A recent wargame simulating rapid industrial mobilization for armed conflict has exposed a critical disconnect between the U.S. defense establishment and private industry. Conducted by a leading university with teams of former senior defense officials, the exercise tested government-industry collaboration under crisis conditions with minimal pre-crisis coordination.
The findings underscore a persistent weakness in U.S. defense planning. Panel participants acknowledged how infrequently they engage with industry in real life to prepare for a national emergency, a gap the author—a defense planner and wargame developer—says matches their own experience. Outside of annual rhetorical claims, structured public-private planning for large-scale conflict remains underdeveloped.
This deficiency carries significant strategic implications. The wargame suggests that without routine, detailed coordination, the U.S. industrial base may be unable to surge production fast enough to sustain a major conflict. Allies reliant on American equipment could face supply chain bottlenecks, while adversaries may view this as a vulnerability to exploit.
The absence of detailed cost data or official responses limits the assessment. The article calls for institutionalizing wargaming into acquisition processes but offers no specific budget figures or policy proposals. As peer competitors invest heavily in defense industrial readiness, this gap represents a growing risk to deterrence.