FT learned about the Pentagon's switch to cheaper missile systems

The United States is reviewing its approach to missile production, relying on mass-produced and cheaper systems that can be assembled in conventional hangars according to paper instructions. This was reported on June 28 by the Financial Times (FT) newspaper.

"The American arsenal is based solely on expensive, sophisticated, and difficult-to-manufacture systems. <...> We have entered a different era of warfare, and now the United States needs to change," said Michael Horowitz, a former Pentagon official responsible for defense innovation.

It clarifies that the country produces only 600 Tomahawk missiles per year at a price of about $2.6 million per unit, while the other main missiles, PrSM and JASSM, cost about $1.6 and $1.9 million, respectively. The Pentagon is launching many experimental programs: The Air Force has requested $12 billion for 28,000 missiles in the next five years, and another program involves the purchase of 10,000 ground-based missiles in three years.

Private startups played a key role. There are no complicated machines in the Co-Aspire workshop in Virginia, and each product can be assembled in a month with only hand tools and paper instructions. The company is working on two missiles for the Pentagon: it brought the first one to readiness in four months, and expects to complete the second one in another five.

Another startup, Castelion, has received a contract for 12,000 hypersonic missiles over five years, and when fully loaded, it will be able to produce 6,000 per year at a price of about $400,000 each. To reduce the cost, manufacturers use ready—made parts - engines from hobby drones and automotive components, the article notes.

Experts noted that building up to thousands of missiles per year from each manufacturer is quite feasible, and in wartime financing will allow thousands to be produced per month. However, Tom Karako, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, believes that cheaper missiles will be inferior to previous ones in accuracy and reliability, so the Pentagon will have to become more flexible in its requirements.

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The Wall Street Journal reported on June 16 that the American company General Motors (GM) has begun negotiations with the defense corporation Lockheed Martin on the production of parts for weapons. The cooperation is designed to strengthen the position of the defense division of General Motors. The structure resumed its work about 10 years ago and until now has specialized mainly in the production of infantry fighting vehicles.