National Security Weakness: The United States' Military-Industrial Deterioration

I. Supply and Demand

The United States' military, despite being the most well-funded globally, faces a significant national security vulnerability. This weakness affects all levels of the military and is largely unknown to the public. The once-mighty American war machine has fallen into disrepair and disarray.

"It's shocking how deteriorated some of our facilities are," said Representative Donald Norcross, who chairs a House Armed Services subcommittee on munitions manufacture. "You would stay awake all night if you had any idea how short we are of artillery ammo," added Ted Anderson, a retired Army officer now with Forward Global.

II. What Happened?

This is not a temporary setback or solely a munitions issue. The U.S. military has a deep-seated, systemic deficiency. We have relied heavily on big, expensive, and arguably outdated weapons platforms, such as fighter jets and aircraft carriers, while neglecting the foundation that supports everything: our industrial base. This negligence is the result of various factors, including:

• Strategic planning failure in anticipating a sudden demand for conventional weapons.
• The "peace dividend" following the Cold War, which decimated military contractors.
• Budget battles in Congress that create funding uncertainty and discourage long-term arms investment.
• Outsourcing dirty and dangerous munitions manufacturing overseas to countries with cheap labor and lax regulations.

III. A Case Study: The Howitzer Round

The howitzer round illustrates the challenges we face. Howitzer shells are relatively simple munitions with many parts, each requiring its own production process. The steel casing is made with HF-1 alloy, designed to withstand cannon fire while fragmenting upon impact. Most of this steel is imported from Japan and Germany, with some coming from China. The explosive material, TNT, is generally imported from Poland, with its chemical precursors coming from countries like China.

Making energetics is particularly expensive, difficult, and traditionally a major source of pollution. The Iowa plant that produces howitzer rounds used to clean regularly with steam to prevent TNT buildup, turning nearby streams pink. While the plant is now clean enough for recreational use, the environmental stewardship costs are steep.

IV. The Last Supper

The hollowing-out of America's arms-manufacturing capacity is due in part to factory closures and supply chain issues. However, the forces shaping manufacturing efforts trace back to Washington, D.C., involving politics, military doctrine, and national will.

In 1993, the heads of about two dozen of the military's largest contractors were invited to a dinner at the Pentagon by then-Defense Secretary Les Aspin. Details of the meeting emerged, revealing that Aspin and his deputy laid out a plan for a dramatic reduction in defense spending, which would drastically impact private contractors.

This "Last Supper" led to the loss of many companies and the consolidation of the industry, with a handful of large contractors dominating the defense sector today.

V. A Loss of Will

The reduction in defense spending also concentrated a growing share of available dollars into the most costly and least ordinary weapons systems. This is counter to the lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, which shows that small and cheap beats big and expensive.

Moreover, partisan politics and a loss of direction and will have significantly harmed the military's manufacturing capacity. Most of the defense budget is predetermined, limiting the flexibility for adapting to changing circumstances. New projects are put on hold, and there's no guarantee that funding will eventually come through.

VI. Driving in the Dark

The systemic dysfunction remains, despite progress made recently. Former Army officer John Quirk, who has been tracking the shortage of howitzer shells, credits Doug Bush, the assistant secretary of the Army, with helping to improve the situation.

However, Bush acknowledges the need for major new energetics production and highlights the urgency of addressing even more sophisticated challenges ahead. He advocates for adaptability and innovation.

VII. The Choice

The current push for change in the procurement system will take time and resources and will undoubtedly face resistance. The Big Five defense contractors are a powerful lobbying force, and Congress leans toward familiarity. Even with