Defense Production Act Purchases

The Defense Production Act Purchases (DPAP) program, managed by the Office of the Secretary of Defense and executed under Title III of the Defense Production Act (DPA), is designed to ensure the timely availability of domestic industrial base capabilities essential for national defense. The program leverages economic incentives to create, maintain, protect, expand, or restore domestic sources for critical components, technologies, and industrial resources.

DPAP aims to build a resilient Joint Force and defense ecosystem by strengthening U.S. supply chains and mitigating risks associated with foreign dependencies and production bottlenecks. The program is administered by the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Base Policy (OASD(IBP)), and its investments are closely coordinated with other Department of Defense (DoD) initiatives, such as the Industrial Base Analysis and Sustainment (IBAS) program.

The program's objectives are aligned with department-wide strategies, including the Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance and recommendations from Executive Order 14017, which emphasize the need to secure critical supply chains and support modernization priorities. DPAP investments target prime and sub-tier suppliers to address supply chain vulnerabilities and capacity constraints, ensuring the defense industrial base can meet both current and future warfighter needs.

Strategic and Critical Materials is a major line item within DPAP, with mandatory and discretionary funding allocated to secure essential minerals and materials such as titanium, steel, aluminum, magnesium, and rare earth elements. In accordance with Executive Order 14241, the program aims to expand domestic mining and processing capabilities, conduct feasibility studies, improve productivity through modernization, and invest in recycling and reclamation efforts. These investments are intended to reduce reliance on foreign sources and ensure the availability of materials critical for defense systems, advanced technologies, and economic security.

Missiles and Munitions Production is another key focus area, with funding directed toward alleviating constraints in domestic manufacturing capabilities for missile components, solid rocket motors, hypersonics, and critical chemicals. The program addresses issues such as limited testing equipment, production capacity bottlenecks, and foreign source risks. Supplemental appropriations have been used to increase production capacity and replenish U.S. munition inventories, thereby supporting both U.S. readiness and allied assistance.

Strategic Radiation Hardened Microelectronics and Microelectronics Packaging Capabilities are targeted to ensure the U.S. can produce or acquire trusted microelectronics for use in nuclear and space systems. Investments support the sustainment and advancement of radiation-hardened technologies and advanced packaging, addressing obsolescence issues and supply chain vulnerabilities. The Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA)-accredited Trusted Supplier network is leveraged to maintain compliance with DoD requirements and ensure the reliability of critical components.

Casting and Forgings and the Space Industrial Base are also addressed through DPAP, with funding allocated to support shipbuilding, heavy forging, and space-related manufacturing needs. These investments are intended to strengthen domestic capabilities in areas such as aluminum castings, solar cell substrates, and traveling wave tube amplifiers. The program also includes funding for program management and administrative support to oversee these complex, multi-year initiatives.