A new Roland Berger report says the Middle East conflict has emerged as a wildcard for aerospace supply chains already stretched by raw-material bottlenecks and production ramp-ups. The study, presented in Munich in early June, warns that the sector has moved beyond acute disruption and into a more fragile phase.
Based on a survey of 95 European aerospace companies, the report says 55% still face relevant supply-chain disruptions and about 80% expect shortages in critical inputs such as special alloys and rare earths. Around one third of respondents still see a clear need for action to support current ramp-up plans. Immediate operational damage from the conflict has been limited so far, but the report frames prolonged instability as a structural risk for procurement, capacity planning and output growth.
For operators and suppliers, the message is direct: geopolitical volatility now sits alongside materials availability as a constraint on aircraft production.