Crossing the Valley Ep. 52: Rebuilding America's Defense Industrial Base
Jul 16, 2025
Becca Wasser and Phil Sheers, experts from the Center for New American Security, discuss the urgent need to strengthen America's defense industrial base amid global competition. They analyze the growing gap between defense strategies and industrial capabilities, proposing innovative solutions like modular munitions and additive manufacturing. The conversation highlights challenges in procurement, particularly bureaucratic hurdles for smaller companies, and the impact of Congressional resistance on modernization efforts. Discover how collaboration between strategists and industry can revitalize U.S. defense.
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Defense Strategy-Industrial Gap
- A massive gap exists between U.S. defense strategy and industrial base capabilities.
- The current industrial base can't meet demand for advanced, large-scale conflict needs.
Roots of Current Industrial Challenges
- Post-Cold War saw major industry consolidation, reducing capacity and competition.
- Regulatory rigidity and inconsistent demand worsen industry dynamism and responsiveness.
Consistency and Flexibility in Demand
- Maintain consistent procurement for critical items to avoid production disruptions.
- Design weapons and processes for modularity and manufacturing flexibility to allow surge capacity.