The Ukraine and Iran crises have shown the need for a High-Low Weapons Strategy. “High Weapons” have been the focus of defense procurement over the last 20 to 30 years. They are sophisticated, proprietary and difficult-to-manufacture precision weapon systems that are also costly to produce. Think sophisticated F-35 jets and Patriot and Tomahawk missiles. These are the headline weapon systems designed for precision strikes to drive maximum target damage while minimizing collateral impact. However, emerging technologies, often with technology and platforms originating in the commercial sector, are enabling a new class of “Low Weapons.” These weapons include low cost drones, powered by AI, that can be deployed at scale and en masse, overwhelming traditional defenses in a cost-effective manner.
“Low Weapons” are changing the nature and economics of combat as well as the supply chain and sourcing strategies necessary to compete. Current United States Defense procurement processes need to be updated, sourcing and specification approaches widened, and key focused investments made in the United States industrial base to create a cost competitive, scalable and resilient “Low Weapons” ready supply chain. It is key to address these areas in a comprehensive manner. That will require increased private sector investment to offset budgetary pressures, while also creating a dual-use commercial and defense supply chain that is cost competitive and higher capacity than a defense only supply chain.
Four key near-term challenges that need to be addressed:
- Modernize Specifications and Procurement process – The procurement process needs to be modernized to enable incorporation of off-the-shelf components (i.e, chips, sensors) with verified provenance. Additionally, specifications and requirements need to be flexible enough to allow running adjustments of fast changing components.
- Ensure continuous supply of critical materials and components – This includes rare earths, but it also includes key components and sub-assemblies (i.e., actuators, batteries, motors). In many cases, this will require re-shoring or near-shoring production to allies, as well as updating and expediting regulations and permitting to enable extraction of critical mineral resources.
- Build surge capacity into the system to rapidly scale - To make the economics work for manufacturers, “Low Weapons” programs need to leverage broadly used commercial components and technology. Supply chains need to move from traditional, dedicated, and highly-regulated systems (in the case of “High Weapons”) to a hybrid of commercial off the shelf inputs and dedicated final assembly.
- Build for speed and rapid iteration vs. perfection – Supply chain assets and networks need to be designed to incorporate running changes and scale rapidly.
Taken together, these actions would address weapon supply shortfalls while also lowering the cost per unit and iteration cycle times of key systems. The ability to deploy at scale and to deliver en masse a set of low cost, highly capable assets that leverage the collective investment and innovation of the American private financial and technology sectors would be a game changer.
A High-Low Supply Chain Strategy will enable America to preserve technological superiority at the top-end, while winning cost per unit capability at the low-end.
Author: Luke Pototschnik, Strategist, Engineer with experience at NASA, Lockheed Martin and Pratt and Whitney
Why Top Talent Is No Longer Betting Everything on One Employer 
