In This Story
Just as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has awoken western defence officials to the reality of hot war, so has it also exposed the need to recalibrate weapons procurement priorities — to ensure that their militaries are prepared for combat.
Despite close US intelligence ties with about 10 countries including the UK, Australia and Canada, such co-operation is absent in the defence industrial complex, says Jerry McGinn, executive director of the government contracting centre at George Mason University’s business school.
The Pentagon has historically focused on buying American for its own defense capabilities, but McGinn argues that increasing international industrial collaboration, as part of a “build allied” approach, should be at the center of its weapons acquisition strategy in order to boost production.