an iterative process informed by Allied and industry feedback.
NATO will also launch dedicated industry consultations, including thematic workshops in specific capability areas and opportunities tailored to SMEs and start-ups. Industry will be invited to share expertise on emerging technologies, production capacity and supply-chain challenges to support Alliance decision-making.
The strategy says NATO will share an aggregated demand signal derived from the NATO Defence Planning Process to give industry insight into Alliance capability needs. This demand signal will be released in public and classified formats and updated when required.
The second objective is to advance innovation and interoperability by strengthening pathways for the faster adoption of emerging technologies. NATO said Allies and the Alliance will work with industry to accelerate the identification, contracting and acquisition of new technological solutions.
The strategy says Allies will implement agile and flexible procurement procedures that can keep pace with technological progress. NATO will also support the transition of promising solutions from experimentation into capability development, including through the NATO Innovative Solutions Catalogue.
NATO said industry will be encouraged to use initiatives such as NATO Innovation Ranges, the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic and the NATO Innovation Fund. The strategy also introduces the NATO Engine, a network linking manufacturers and factories with flexible production capacity to companies that need facilities to scale production.
The strategy places particular emphasis on interoperability, which it says is critical for Alliance forces to operate together. NATO said it will continue to update, develop and implement standards, promote mutual recognition of certifications and encourage the use of NATO standards in contracts.
Allies, NATO and industry will also work on modularity, open architectures and digital standards. The strategy says industry expertise will be used in standards development, trials, demonstrations, exercises, and testing, experimentation, verification and validation activities.
The third objective is to strengthen, scale and sustain defence production across the Alliance. NATO said deeper cooperation with industry on production and sustainment is needed to ensure that required capabilities can be generated, scaled and maintained.
The strategy says Allies and NATO will support scalable and flexible production facilities, including the ability to increase production volumes and surge output when required. NATO will also initiate table-top exercises with industry involvement to stress-test defence industrial production during periods of heightened demand and crisis.
Allies will continue measures to protect defence-critical supply chains, including through NATO’s Defence Critical Supply Chain Security Roadmap and the work of the Defence Industrial Production Board. The strategy says these measures are intended to ensure redundancy and diversification and reduce industrial vulnerabilities and dependencies.
NATO said Allies and industry will assess options for “always on” production models and strategic reserves and stockpiles. Allies will also seek to strengthen defence industry workforces and pursue actions to attract and mobilise private capital in support of scaling defence innovation.
The strategy sets out principles for Industry-NATO cooperation, including control by nations, voluntary participation, trust and transparency, openness, inclusiveness, equal treatment and compliance with existing procurement and security rules. It also stresses multinational cooperation and mutual benefit for Allies, NATO and industry.
The Conference of National Armaments Directors will play the key role in developing cooperation with industry. NATO said the CNAD will develop an implementation plan by October 2026 in consultation with industry through the NATO Industrial Advisory Group and the Defence Industrial Production Board.
The implementation plan will set out tasks and timelines for Allies and NATO to operationalise the strategy. NATO said the detailed plan will be developed in close cooperation with industry.
