The conflict with Iran is an urgent reminder that the U.S. needs a defense industrial base that can wage a high-intensity war against American adversaries—especially China. The Trump administration has taken important steps to increase production of some munitions, reform an antiquated acquisition system, and establish incentives for private-sector innovation. It is critical now to accelerate these changes.
There have rightly been growing calls to increase stockpiles of long-range munitions for precision strikes, as well as munitions for Patriot, Thaad, and other air-defense systems. But the challenge is much bigger than Iran. The U.S. lacks enough munitions to support its war plans if a protracted conflict with China, Russia or North Korea arises.