Defense Industrial Base Research Articles

Disruptive innovations and defence procurement: a study of the Brazilian Navy Case

ABSTRACT This paper deals with the study of the challenges that disruptive technologies represent for industrial defence strategies and procurement policies. It focuses on the incorporation of drones into military arsenals and will be based on a study of the Brazilian Navy case. Drones are a disruptive technology both for the defence industrial base and for their implications for military tactics and the organisational structure of the armed forces. The analysis addresses the main difficulties encountered in incorporating these technologies into traditional military structures and acquisition systems. We explore the ways in which defence procurement adapts (or fails to adapt) to the emergence of disruptive technologies: are traditional military organisations and procurement structures capable of introducing disruptive technologies and engaging in the organisational and operating practices required to do so? Some lessons are drawn from this experience: even when the military relevance of drone technology is widely acknowledged and even officially recognized, procurement strategies and practices have not been able to shift from their focus on incumbent suppliers and conventional systems.

Model‐Based Decision Support using Test and Evaluation: A Lightweight Architecture Approach

AbstractA standardized decision support tool to support test prioritization and decision‐making is a prerequisite to achieving on‐time delivery of weapon systems that are adequately tested and vetted by decision makers within distributed organizations such as the defense industrial base. However, to achieve standardization, the core principles of systems thinking and systems engineering must be utilized in order to realize a holistic and evolvable process and product that integrates Test & Evaluation (T&E) data and information with decision‐making in a consistent format to support program offices. To address this need, a model‐based reference architecture for the standardization of the Integrated Decision Support Key (IDSK) data and decision formats is presented in this paper. The IDSK is a DoD‐mandated decision support tool (artifact) for capturing a program's decisions and the T&E information necessary to support the decisions. The digital‐IDSK reference architecture proposed is developed using a model‐based systems engineering approach and facilitates the generation of standardized data and decision formats that are tailorable, adaptable to incremental future changes, and easy to integrate with other digital engineering artifacts all within a digital engineering ecosystem. In addition, this approach is also applicable not only to defense‐based organizations, but also finds utility within organizations pivoting to a digital engineering strategy for informing product T&E decision‐making.

The French procurement transformations: A historical perspective over sovereignty and innovation

The French defence industry underwent major transformations from 1961 onwards, laying the foundations for today's defence industrial and technological base. A new organization, known as the DMA (Délégation Ministérielle pour l′Armement11Now DGA, Direction Générale de l’Armement (Directorate General of Armaments). In this paper, “DMA” refers to the 1961–1977 period. The term “directorate” designates this administration after 1977.), directed all research, design and production processes for new equipment. However, the transformation was incomplete, and government owned defence production facilities were not transformed into companies until after the end of the Cold War. The DMA lost control of most defence production facilities, and refocused its activities on expertise and project management. Today, it must meet the challenges of innovation in a changing institutional context.

Defense Industrial Base: Acquisition Program Case History

This Defense Industrial Base case history encourages critical analysis of a DoD project manager responding to typical management oversight questions regarding industrial base planning within defense acquisition. The analysis centers on the capability and capacity of the defense industrial base to develop and produce body armor for Warfighters. The case incorporates the perspectives from key stakeholders to include commercial industry companies, congressional committees, DoD senior leadership, and the program management/acquisition chain of command. Considerations include the balancing of limited resources against competing priorities, sustaining inventory for wartime readiness, managing the demand for increased capability, and balancing surge requirements with industry capacity. The case history reinforces critical thinking in uncertain environments, documents lessons learned for sound project management, and provides exposure to the complexities of public sector acquisition and manufacture of critical warfighting products.

Defense Industrial Base and Network Structure: Measurement, Analysis and Public Policies for the Brazilian Case

ABSTRACT This work aims to identify sectors of the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) that have the potential to generate productive and technological spillovers. We selected companies that sold to the Ministry of Defense (MD) between 2001 and 2019 from the Brazilian Federal Government’s public procurement database (ComprasNet). These companies were chosen based on their sectoral relevance according to relevant theoretical works. Our contribution lies in using economic activity co-occurrence reported by companies, using microdata in an unprecedented exercise in the field of defense studies. The main findings show that dominant sectors with higher technological intensity tend to have a closer relationship and greater diversity of relationships within the DIB compared to other sectors. By defining sectors with high potential for technological interaction based on relevant characteristics such as centrality, technological intensity, and MD budget share, we were able to identify the existence of sectoral clusters that can generate greater productive and technological spillovers, with particular emphasis on aircraft manufacture and ICT-related industrial sectors.

