Cyber vulnerabilities help give Pentagon middling marks for the health of nation's defense industrial base

Feb. 12, 2021
The industrial base’s ability to meet surge demand received a failing grade; the industrial base could ramp up quickly but would slow soon thereafter.

WASHINGTON – The health of America’s defense industrial base ranks a middling “C” due to growing cyber vulnerabilities, a poor ability to surge production in a crisis, and political obstacles for defense budgeting, according to a lead defense trade group study. Defense News reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

12 Feb. 2021 -- The defense industrial base entered the COVID-19 pandemic in a weakened state despite healthier marks for competition, profitability, and demand, says the National Defense Industrial Association’s second annual Vital Signs report.

“The defense industrial base is facing multiple headwinds: industrial security threats, flat future defense budgets, a shortage of skilled, cleared workers and decreased investments in the sciences that fuel U.S. innovation,” says NDIA’s Chief Executive Hawk Carlisle.

“Add to these the increased regulatory burdens and barriers for new entrants, which continue to shrink both the number of companies that participate in the DIB and the number of new companies entering the defense marketplace.”

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John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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