Modernizing the United States Defense Industrial Base

Exiger – SCSP DIB Report 2026

The Modernizing the United States Defense Industrial Base report, developed by Exiger and the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), examines critical vulnerabilities threatening U.S. defense readiness, including dependence on foreign minerals, manufacturing bottlenecks, workforce shortages, and regulatory challenges. Drawing on extensive supply chain data, the report highlights how these weaknesses create production delays, increase national security risks, and limit the effectiveness of growing defense investments. It emphasizes the need for targeted investments in domestic manufacturing, diversified supply chains, workforce development, and regulatory reform to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of the U.S. defense industrial base.