New defense entrants see promise in Hegseth’s ‘acquisition transformation’ plan

By Theresa Maher / November 12, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Startups and scaleups in the defense industry are saying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s plan to “transform” the defense acquisition ecosystem signals the Pentagon is ready to act like a rational buyer and open the market to new industrial base players. “We view these reforms as a critical step toward a more resilient and competitive industrial base, one that empowers both emerging and established players to deliver the best capabilities America’s defense ecosystem needs to meet the challenges of today and...

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