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Defense Industrial Base

All articles tagged with #defense industrial base

Rapid Mass at Scale: The Two-Year Plan to Deter China
defense8 days ago

Rapid Mass at Scale: The Two-Year Plan to Deter China

The CFR report warns the U.S. arsenal is stretched and current production cannot credibly deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan within a near-term horizon, urging a two-year sprint to scale “precise mass”—low-cost, rapidly producible drones, missiles, sensors, and C5ISRT—through speed-focused procurement, relaxed rules, and bold industrial policy. It calls for a Rapid Industrial Expansion Authority, portfolio-level risk tolerance, and multiyear contracts; expanded OTA/MTA authorities; stockpiling of long-lead components; modernization of production lines; and strengthened supply chains under NDAA/FoRGED/SPEED Act reforms. The goal is to field credible, high-output capabilities quickly, while maintaining transparency with Congress and accepting some risk of imperfect systems in exchange for timely capability gains.

Pentagon Pauses CMMC Phase 2 to Reassess Costs and Contractor Capacity
technology1 month ago

Pentagon Pauses CMMC Phase 2 to Reassess Costs and Contractor Capacity

The Pentagon has frozen the planned Phase 2 rollout of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), forming a cross‑department Reform Task Force and issuing an RFI to gather feedback as it reviews the program. The halt aims to prevent driving many small and mid‑sized defense vendors out of the defense industrial base, citing costs (SBA data suggesting potential multi‑billion‑dollar annual expenses) and a shortage of assessors (roughly 100 for more than 100,000 DIB companies). Until the review concludes (within about 60 days), enforcement will rely on self‑assessments under NIST 800‑171, with the possibility of further changes, including potential cancellation of CMMC after the pause.

Pentagon halts phase-two CMMC and launches 60-day reform to ease contractor compliance
policy1 month ago

Pentagon halts phase-two CMMC and launches 60-day reform to ease contractor compliance

The Pentagon is suspending phase two of the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) plan and maintaining phase one self-assessments as it launches a 60-day reform review to rebalance the program toward faster capability delivery and lower barriers for small and non-traditional contractors; milestones are paused, with an emphasis on tangible cyber hygiene over costly third-party certifications, a shift supported by the SBA and potentially affecting up to 80,000 defense contractors.

SRMs Shortfalls Threaten U.S. Missile-Defense Readiness
technology2 months ago

SRMs Shortfalls Threaten U.S. Missile-Defense Readiness

A CSIS interview explains that dwindling solid rocket motor stockpiles, regulatory fragmentation, and inconsistent demand are stressing the U.S. air-and-missile defense industrial base. Experts urge ramped, coordinated production of high- and low-end munitions, expanded drone defenses, and clearer demand signals to preserve deterrence against evolving threats like Shahed drones and cruise-missile–level threats.

OSC backs Phoenix Tailings with $500M loan to boost US rare earths
business2 months ago

OSC backs Phoenix Tailings with $500M loan to boost US rare earths

The U.S. Department of War’s Office of Strategic Capital announced a $500 million conditional loan commitment with Phoenix Tailings, Inc. to scale domestic processing of rare earth elements, aiming to mobilize about $1 billion with private capital for expanding existing facilities and building a new U.S.-based rare earth separation and metallization facility, strengthening the mine‑to‑magnet supply chain and national defense industrial base; the loan will close after standard due diligence and other conditions are met.

America’s Marathon War: Stockpiles, Allies, and a Modern Arsenal
defense-and-military2 months ago

America’s Marathon War: Stockpiles, Allies, and a Modern Arsenal

Analyst Mahnken argues that U.S. wars are rarely quick; to prevail in extended conflicts (as with Iran), the United States must combine high-end capability with mass by expanding long-term munitions production, hardening bases, and strengthening the defense industrial base, while relying on allies and adopting new technologies (long-range munitions, directed energy, satellites) and layered defenses to deter and win protracted campaigns across multiple theaters.

