“The problem isn’t just that we need more munitions. The problem is we’ve designed a system that can’t build them fast enough.” ⬇️
Palantir’s First Breakfast substack has a great article on ‘The Age of Adaptability’ and why the next munitions revolution needs a new triangle of speed (into service), scale and adaptability:
“The United States has exquisite weapons and exquisitely shallow stockpiles. That brutal fact, proved beyond a doubt by Ukraine and every Taiwan war game, should be our wake-up call. Our missile inventories weren’t designed for drawn-out conflict. We built exotic supercars, not mass-produced fleets. And when the enemy is coming fast, it doesn’t matter how good your last missile was. It matters whether you have any left to launch.”
We remind you of the example of the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) fired from HIMARS missile launchers. This missile clearly has the potential to be a highly effective long range strike munition for high value targets on land and at sea. But how deep will our arsenal be and how quickly can we replace what we use? Lockheed Martin is currently working towards an annual manufacturing capacity of 400 PrSM – and more than 600 HIMARS launchers in service, surety of supply will be a constant challenge.
It isn’t just PrSM where we are relying on limited capacity artisan assembly – once again, we commend you the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) report ‘Empty Bins’ to see the challenge the West faces currently. ‘The Age of Adaptability’ sees solutions in a different way of working:
“We don’t just need cheaper weapons. We need weapons with metabolism—systems that can evolve, scale, and reconfigure at the speed of the fight. The future won’t reward exquisite systems delivered late. It will reward repeatable advantage: missiles that can be launched by the thousand, updated overnight, manufactured on demand, and launched again.”
We can’t build an exquisite force in being at the cost of an efficient and effect force in the fight. Innovation, not allowing perfect to the enemy of good and designing with scale in mind from the outset will be vital for an Arsenal of Democracy fit for the 21st century.
Links to ‘The Age of Adaptability’ and CSIS ‘Empty Bins’ report are in the comments. As always – food for thought!
📷 via Defense News – a PrSM launch against a target at sea.