The U.S. Army is considering pre-positioning stock in Europe’s High North amid Finland and Sweden officially joining NATO. Lt. Gen. Chris Mohan of Army Materiel Command stated, “We’ve incorporated two new NATO allies. So what does that mean for the High North…”
Army Materiel Command would be responsible for placing pre-positioned stock in the region if needed, with a plan being developed by the Pentagon-based team. Storing equipment and weapons near the Arctic Circle would allow the Army to learn how extremely cold weather impacts materials.
The Army is expanding its pre-positioned stock in Europe, with plans to spend $536 million in fiscal 2025 to enhance its division set. This set will include corps-level enablers with two armored brigade combat teams, fires, air defense, and more.
Equipment like tube-launched artillery and rocket artillery are being added to the Army’s pre-positioned stock. The Europe-based stock has been used heavily since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The Army is permanently moving an entire brigade set of equipment to a base in Poland. The infrastructure at the base has been upgraded to accommodate the Army’s pre-positioned stock.
Pre-positioned stock will be issued for this year’s Defender Europe exercise. The Army is focusing on using its pre-positioned stock for great power competition and training, in addition to regional conflict response.
