The Industrial Base and National Security: A New Strategy

There is a direct and clear link between industrial base capability and U.S. national security. The weapon systems of the 21st century will require complex manufacturing processes and advanced production equipment. Without a flexible and responsive manufacturing base. The U.S. will not have the means to produce the weapons required for our national security. In the face of a declining defense industrial base and budget reductions, there is concern that the capital and human resources will not be available to meet this future challenge. In order to ensure that the necessary capital and human resources are available this research paper champions a new pro-active governmentindustry partnership for a defense industrial productivity strategy. This partnership supplants the outdated laissez-faire strategy of the previous administrations. It builds on the philosophy of the Air Forces Industrial Modernization Program IMIP and focuses on the areas of education, research and development and capital investment to address the productivity issues facing the defense industrial base in the 21st century.