The United States and its allies face unprecedented logistics and supply chain challenges that threaten national security and military readiness in the face of near-peer adversaries.
Decades of industrial base atrophy, overreliance on fragile global supply chains, and insufficient stockpiles have eroded the ability to rapidly mobilize and sustain military operations.
This paper analyzes critical gaps in parts availability, manufacturing capacity, and coordination between the Department of Defense (DOD), industry, and allied partners. It highlights the urgent need for a holistic, multi-year, whole-of-nation approach to revitalize defense supply chains, emphasizing digital integration for demand forecasting, resilient stockpiling, forward logistics, and coalition manufacturing. Key recommendations include establishing a Material Readiness Board (MRB) to prioritize and coordinate manufacturing efforts, developing a National Logistics and Manufacturing Strategy, expanding strategic reserves, enhancing inventory management through data analytics, and adopting multi-year procurement to incentivize industrial investment.
The paper also calls for regulatory reforms to enable allied co-production and supply chain diversification. Implementing these measures is essential to restore supply chain resiliency, ensure sustained operational effectiveness, and secure U.S. and allied military advantage in future conflicts.
