Industrial Readiness Requires Steady Commitment.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 November 2001
• Author: Farrell, Lawrence P., Jr.

As the United States undertakes an extended campaign against global terrorism, the changing landscape of the nation's security invites an examination of the readiness of the nation's defense industrial base and some of the factors that affect its health. Further, we must consider the importance of communicating these facts to the American people and the Congress, while they are focused intently on the military instrument of national power.

We define military readiness as well-trained personnel manning systems that are immediately available for combat operations. This implies a sustained resource commitment over time that supports a robust training tempo. It also implies a sustained resource commitment to maintenance and supply activities so that systems will be available in adequate numbers to meet mission requirements.

With some exceptions, we characterize industrial base readiness in a similar fashion. A healthy industrial base is underpinned by sustained resource commitments to design, development, and production programs. These long-term commitments, on one hand, ensure...