From Tennessee to Berlin, a surge in accidents and sabotage reveals mounting strain on NATO’s defense supply chain.
From: Kyiv Post By Chuck Pfarrer
A massive explosion at Accurate Energetic Systems in McEwen, Tennessee, on Oct. 10, has spotlighted a troubling rise in incidents at US and German defense facilities, critical suppliers of military materiel amid the Russia-Ukraine war. The Tennessee blast, the latest in a series of accidents and suspected sabotage, underscores safety and security challenges as both nations ramp up production to support Ukraine and NATO. While the US faces operational mishaps, Germany contends with deliberate Russian-linked sabotage, raising questions about vulnerabilities in the Western defense industrial base.
In the US, over the past 18 months (April 10, 2024–Oct. 10, 2025), two incidents occurred at defense firms. On April 15, 2024, a fire at General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems in Scranton, Pennsylvania, disrupted munitions production. No injuries were reported, and local fire officials cited equipment failure.
The McEwen explosion, at a facility producing military explosives, is under investigation, with early reports suggesting an accidental cause. No evidence of vandalism or sabotage was found in either case, despite initial speculation in Scranton tied to US aid to Ukraine.
Voice of Ukraine 