Defense technology leaders are calling for urgent reindustrialization of America’s manufacturing base as competition with China intensifies and the Trump administration considers new tariffs. During a special broadcast from Costa Mesa, California, Bloomberg Tech hosts Caroline Hyde and Ed Ludlow spoke with executives from leading defense firms about the strategic imperative to rebuild domestic production capabilities.
Anduril Leadership on Defense Technology Competition
CEO Brian Schimpf and founder Palmer Luckey of Anduril Industries emphasized that current geopolitical tensions require a fundamental shift in how America approaches defense manufacturing. “We cannot rely on strategic competitors for critical components of our national security infrastructure,” Schimpf stated during the live discussion from the company’s headquarters.
The executives highlighted several key areas where American manufacturing has fallen behind:
- Semiconductor production and advanced electronics
- Rare earth mineral processing capabilities
- Defense-specific manufacturing ecosystems
- Skilled technical workforce development
Vannevar’s Perspective on Technological Advantage
Vannevar Vice President of Mission Erin Biggers detailed how developing a sustainable defense tech advantage requires both innovation and production scale. “Technology development without manufacturing capacity creates strategic vulnerability,” Biggers explained. “We need to build systems that can be produced at scale during times of conflict.”
This approach aligns with recent developments in advanced computing systems, including new technologies featured in our additional coverage of cutting-edge cooling systems that could have defense applications.
Palantir’s Industrial Base Resurrection Strategy
Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar articulated a vision for resurrecting America’s industrial base as an active deterrence tool. “Our manufacturing capabilities have become a national security liability,” Sankar noted. “Rebuilding them serves as both economic policy and strategic defense.”
The discussion occurred amid growing concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly in technology sectors. Recent related analysis of security vulnerabilities in consumer technology underscores the broader challenges facing national security systems.
Tariff Implications and Strategic Response
The potential for fresh tariffs on China from the Trump administration adds urgency to the reindustrialization discussion. Defense executives see tariffs as both challenge and opportunity—while potentially increasing short-term costs, they could accelerate the reshoring of critical manufacturing.
Industry leaders identified several immediate priorities:
- Accelerated permitting for defense manufacturing facilities
- Tax incentives for domestic production of critical components
- Enhanced partnerships between defense primes and technology startups
- Workforce training programs focused on advanced manufacturing
The consensus among participants was clear: America’s technological competition with China will be won or lost in factories and production facilities, not just research laboratories. As the defense technology sector evolves, rebuilding domestic manufacturing capacity emerges as the foundational requirement for maintaining military advantage.
