The U.S. Defense Industrial Base
Background and Issues for Congress
The term defense industrial base (DIB) appears to have entered common parlance during the Korean War. Today, Congress, the executive branch, think tanks, and media outlets frequently employ the term to refer to the organizations, facilities, and resources that supply the U.S. government — principally, but not exclusively, the Department of Defense (DOD) — with materials, products, and services for defense purposes. Government acquisition from DIB entities is mainly managed through the use of contracts. The DIB includes public and private owners and operators of relevant productive capacity. When referring to private industry, the term encompasses both those suppliers with a…
