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Rebuilding US Arms Production - Can a new Strategy Restore the Arsenal of Democracy?
Apr 14, 2024 During many major conflicts of the 20th century, the ability of the USA to pump out enormous amounts of defence materiel was a critical factor. In the lead up to WW2 the US would declare itself the 'arsenal of democracy'
But with the end of the Cold War came reductions and consolidation - and after the events of early 2022 the US, like many other nations, found itself eager to re-expand its defence industries to meet the demands of the war in Ukraine and changing global security environment.
That provided the context for the release of a defence industry strategy this year -- and today, we're going to talk about it.
Commentary:
Unfortunately in the 21st Century the U.S. is now incapable of sustaining a World War.
Simply, America is no longer a manufacturing nation.
It is no longer equipped to mass produce the military equipment it would need to participate in a sustained conflict. What we did in WWII will never be repeated today.
We cannot produce the amount to steel needed to manufature the tools of war.
Even IF we were to re-industrialize, I don't see us being able to crank out 24 Ford class carriers in five years like we did with the Essex class carriers in WW2.
Not do I foresee the ability to crank out the 300k planes we did in WW2 in a four year run, or the number of 155mm artillery shells necessary to supply Ukraine let alone an all out WWIII.