Pentagon 2024 Defense Industrial Strategy Revs Up Supply Chain

by Johnny Franks, Warrior Editorial Fellow

The January 2024 release of the National Defense Industrial Strategy (NDIS) by the Department of Defense marks a critical turning point in the United States’ methodology for strengthening its defense industrial foundation. This strategic evolution is particularly necessary as recent reporting indicates the U.S. is struggling to meet the Ukrainian demand for arms and ammunition amid the Russian invasion. This underscores an urgent need for a defense supply chain that is both robust and efficient.

Central to the NDIS are four key strategic objectives:

1. Resilient Supply Chains: This element stresses the necessity for supply networks capable of securely and efficiently producing required goods, services, and technologies. Objectives include diversifying the source base, increasing domestic production, and enhancing supply chain resilience using sophisticated data analysis and expanding worldwide defense production.

2. Workforce Readiness: The strategy emphasizes the significance of having a skilled, diverse workforce prepared for technological advancements, especially in STEM disciplines. The DoD’s plan to broaden apprenticeship and internship opportunities aims to cultivate a stronger talent pool.

3. Flexible Acquisition: The NDIS seeks to devise acquisition tactics balancing efficiency, maintainability, customization, and standardization in defense systems and support structures. This approach anticipates reduced development times and costs, and heightened scalability of defense technologies.

4. Economic Deterrence: This strategy aspect focuses on fostering fair market practices and reinforcing economic security agreements to support a resilient defense industrial ecosystem. Key actions include countering adversarial ownership and cyber threats, and improving policies against prohibited sources to safeguard the defense industrial base.