How governmental policies regarding strategic and critical materials affect the acquisition of major weapon systems

Abstract

The proliferation of uncoordinated governmental agencies and policies have had dramatic and stifling effects on U. S. strategic and critical materials industries and thus have contributed significantly to current problems of increased prices, lengthening leadtimes, and tenuous availability of these materials. These effects have a direct correlation to the same problems associated with the acquisition of major weapon systems. Government and private industry have been working to improve the situation, but much more needs to be done. A national strategic and critical materials policy must be adopted and implemented by a singly responsible agency; inventory goals of the National Defense Stockpile must be filled; and an investigation of an "economic stockpile" should be undertaken.