CRS Issues Report on Emerging Military Tech

The Congressional Research Service issued a report Aug. 4 on emerging military technologies, including supply chain risks faced by the U.S. and considerations for Congress. The CRS suggests the U.S. supply chain for advanced military technologies may be compromised by Chinese industrial espionage or attempts to steal intellectual property relating to hypersonics. The report also cites the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence finding that the U.S. “lacks domestic facilities” to produce components needed to make artificial intelligence technologies, forcing the nation to rely on “foreign fabrication and complex global supply chains for production.” The report cites experts who say technology developments are likely to “outpace” U.S regulation, adding that the U.S. should consider “broad” engagement with allies to “advance collaboration on emerging technologies, norms, and standards setting.”

Congress, which authorized export controls on emerging and foundational technologies with the Export Control Reform Act of 2018, must also consider funding initiatives for the U.S. technology sector, the report says. The CRS says “a number” of emerging technologies, including hypersonic weapons, have “experienced fluctuations in funding over the years,” which “challenges the viability of suppliers within the industrial base by diminishing their ability to hire and retain a skilled workforce, [achieve] production efficiencies, and in some cases, [stay] in business.” Congress is considering at least one bill to fund research and incentivize innovation in the semiconductor sector (see 2007240010).