The Army Wants to Find Where America's Arsenal Breaks Before a War Does. That Is the Right Instinct
Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle announced a first-ever "Manufacturing Rodeo" for early 2027 to stress-test the defense supply chain, the same day the SBA and the Department of War signed a deal to steer capital to small defense manufacturers. In our view, with interceptor stocks badly drawn down, this is overdue.
By Clara Hughes
ALTAS WORLD NEWS OPINION | By Clara Hughes, Chief Opinion Editor | October 13, 2026 | 6-min read "We built those muscles in World War II, but we haven't flexed them since the Cold War." With that line, Acting Army Secretary Adam Telle on Monday announced something the Army has never done before: a "Manufacturing Rodeo," a race between industrial base partners planned for early next year to "stress the supply chain" and show "exactly where it breaks" [1][2]. The same day, the Small Business Administration and the Department of War signed an agreement to steer capital to the small manufacturers that build much of America's defense supply chain [3]. In our view, this is exactly the right instinct. A nation should find the weak links in its arsenal in a drill, not in a war. Key Takeaways The Army will hold its first Manufacturing Rodeo in early 2027 to stress-test its organic industrial base and the broader manufacturing network [1][4]. It builds on new advanced manufacturing hubs at Red River, Anniston and Tobyhanna Army Depots [1]. The SBA and the Department of War signed an agreement on Oct. 12 creating a capital pathway for