Building a Resilient Defense Industrial Base for Future Conflicts
The report highlights the critical issue facing the U.S. defense industrial base, emphasizing the need for urgent changes to bolster its capabilities. The current landscape, dominated by a few major players, poses a threat to innovation and the production of essential systems required for modern warfare.
Challenges Posed by China’s Accelerated Defense Industry Growth
China’s rapid growth in weapons R&D and production has outpaced that of the United States, posing a significant strategic challenge. Beijing’s heavy investments in arms acquisition have raised concerns about the U.S.’s ability to keep pace and meet future warfighting needs.
Cultivating a Sustainable Drone Industrial Base
To address the shortfall in drone production capacity, the CNAS report recommends fostering a robust commercial and military drone industrial base. The Replicator program aims to attract both traditional and non-traditional industry players to scale up production and create surge capabilities for future conflicts.