Lloyd J. Austin III Secretary of Defence | Official website
Department of Defense Spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen confirmed that Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Dr. William LaPlante recently embarked on a diplomatic mission to Paris, France, and Brussels, Belgium. Dr. LaPlante's visit aimed to enhance security cooperation with European allies and partners, focusing on current needs and future collaboration in procurement, production, and sustainment.
Dr. LaPlante engaged in discussions at the semi-annual NATO Conference of National Armaments Directors (NADs), where progress on the implementation of NATO's Defense Production Action Plan (DPAP) and multinational procurement initiatives were key topics. Allied leaders had previously agreed to the DPAP to facilitate joint procurement, address industrial challenges, and enhance interoperability among allies.
During the visit, Dr. LaPlante highlighted advancements in co-development and co-production efforts, such as the production of Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles-Tactical (GEM-T) in Germany. Notably, a significant contract worth $5.6 billion was awarded to support the procurement of up to 1,000 GEM-T missiles by multiple European nations, showcasing the benefits of multinational procurement in expanding production capacity and ensuring security of supply.
In a significant event on April 19, Dr. LaPlante co-chaired the 11th NADs meeting under the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) with Lieutenant General Ivan Havryliuk from Ukraine. Dr. LaPlante emphasized the pivotal role of NADs in translating ministerial guidance into actionable procurement, production, and sustainment activities, underscoring the unwavering support of the United States for Ukraine amidst nearly 50 participating nations and multinational entities.
Throughout the diplomatic mission, Dr. LaPlante engaged in bilateral discussions with key stakeholders, including the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, Acting NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment, and NADs representatives from Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
