Michigan’s “Arsenal of Democracy” nickname, earned during World War II as manufacturers here churned out bombers, Jeeps, and more to help the cause, is getting another run as the state that put the world on wheels is stepping up in the defense, technology and aerospace sectors.
With the war in Iran simmering, the federal government, led by President Donald Trump, recently talked with leaders of General Motors and Ford to help build more munitions. Additionally, the president has proposed a federal budget that includes an eye-popping $1.5 trillion to modernize the military (up from $1 trillion), which likely gained attention from corporate chiefs.
GM and Ford are just two of numerous Michigan companies working to gain more business tied to the defense sector.
Michigan’s imprint in defense is impressive as it represents about $30 billion a year in economic activity, with more than 166,000 jobs and nearly 5,000 Michigan businesses involved.
The mission now is to grow more business, with established companies and also start-ups leading the way.
Pratt Miller, based in New Hudson, is a specialty manufacturer that began in the motorsports sector in 1989, adding low rate auto production after. Seeing synergy in what they were doing with the defense sector, they decided to go after contracts tied to it.
Kris Houghton, chief operating officer at the Oakland County-based company, talked about it.
“Pratt Miller’s first defense-related work began in 2008 through Primes, with government direct contracts starting in 2011,” Houghton said.
He explained that “Primes” refers to a defense prime contractor that holds the main government contract to deliver a military system, such as a vehicle, aircraft, or weapons platform. They work with subcontractors to provide technology, components, and services needed to complete it.
Pratt Miller is producing two types of Trackless Moving Targets for the U.S. Army.
“These all-electric robots allow Army trainers to create realistic live-fire exercises that prepare soldiers for enemy engagements,” Houghton said. “The robots are designed and built at Pratt Miller’s facilities in New Hudson and deployed to Army bases around the country.”
Subcontracting sounds straightforward, but is anything but.
“Our largest challenge in making the leap into defense was understanding the contracting process and requirements,” he said, “but with support from the defense community, we were able to learn.”
He also stressed the importance of joining associations like the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA).
Pratt Miller has participated in trade shows like the Grounds Vehicle Systems Engineering and Technology Symposium, or GVSETS – an annual event in its 18th year, which will be held Aug. 11-13 at the Vibe Credit Union Showplace in Novi.
Pratt Miller will be among exhibitors at GVSETS with indoor and outdoor displays highlighting virtual experimentation technology and robotic concepts. Thousands of people are expected to attend from across the country.
Retired Col. Valde Garcia, who served in the Army and National Guard, is a former Michigan state senator who has been laser-focused on helping companies learn about opportunities tied to defense for two decades.
He’s immediate past president of the NDIA Michigan Chapter and talked about opportunities in the Great Lakes State.
“Defense budgets are growing substantially,” he said. “While we may not manufacture military systems here in this state, we do provide thousands of parts to those aircraft, missiles, and vehicles. We provide millions of engineering hours to develop and refine those systems. Our opportunity is not necessarily in making those specific military vehicles, spacecraft, ships, and aircraft, but in providing suppliers and engineers to supply the parts for them.”
He added, “Our biggest challenge is getting Michigan’s workforce, parents, and state leaders to recognize the opportunities afforded by supporting the defense industry.”
Garcia pointed to Selfridge Air National Guard based in Macomb County as an example of what can happen when leaders work together.
“In the last two years, we have seen what a concerted effort by the members of Congress in both chambers, the governor, some state legislators, and the local government can accomplish when they work together and speak with one voice. Bringing the F-15 EXs to Selfridge is the result. This was a great victory for us, but more remains to be done.”
Garcia added, “Most people don’t realize the size of this industry, nor the significant economic role it plays in the state. A person does not need to join the military to contribute to our nation’s national defense. During World War II, there were 12 to 13 million men and women who put on the uniform to fight against tyranny across the globe. What we sometimes forget is that there were millions more designing and manufacturing the tools that brought ultimate victory to the forces of freedom. It takes a nation of people with all kinds of skills to protect the freedoms we enjoy today.”
Mark Ignash has been helping Michigan companies pursue more defense contracts for years. He’s the director, Strategic Initiatives & Ecosystem Development, for the Office of Defense & Aerospace Innovation, or ODAI, which was created by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2024 to expand the work of its predecessor, the Michigan Defense Center, which opened in 2012.
Ignash added, “Michigan is reimagining the Arsenal of Democracy for the 21st century by aligning industrial strength, research institutions, and workforce readiness to meet national defense needs. In a period of strategic competition, the states that know how to build will shape the nation’s security and economic future, and Michigan is built for that moment.”
Contact Carol Cain at clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of “Michigan Matters,” which airs 5:30 a.m. Sundays on CBS Detroit and 9:30 a.m. Sundays on CW Detroit 50. See Claude Molinari (Visit Detroit), Alex Wright (Detroit City Football Club) Keith Baldwin (The Regal Eagle Detroit), Susy Avery (former chair- Michigan Republican Party), Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter and Lon Johnson (former Chair-Michigan Democratic Party)on this weekend’s show. You can also see it on the two stations’ listings on Fubu, Pluto TV, YouTube TV, and Apple TV.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan company making robots now 1 of many landing defense contracts
Reporting by Carol Cain, Detroit Free Press Business Columnist / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Carol Cain, Detroit Free Press Business Columnist | USA TODAY Network
