European Strategic Autonomy in Munitions: Securing the Tier-2 and Tier-3 Supply Chain
Technical Assessment of Industrial Bottlenecks and Sovereign Champions in the 155 mm and Missile Sectors
The industrial autonomy of the European Union in the defense sector is now undergoing a profound transformation, moving from ad-hoc military aid toward a structured and permanent manufacturing strategy. This shift is driven by the implementation of the ASAP and SAFE regulations, which aim to reinforce the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base through joint procurement. While major Tier-1 contractors like Rheinmetall and MBDA are the visible face of the industry, the true capacity to achieve a rapid industrial ramp-up lies within a specialized network of Tier-2 and Tier-3 suppliers. These companies control the critical bottlenecks in the supply chain, specifically energetic materials, precision fuzes, and guidance systems. Securing these nodes is a prerequisite for complying with the 35% non-EU component cap. This analysis evaluates the technical roles of the most relevant European champions. These firms ensure that the Union maintains full design authority and ITAR-free status, securing a sovereign military posture for the upcoming 2030 horizon.