NATO will need an additional 35 to 50 brigades to fully implement its new defense strategies against potential Russian aggression, a military source disclosed to Reuters.
The source, who spoke anonymously, did not provide further specifics, as the plans are classified.
Each brigade comprises 3,000 to 7,000 troops, making the creation of 35 to 50 new units a formidable task.
Highlighting NATO’s significant challenge in overhauling its defense posture due to heightened concerns about a Russian threat following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a security source revealed that Germany would need to increase its air defense capabilities fourfold.
During a summit in Vilnius last year, NATO leaders approved the alliance’s first major defense plans in over 30 years. Since then, officials have been working to translate these plans into specific military requirements.
NATO leaders are set to receive an update on these plans in Washington this week, coinciding with the alliance’s 75th anniversary summit.
A NATO official, when asked for a comment, mentioned that military planners have outlined “detailed requirements for troops and weapons needed to defend the alliance,” emphasizing priorities such as air and missile defenses, long-range weapons, logistics, and large land maneuver formations.
The official added that NATO is likely to set more demanding capability targets for allies to meet these requirements and ensure strong deterrence.
Berlin’s defense ministry declined to comment on NATO’s classified future plans but acknowledged the ongoing coordination with NATO on capability requirements, which will extend into the next year.
The source of the additional personnel for the 35 to 50 brigades remains unclear, with possibilities including reallocating troops from other areas, recruiting new soldiers, or a combination of both.
NATO’s military planners have also identified air defense as a major shortfall, underscored by the war in Ukraine, which highlighted the need to protect critical military and civilian infrastructure.
Germany, serving as a major logistics hub and staging area, would particularly benefit from robust air defense systems.
During the Cold War, Germany had 36 Patriot air defense units as NATO’s frontline state, supplemented by additional NATO support.
Currently, German forces have reduced to nine Patriot units after donating three to Ukraine post-2022 invasion, prompting the government to place orders for more Patriot and other air defense systems.
Ground-based air defense systems like Raytheon’s Patriot are designed to intercept incoming missiles.
Many NATO allies had reduced their air defense units after the Cold War, anticipating a limited missile threat from countries like Iran.
However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine drastically altered this perception, leading NATO allies to ramp up ammunition stocks and address air defense system deficiencies.
NATO’s agreement on its first major defense plans since the Cold War, referred to as “regional plans,” marks a significant shift for the Western military alliance, which had not seen the need for new large-scale defense strategies for decades, believing post-Soviet Russia was no longer an existential threat.
