Episode 217 — It’s All About Munitions: New Perspectives
Jan 4, 2025
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In this discussion, Steve Milano from Anduril and Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), delve into the urgent need for enhanced munitions capabilities in U.S. defense. They address the pressing global competition that requires increased production and innovative strategies in military operations. The conversation highlights the evolution of modular munitions, the integration of autonomous technologies, and the importance of agility in software development. They emphasize that adapting to modern warfare demands is critical for maintaining military readiness and effectiveness.
The U.S. defense community must urgently enhance munitions production capabilities to meet escalating global threats and demands.
Historical comparisons reveal the drastic change in munitions utilization, highlighting the need for urgent preparation for high-intensity warfare scenarios.
Anduril's innovative approach to munitions manufacturing focuses on modular production and agile design to enhance military responsiveness and effectiveness.
Deep dives
Urgent Need for Increased Munitions Production
The discussion highlights the pressing requirement for the U.S. defense community to enhance munitions production in light of global threats. Dr. LaPlante emphasizes that countries like Russia are committing substantial portions of their GDP to defense, enabling them to significantly increase munitions production. This escalation not only raises concerns about potential conflict with large adversaries like China but also highlights smaller groups, such as the Houthi rebels, advancing their technical capabilities. The overall message is clear: U.S. and allied defense companies must urgently evaluate what it would take to quintuple their production rates to meet rising demands.
Historical Context of Munitions Use
The podcast draws parallels between the present military landscape and historical conflicts, emphasizing the evolution of munitions use. The speakers reflect on the significant stockpiles used during Desert Storm compared to the precision munitions utilized in the War on Terror, noting a drastic reduction in munitions expenditure in recent years. They express concerns that, in the event of a large-scale conflict, such as a potential confrontation with China, the U.S. could deplete its munitions reserves within a week. This underlines the necessity of preparing for a return to high-intensity warfare requiring large quantities of munitions.
Inadequacies of Current Military Procurement Processes
The conversation reveals critical shortcomings in the current military procurement approach that are hindering the timely acquisition of necessary munitions. The speakers highlight how the system has become complacent, adjusting budget allocation based on perceived low demand. This lack of foresight prevents adequate preparation for large-scale conflicts, as an effective demand signal did not exist historically. They argue that manufacturing and purchasing strategies must evolve to create flexibility and responsiveness amid changing operational needs.
Innovative Approaches to Munitions Production
Andruil's strategy is to revolutionize the munitions manufacturing process by focusing on modular manufacturing and agile design principles. They advocate for an integrated approach based on understanding production sensitivities before automating processes, recognizing that flexibility in manufacturing can dramatically improve responsiveness to military needs. The company's development of a family of autonomous air vehicles, called Barracuda, exemplifies this approach, serving various tactical applications while being designed for efficient and cost-effective production. This emphasis on innovative manufacturing tactics can help address the challenges posed by traditional defense industry methods.
Expectations for Future Developments
Looking ahead, the speakers anticipate significant changes in the munitions landscape and military readiness within the next five years. They express a commitment to achieving full production capabilities for the Barracuda systems and adapting to evolving military requirements. Monitoring progress will involve assessing whether Andruil can successfully diversify its operations beyond air-breathing munitions to address the broader challenges of the defense industrial base. Ultimately, they aim to establish a sustainable and responsive munitions capacity that meets future demands effectively.
In this episode, Heather “Lucky” Penney chats with Anduril’s Steve Milano—from their Strike and Air Dominance Sector—and our very own Maj Gen (Ret) Larry “Stutz” Stutzriem about what it means to deliver enhanced munitions capabilities at scale.
Anyone who has watched security developments around the globe knows that we’ve got serious issues that risk us being out produced on the war materiel front, especially when it comes to munitions. How the U.S. industrial base can expand its production capacity, while also working to deliver new capabilities that allow air crew the ability to secure a broad range of combat effects? We can’t be complacent building a few hundred munitions a month when the air tasking order will call for tens of thousands over the same period. We all know our stockpiles are at record low levels…so we need to get real about rebuilding and sustaining to meet the new demand signal.
Credits:
Host: Heather “Lucky” Penney, Senior Resident Fellow, The Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
Producer: Shane Thin
Executive Producer: Douglas Birkey
Guest: Steve Milano, Anduril
Guest: Maj Gen Larry Stutzriem, USAF (Ret.), Director of Research, Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies
