Industry Studies Group Papers

The Industry Studies Group Paper provides a current analysis of the domestic and international industry capability to support the 2022 NSS and NDS, and government-private sector interactions that impact the national innovation and defense industrial base. Students demonstrate the ability to evaluate international industry that supports the national innovation and defense industrial bases; derive fact-based, analytical, and resource-informed policy recommendations; and communicate them in a compelling fashion. Students develop actionable and resource-informed policy recommendations to strengthen the national innovation and defense industrial bases.

The Antonelli Award

Major General Theodore Antonelli Award for Research & Writing Excellence, was established in 1993 by the ICAF/Eisenhower School Alumni Association. Major General Antonelli served in North Africa and Italy during World War II as well as later in Vietnam. He later became the highly regarded 13th commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, from 1975 to 1978. This award recognizes the Industry Study Group Report that best reflects the standards of analytical excellence expected of the Industry Study Program and all Eisenhower School graduates. Apply the filter "Antonelli Award" to see each year's winning papers at the bottom of this page.

Featured Papers

Space | May 30, 2023

Transforming the Defense Space Architecture with the Tools of the U.S. F...

2023 Antonelli Award Winner -- The asymmetric advantage the United States has long enjoyed in space diminishes as adversaries threaten the space system architecture underlying that advantage. The U.S. space system architecture depends on large,

Advanced Manufacturing | May 30, 2022

Better, Faster, Stronger: Building National Competitiveness Through Adva...

2022 Antonelli Award Winner -- For decades, globalization has facilitated positive economic ties and development. It also made the US economy vulnerable to disruptions, material shortages, and international competition. As the Biden Administration

Filtered Returns

Results:
Category: Land Combat Systems

Ground Combat Systems (Formerly Land Combat Systems and Land Domain) May 31, 2024

Ground Combat Systems

The U.S. ground combat vehicle industry faces a critical decision between continuing the production of legacy systems and developing new autonomous, attritable vehicles. With budget constraints and rising international insecurity, the Department of Defense's Replicator initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of large numbers of autonomous systems. The U.S. Army, along with Congress and the defense industry, is working to address technological challenges and develop systems for this initiative. The study recommends the U.S. Army focus on autonomous systems, engage Congress on Replicator's implications, and allocate additional funding for Robotic Combat Vehicles (RCVs) to foster technological diversity. It suggests the Next Generational Combat Vehicle Cross-Functional Team take more risks in RCV development to get them into the hands of warfighters sooner. Further, the study advocates for rapid prototyping efforts and continued support for modular open systems approaches. Key technologies like machine learning and AI are vital for the success of RCVs, requiring additional R&D to ensure they can effectively integrate into military formations and enhance all six Army warfighting functions.

Land Combat Systems (formerly Land Domain): May 30, 2023

Land Domain Platforms

Opportunities exists to boost innovation in the Land Domain Platforms (LDP) industry, which consists of markets for combat tracked maneuver/fires vehicles, wheeled sustainment vehicles, and medium/heavy vehicles. The end of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq brought about a downturn in the industry as occurred during the post-Cold War era. However, due to a combination of factors that include rapid technological change, the U.S. strategic competition with China, and the Russo-Ukrainian War, the domestic and international context are in alignment to enact policies that will have long-term, positive effects on the LDP industry. Congress and DoD must work together to set conditions that foster innovation across the LDP industry to improve the production of systems necessary to dominate land domain threats out to 2040 and beyond.

Land Combat Systems: March 30, 2025

Land Combat Systems

The Land Combat Systems (LCS) industry, as part of the overall defense industry, is critical to the U.S. and partner nation’s defense security. For the purposes of this study, the industry is sub-categorized into two markets: Tactical Wheeled Vehicles (TWV), including Protected Vehicles (PV), and Combat Vehicles (CV). Tactical Wheeled Vehicles include light, medium, and heavy wheeled vehicles carrying personnel and equipment with a limited ability to carry weapons. Combat Vehicles include tracked and wheeled vehicles mainly used in a ground combat role. The purpose of studying the LCS industry is to analyze representative issues and dilemmas faced by firms, the Department of Defense (DoD), and the U.S. Government (USG). The LCS industry consists of a number of key domestic and international firms as well as government depot facilities. Within the TWV market firms often manufacture both commercial and military products, sometimes on the same assembly line. However, most firms in the CV market are solely military suppliers. Cyclic government demand is a key driver in the TWV and CV markets. In addition, government customers control many variables which directly impacts the success or failure of LCS programs and the respective success or failure of individual firms. Given the facts above and based upon the study team observations and analysis, the USG and DoD should consider expanding Foreign Military Sales (FMS) opportunities, updating logistical sustainment plans and practices, revising requirements generation and oversight of Science and Technology (S&T) and innovation, and consolidating efforts within the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). These changes will maximize efficiency, increase competition, incentivize innovation, and minimize cost while maintaining the optimum readiness level for the designated mission requirements.