Gates Warns of a Perilous Era as U.S. Faces China, Taiwan and Iran
world3 months ago

Gates Warns of a Perilous Era as U.S. Faces China, Taiwan and Iran

Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates warns we are in a dangerous era with nuclear-armed rivals in Europe and Asia, notes China is closing the gap with the U.S. economically and technologically, and says the Xi–Trump meeting aimed to maintain a floor on ties rather than deliver decisive outcomes. He supports advancing Taiwan arms sales despite a backlog and urges rapid expansion of U.S. defense production to replenish stockpiles used in Ukraine. On Iran, he argues the only way to end its nuclear program is through negotiation that removes or dilutes enriched uranium, cautions the president cannot walk away and Israel cannot settle the issue alone, and critiques Netanyahu’s past assessments. He also discusses domestic Pentagon reforms and leadership shakeups, defends William & Mary against claims it’s a “woke” indoctrination center, and warns Cuba presents a risk of a new mass exodus if stability deteriorates.

China’s Tech Lifeline Fuels Russia’s Drone and Missile Production, ISW Finds
world7 months ago

China’s Tech Lifeline Fuels Russia’s Drone and Missile Production, ISW Finds

ISW reports China is quietly supplying Russia with hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of dual-use tech—CNC machines, microchips, memory boards, bearings and other components—to the Russian defense industrial base, enabling production of Oreshnik missiles and Shahed drones without direct weapon transfers. Ukrainian forces conducted night strikes near the front and in the near rear on Jan 27–28, targeting manpower concentrations, drone-control points, depots, and other targets, while advancing near Pokrovsk as Kyiv counters Russian gains and sustains a mid-range strike campaign. Across multiple axes, Russian offensives remained limited with Ukrainian forces maintaining positions or making localized advances; Russia also conducted long-range strikes against Ukrainian infrastructure, including oil facilities near Voronezh. Belarus activity was minimal.,

The DoD's 2026 National Defense Strategy: Swagger Without Substantive Plan
defense7 months ago

The DoD's 2026 National Defense Strategy: Swagger Without Substantive Plan

Mark Hertling argues the 2026 National Defense Strategy is more political rhetoric than a usable plan: it substitutes swagger for analytical rigor, and its four lines of effort (homeland defense, Indo-Pacific deterrence, alliances, and industrial base) lack clear prioritization or credible execution. A true strategy should translate goals into budgets, force design, readiness, and concrete ally engagement, rather than a wish list that relies on untested assumptions and grand assertions.

NDS Signals a Homeland-First Realignment of U.S. Defense
defense7 months ago

NDS Signals a Homeland-First Realignment of U.S. Defense

GMF analysts argue the National Defense Strategy signals a homeland-first realignment: the U.S. prioritizes Western Hemisphere threats, border security, and burden-sharing with allies while shrinking its global leadership footprint, potentially weakening deterrence against China and Russia. It reshapes NATO and European defense, elevates domestic operations and defense-industrial revitalization, and depends on continued bipartisan support in Congress. The analysis also highlights Arctic security, alliance cohesion, and the risks to morale and recruitment from intensified homefront deployments.

Homeland-First Defense: US Reorients Strategy Toward Allies and Domestic Shield
defense7 months ago

Homeland-First Defense: US Reorients Strategy Toward Allies and Domestic Shield

The 2026 National Defense Strategy pivots from expansive overseas deployments to homeland protection, designates NATO and regional partners as lead defenders in Europe and the Indo-Pacific, accelerates US defense production, and emphasizes deterrence and readiness while removing climate security from threat assessments.

politics7 months ago

Secretary of War Launches 'Arsenal of Freedom' Tour to Boost National Morale

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's 'Arsenal of Freedom' tour aims to revitalize America's manufacturing sector and strengthen national security by emphasizing the importance of a robust Defense Industrial Base, promoting faster, innovative defense acquisition processes, and rallying the American workforce to support the peace through strength agenda.

Pentagon's Acquisition Chief Identifies Urgent Counter-Drone Crisis Amid Global Conflicts
defense-technology2 years ago

Pentagon's Acquisition Chief Identifies Urgent Counter-Drone Crisis Amid Global Conflicts

The Pentagon's Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Bill LaPlante, has emphasized the urgent need for counter-drone technology, comparing it to the demand for 155mm artillery shells in conflict zones like Ukraine and Gaza. The Defense Department is pushing for advanced capabilities in response to the increasing use of drones against U.S. forces. LaPlante highlighted the importance of ramping up production capacity and funding for counter-UAS systems, stating that the industrial base must be able to produce them at high numbers. However, the Pentagon has yet to determine the exact quantity required, and the lack of a full-year appropriation passed by Congress may hinder production increases.