American Ingenuity Is Crucial For A Strong Military

US taxpayers have long been frustrated with the high costs and long development times for the production of weapons and ammunition for the US military. For decades, weapon and ammunition manufacturing has been controlled by a few mega-corporations. As a result, the cost of the weapons systems and the ammunition has been enormous. 

The economic problems with this were exposed during the recent Ukrainian war and the military exercises in the Middle East. US forces were attacked in the Middle East by enemy drones that cost a few thousand dollars. The US military forces were intercepting the drones by firing missiles that cost millions of dollars apiece. With drones becoming more sophisticated and cheaper to produce, the cost of defending our troops and ships was becoming ridiculously high.

Fortunately, in America where capitalism still thrives (except in Democrat controlled cities), American entrepreneurs have developed more efficient missile production systems.

Recently, the Air Force conducted a test of the Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM). The ERAM missile is purported to cost $250,000 which compares to the missiles currently used that cost over $1 million per missile. This missile was developed in 16 months while it took decades to develop the missiles now in use. The live-fire tests were positive for the weapon system.

The unleashing of small aggressive companies to produce weapons and ammunition for the US military is crucial to making sure the US maintains its position as the greatest military superpower in the world.

It has been a mantra of the defense community that a strong military prevents wars and chaos around the world. Unfortunately, the cost of a strong military has become prohibitive as traditional defense companies often milked the procurement system and cost the taxpayers needless amounts of money.

Opening the military procurement process to smaller, more agile companies is leading to a Defense Department that is more efficient and cost-effective.