Anduril CEO Warns: The U.S. Army Is Not Built for a Long War

Growing Concerns Over U.S. Army Readiness

According to ХВИЛЯ: Christian Brose, president and chief strategy officer at defense firm Anduril, has raised alarms about whether the U.S. military-designed primarily for short-term conflicts-can endure a prolonged war. Drawing on examples from Ukraine and the confrontation with Iran, he highlighted serious shortfalls in the production and stockpiling of precision-guided munitions. Brose argued that for the past 30 to 40 years, the U.S. Army has relied on the assumption of brief, technology-driven wars, which may have left it ill-prepared for extended combat operations.

Munitions Manufacturing Challenges

In recent decades, the U.S. military has centered its strategy around platforms like the F-35, aircraft carriers, and submarines. However, during operations against Iran, the U.S. expended a quantity of Tomahawk missiles in just a few weeks that would normally take eight years to produce. Brose pointed out that while funding for critical munitions has increased by 200–300% over the past ten years, actual production volumes have only risen by 14–23%. This imbalance raises serious questions about the military's capacity to sustain long-term conflicts.

The war in Ukraine has now been ongoing for over four years, and according to Brose, Ukraine’s ability to defend itself relies heavily on manual drone piloting. 'These are essentially handcrafted products. They are luxury items,' he said, emphasizing the need for continuous training and weapons modernization. He also addressed the ethical dimensions of autonomous weapons, noting that current Pentagon policy does not prohibit automating the kill chain or developing lethal autonomous systems.

“You should be afraid. And it would be irresponsible not to be.”

Christian Brose

Brose described China’s strategic goal as 'winning without fighting,' a formulation that further underscores the urgent need to rethink U.S. military strategy.

His remarks highlight the critical importance of reassessing U.S. defense strategies in the face of emerging threats. Adapting to protracted conflicts, boosting precision munitions output, and grappling with the ethics of autonomous warfare are becoming essential to maintaining national security. As global challenges like China’s rise intensify, the United States must strike a new balance between cutting-edge technology and conventional military approaches to preserve its strategic edge.

As the U.S. military grapples with its readiness for prolonged conflicts, the urgency to enhance munitions production has become increasingly apparent. This is particularly evident in the context of ongoing support for Ukraine's defense against aggression. For a deeper understanding of how the U.S. is ramping up its weapons manufacturing to assist Ukraine, explore the latest developments in arms production.