Comparative analysis of the maritime ISR capabilities of India and China in the IOR

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance systems (ISR) have been playing a significant role in providing robust situational awareness of the maritime domain. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the ISR systems of India and China in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), a region of immense geopolitical significance and a theatre of power projection for both the countries. After tracing the evolution of ISR from ancient time to modern era, the study underscores the critical role of ISR in maritime security and strategic advantage, particularly in the IOR. The paper finds that, in accordance with its Two Ocean strategy, China has been expanding its ISR infrastructure in the IOR. Chinese naval activities, including submarine deployment, research vessels suspected of conducting covert surveillance in the eastern Indian Ocean, classified use of its satellite systems, use of air based ISR systems as force multipliers, and acquisition of bases in the IOR has potential to alter power dynamics in the IOR. These developments allow China to exert geopolitical influence and potentially challenge India’s traditionally dominant position in the IOR. The paper further delves into examining factors influencing the ISR force structure of India and China, including defence expenditure, military modernisation drive, development in Defence Industrial Base (DIB), and the role of commandand-control structure. Finally, this research tries to provide recommendations for India to enhance its ISR infrastructure, emphasizing the need to invest in HUMINT and TECHINT capabilities and enhanced inter-agency coordination. Overall, the paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the ISR landscape in the IOR.

Effective Utilization of Government-Provided CTI by Small Businesses within the Defense Industrial Base

Effective Utilization of Government-Provided CTI by Small Businesses within the Defense Industrial Base

Italy's position in European defence integration

Brussels favours the eventual creation of a common European defence market. Rome favours simultaneous European defence integration and a permanent relationship with US and British companies (due to the strong Anglo-Saxon industrial ties of major Italian companies), but is concerned that excessive use of "off-the-shelf" solutions will undermine the European Defence Technology and Industrial Base (EDITB) due to the "lock-in" effect. Rome's aim is to promote defence cooperation with the EU, benefiting itself, while at the same time preventing EU initiatives from damaging Italian industrial cooperation ties with third countries such as the US, UK.

Advanced Packaging Capabilities at Intel

Heterogeneous Integration (HI) is undeniably the vehicle to drive continued advances in Compute and Communications. Advanced Packaging Architectures today provide unprecedented levels of Heterogeneous Integration in Client, Server and Discrete Graphics. Intel committed to a vision of developing heterogeneously integrated leadership products using advanced packaging technologies to match the functionality of a monolithic SOC and more….. We continue to scale our Advanced Packaging Technologies Roadmap. Federal Engagements in multiple programs (e.g. SHIP) allowing Intel to drive design and prototype diverse configurations for U.S. Government / and Defense Industrial Base; USG/DIB partnering critical for HI advancements.

Keys to Successful and Stable On-Shore Packaging and Advanced Packaging Defense Industrial Base

Autonomous and next generation applications leverage a Supply Chain to enable integration of Technologies such as sensors, MEMs, computing, memory, communications, and other functions in a SiP that drives SWaP advancements. A healthy, open and stable Ecosystem supporting what can best be described as a ‘toolbox’ for various solution spaces is the foundation for our on-shore industrial base. Given the applications range, there is not a single solution and source to support the USG and Defense needs as is evident from the Digital and RF paths defined in DoD’s SHIP Program. Key needs and considerations will be presented as Industry and the USG engage to implement creative solutions to on-shore, stabilize and address gaps in the Ecosystem. This talk will promote the Ecosystem for strategic and enabling capabilities supporting HI, 2.5 and 3D such as WLFO and Si Interposers that will serve to maintain or promote our Technological Advantage and protect our warfighters. SkyWater’s complimentary AP capabilities and roadmap supporting the Ecosystem will be discussed.

Strategy, technology, industry and politics: challenges for the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

ABSTRACT This article introduces nine essays capturing panel discussions at the Department of Social Sciences at the United States Military Academy on 8–9 February 2023, in support of the Office of the United States Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. These essays were selected from among 31 panel essays to represent central defense issues: alliance management, technology in conflict, defense industrial policy, and the domestic politics of defense strategy. The participants asked one another how each of these challenges were likely to shape international order and ordering, and how the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff could best prepare. The authors of this introductory essay argue that while the constellation of challenges outlined by the nine essays in this special section are clearly daunting, they are not totally unprecedented, and the US and its allies have tools at their disposal to respond effectively. US strategists may need to focus more on the domestic sources of foreign and security policies in allies and adversaries alike and implement emerging technologies alongside time-tested human tools of statecraft, all while rebuilding US and allied defense industrial bases amid complex and conflictual domestic political economies.

American arms and industry in a changing international order

ABSTRACT United States support for Ukraine and preparation for a potential, likely protracted, conflict with China has drawn attention to the fragility of the U.S. defense industrial base. Since the end of the Cold War, the American defense industry has optimized for peacetime and low-attrition conflicts, prized efficiency and cost-savings over capacity and flexibility, and incentivized short-run returns over resilience and innovation. While this design may have made sense in a period of undisputed U.S. dominance, the rise of the People’s Republic of China as a peer competitor and the emerging demand that the U.S. deter and, if necessary, win one or more protracted conflicts requires that Washington take a more intentional and direct role in shaping the capability, capacity, and resilience of the U.S. defense industrial base.

