Now that wars have become numerous, protracted, much closer to home, and involving sometimes peer nations, how should Europeans redefine the balance between quality weaponry and quantity purchasing? In the 1990s, the defence world was inspired by the private sector in reducing inventories and in optimizing supply chains; but conflicts now require large costly stocks that come at the expense of investments in Research and Development (R&D) or of high tech acquisition that may be vital in the short term. Perhaps the solution lies at country level and cannot be met with 100% certainty rates in any case.