BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC said it welcomes the US Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which could shore up the electronics manufacturing supply chain.

Section 862 of the bill calls on the secretary of defense, in consultation with the executive agent for printed circuit board and interconnect technology and the director of the office of management and budget (OMB), to prepare a report to Congress by January on the health of the defense electronics industrial base.

The report would include recommended actions to address aspects of the defense industrial base deemed “deficient” or “vulnerable,” and a plan to provide long-term budget resources and policy direction to the executive agent.

“I am pleased that the Senate national defense bill includes my amendment that would require a renewed focus on the defense electronics industrial base, including the work of the executive agent program at Crane,” said Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN). “This would help to both strengthen our nation’s electronics manufacturing industry and ensure the availability of the trusted, sophisticated electronics that our service members depend on.”

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is expected to release a separate report within weeks on the US defense industrial base. The objective of the effort has been to determine whether there are enough US manufacturers and trusted foreign suppliers of vital military equipment, and whether there are enough skilled workers to work in the field.

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