Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group

Strengthening our understanding of the relationship between the Department of Defense and its industrial base

DIIG provides timely, in-depth analysis on the critical issues at the cross-section of the Department of Defense and its industrial base. With a focus on defense acquisition trends, technological innovation, security cooperation, and ongoing reform efforts, DIIG monitors important developments in the global defense industry. DIIG’s products consist of major research projects, published reports, commentaries, interviews, and events.

About the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group

Learn more about the CSIS Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group and the experts and staff that contribute to our analysis.

Cynthia Cook
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Photo: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Micah Taylor via DVIDS

Enabling Forward Sustainment

Report by Cynthia R. Cook, Nicholas Szechenyi, Henry H. Carroll, Audrey Aldisert, Sarah Hendrick, and Javier Nater — June 26, 2025

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Audio Briefs

Overcoming the Barriers to Forward Deterrence

An audio version of “⁠Overcoming the Barriers to Forward Deterrence⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Cynthia R. Cook and Audrey Aldisert. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Cynthia R. Cook and Audrey Aldisert — July 1, 2025

Audio Briefs

Overcoming the Barriers to Forward Deterrence

The United States relies on its unmatched network of allies to help fill gaps in U.S. industrial capacity and capability. But a variety of regulatory barriers inhibit cooperation and create challenges for allies who want to purchase from or work with the United States.

Commentary by Cynthia R. Cook and Audrey Aldisert — July 1, 2025

Enabling Forward Sustainment

To reduce the risks relating to contested logistics in the Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Air Force should consider deepening maintenance and repair cooperation with Japan—leveraging its industrial strength to build a more resilient, forward-positioned sustainment capability.

Report by Cynthia R. Cook, Nicholas Szechenyi, Henry H. Carroll, Audrey Aldisert, Sarah Hendrick, and Javier Nater — June 26, 2025

Audio Briefs

Strengthening NATO Starts with Fixing Its Industrial Base

An audio version of “⁠Strengthening NATO Starts with Fixing Its Industrial Base⁠,” a new Commentary by CSIS’s Audrey Aldisert. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Audrey Aldisert — June 24, 2025

Audio Briefs

Strengthening NATO Starts with Fixing Its Industrial Base

The transatlantic defense industrial base has long been fragmented and inflexible. The NATO summit presents an opportunity to address key factors that keep arms sales, technology transfer, and defense industrial cooperation ill-suited to meet current security demands.

Commentary by Audrey Aldisert — June 24, 2025

Identifying Pathways for U.S. Shipbuilding Cooperation with Northeast Asian Allies

U.S. naval shipbuilding faces production and capacity constraints that undermine fleet readiness. Closer cooperation with allies like Japan and South Korea on ship construction and repair could help counter China’s maritime threat and bolster U.S. industrial resilience.

Brief by Henry H. Carroll and Cynthia R. Cook — May 15, 2025