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.
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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.
In contrast, Germany faced three incidents in the same period, all suspicious. On June 24, 2024, arson struck Diehl Metal Applications in Berlin, a supplier for IRIS-T missiles, causing structural damage.
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Western intelligence linked the fire to Russian saboteurs targeting Ukraine-bound arms. In July 2024, US and German authorities foiled a Russian plot to assassinate Rheinmetall’s CEO in Düsseldorf, part of a GRU campaign against NATO suppliers.
On June 26, 2025, a fire in Erfurt destroyed three Rheinmetall-supplied military trucks at an army depot, with Russian-linked Telegram channels claiming responsibility. German police are investigating it as sabotage.
Comparing these to the prior 18 months (Oct. 10, 2022–April 10, 2024), the US recorded one incident: an explosion at General Dynamics in Camden, Arkansas, on July 5, 2024, killing one worker. During this period, Germany had one incident, a cyberattack on Rheinmetall’s Düsseldorf HQ in April 2023, affecting its automotive division but not military operations. Lacking physical impact, it’s excluded from sabotage counts, but Russian hackers are suspected.
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The data shows a clear uptick. In the US, incidents rose from zero (2021-2022) to one (2022-2024) to two (2024–2025), a 100% increase from the second to third period. Germany’s incidents jumped from zero to one to three, a 200% increase in the latest period.
The rise from zero to one in both nations’ earlier periods is mathematically incalculable but effectively infinite. The US incidents align with heightened munitions production for Ukraine, increasing operational risks. Germany’s cases, all tied to Russian interference, reflect NATO’s warnings of a “record high” in Kremlin-orchestrated sabotage since 2024, targeting Europe’s defense supply chain.
In Germany, two arrests of Russian nationals occurred near defense sites: one in Berlin (April 2024) for espionage near Diehl’s facility, and one in Munich (January 2025) for a plot to sabotage tank production. Germany has detained over 10 Russian-linked suspects in 2024-2025 for hybrid threats, often using proxies.
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The contrasting patterns – US accidents versus German sabotage – highlight divergent risks. The US faces safety challenges from scaled-up production, with no confirmed foreign interference. Germany’s incidents, concentrated in 2024–2025, signal deliberate Russian targeting as Berlin commits €8.5 billion in munitions via Rheinmetall for Ukraine. Both nations’ low incident rates (1-3 per 18 months) align with historical defense manufacturing risks, but the upward trend demands vigilance.
Ongoing investigations, particularly into the McEwen explosion, and monitoring by the US Chemical Safety Board, Germany’s BfV, and NATO will clarify whether systemic flaws or external threats drive this surge. As Western defense industries bolster global security, ensuring robust safety and counterintelligence measures is paramount.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s and not necessarily those of Kyiv Post.