Munitions

For military members engaged in direct combat, access to a reliable and sufficient munitions supply is essential to lethality. As stated in a 2009 Lexington Institute study, “Maintaining an adequate supply of reliable ammunition is challenging under the best of circumstances. In wartime, the challenge becomes exponentially greater as demand increases, and pre-war production capabilities are stressed.” Nineteen years of continuous combat, uncertain defense budgets, and a decline in critical suppliers have put great strains on the United States (U.S.) military resourcing systems and strategic stockpiles. These strains have manifested themselves in aging equipment and infrastructure, shortages of low-density high-demand assets, and concern over the ability to surge or mobilize for a high-end major theater war; the munitions industrial base (MIB) is no exception. Gaps in the MIB directly translate to gaps in the warfighter’s ability to deliver kinetic effects on targets. While portions of the MIB are vigorous and looking to expand market shares in rapidly changing technologies, the Department of Defense (DoD) and policymakers should undertake a coordinated effort to identify, mitigate, and retire current and projected risks in the MIB. The nation’s security and readiness for surge and/or mobilization in a great power conflict depends on a robust, secure, resilient, and innovative MIB.

The U.S. military continues to conduct limited combat operations around the world but must simultaneously ensure preparedness for large-scale operations. Timely munitions procurement to support current operations and to replenish strategic stockpiles mitigates risks. To highlight the strategic role that munitions play, the DoD fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget requested a 20% increase in munition procurement to support the President’s 2018 National Defense Strategy. (FY) 2021 requested budget highlights the strong role munitions will continue to play in strengthening the DoD and supporting the National Defense Strategy.

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