Critical appraisal – Special Issue “European defence”

ABSTRACTThe Critical Appraisal draws a picture of the current state of the EU Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) by building on the 7 Papers included in the Defence Studies Special Issue dedicated to ”European Defence”. The authors assess the EU defence industry consolidation process, describing the trends that shape it and the variety of actors involved. In the complex European defence market, opposite – but not mutually exclusive – trends of consolidation and fragmentation coexist. The authors conclude that the EDTIB is likely to continue developing along these apparently contradictory lines, where the variety of public and private actors involved cooperate and compete simultaneously, according to a plethora of interests. The Appraisal suggests several areas for future research and touches upon new EU defence initiatives, such as the European Defence Fund (EDF) and it's precursor programmes.

European Defence Industries’ Sales Performance: A Benefit-Of-The-Doubt Based Comparative Analysis

ABSTRACT The Russian invasion of Ukraine has generated a new impetus towards an enhanced European defence pillar, while many EU members have announced significant increases in their respective defence budgets over the coming years. Expectedly, a large percentage of the capital and technological inputs required to support the efforts towards a common European defence and the increased defence needs of many EU members will be procured from the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB). The European defence companies are among the major suppliers of conventional arms in the world. Their cumulative share of world arms exports is the second largest globally. This paper uses a Benefit-of-the-Doubt (BoD) model via Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to comparatively evaluate the sales performance of major European defence industries vis-à-vis other major international arms producers. The sample used in the analysis contains 72 firms and spans the period 2016–2020. The findings indicate that on the whole US defence manufacturers have a dominant presence among the biggest global producers and outrank many major European companies. These findings offer valuable policy recommendations.

The Guns of Europe: Defence-industrial Challenges in a Time of War

Significant increases in defence spending in European NATO and European Union member states are intended to address long-standing capability shortfalls, support the modernisation and growth of armed forces, replenish stocks, and fill gaps created by the transfer of equipment and munitions to Ukraine. Yet Europe’s defence-industrial base will struggle to meet this increased demand in the short term. Furthermore, the war in Ukraine has revealed Russia’s broader threat to Europe, while the United States’ ‘pivot to Asia’ is likely to accelerate and reduce the American role in Europe’s defence. Accordingly, Europe needs an epochal shift in political thinking, coupled with significantly higher defence spending and a determined effort to reset public perceptions of the need for strong defence. None of these requirements currently looks assured.

Defense industrial bases (DIB) in six small NATO post-communist countries

This article investigates the changes in the defense industrial base (DIB) of the small NATO post-communist countries: Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. It considers the historical development of their industries from the Soviet era and the developments caused by the Crimea and Ukraine conflicts. It finds that exports to the markets of the former communist Czechoslovakia continued for Czechia with the DIB owned and controlled by oligarchs—who have been able to leverage this power to influence defense policy. In Slovakia, the DIB is insignificant and mainly under the influence of Czechia. The Hungarian DIB is being redeveloped by the richest members of Hungarian society, through international joint ventures, with the aim of expanding exports. The DIBs of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania produce only what is needed by their national armed forces—which seems unlikely to change.

The future of cooperative programs in Europe, paradox of a hybrid market

For European arms-producing countries, launching a cooperative program represents a compromise between preserving their domestic industrial base and achieving an affordable acquisition. Nevertheless, scientific literature is marred with criticisms regarding the effectiveness of such an approach. Paradoxically, this does not prevent European states from committing to new cooperative programs—the European Commission has set up mechanisms for improving the effectiveness of European defense industry based, de facto, on incentives to launch cooperative programs. This article looks at the place of cooperative programs in Europe to understand whether the new initiatives of the European Union can succeed in improving the effectiveness of military spending as well as enhancing European strategic autonomy. It analyzes the organization of the European armament market to explain why cooperative programs appear unavoidable. It explores how the European Commission could overcome current limitations through community-funded programs, given that such funding would foster the emergence of a European defense technological and industrial base.

Strategic competition: Toward a genuine step-change for Europe’s defense industry?

Since 2016 the European Union has embarked on a step-change in the way it financially supports and incentivizes defense-industrial cooperation. The year 2022 will go down as another important moment in this process with the EU announcing a series of measures, such as joint defense procurement and joint planning and programming. Russia’s war on Ukraine has only underlined the importance of such steps, but it has also exposed the vulnerabilities of the European Defense Technological and Industrial Base. This article provides an account of the development of EU defense-industrial policy since Russia’s war on Ukraine and it critically engages with some of the challenges that have emerged for Europe’s defense industry, EU Institutions and EU Member States. In so doing, the article asks whether the war on Ukraine will lead to a genuine step-change in EU defense-industrial cooperation.

The Power of Many: Leveraging Consortia to Promote Innovation, Expand the Defense Industrial Base, and Accelerate Acquisition

The Power of Many: Leveraging Consortia to Promote Innovation, Expand the Defense Industrial Base, and Accelerate Acquisition

The Development of the Bulgarian and Estonian Defence Industries Post NATO Membership: Similarities and Differences

The development of the Bulgarian Defence Technological and Industrial Base is strategically important for the state, including from an economic point of view, as it is expected to have a positive impact on various sectors of the national economy. The aim of this article is to review and analyse the experience of Estonia in the development of its defence industry, hence to highlight some good practices that Bulgaria could apply due to certain similarities in both the political and security context.