Ground Combat Systems (Formerly Land Combat Systems and Land Domain) –
The United States Ground Combat Systems (GCS) industrial base is at a critical crossroads. Strategic competitors are rapidly modernizing and expanding their capabilities, while the U.S. Department of Defense focuses on a multi-domain operational environment centered on the Indo-Pacific. This paper assesses the current state of the U.S. GCS industrial base, examines the domestic and international trends shaping its future, and provides policy recommendations to help the United States retain overmatch in the land domain.
The U.S. has long maintained ground combat superiority through cutting-edge technology, experienced and well-trained personnel, and an industrial base capable of producing world-class platforms. However, the global security environment, defined by peer competition, constrained and unreliable budgets, and accelerating technological disruption, demands a new approach. The enduring principles of the GCS Iron Triangle—mobility, protection, and firepower—remain foundational, but they are increasingly constrained by platform age, evolving threats, and industrial vulnerabilities.
Emerging operational requirements, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, call for lighter, modular, and more rapidly deployable systems. The pacing adversary of China is leveraging vertically integrated industrial models and state-driven innovation to field modern GCS platforms at scale. This highlights the imperative for the U.S. to innovate and scale simultaneously capabilities that remain out of reach for the current defense industrial base without deliberate, sustained reform.
There are several systemic issues constraining GCS modernization and surge readiness. First, the acquisition system is fragmented, slow, and risk averse. Legacy platforms dominate requirements and funding priorities, leaving limited space for disruptive innovation or new v entrants. Second, the supply chain is increasingly fragile, with critical materials like rare earth elements and lithium overwhelmingly sourced from China, exposing the U.S. to coercion or disruption during crisis or conflict. Third, industrial capacity is insufficient to meet the demands of large-scale mobilization. The defense workforce faces persistent shortages in engineering and skilled trades, while key manufacturing infrastructure has become underutilized or outdated. Finally, inconsistent demand signals and budget uncertainty impede long-term planning and investment from industry.
Despite these challenges, there are encouraging developments that could transform the GCS industrial base if properly resourced and scaled. Expanding Modular Open Systems Architecture enables faster integration of emerging technologies and supports coalition interoperability. Hybrid-electric propulsion and unmanned systems are advancing rapidly, offering enhanced operational range, reduced noise and heat signatures, and new tactical options. Artificial Intelligence is revamping logistics, predictive maintenance, targeting, and command and control, creating opportunities for more agile, data-driven operations. International partnerships with allies such as Germany, South Korea, and Australia provide access to innovative platforms and can mitigate supply chain vulnerabilities.
To ensure the U.S. GCS industrial base remains capable of maintaining U.S. dominance in future conflicts, this report offers 10 strategic, actionable policy recommendations:
- Accelerate Modular and Scalable GCS Designs.
- Drive Innovation Through Long-term Planning and Integration.
- Form a Resilient, Surge-ready U.S. GCS Industrial Base.
- Integrate Technologies and Co-develop with Allied Partners.
- Make Digital Engineering the Foundation of GCS Programs.
- Optimize the GCS Sustainment Model.
- Streamline Acquisition with Other Transaction Authorities.
- Focus on Human Capital for Emerging Technology.
- Deploy Additional Land-Based Missiles to the Indo-Pacific.
- Accelerate the Development and Deployment of RCVs.
The United States cannot afford to assume continued superiority in the ground combat domain. Modernizing the GCS industrial base is a national security imperative. With effective and focused leadership, sustained investment, and collaborative innovation, the United States can revitalize its ground combat capabilities and maintain overmatch in the coming decades.
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