**Large Defense Contractors ‘Conned’ the U.S. Military, Army Secretary Says**
*By Idrees Ali | Reuters.com | November 14, 2025*
WASHINGTON — Large defense companies have “conned” the U.S. military into purchasing expensive equipment when more affordable commercial alternatives were available, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said on Thursday.
Government accountability advocates and some lawmakers have long argued that defense contractors overcharge the military. However, Driscoll’s comments were unusually direct for a sitting government official speaking out against companies that supply the world’s largest military.
“(The) defense industrial base broadly, and the primes in particular, conned the American people and the Pentagon and the Army,” Driscoll told reporters, referring to prime contractors who work directly with the government.
He added that, in part, the government itself was to blame for creating incentive structures that encouraged companies to charge exorbitant prices.
Large weapons manufacturers provide the U.S. military with a wide range of systems, from Lockheed Martin’s (LMT) F-35 fighter jets to missile defense systems developed by RTX (RTX), Northrop Grumman (NOC), and Boeing (BA).
Previously, the Army highlighted an example in which a Lockheed-owned Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter screen control knob cost $47,000 as part of a full assembly—even though it could be independently manufactured for just $15.
“The system has changed. You will no longer be allowed to do that to the United States Army,” Driscoll declared.
The Army is launching an initiative to streamline its acquisition process as part of a broader Pentagon effort to enable more rapid technology acquisition amid escalating global threats.
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*Read more at Reuters.com*
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*Topics: Military, Veterans*
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*Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Reuters or its management.*
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