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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Latest Analysis

Photo: U.S. Army

Photo: U.S. Army

Rising Demand and Proliferating Supply of Military UAS

There has been a significant rise in the proliferation of military uninhabited aerial systems. This report reveals drivers and implications by examining the Nagorno-Karabakh war, the Russian war in Ukraine, and contracting and international trade data.

Report by Gregory Sanders , Rose Butchart , Astrid Price , Dan Steinberg , and Alexander Holderness — May 24, 2023

See all analysis by Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group

Featured Event

Photo: Spc. Charles Leitner/U.S. Army

Pressing Challenges to U.S. Army Acquisition

March 3, 2023

Discussion between the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology the Honorable Douglas Bush and Dr. Cynthia Cook with the Defense-Industrial Initiatives Group (DIIG).  The discussion explored challenges to the defense industrial base in the U.S.

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Destruction, Subversion, and the Long War

As the war in Ukraine continues, CSIS's Cynthia Cook argues that both sides have increasingly moved to cost-imposing strategies, and the war will end when one side decides that its costs are too great to bear.

Commentary by Cynthia Cook — May 3, 2022

The Truth of the Matter

Military Aid to Ukraine

CSIS’s Dr. Cynthia Cook joins the podcast to discuss President Biden’s $33 billion proposed military aid package to Ukraine

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Cynthia Cook — April 29, 2022

CSIS the truth of the matter

Defense Acquisition Trends 2021

This report examines trends in what the DoD is buying, how the DoD is buying it, and from whom the DoD is buying based on analysis of data from the Federal Procurement Data System.

Report by Gregory Sanders , Won Joon Jang , and Alexander Holderness — March 29, 2022

Rebuilding Ukraine after the War

As Ukrainian resistance continues to push back against Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian leadership will need to plan what comes after the fighting stops and the country must begin down the road to recovery.

Commentary by Cynthia Cook — March 22, 2022

Leveraging Networks in Future Operations: DISA's Changing Role in Battle Networks

As the Department of Defense adapts to the challenges of a changing world, it has important choices to make about the future mission and organization of the Defense Information Systems Agency, the organization created in the Cold War to unify its top-level communications.

Report by Gregory Sanders and Rhys McCormick — January 31, 2022

2021 Defense Acquisition Trends: Topline DoD Trends after a Half Decade of Growth

Defense contract obligations grew by 8 percent in FY 2020, driven by spending on products manufactured by the Big Five defense contractors. On the cusp of a new National Security Strategy, this piece explores how a half-decade of growth has changed defense acquisition.

Critical Questions by Gregory Sanders , Won Joon Jang , and Alexander Holderness — December 2, 2021